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've lived here for most of my life and somehow I don't think I've ever been to the Stranahan…read moreHouse, despite passing right by it a million times. They recently started offering free tours for locals on Wednesdays, so I decided to take advantage. It's a free self-guided tour, and they give you an audio device that gives you all the information on each room. The volunteer who checked me in was super sweet. Stranahan House is the oldest structure in Broward County, and I really enjoyed learning more about the history of the area, and especially about Ivy Stranahan's activism. It really gave me a new appreciation for the area. My favorite part was the upstairs porch, with a beautiful, relaxing view of the New River. I took the volunteer's advice and sat up there for a minute enjoying it instead of rushing through, and I'm so glad I did. Be aware that upstairs isn't air conditioned, so half of the tour is really hot. Dress accordingly or bring a fan! Overall, I'd highly recommend stopping by! It's something fun to do that's a nice change of pace.

My husband and I finally took a self-guided tour here since we saw they recently made it free…read moreadmission on Wednesday's for locals and it's definitely worth the visit! The tour took about 45 minutes and was super interesting and informative. Just a heads up that the second floor isn't air conditioned so it was just a little warm up there!

Vanderbilt Mansion offers some history. It is now part of the Fisher island club…read more The historic Mediterranean-style Vanderbilt Mansion was designed by renowned Palm Beach architect Maurice Fatio in 1935. It houses the Garwood Lounge and Piano Bar, the Snooker Club Billiards, the City View Café, the Library Drawing Room and Salon, Café Tangier, the Grand Ballroom, and a heated saltwater pool. While Fisher Island was bought by Carl Fisher in 1919, only a year later it was traded to William Vanderbilt II. The heir interestingly received the island in exchange for a large boat and only ten dollars. Over the next two decades, the Vanderbilts owned Fisher Island where they constructed an airplane landing dock, many large houses, and their ornate mansion that is still the island's centerpiece. Ownership has changed many times since Vanderbilt's death in 1944, with Fisher Island Club holding the reins since 1987.

If you have ever been to downtown Miami, the Freedom Tower looms large as an iconic landmark. But…read moredo you know its history? Come along with me as we check it out. Admission is normally $18 for adults, but on the first weekend of each month, Bank of America account holders can visit for free through the Museums on Us program. You can also park for free in the Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus Garage, located just a block from the tower. The story of the Freedom Tower begins with James Middleton Cox, a former Ohio congressman, governor, and presidential candidate who came to Miami in 1923. He built the tower in 1925 to house his newly purchased newspaper, The Miami Daily News and Metropolis, which later became The Miami News. With 17 floors, the tower became Miami's first skyscraper. It was designed by the prestigious New York architectural firm Schultze and Weaver, which also designed the Waldorf Astoria New York, The Breakers, and the Hotel Sevilla-Biltmore. The Miami News Tower was modeled after the Giralda bell tower of the Cathedral of Seville in Spain. It was designed in the Mediterranean Revival style, which was popular during Florida's land boom years of the 1920's. In 1957, Miami News moved out of the tower. From 1962 to 1974, it was the home of the Cuban Refugee Center, which opened following the Cuban Revolution. Enacted during President John F. Kennedy's administration, the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 authorized aid for the large number of Cubans fleeing the island in search of political asylum. The U.S. government leased the building to process, document, and provide medical and dental care for the influx of Cuban exiles. During this period, the building became known as "El Refugio" ("The Refuge"), or the Freedom Tower. Nicknamed the "Ellis Island of the South," the Freedom Tower became a symbol of hope and freedom for those seeking democracy. After the refugee center closed, the tower was sold, fell into neglect, and was nearly demolished. Community leaders stepped in to save it, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. In 1997, the tower was purchased by Jorge Mas Canosa, founder and leader of the Cuban American National Foundation. He passed away only two months after purchasing the building, but his family continued with his restoration plans. In 2004, they sold the tower to another Cuban American family, the Pedro Martin family. In 2005, the building was donated to Miami Dade College, the largest Hispanic-serving institution of higher education in the United States. The tower was designated a National Historic Landmark on October 6, 2008. In July 2025, the Freedom Tower celebrated its 100th anniversary. As part of the centennial celebration, the tower underwent significant renovations, including several new exhibits. These include Libertad, a permanent exhibition on the first and second floors that tells the story of how Miami was shaped by immigration through digital installations, personal testimonials, and historic artifacts. Another exhibit, El Refugio in Context, examines the Freedom Tower's role as a Cuban Refugee Center during the 1960s. One room has been recreated to look as it did when the tower served as a Cuban processing center. Another exhibit, Unidad: The World's Game, was created by the FIFA Museum and showcases how soccer, or fútbol, inspires and connects billions of people around the world. Visitors can explore historic artifacts, interactive stations, and immersive installations. I expect this exhibit to be especially popular when the FIFA World Cup comes to Miami in June. The tournament is the most prestigious competition in international soccer, bringing together the world's best men's national teams every four years to compete for the sport's highest honor. I also enjoyed viewing Languages of Migration in the Kislak Center. This exhibition explores global migration through rare maps, colonial-era artifacts, and contemporary art. The Freedom Tower is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. I very much enjoyed my visit and highly recommend adding this historic landmark to any itinerary that includes downtown Miami. The exhibits bring Miami's rich history to life. Freedom is not free, and the tower stands as a powerful reminder of that through the stories and memories of those who have left their mark on this important cultural landmark.

We explored this museum the other day, and I was so impressed! It was incredibly well done, and is…read morebeautiful inside. The majority of it has to do with the history of Cuban immigration to the U.S., but there was also history of the building and of Miami, an exhibition about the "languages of migration", and there was a FIFA museum inside. There were so many different media types to take in all the information, and a lot of it was interactive. We were there about 2.5 hours and that's with our 3-year-old and trying to rush bc she was hungry for lunch. I would definitely go back to take in more.

This vernacular frame structure is the oldest home in Boynton Beach. The house was built in 1907 by…read moreBert L. Kapp, a Dutchman who moved to Boynton from Michigan. He sold the house to A.E. Parker, Major Nathan S. Boynton's son-in-law. The house then passed into the possession of Charles Lee Andrews, a Confederate Civil War veteran and his 42 year younger wife Katie. When Katie passed away in 1971 she was still collecting her husbands Civil War veteran benefits. She was the last person to collect them in Palm Beach. Katie's son and daughter inherited the house and after her son passed away and his widow moved out it deteriorated. In 1998 Boynton resident Bob Katz bought the house and restored it. He had the house moved to the lot next door. He passed away at the age of 50 leaving the ownership of the house without a resolution. I saw the house during the Pirate and Mermaid Festival. It was decorated for Halloween and singers were performing from the porch. It's such a cute house and an important part of Boynton Beach's history. It would be wonderful if the city could gain ownership of it and open it up for tours.

I always love discovering a bit of history and this marker is Hollywood magic right here in Miami…read more On Ocean Drive in South Beach is a plaque honoring that the building appeared in the movie Scarface. It used to be an apartment building but it is now a CVS that still has much of its original architecture. The rooms that were used for filming during the movie are now part of the pharmacy. Scarface is a 1983 film based on a 1929 novel and a 1932 movie. It tells the story of a mobster based on real life criminal Al Capone. In the movie Cuban refuge Tony Montana played by Al Pacino comes to Miami during the Marial boatlift in 1980 when Cuba released jail inmates and mental hospital patients who then fled the island for Florida. The film charts Tony Montana's humble arrival in Miami to his transformation as a wealthy murdering drug lord. Other people who appeared in the movie were Steven Bauer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Michelle Pfeiffer in her first dramatic role. The movie marker is at the entrance of the staircase used during the filming of the chain saw scene. Look for it to the right of the stairs and to the left of the main entry to the building. You might think the city of Miami was pleased to be depicted in a Hollywood film but it was not. They were concerned about the movie's portrayal of Cuban Americans so civic leaders pushed to get filming moved out of Florida. Very little was actually filmed in South Beach and the filmmakers continued production in New York and California. If you are in the area its a great place to stop for a selfie.

Okay, I know rating a plaque 5 stars is a little over the top BUT Scarface is one of my all time…read morefavorite movies and I HAD to check this place out. Oddly we were looking for a drug store, so it was a win/win when we found out the old Sun Ray Hotel, the Scarface scene of the coke deal with Colombians and chainsaw body mutilation were one and the same! Super cool to just envision the whole thing, then go in and get some water, snacks and toiletries at the CVS!

Great little place to drive by and observe great views of the 10,000 islands. Only $5 to go to the…read moreobservation deck so buy something at the gift shop or go kayaking!

I was out exploring Everglades City and as I was leaving the area from the Ted Smallwood store I…read morecame upon this tower named for a Florida pioneer. The 75 foot tower was built in 1984 by Thomas Mitchell. To access the tower you go behind the store to a boardwalk that takes you to the tower. You plug $2 into the machine and it gives you a coin that allows you access through the turnstile. From there it is an easy 108 steps to the top and an awesome view of the mangroves, Chokoloskee Island, Everglades, and Ten Thousand Islands. I enjoyed watching a roseate spoonbill fly past one of the islands. This is a nice place to shoot some pictures if you are in the area of Everglades City.

Nice, interesting little park with a few descriptive signs. If you are riding the Water Taxi, it's…read morea great place to spend time while you are waiting for the next boat.

I've been here several times. I didn't realize it, but the last time was exactly 5 years ago in…read moreJuly 2014. This was shortly after it had been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. At the time it was only the 2nd place in Pompano listed. For some reason, my review wasn't listed in Yelp at the time. Since I was first here, the trees have grown and the lawns have become lush and green. One of the newer plaques lists the various trees planted here in memoriam. They were all donated. It is within view of the intracoastal waterway. This is what I wrote about it before -- all still true: This prehistoric Indian Mound Park honors the ancestors of the Tequesta Indians who used to bury the bones of their ancestors all together in large piles. It is now covered with grass and in the middle of the mound is a small pedestal with a plaque on it saying that it was created as a ceremonial burial place about 1300 AD. Surrounding the green grassy hill and central plaque is a small path and a couple benches. In front of the benches, there are pedestals with more information about the Mound. One embedded plaque (looks original) on the ground indicates it is also a bird sanctuary. The large leafy trees make it a shady spot for reflection and rest. There have never been any other people there when I've visited. Parking is limited nearby. There are a few spaces along the street parallel to the intracoastal.