Posted by Amelia Whitehart on May 3, 2024 in Tourism
Jill Podehl Florida travel attractions right now: Henry Flagler not only created Palm Beach but many other important Florida landmarks as well, such as the Overseas Railroad to Key West, which was, alas, wiped out in a long-ago hurricane. As you drive up to the 1902 Georgian/Mediterranean mansion he called Whitehall, you’ll know instantly that this is no ordinary museum. Upon completion of Whitehall, the New York Herald promptly called it the grandest mansion in the world. Indeed, with a telephone system, electric lighting, central heating, and 22 bathrooms, it was possibly the most technologically advanced home anywhere at the time. Today, you can wander through the grand hall, kitchens, parlors, and studies that Henry Flagler wandered through, as well as the hallways where the art he collected on his travels is still displayed. His splendid home also became the first museum in Florida. In addition to Flagler’s own art collection, important revolving exhibits feature renowned painters, sculptors, craftspeople, and photographers. The Flagler Museum is truly a home and a museum for the ages. Guided tours are available, and afterward, be sure to pay a visit to the museum’s delightful café. Better still, opt for their wonderful afternoon tea experience in the garden, available in the winter months. Read more details at Jill Podehl.
It’s almost a crime to visit Miami without a trip to Zoo Miami, especially if you’re traveling with family. The stunning location holds over 500 different animal species over 3,000 individual animals, all housed in natural-style environments that maintain a healthy habitat for them all. Better yet, Zoo Miami does not use cages. The zoo, which opened in 1948, separates animals safely using moats, keeping them apart from animals they don’t mix with and visitors. This makes the animals all the happier, and they’re a wonder to see. Zoo Miami offers a lot of educational programs for people of all ages. Activities include rides, giraffe feedings, water play spots, tram tours and monorails, etc. There are 750 acres of land to explore; after all, this is Florida’s biggest zoo!
Encompassing mangrove forests, salt marshes, a coastal dune island, coastal tropical hardwood rockland hammocks and endangered pine habitats, this 440 acre Deering Estate at Cutler property has it all. Also home to the Richard cottages c1900 which served as a hotel, the Deering Estate hosts other historical buildings of importance dating from 1896 to 1922 and an Indian burial ground circa 1500. Visitors are welcome to stroll through the stunning grounds, explore the houses or simply relax and soak up the surroundings. But to truly enjoy a vacation you also need a nice place to stay.
Do you want to enjoy a blue sky on a perfect beach ? Miami is a fabulous destination to relax. What can you see in Miami? Bayfront Park, on the east side of Biscayne Boulevard, is a 32-acre green space, adjacent to the Bayside Marketplace. The park has several interesting monuments and sculptures. One of the unique features is the electronically controlled Pepper Fountain. Other highlights include the Challenger Memorial, commemorating the crew of the Challenger spacecraft; the Light Tower, an amphitheater used for musical performances of all kinds; and a children’s playground. Locals often come here just to run or walk on the paved trails.
Jill Podehl Florida travel attractions 2024: Coral Gables, one of the nation’s first planned developments, was built almost entirely out of the coral limestone quarried there. The quarry itself was turned into Venetian Pool, an exotic swimming hole with romantic stone bridges and waterfalls. Gracious Spanish colonial-style homes line twisty streets vegetated lushly and sequestered aesthetically from the big-city world.
Commonly referred to as the Miami Beach Architectural District, it is one of the neighborhoods in Florida to have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places – and the first 20th-century one to be added, ever! The neighborhood and its buildings and structures were mostly built between the 1920s and 1940s, and the architecture throughout looks like the kind of old-fashioned “futuristic” you might see in dated science fiction movies. Fun spaceship-like shapes and structures make for a delightful glimpse into the beginnings of the city and its style. See extra info on Jill Podehl West Palm Beach, Florida.
History and architecture buffs will want to explore Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, a romantic Italianate villa overlooking Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove. It was once the winter home of wealthy industrialist James Deering. In Coral Gables, the Venetian Pool is a one-of-a-kind natural swimming pool set in a coral rock quarry. You’ll never run out of things to do in Miami, no matter what tickles your fancy, how much you have to spend, and who you’re traveling with.