Covered bridges are rare and finding one in South Florida especially so. This is the oldest one in…read morethe state, built in 1964 so relatively modern. It was the first permanent structure in Coral Springs. A single steel span that is 40 feet long. It is an active bridge and I was pleased that the height and weight clearance were sufficient for the Sprinter van. There is no easy parking here with signs indicating private property and no parking on the grass. As such, you can't get any good view of the logos on the side of the bridge. Interesting note - it is the only covered bridge located on a public right-of-way in all of Florida. [Review 20249 overall - 1752 in Florida - 1226 of 2023.]

This was the nicest and "coolest" thing I saw today for Earth Day 2022. Real covered bridges are…read morenot found in South Florida and I was happy to see this one. It has murals painted on each side of the bridge span and recently is was closed for repairs but now it is open for cars. No trucks allowed. The neighborhood that it bridges is also very nice. The history behind this bridge can be found on a raised plaque on the side of the entrance and it has some pretty interesting history. Definitely check it out and drive through if you get the chance.

I have passed this memorial many times and was always curious about it. Today I finally stopped and…read moremade a new discovery. It was interesting to learn that Plantation has the largest volunteer fire department in the state of Florida. The Plantation Volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1957 by 21 citizens that included former Mayor Frank Veltri and the city's founder, Fred Peters. In the beginning they were stationed in a warehouse located at East Acre and Broward that served as the first fire station with a single engine. In 1960 the first fire station was built on Broward Boulevard at East Acre. As Plantation grew more stations were built and more engines added. Just as it was in 1957, the Suppression Division is comprised of all volunteers and has a roster of more than 190 firefighters making it the largest volunteer fire department in Florida. The Rescue Division was added in 1996 to answer the increasing demand for emergency medical services. Plantation is a combination department comprised of a volunteer Suppression Division, career EMS, a Fire and Life Safety Division, and maintenance/mechanic divisions. One of the most difficult fires the Plantation Volunteer Firefighters had to deal with was in September of 1997 at the Towne Mall, located at 69th Avenue and Broward Boulevard. The mall caught fire and became the largest tactical, firefighting operation in Broward County history. The large fire was due to the roof construction which was comprised of highly flammable materials. Today the Fire Department operates six stations placed throughout the city. The Plantation Fire Department currently serves an area of 22 square miles, a residential population of 94,000, and a daytime population in excess of 150,000. In 1998 the Plantation Fire Administration building and Firefighters' Memorial Park was dedicated. This park located adjacent to the administration building honors all of the volunteer firefighters in the City of Plantation. There are plaques with the names of firefighters who served the city and a 9/11 memorial. It was so nice to visit this peaceful spot that pays tribute to the brave and dedicated volunteer firefighters of Plantation.

"Sculpture can plant a seed of imagination, creating a guidepost of life through art" CRGray…read more Slices of Springs is a public art sculpture located in front of Sherwood Forest Park in Coral Springs. It was created by Key West artist Craig Berube-Grey who has been carving stone for over 25 years. He likes to chose whimsical subject matter that makes people happy like figures made out of stones, ice pops, conversation hearts, and fruit. He created Rock Et Man in Whispering Woods Park in Coral Springs and Ice Pops in Rachel Richardson Park in Coral Springs. Slice of Springs was created in 2014 and is made out of colored fossilized limestone mixed with cement and painted. The sculpture is of three large orange slices. It is as if a giant was having a snack and wandered off. I love the detail and the pop of color this art adds to the park.

While driving through Miami Shores, I came across this blue historical marker in front of Village…read moreHall. The marker is part of Florida's Historical Marker Program, one of the Division of Historical Resources' most recognizable public history initiatives. These markers commemorate significant people, places, and events throughout the state and can be found along roadways, at archaeological sites, battlefields, cemeteries, colleges, historic districts, schools, and churches. Historical Marker F-1178 was erected in 2021 by the Miami Shores Historic Preservation Board and the Florida Department of State. During Florida's land boom of the 1920s, developer T. V. Moore envisioned an upscale, master-planned residential community on land he owned in what is now Miami Shores' commercial district. In 1924, the Shoreland Company purchased Moore's property, along with the Gordon Tract, Bay View Estates, and other scattered parcels, to create the community of Miami Shores. Homes were designed in the Mediterranean Revival style, reflecting the company's vision of creating "America's Mediterranean." The development was named after Victor Jacobi's popular 1919 waltz, On Miami Shore. Although the devastating 1926 Miami hurricane and the collapse of the Florida land boom slowed construction, the community continued to grow steadily over the following decades. Miami Shores was officially incorporated as a village in 1932. It developed into a primarily residential community known for its tree lined streets, green spaces, and commitment to preserving its architectural heritage. A major milestone came in 1940 with the founding of Barry University which grew into one of the village's largest institutions and an important cultural and educational center. Miami Shores is one of my favorite South Florida communities because of its beautiful historic homes and welcoming small town atmosphere, despite being surrounded by the larger Miami metropolitan area. I always enjoy visiting for its historic preservation efforts, parks, and convenient location just minutes from downtown Miami.

As a fan of historic churches and architecture I was delighted to discover this church across the…read morestreet from Jaxson's Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant in Dania Beach. In front of the church is a historic marker erected in 2011 by The Dania Beach City Commission. Dania Beach was the first city in Broward County and this was the first house of worship. When the church was organized in January of 1906 is called Mount Sinai United Methodist Church. Mr. & Mrs. P.H. Roper held the first services in the town schoolhouse. In 1908 land for a church was donated by Mr. & Mrs. John W. Mullikin. Rev. John Walker oversaw the building of the church. The Hurricane of 1910 damaged the church. Repairs were made and it was finished later that year. The Hurricane of 1926 completely destroyed the building. On March 17, 1927 the Cornerstone was laid for a new building. In 1939 this church was named Dania Methodist Church and later renamed Dania United Methodist Church as Methodist churches were unified. In 1966 the existing church building was replaced by a new one, with a consecration service on September 18, 1966. In 2002 the Dania United Methodist Church closed its doors and the church reopened in 2004 as Mount Sinai United Methodist Church with a new pastor, Rev. Ernestine V. Henry. Mount Sinai has now left and the congregation for this church is currently Russian Orthodox.

This is the main bridge that connects downtown Fort Lauderdale with the beach. Most tourists would…read moretake this bridge to go to/from these two destinations. The draw opens on the quarter-hour and three-quarter hour...depending on how many boats need to go under, the wait for the bridge to close and open to vehicular traffic could be 5-10 minutes. For those who are boating, here's some information for your reference. Mile Marker: 1064 Lat / Lon: N 26° 07.182' / W 080° 06.541' Bridge Type: Bascule Vertical Clearance (Closed): 24.00 ft. Horizontal Clearance: 91.00 ft. Schedule: On the first weekend in May, the draw need not open from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and, on the first Saturday in May, the draw need not open from 9:45 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. Vhf 9

Definitely not as popular or as utilized as the 17th Street Causeway Bridge…read morehttps://www.yelp.com/biz/17th-street-causeway-drawbridge-fort-lauderdale?hrid=-n-6CNpYrtnJ3LDBW4mYsQ or the Sunrise Boulevard Bridge https://www.yelp.com/biz/sunrise-boulevard-bridge-fort-lauderdale?hrid=n2ucUhouXq3XqH4H7Q9btw, but the Las Olas Boulevard Bridge certainly deserves a Yelp review all of its own. Carrying State Road 842 over the New River, the bridge connects downtown Fort Lauderdale with the beaches. It is the second bridge northbound on the Intracoastal from Port Everglades. With 31 feet of clearance, this bascule bridge (a clever French word for drawbridge) generally opens on the quarter-hour and the three-quarter hour. Recently modernized, it is a smooth transition over the water. There are two lanes in each direction with a very narrow and low curb between. There are also pedestrian walkways on each side that are protected from traffic by a low and strong wall. [Review 13281 overall, 599 of 2020.]

Walking the Everglades Elevated Boardwalk was such a peaceful and memorable experience. The…read moreboardwalk itself is well-maintained and easy to navigate, making it perfect for all ages and activity levels. What really stood out was how immersive it felt--you're literally walking above the wetlands, surrounded by lush greenery, sawgrass, and the sounds of nature. We spotted birds but never caught a glimpse of an alligator, which I was bummed about. It's a great spot for photos, especially with the sunlight filtering through the trees and reflecting off the water. The only reason I'd give it 4 stars instead of a full 5 is that I really was expecting to see an alligator. Overall, it's a beautiful, relaxing way to experience the Everglades up close--simple, scenic, and absolutely worth the stop.

Hubby has been bugging and nagging me that we "NEED" to visit this new Everglades attraction during…read moreour numerous drives across Alligator Alley.... We made the crossing on our way across to Naples, but realized the boardwalk is on the side of the highway that you need to be going east (toward Fort Lauderdale); so we planned to see it on the way home... but on the way home, we forget and drove right by it. The next month we were headed to Naples again and guess what, you CAN get to the boardwalk from either direction because they have a crossing to the other side of the highway going under Alligator Alley (I-75). We arrived and the roads are a bit of a maze and there are many other spots to stop like a playground, picnic areas, boat ramp, bathrooms and more... but we were here for the boardwalk. It's awesome and surprisingly bigger and higher than I expected. I thought elevated was simply over water but it was VERY HIGH and even had a stairway to a lookout tower but you can access the top of the lookout from the boardwalks. The view is amazing over the Everglades and the parks ponds and landscape; and I liked the informational boards that tell you about a lot of different wildlife. The only bad parts is the heat (it's hot) and the bugs.

This memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was dedicated in 2000. It is a bust of the slain civil…read morerights rights leader with some of his most memorable quotes underneath a pergola with benches. The memorial was developed by a partnership between the historic Pearl City community and the city of Boca Raton, It sits in front of the historic 1918 Ebeneezer Baptist Church. Pearl City is a community plated in 1915. It's residents were the blue collar African Americans employed at resorts, farms, and in construction. The community uses the memorial to stage events on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There is a community breakfast followed by a ceremony with city officials, speeches and music.