As we were arriving in the Florida Keys, I noticed this monument and wanted to make sure to return…read morehere and learn about what had happened. A powerful Category 5 hurricane hit on September 2, 1935 (Labor Day) and it remains the strongest on record in the United States with winds reaching 185 miles per hour. The storm killed over 400+ people across the Florida Keys and many of these people were military veterans. The memorial holds all the ashes of those who lost their lives. It's a beautiful memorial and so glad we took the time to pay homage to all the souls lost here.

A quick stop on our way back north but worth it. A very interesting and sad part of the Keys…read morehistory. There are some nice descriptive panels both in front and behind the monument. You can tell this was built during the 30s given the classic WPA design. Turn off of Hwy and spend a few minutes checking this out.

This historic park has a lot of great history here. I'd recommend reading about it on Wikipedia and…read moremany other websites. It's an island off the coast of Islamorada, FL. It was a fun trip from Robbies. We rented 5 kayaks to go out on the water. Most of the water was shallow until after you get past the bridge, the water will become deeper. They provide you a path to follow and a map to ensure that you stay away from the current. You have the option to go with a guide, but we went together and did just fine. It took us 35 minutes to get from Robbies to the Island via Kayak. When you arrive, they have an area that they recommend you to park your kayaks at. Now there are other locations but if you seen them, this is the best location to stop at for sure. The island is small and difficult to understand that there was a neighborhood here once upon a time in 1863, over 100 years ago. We were able to make it to the other side of the island. Members of our team decided to go swimming at the top of the surface to see what they seen under the water. One thing it was very hot on this day, so it worked our well. The island doesn't have lots to offer, but can be a good day to paddle out, explore, even take a lunch and relax until it's time to go back.

Indian Key State Historic Site is situated on an island, and configured to illustrate its history…read more  It's a fun and easy trip by kayak from Robbie's Kayak Shop.  Tip: When you're on the island you'll find well-marked signs that guide you on a walk around the points of interest.  You can even download an audio about the tour and play it on your phone. This is a nice way to spend an hour or so, and it makes coming here even more fun if you come by kayak :-)

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.

One of the cool landmarks located in Homestead is a static display of the F-4 Phantom fighter…read morebomber. Per the US Airforce: "This particular static display was dedicated to its spot on U.S. 1 in November of 1989. Homestead ARB hosted a squadron of F-4s from 1981 to 1989. The fighter jet was introduced throughout the Air Force in 1958 and retired by the Air Force in 1996. But between the base and the city of Homestead, the static display represents much more." Certainly a cool thing to see when I used to drive around Homestead. I mean what do other local cities/towns have nearby in other parts of the county?

I had the pleasure of visiting this museum after a free yoga class hosted by Miami Dade College as…read morean activation. The museum is beautiful, very modern, with a lot of interactive stations. It is also a lovely tribute to the Cuban immigration story to the United States, and their indelible impact on the development of Miami. They had real accounts of Cubans and how they were not only processed through the Freedom Tower but also glimpses into the Cuban exodus as a whole. I happened to go while the FIFA exhibit was still there, and was very impressed with what they were showcasing, but also how it was all presented. Overall, if you're visiting from out of town or a local who wants to learn more about Miami, this cool historic building (that once also housed the Miami Newspaper) is a definite must-see.

Had the opportunity to finally visit the Freedom Tower and was amazed by the architecture and…read morecurrent exhibitions. I came for one of the recent MoAD panels discussing Purvis Young and his work. Looking forward to coming back and spending more time with the exhibitions to really appreciate the work, history, and intention of the space.

Fred is just a random tree who survive well on old 7-mile bridge. you can stop to visit, just keep…read moredriving on the new 7 mile bridge and watch out for Fred, remember to take picture when you passby Fred the tree.

Fred The Tree Overseas Heritage Trail Florida 4-29-25 What…read morecan I say about Fred? He is always a welcoming site on our way to Key West. I always wave and take pictures of Fred as he lives between Mile marker 41 and 42 on the old 7-mile bridge. No one knows how Fred got there or how he survives. He is a true beacon of strength and durability. I feel if Fred can survive everything mother nature throws at him in life so can I. A true hero for sure. Make sure you wave and take pictures as you are going by. I give Fred 5 out of 5 stars for his survival through tough times. Follow Me For More Reviews and Fun. Gulf Coast Terry

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!

The seven remaining structures can be seen in the park I was walking at…read more Stiltsville is a group of wood stilt houses located one mile south of Cape Florida, on sand banks of the Safety Valve on the edge of Biscayne Bay in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The structures stand on wood or reinforced concrete pilings, generally ten feet above the shallow water, which varies from one to three feet deep at low tide. View from the Cape Florida Light History Most sources claim the first stilt shack was built in the early 1930s, but some Dade County historians say that there were a dozen shacks in "the flats" as early as 1922. Crawfish Eddie "Crawfish" Eddie Walker built a shack on stilts above the water in 1933, toward the end of the prohibition era, allegedly to facilitate gambling, which was legal at one mile offshore. Crawfish Eddie sold bait and beer from his shack and was known for a dish he called chilau, a crawfish chowder made with crawfish he caught under his shack. Thomas Grady and Leo Edward, two of Eddie's fishing buddies, built their own shack in 1937. Shipwrecking and channel dredging brought many people to the area and more shacks were constructed, some by boating and fishing clubs. Local newspapers called the area "the shacks" and "shack colony". Crawfish Eddie's original shack was destroyed by the late-season Hurricane King of 1950. Calvert Club at Stiltsville Calvert Club The first social club built at Stiltsville was constructed during the late 1930s and named the Calvert Club. The Miami Beach Rod & Reel Club was organized in 1929 and held its first official outing at the Stiltsville Calvert Club in August 1938. A club picture was taken in front of the club, which was popular enough to have picture postcards printed with its image. Quarterdeck Club The Quarterdeck Club, built on a barge by Commodore Edward Turner, opened in November, 1940. The club gained popularity after an article about the club appeared in Life magazine on February 10, 1941. The article noted that this was an "extraordinary American community dedicated solely to sunlight, salt water and the well-being of the human spirit." The club was described as "a $100,000 play-palace equipped with bar, lounge, bridge deck, dining room and dock slips for yachts". The local newspapers began running stories and photographs of parties with celebrities. The Quarterdeck Club was viewed by tourists as a "must see" attraction at Miami Beach, Florida. Rumors of gambling persisted, and the club was raided in 1949, but no evidence of gambling was found. Hotelman Warren Freeman purchased the club in 1950 and envisioned it as a high-class operation. The structure was renovated and expanded, only to be heavily damaged by Hurricane King late in the season. Dejected and broke, Freeman sold what remained. The club was rebuilt, but never regained the popularity of its early years. Hurricane Donna in 1960 damaged most of the structures in Stiltsville, including the Quarterdeck Club, then the building was completely destroyed by a fire in 1961 that burned all the way to the pilings. The rumor was that the owner's wife set fire to the club after a jealous fit. Karl Mongelluzzo, the last owner of the Quarterdeck Club, was denied a building permit in 1967. Party Central Stiltsville may not have looked like much, but in the 1940s and 1950s, it was a popular place where lawyers, bankers, politicians, and other moneyed, well-connected Miamians came to drink, relax and kick back. Law enforcement periodically visited the area, looking for vice activities.

A boat or watercraft is needed to reach Stiltsville as it is 1 mile due south of Key Biscayne…read more Hurricane Andrew destroyed must of the home and businesses. It is a great way to view the Miami coast from sea.

Unexpected and funky! Fun visuals in Miami Beach. Stumbled upon this art deco surprise I didn't…read moreknow I needed.

I went on a free walking tour of Miami Beach and what appears to be a giant side boob stuck between…read moretwo buildings was there. Apparently, it's a bridge to connect two buildings and inside you don't even know you're inside it. It looks cool from the outside. I'm glad they added the color illuminating lights in his alley way.

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.