Essential Florida destinations by Jill Podehl
Jill Podehl Florida destinations 2024: One winter some years back, officials at Florida Power & Light’s facility just north of West Palm Beach began noticing that manatees were congregating around the facility’s warm-water outflow, and the idea for Manatee Lagoon was born. Today, Manatee Lagoon is one of the best places to visit in Florida to see these gentle 1,500- to 2,000-pound creatures. Manatees love people. If they see you on a dock, they’ll swim right up and have even been known to roll over in the water, so people can pat their bellies. On the endangered list for many years, they’re now making a comeback, and today some 6,000 manatees are known to inhabit the waters around the state, more than almost any other place in the world. As a result, there’s even talk of removing them from the endangered species list. Manatee Lagoon’s Discovery Center features imaginative hands-on exhibits, observation areas, a manatee webcam, and an outdoor deck at which the manatees congregate, especially in winter. The star of the show is Mia, whose travels and interactions with other sea cows you can track. Read more information at https://www.dailymotion.com/jillpodehl.
South Beach is an absolutely iconic, very much beloved beach in Miami. It’s also famous across the country, making it one of the most beautiful landmarks in the USA. South Beach covers a whopping 15 or so city blocks of space, stretching across a large part of Miami. It’s free to access and can be visited from many different parts of the city. Given the size of South Beach, there’s plenty of space to rest, relax, or enjoy the sun and surf. Kiosks line the beach’s entire length, providing rentable items like umbrellas and lounge chairs. Snack bars and stalls offer knickknacks, food, and drinks in case you need anything. If you have more money to spend, many hotels along the stretch have special, private parts of the beach too!
Providing animals with habitats close to their natural setting, Zoo Miami visitors get the sensation of exploring a real safari. With open-air exhibits and a cage free environment, zoo visitors have a chance to enjoy endangered wildlife up close. With lots of interaction with the animals, Zoo Miami while not the biggest is fantastic for families especially for the younger ones with a children’s zoo featuring a range of different attractions including camel rides! But to truly enjoy a vacation you also need a nice place to stay.
Do you need to enjoy a blue sky on a perfect beach ? Miami is a perfect place to relax. What can you see in Miami? Jungle Island is a bird sanctuary, wildlife habitat, and botanical garden. Parrots and other exotic birds fly about in tropical forest settings, some of which take part in daily shows. Larger animals, including tigers, baboons, alligators, tortoises, monkeys, and orangutans are also a big part of the attraction. The gardens contain around 2,000 varieties of exotic plants, including heliconias, bananas, orchids, and bromeliads. Jungle Island was affected by Hurricane Irma in the fall of 2017 and is closed for improvements until mid-2018.
Top Florida destinations from Jill Podehl: No trip to Miami is complete without a visit to Little Havana. This vibrant, south-of-downtown neighborhood is packed with art galleries, unique shops, and busy restaurants and bars. Explore the area: Head to Maximo Gomez Park (known as Domino Park by the locals) for a real flavor of Hispanic culture, to watch men playing dominoes outdoors, smoking cigars and arguing about politics. Look out for the huge mural depicting the Summit of the Americas in 1993. The neighborhood Calle Ocho is located in the center of it all, where you can watch the markets and street stands in action while soaking up some Cuban culture. Fan of Latin cinema? Another highlight is the Little Havana Paseo de las Estrellas (Walk of the Stars), which is a Latin American version of the Hollywood Walk of the Stars, commemorating Latin American actors, writers, artists and musicians.
While you’re here, check out the Art Deco Museum or go for a walking tour, which spans about 90 minutes, through the neighborhood, led by the Miami Design Preservation League. You’ll be able to learn more about the finer details of each architectural decision, ranging from the floors to the facades, in a more in-depth, crash-course-type way. It’s undoubtedly one of the top things to do in Miami! The Ancient Spanish Monastery, known originally by the rather long name “The Monastery of Our Lady, Queen of the Angels”, dates back centuries to the year 1133. Read even more information on Jill Podehl.
If art is your thing, the Wynwood Arts District is a perfect spot to explore the eye-opening world of street art. Find it at Wynwood Walls – an outdoor museum dedicated to the artform – and throughout this hip neighborhood. Or, pay a visit to the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) to peruse its collection of contemporary art of the Americas, housed in a stunning building overlooking Biscayne Bay in Downtown Miami that was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects Herzog & de Meuron. Right next door, you can see amazing sights at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, which houses both an aquarium and a planetarium. 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.