I’m in Palm Beach Gardens with my 18 year old son. We’re here visiting my dad and have an extra day and the use of a car tomorrow. Miami isn’t that far away and neither is Lake Okichinokobee or whatever it is. I don’t know Florida at all. I’m interested in culture, history, anything Caribbean, nature, wildlife, anything funky or groovy. Please post suggestions for day trips. Thanks.
Well, the first thing you should know is that South Florida is not part of the South. Culturally, it is completely an enclave of the North (since no one lived there before they invented air conditioning, and then it became populated by Northern retirees and people who wanted to get away from the cold).
Valete,
Vox Imperatoris
That’s not helpful, so, next?
I don’t care about the south vs the north. There are all kinds of things out here that are new to me, as a southwesterner (also not part of the South). So any suggestions welcome!
If this isn’t too late, I’d make a run for Key West and on the way, I’d stop off at Pigeon Key where the southernmost point of the underground railway for assisting run away slaves was located. The Keys aren’t what they used to be, but they are still beautiful and the water surrounding them is a real delight.
Has that Vox person ever posted anything useful?
Since nature and wildlife are on your list, how about Everglades National Park (ENP)?
It’s winter here (such as it is) meaning that it is dry season. Much of the wet everglades is now reduced to small pockets and puddles of water, many of them maintained for their own selfish purposes by alligators. These act as refuges and locations of concentration for aquatic organisms. These organisms are in turn food for wading birds like herons, egrets, storks, and spoonbills. Great concentrations of such birds can be seen in ENP at stops like Anhinga Trail.
It’s also warm, so other birds like plovers, gulls, terns, and white pelicans are spending the winter here in large numbers. See them at the end of the road in ENP at what used to be the town of Flamingo.
Along the way, stop for some fresh local fruit, even Caribbean specialties like mamay, in and around Homestead and Florida City.
It’s been a while since I lived in South Florida, but the Keys are still a LONG drive from WPB. You could try the Kennedy Space Center up by Cocoa Beach and of course, World Famous Ron Jons Surf Shop.
A drive/walk around Palm Beach can be interesting too. My prom was at the Flagler Museum, if you like overly ornate.
South of Miami and at the Gateway to the Keys near Homestead, FL is Ed Leedskalnin’s Coral Castle.
I guess it is pretty impressive because it is a large construction of coral stones that Ed mined, carved, and more importantly moved singlehandedly. Some say he knew the secrets of the Egyptian builders or had supernatural powers.
I’ve never been there, but it’s in the area and fits your funky criteria so I thought I’d mention it.
We used to er, ah – enhance our senses via the ingestion of various magical potions and elixers and wander around the place in the wee hours of darkness. This was as teens back in the '60s. We found quite a lot about the place to be supernatural. Or at least really, real-l-l-y freaky. Not because of our condition, you understand. Of course not.
Guess you can’t do that today. Too damn bad, though.
I suppose it depends on what you’re interested in. There’s plenty of wetlands to tour, from the Everglades to smaller parks. There’s also plenty of shopping and restaurants around.
Wetlands:
Everglades National Park
Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge
Wakodahatchee Wetlands (great for bird lovers)
Shopping:
Beaches:
Out of that list I highly recommend MacArthur State Park. It’s very pretty and somewhat secluded.
Well, I debated posting it since it wasn’t directly relevant, but I considered that since the OP *asked *for cultural information, surely the people here wouldn’t be such useless pedants as to actually be angered by it, right? Thank you for proving me wrong.
I have to say that the Coral Castle is located in a DANGEROUS neighborhood; I would think twice before visiting it.
Oh, I wasn’t angered by your post; I just think you are as useless an idiot who has ever graced these boards. Besides which, your comments re the culture of Florida are completely wrong.
My family visited just a few years ago and had no problems. The place is truly amazing.
I lived in Homestead about ten years ago; the local newspaper frequently ran stories re muggings in the parking lot; plus the parking lot had a lot of signs warning visitors to be vigilant. I drove past the place twice a day back then and the neighborhood was not a good one. I suppose things could have improved since then.
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MODERATOR WARNING
LouisB, those comments are not tolerated outside of the Pit.
Start a thread there if you wish to discuss.
In the meantime, Merry Christmas.
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And a Merry Christmas to you.
Airboat ride in the Everglades. THE definitive Florida experience. Cool ride for the 18 yo son, and you’ll see nature, both on the boat and (depending on where you get it) on the drive out to it.
Winter is the best time to visit the Everglades–there are just too many mosquitoes in the summertime.
I would love to see the Everglades and the Coral Castle. Will visit those next time! My son was more interested in checking out a peopled area. So we walked around the art deco strip along South Beach. It was fun and different, and not too crowded because it was drizzly.
Vox, it’s just that I was asking about suggestions for places to see; not someone’s opinion about the culture. Thanks anyway.
Next time start at Jupiter Island and BLowing Rocks preserve, to begin a day of beach hopping! Dania Pier and Hollywood Beach, Haulover Beach in Miami Dade, stop in Vizcaya Museum and gardens in Miami. Return over the causeways and visit the islands! Watch the ships come in and go to Biscayne Park downtown.
Rent the convertible!!
