http://www.gloria305travels.com/google68e958dd14763a9e.html .

 

Miami was an area inhabited by more than 1,000 years, Pedro Menendez de Aviles and his men, claimed it for Spain in 1566, and it was not until 1896 that Miami was incorporated as a city with a population of around 300 people, where today the Greater Miami Area surpasses 3 million.  The hurricane of 1926 and the Great Depression in the 1930s, weakened it  again.  During World War II, due to its geographical location, South Florida played a major role against German submarines, at that time it had about half a million inhabitants.  It was not until the arrival of the Cubans (fleeing the tyrant Fidel Castro from 1959 to present), that Miami evolved into the Great City that is today.  Some Cubans came with money, but the majority came with 3 sets of clothing per person, no money, no memories, but they had the will power to succeed, the spirit to regain  here what they had lost in their country, and the encouragement to regain freedom of speech, liberty, and to pursue their dreams like their parents did in their homeland.  They didn’t do it alone, there were many Americans  who stayed and help them to make Miami the US Latin American Capital as it is today.  After  the  Cubans, then  came the arrival of  “Nicaraguans”, Colombians, Peruvians, and Venezuelans that have enhanced our beloved city even more .

 

Downtown Miami from Biscayne Bay

 

Miccosukee Indian Casino in West Miami

This ethnic diversity has made our city reflect its mixture of cultures, we have authentic  food from Cubans, Nicaraguan, Argentinian, Peruvian, Mexican, Venezuelan, Colombian, Italian and so on.  Trendy restaurants are: Porcao (Brazilian food), Capital Grille (for steaks), Blue Restaurant (a beautiful sight in the Mandarin Hotel on Brickell Key), the best known for Cuban food are: Sergio’s (which is more economical) 3252 Coral Way. Versailles (famous because the executives and politicians gathered there) 3555 SW 8 St. Tel: (305) 444-0240; Wajiro’s (very good food) 12670  S.W. 8 St.

If you want a good theater, ballet, art galleries, museums, and even gambling (by the end of 2009), Miami has it all.  If you want to learn to dance salsa, there are several schools available, for information go to: www.salsa-art.com.

MATHESON HAMMOCK PARK

MATHESON HAMMOCK PARK 9610 Old Cutler Rd., Miami, Tel: (305) 665-5476.  This park is a very quiet and pretty and it has a  Marina, a good restaurant,  and you can ride a bike or have a picnic there

COCONUT GROVE.

The first IMMIGRATION to this area was in 1825, when the lighthouse of Cape Florida (now a beach called “El Farito”), went into operation, ran by John Dubose.

Now Coconut Grove  has an Art Festival, the Goombay Festival, and others.   What most people do is walk around their busy streets, see their shops, and of course, have lunch in one of its restaurants, many of them in CocoWalk, but it has many outdoor cafes, which are always busy, and at night they are pack full.

Coconut Grove has a beautiful tropical garden, “National Tropical Botanical Garden” also known as “Kampong garden”.

The Barnacle Historic State Park, built in 1891, is one of the oldest houses in Miami-Dade County, is on five acres and his address 3485 Main Highway.

 

Cocunut Grove downtown

 

You can go to Coconut Grove by Metrorail or if you decide to drive there are parking meters in all the streets, if you decide to stay in the area, there are hotels such as  ” Mayfair Hotel and Spa” which is in the mall of the same name, The Ritz-Carlton, the Mutiny Hotel, and there are smaller hotels, at a more reasonable price.  Nearby is the Palacio de Vizcaya and  the Museum of  Science,

Do not forget to visit “La Ermita de la Caridad”, point of reunion for many Cubans.

 

Ermita de la Caridad

La Hermita de la Caridad

 

LITTLE  HAVANA

Little Havana, was named after the concentration of  Cubans that lived and worked in this area.  Currently a few of the original Cubans remain in this area, but the area still remain totally Latin.  It has its festivals such as  ”Calle Ocho Festival”, “Carnival Miami”  and “Cultural Friday” which takes place the last Friday of the month, and where artists sell their work and  the area galleries are open from 8 P.M. to 11 P.M. at  S.W. 8th St. between 22 Ave to 5th Ave, although the main portion is at 8th St. and 16th Ave.

Little Havana house

Another house in Little Havana

KEY BISCAYNE

Key Biscayne is minutes away from downtown Miami.  Admission is $ 1.50 (toll) and I would recommend going the end where Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is located.

Locals call it “El Farito”, and it has 1.2 miles of beach and the park is ready for  walking , cycling, picnic or simply watching the sunset, which is beautiful from there.  Admission to the park is $ 8.00, and is open 9.A.M. 6.PM and if you want to visit the lighthouse (Farito) you must request it at the entrance, and is only open from 9a.m. to 1p.m.

 

EL FARITO

 

SUNSET at EL FARITO

Crandon Park is another beach in Key Biscayne, and it will be on your left after passing the toll, it  is a very good beach.

At the entrance to Key Biscayne, on your right you’ll see a beach, is known as “dog beach” because  you can take your pet there, this beach is not as good as the others, but your pet will love it.

DO NOT FORGET TO USE mosquito repellent.

Key Biscayne is the home to “The Miami Seaquarium” which is an excellent choice if you go with children, it has different shows, and you and the children will have a great time there.

The island has everything. Very good restaurants, shops, banks and very good ambiance. Many people live there full time, this is not a seasonal place, it is an independent city with its own police, they take good care of the  area, and spare no one if you brake the laws, so please do not speed.

I hope you’ll enjoy Miami and their surrounding areas, where all visitors are welcome.

 

PHOTOS by: Gloria and Vily

More photos at: http://gloria305vacaciones.com/miamicoconut-grove-key-biscayneflorida/