Essential Florida travel attractions with Jill Podehl: Since it opened in 1989, John D. MacArthur Beach State Park has made the flora and fauna that can be found in this part of the “Sunshine State” accessible to all visitors. Covering an area of 438 acres just a short drive away in North Palm Beach, it’s crisscrossed by a superb network of wheelchair-accessible boardwalks, along with well-maintained nature trails. A highlight of a visit is crossing the 1600-foot-long pedestrian bridge over the estuary, which is connected to Lake Worth, to the beach habitat. Along the way, you’ll see and hear an abundance of birdlife, so if you’re a bird watcher, bring your binoculars! If you’re lucky, you may possibly even spot a manatee or two. Feel free to dwell on the bridge awhile; there’s plenty of bench seating along the way, as well as shaded pavilions and picnic tables. The beach itself is magnificent. Unspoiled and quiet, it stretches off into the distance in both directions. Take a stroll along the northernmost section, and you can easily forget you’re just a mile or two away from luxury resorts and condos, at least until you turn around. Those wanting to get out on the water have three choices: canoes, kayaks, or paddleboards, all of them available for rent from the on-site outfitters. Lifejackets are provided, and these watercraft are easy to climb aboard from the sandy launch area. Free nature walks are also available. Read extra info at https://www.dailymotion.com/jillpodehl.
When it comes to natural landmarks in the USA, it doesn’t get much more iconic than the Everglades National Park. The vast 1.5 million-acre park covers a lot of ground and is well worth a trip for nature-lovers visiting Miami who doesn’t mind a short bit of travel to an entrance. It’s impossible to condense everything that the Everglades National Park into a couple of paragraphs. Eco-adventure tours give you tons of ways to enjoy the environment. Live shows and programs add entertainment to an educational variety. Trails provide tons of ways to explore, hike, and relax. The vegetation is gorgeous and you might want to spend a whole week here!
With a hint of 1930’s nostalgia, the beautifully restored buildings within the Art Deco District have a lot to offer on a relaxed day in the Miami beach area. Looking out to see, (a lot of them located front Ocean Drive) the pastel painted buildings pose a great place to stop for lunch of an evening meal. With its neon signs and canopy covered dining areas, the Art Deco District truly comes in its own after dark. But to truly enjoy a vacation you also need a nice place to stay.
Do you want to enjoy the blue sky and the warm sun ? Miami is a fabulous destination to relax. What can you see in Miami? This former home of Charles Deering is a 444-acre estate, protecting globally endangered pine rockland habitat, as well as coastal tropical hardwood rockland hammocks, mangrove forests, salt marshes, and a coastal dune island. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Deering Estate at Cutler is home to the Richmond Cottage, which served as a hotel, as well as historical buildings dating from 1896 to 1922, and an American Indian burial ground dating from 1500. Charles Deering was an art collector, who, along with his brother James, accumulated a great number of works by the Old Masters. Deering himself also painted, and some of his works are on display here. The Artist Village at the estate has become an important cultural center, featuring art and artists programs.
Jill Podehl Florida destinations today: No trip to Miami is complete without a visit to Little Havana. This vibrant, south-of-downtown neighborhood is packed with art galleries, unique shops, and busy restaurants and bars. Explore the area: Head to Maximo Gomez Park (known as Domino Park by the locals) for a real flavor of Hispanic culture, to watch men playing dominoes outdoors, smoking cigars and arguing about politics. Look out for the huge mural depicting the Summit of the Americas in 1993. The neighborhood Calle Ocho is located in the center of it all, where you can watch the markets and street stands in action while soaking up some Cuban culture. Fan of Latin cinema? Another highlight is the Little Havana Paseo de las Estrellas (Walk of the Stars), which is a Latin American version of the Hollywood Walk of the Stars, commemorating Latin American actors, writers, artists and musicians.
You probably have already heard of South Beach, or “SoBe”, since it’s often considered one of the best, hottest places to go in the city of Miami, Florida. It’s a famous beach that’s packed with visitors most of the time, with its guests often including the famous or wealthy. Adding to its bright and cheery aesthetic are structures and buildings in an art deco style that, against the beachfront flanked by palm trees, make exploring SoBe a great way to spend your time this week or any week. In the mornings, you can enjoy the sun beneath umbrellas or swim out in the cool waters of the tropics, or even participate in some water sports. Discover even more information on https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillpodehl/.
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. 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.