Fabulous Florida attractions from Jill Podehl: Another first-rate animal attraction that’s sure to please is the Lion Country Safari. Set on 600-plus acres in Loxahatchee and just a short drive from Panther Ridge, this family-friendly attraction is really two experiences in one: a fun drive-through safari where you get to use your own car, as well as a theme park. Since its establishment in 1967, Lion Country Safari has welcomed countless visitors to view its collection of 1,000 animals, most of them in a cageless environment in which they can wander around relatively freely. Along the way, you’ll hear commentary on your audio guide and get a chance to view a wide variety of species close up, except the lions of course, who for safety reasons are behind a fence. The theme park area, Safari World, includes a number of fun rides, waterslides, a petting zoo, and giraffe feeding experiences. Themed guided tours are also available. Discover additional info on https://www.quora.com/profile/Jill-Podehl.
With a name as titular as Miami Beach, it’s no surprise that this is one of the best things to do in Miami. You’ll find that a lot of visitors to Miami come to visit primarily for Miami Beach alone! This is the crown jewel of the region. Technically speaking, Miami Beach is a larger area, but it’s most referred to for its white sand stretch of beaches. This also, technically, includes South Beach. There’s something for everyone at Miami Beach – lively nightlife, lots of spas, great shopping and dining, and much more. Be prepared to spend a good amount of money here unless you’re cautious enough to find the thriftier areas!
Encompassing mangrove forests, salt marshes, a coastal dune island, coastal tropical hardwood rockland hammocks and endangered pine habitats, this 440 acre Deering Estate at Cutler property has it all. Also home to the Richard cottages c1900 which served as a hotel, the Deering Estate hosts other historical buildings of importance dating from 1896 to 1922 and an Indian burial ground circa 1500. Visitors are welcome to stroll through the stunning grounds, explore the houses or simply relax and soak up the surroundings. But to truly enjoy a vacation you also need a nice place to stay.
Do you need to enjoy the blue sky and the warm sun ? Miami is an amazing destination to relax. What can you do in Miami? This National Historic Landmark, set on 28 acres, was the luxurious winter home of 20th-century industrialist, James Deering. Built in 1916, the mansion features 34 rooms arranged around a central courtyard. It took more than 1,100 workers and craftsmen to complete the Vizcaya project, many of whom were brought over from Europe to ensure authenticity in design. The Italian Renaissance-style villa is filled with an impressive collection of European furniture and decorative arts from the 15th to 19th centuries. The grounds and gardens contain beautiful Italian and French fountains, pools, and sculptures. A breakwater at the base of the steps leading into Biscayne Bay is an ornately carved barge, featuring female figures.
High quality Florida destinations by Jill Podehl: Coral Gables, one of the nation’s first planned developments, was built almost entirely out of the coral limestone quarried there. The quarry itself was turned into Venetian Pool, an exotic swimming hole with romantic stone bridges and waterfalls. Gracious Spanish colonial-style homes line twisty streets vegetated lushly and sequestered aesthetically from the big-city world.
New owners William Edgemon and Raymond Moss saw the potential in their purchase and spent the equivalent of 20 million dollars to move the whole structure and rebuilt it in the northern area of Miami. Its life didn’t begin here in Miami, Florida, though – it started out as a building in Spain that served as the living quarters of Cistercian monks, keeping up this purpose for over 700 years. It would fall out of this use after being seized by a revolutionary movement, which repurposed it into a stable and granary. In 1925, William Randolph Hearst, a newspaper magnate, was so impressed by the sheer beauty and wonder of the monastery that he decided to completely purchase it. Each part of it was broken apart into individual stones, packaged into over 11,000 boxes, and sent to Brooklyn, New York. See more information at Jill Podehl West Palm Beach.
History and architecture buffs will want to explore Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, a romantic Italianate villa overlooking Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove. It was once the winter home of wealthy industrialist James Deering. In Coral Gables, the Venetian Pool is a one-of-a-kind natural swimming pool set in a coral rock quarry. You’ll never run out of things to do in Miami, no matter what tickles your fancy, how much you have to spend, and who you’re traveling with.