The only US zoo set in a subtropical climate, Metrozoo mesmerizes visitors with remarkable exhibits and creatures from around the world. Favorite animals include clouded leopards,... Read more »
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Local Expert Attraction Recommendations
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10Best List: Out in the sun or under the moonlight, Miami's attractions are always hot
Each year, thousands of people flock to Miami just to sit on the beach and enjoy the weather. While you are here, dig your toes out of the sand, if only for a day, to experience all the magic the rest of the city has to offer.
About Miami, FL Attractions
Between ocean vistas and lush, tropical landscapes, man-made Miami tourist attractions are hard-pressed to compete with what nature put there. Even so, the artistry exhibited Miami city attractions gives beaches a run for their money. Foremost among them is the 1916 winter estate called Vizcaya, an iconic Miami destination that was painstakingly designed to mimic an authentic Italian villa. Another landmark from the same era, the Venetian Pool, is a fantasy of grottos, waterfalls and Mediterranean architecture, constructed around an abandoned rock quarry.
Charting more recent history are the Holocaust Memorial, a beautiful Miami museum whose enormous bronze hand hints simultaneously at hope and despair. Another tension – that of nature versus human intervention – gets a measure of reconciliation at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, where a rainforest and arboretum highlight gorgeous, warm-weather specimens. Directly related is The Kampong, the former winter home of renowned horticulturalist David Fairchild. This serene attraction is a hidden gem in Coconut Grove and features spacious gardens filled with plants discovered throughout his global expeditions, as well as one of the largest mangrove preserves in South Florida.
Exotic plants are complimented by exotic animals located at Jungle Island and Zoo Miami. Jungle island, located on Watson Island, is home to over 300 birds and the largest cat in the world, the liger. The Miami-Dade County Zoological Park and Gardens, or Zoo Miami, invites visitors to hand-feed tigers and giraffes, and stroll or bike the three-mile path featuring over 2,000 animals. No matter your interests, a trip to Miami is sure to be one of excitement and adventure.
- Miami Expert Maria Arroyave
