This is my favorite trail in Everglades NP. It has an elevated walkway above water and water…read morelillies. Park rangers lead frequent walks here, too. I think the entire walk is about a mile, but is suitable for those with limited mobility. I am not usually here in December, so I was surprised that I only saw one alligator. I usually visit in March/April, when it's gator mating season and I probably see a hundred. In the one area of the board walk, the great blue heron walked leisurely hunting small fish with no fear of a gator. There were minnows and even a decent sized fish. There is ample parking at the trail head, restrooms and a gift shop. They furnish blue tarps to protect vehicles from vultures, which can be particularly bad at some times of the year. This is the most scenic, walkable trail in the park.

The best nature trail I have visited for a long time. Flat accessible trail/ all paved or wood…read moreboardwalk. Bird watching, gator watching, flora and fauna were extraordinary! Saw four gators, spoonbills, blue herons and much more. Fast trip over from Lauderdale or Miami. I went on a rainy day and it was excellent activity.

gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. lots of history here. had a private tour for my class's field trip…read more super cool place, they're doing a really amazing job restoring the forest

There is a lot of history here at this 15 acre preserve. The land is currently owned by EEL, the…read moreDepartment of Environmentally Endangered Lands. The preserve is named after Hattie Bauer a school teacher, whose pioneer family homesteaded in the early 1900's. Hattie passed away in 1961. The land became a private farm in 1922 and a year later it was sold to Lee Arthur Fennell who turned it into one of Miami's first roadside attractions, Fennell's Orchid Jungle which opened in 1923.. Four generations of the Fennell family occupied the land for 70 years until 1992 when Hurricane Andrew destroyed the attraction. Fortunately for the Fennell family their luck changed when they won several million dollars in the lottery. Shortly after that the land was was purchased by the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program and Florida Communities Trust who turned it into a preserve. In 1999 Orchid Jungle was designated as a historic site by Miami -Dade County. The preserve has a loop trail with interpretive boards. Some of the old historic Orchid Jungle buildings remain but you are not allowed to go in them. The trail goes through a tropical hardwood hammock lined with gumbo limbo and oak trees which add to the feeling that you are walking in a jungle. The preserve contains rare plant species including ferns that grow in the solution holes formed when acid rain eroded the oolitic limestone. The Miami-Dade Parks Department periodically runs $6 guided hikes through Hattie Bauer. Call (305) 242-7688 for future dates.

One of two trails from the Royal Palms Visitor Center in the Everglades National Park. This hike is…read morea flat, easy 0.4 mile loop. While the nearby Anhinga Trail is wide open with plenty of chances to see the alligators and crocodiles, Gumbo Limbo is more of a rainforest-like trail with gumbo limbo trees and other plants. While this trail is beautiful, it was so unexpected for what I expected to find in the Everglades. If you have limited time in the park, definitely recommend stopping at Royal Palm Visitor Center to hit both the Gumbo Limbo and the Anginha Trails. That being said, even though Gumbo Limbo is short, if you only have time for one, the Anhinga Trail would be the top choice for your chance to see the typical wildlife of the Everglades.

The Gumbo Limbo Trail is a .4 mile paved loop trail that leaves from the Royal Palm visitor center…read morein Everglades National Park. 100,000 years ago this area was covered by a shallow sea. In the late 1800's the land was called Paradise Key and owned by Henry Flagler who built the railroad in Florida. With the help of environmental activists Ernest Coe and Marjory Stoneman Douglas the land became a state park in the early 1940s. On December 6th, 1947, the government set aside 1.5 million acres of protected land which was just a small fraction of its original size, and created Everglades National Park The paved trail takes you through the tropical hammock that is a slightly higher elevation than the surrounding wetlands. Along the way you will pass the peeling gumbo limbo trees. They are nicknamed the tourist tree because their peeling bark looks like the peeling skin from a sunburn that tourists get when they visit Florida. Native and Spanish settlers used the trees for it's resin which can be used to make glue or water repellent coatings for shelter construction. More recently the wood was used to carve merry-go-round horses and as natural fence posts. Other plants along the trail are pigeon plum, strangler figs, and large ferns. The plants create a dense jungle canopy. On the ground you will notice solution holes made from oolitic limestone, a sedimentary rock full of holes made when acid from water and decaying plant life passed through and dissolved it. These holes are important to life because they can trap water which sustains wildlife during the dry months. The trail crosses over a small boardwalk that goes over a solution hole and you end the trail facing back at the visitor's center. While you won't see the wildlife you see on the adjacent Anhinga Trail, this short trail is still a pretty stroll through the hammock.

Our next summer adventure with the kids take us to Quail Root Park located in miami with a category…read moreof  4.6 and more than 155 reviews this park is the best. With four different designs for children, one looks like a pirate ship, another a castle, it also has walls to climb and more attractions so that the little ones in the family have a day full of unforgettable fun. High recommend place if you want your childrens having a perfect day.

So we didn't even know this park existed until we got off the highway to head to The Berry Farm…read more Saw it and thought, "WOW!!!" Because that is your first instinct when you see the park from afar. It's a ridiculously BIG PARK!!! We went to The Berry Farm and had to stop by this park on the way home. Had to!!! MUST!!! The entrance to the park is weird and you enter through the shopping plaza and it's on your far left. Don't worry, you're going the right way. You'll see it at the end. Can't miss it. When you walk it, the park has a huge wow factor because you just can't believe how big this park really is. Needless to say, my kids were in heaven. I joked and said I paid to get into The Berry Farm but this awesome park is free! Haha. There are basically three different sections. Left, middle and right side. It's pretty AMAZING!!! Check out the photos and see for yourself. I wish we had a super cool park like this close to our home.

The history of Cuba is deeply intertwined with that of Miami. With the recent indictment of Raúl…read moreCastro, Fidel Castro's brother, for his alleged role in the 1996 shootdown of two civilian aircraft operated by Brothers to the Rescue and the murder of four Americans it seems like an appropriate time to revisit another pivotal chapter in Cuban and Miami history: the Bay of Pigs invasion. In April 1961, Miami served as a central hub for U.S. intelligence and anti Castro operations. More than 1,500 Cuban exiles, known as Brigade 2506, were recruited, trained, and equipped in Miami for a mission to liberate Cuba from communist rule. The invasion took place at the height of the Cold War. However, President John F. Kennedy ultimately declined to provide the level of U.S. military support many believed had been promised, fearing escalation of hostilities with the Soviet Union. The operation ended in failure, resulting in more than 100 deaths and the capture of approximately 1,200 members of the brigade. In the years that followed, many Cuban Americans, feeling abandoned by the Democratic administration, shifted their political allegiance toward the Republican Party. In 2009, the Bay of Pigs Air Memorial at Miami Executive Airport was designed and constructed. It is maintained by the Cuban Pilots Association. The memorial honors the Cuban and American aviators who lost their lives during the April 1961 invasion. The memorial design resembles a waving Cuban flag, with blue and white stripes painted across the ground and a tall stone monument rising from the location of the flag's star. A centerpiece of the memorial is a retired Douglas B-26 Invader, the light attack bomber flown by many of the aviators during the operation. The Invader was originally developed during World War II carrying the B-26 designation. Miami is home to several other Bay of Pigs memorials, including monuments in Little Havana, Bay of Pigs Memorial Park, and the Bay of Pigs Museum. However, this is the only site where visitors can see an actual aircraft associated with the invasion. If you find yourself near Miami Executive Airport, the Bay of Pigs Air Memorial is well worth a stop.

I searched and found this memorial to learn more about the Bay Of Pigs invasion while I was in…read moreMiami. To my surprise and honor, I met Captain Amado Cantillo, an 85 year old veteran of the actual invasion from 62 years ago! Luckily for me, he was leading maintenance of the memorial this morning. Captain Cantillo led the creation of this monument and shared his personal story as a frogman in the Bay of Pigs invasion. It was my honor to meet him, learn his story and respect his passion for freedom. Life is good and respectful with a personal story of important history.

Everything went well. The employees were very nice , friendly and helpful. The manager was polite…read moreand helping everyone with the equipment. Nice ice skating . Great place , amazing experience. Thank you for this great idea . Congratulations to the city of Homestead for this

Enjoyed strolling through this park...seeing multiple generations enjoy the amenities...this…read moreevening the trivia games, karaoke, professional singers/DJs graced the stage..excellent food trucks. Will definitely return.

Located at the same trail head as the Anhinga trail so plenty of parking with facilities…read more Although marked accessible, Gumbo Limbo trail is not as well maintained as the Anhinga. I would say this is not wheelchair accessible given the condition of some spots being cracked, pushed up by roots and having drop offs on the sides but it is a short hike and very flat. The tree canopy if this trail provides a full rainforest feel and some If the signage explains that. There's a nice pond overlook that is probably a good spot for alligator sightings and a neat stretch where the original Road to Flamingo was located. If you're stopping at Anhinga trail, this is a nice one to do in the same spot and a completely different experience.

It's a beautiful and readily accessible spot in the Everglades fairly near the entrance to the…read morepark. You'll be able to see water lilies and other flora as well as quite a few bird types along the boardwalks. The rustic trail is gorgeous and highlights just a glimpse of what the original Royal Palm Hammock was like. Great for getting a glimpse of the Glades.

Homestead used to be agricultural and remote and now it's a massive suburbia for people who want to…read morelive near Miami. It's really changed! There used to be like two restaurants and now there is a Chili's and an Olive Garden. Not sure if this is progress or not but choices exist now. The original fruit stand named Robert Is Here still exists and is as unique as ever! Life is good and different with all the changes and massive influx of people to Florida!