Best rated Florida destinations with Jill Podehl: Henry Flagler not only created Palm Beach but many other important Florida landmarks as well, such as the Overseas Railroad to Key West, which was, alas, wiped out in a long-ago hurricane. As you drive up to the 1902 Georgian/Mediterranean mansion he called Whitehall, you’ll know instantly that this is no ordinary museum. Upon completion of Whitehall, the New York Herald promptly called it the grandest mansion in the world. Indeed, with a telephone system, electric lighting, central heating, and 22 bathrooms, it was possibly the most technologically advanced home anywhere at the time. Today, you can wander through the grand hall, kitchens, parlors, and studies that Henry Flagler wandered through, as well as the hallways where the art he collected on his travels is still displayed. His splendid home also became the first museum in Florida. In addition to Flagler’s own art collection, important revolving exhibits feature renowned painters, sculptors, craftspeople, and photographers. The Flagler Museum is truly a home and a museum for the ages. Guided tours are available, and afterward, be sure to pay a visit to the museum’s delightful café. Better still, opt for their wonderful afternoon tea experience in the garden, available in the winter months. Find even more details on Jill Podehl West Palm Beach.
It’s almost a crime to visit Miami without a trip to Zoo Miami, especially if you’re traveling with family. The stunning location holds over 500 different animal species over 3,000 individual animals, all housed in natural-style environments that maintain a healthy habitat for them all. Better yet, Zoo Miami does not use cages. The zoo, which opened in 1948, separates animals safely using moats, keeping them apart from animals they don’t mix with and visitors. This makes the animals all the happier, and they’re a wonder to see. Zoo Miami offers a lot of educational programs for people of all ages. Activities include rides, giraffe feedings, water play spots, tram tours and monorails, etc. There are 750 acres of land to explore; after all, this is Florida’s biggest zoo!
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 bath in the sun ? Miami is a fabulous place to relax. What can you see in Miami? Everglades National Park, just a short drive from Miami, protects one of Florida’s most unique natural features. These swamplands, covering about 1.5 million acres, are home to alligators, crocodiles, snakes, and all kinds of birds. This whole area is essentially a shallow river flowing out to the ocean. Within the park is an informative Visitors Center, as well as walking trails and boardwalks for wildlife viewing. One of the most enjoyable ways for tourists to experience the Everglades is on an airboat tour. These high-speed boat trips take visitors out into the marshes and streams to see alligators and other wildlife. There are several operators in the area, but outside the park, that offer tours of the Everglades.
Hot Florida travel attractions from Jill Podehl: Miami is known for its beaches and South Beach has something for everyone. If you have kids to entertain, South Pointe Park has a playground and splash fountain, and is the ideal setting for a picnic. If you want to escape the crowds for an hour or two, Miami Beach Botanical Garden has 4-1/2 acres filled with subtropical plants, right in the center of South Beach. Wander around the beautiful Art Deco hotels and houses, such as Casa Casuarina, the former home and murder site of fashion designer the late Gianni Versace. Follow the Art Deco District Walking Tour to make sure you do not miss any of these carefully preserved buildings.
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 even more information at Jill Podehl West Palm Beach, Florida.
Visitors to Greater Miami will discover a whole wide world of exciting attractions, from the natural wonders of Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park to the postcard-perfect architecture of South Beach’s Art Deco Historic District. Creating your perfect itinerary means choosing from the nearly endless variety of enticing options. Delicious food, stunning natural environments, incredible art collections and museums, and fascinating historic monuments all come together to create an amazing city with a lot to share.
