Awesome Florida destinations by Jill Podehl: One winter some years back, officials at Florida Power & Light’s facility just north of West Palm Beach began noticing that manatees were congregating around the facility’s warm-water outflow, and the idea for Manatee Lagoon was born. Today, Manatee Lagoon is one of the best places to visit in Florida to see these gentle 1,500- to 2,000-pound creatures. Manatees love people. If they see you on a dock, they’ll swim right up and have even been known to roll over in the water, so people can pat their bellies. On the endangered list for many years, they’re now making a comeback, and today some 6,000 manatees are known to inhabit the waters around the state, more than almost any other place in the world. As a result, there’s even talk of removing them from the endangered species list. Manatee Lagoon’s Discovery Center features imaginative hands-on exhibits, observation areas, a manatee webcam, and an outdoor deck at which the manatees congregate, especially in winter. The star of the show is Mia, whose travels and interactions with other sea cows you can track. See even more information on http://disqus.com/by/jillpodehl.
South Beach is an absolutely iconic, very much beloved beach in Miami. It’s also famous across the country, making it one of the most beautiful landmarks in the USA. South Beach covers a whopping 15 or so city blocks of space, stretching across a large part of Miami. It’s free to access and can be visited from many different parts of the city. Given the size of South Beach, there’s plenty of space to rest, relax, or enjoy the sun and surf. Kiosks line the beach’s entire length, providing rentable items like umbrellas and lounge chairs. Snack bars and stalls offer knickknacks, food, and drinks in case you need anything. If you have more money to spend, many hotels along the stretch have special, private parts of the beach too!
Hosting over 150 specialty and tourist shops, cafes and restaurants, Bayside Market place has it all. As well as well known chain stores visitors will find an array of charming boutiques in this outdoor style mall. Located along Miami’s waterfront, as the name suggests, many locals come here to soak up the lively atmosphere and admire the bay, with its daily live music and fun vibe the Bayside Market does not fail to entertain. But to truly enjoy a vacation you also need a nice place to stay.
Do you want to bath in the sun ? Miami is a perfect place to relax. What can you see in Miami? The Coral Castle is the result of one man’s 28 years of carving, using his own home-made tools. This incredible creation, made of limestone, was built by Edward Leedskalnin between 1923 and 1951. He kept his methods private and would not allow anyone to watch him work, leaving many people to wonder how he did it. Today, you can tour the property and see the most famous structure, a giant stone gate, which opens effortlessly with the touch of a finger, as well as carvings that include stone tables and chairs, unique figures, and other pieces.
Fabulous Florida travel destinations from Jill Podehl: Key Biscayne holds popular tourist attractions, busy recreational marinas and fantastic beaches. Windsurfing and sailing are foremost along its windy causeway, known as Hobie Beach. Miami Seaquarium ranks as one of Florida’s first marine attractions, but keeps up-to-date with dolphin interaction programs and environmentally inclined exhibits. Nearby marinas offer everything from boat rentals to diving excursions. There are more ways to play at Crandon Park, a huge beach park with amusement rides, tennis and bike paths. At the island’s southern tip, a state park protects a historic lighthouse and the beach that fronts it.
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. Find extra information at https://www.facebook.com/jillpodehl.
Animal lovers won’t want to miss Zoo Miami, home to more than 3,000 animals, or the Miami Seaquarium, offering educational and entertaining sea life exhibits and presentations. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is a captivating attraction for the whole family – view orchids and other native plants in these extensive gardens, and be sure to check out the butterfly garden. Miami is a city renowned for its beautiful beaches, thriving nightlife scene, great cuisine, and cultural merging.