Hot Florida destinations with Jill Podehl: You’re just outside West Palm Beach, but it feels like you’re deep in the heart of Africa. At Panther Ridge Conservation Center, some of the world’s big cats wander freely in large, open habitats replicating parts of Africa. The brainchild of Judy Berens, who still runs it, Panther Ridge began back in the 90s, when people started bringing her big cats they no longer wanted or could care for. It wasn’t long before she found herself caring for several big cats, so she began searching for land where she could create a refuge for injured or endangered animals and nurse them back to health. Today, a mix of tigers, rare black panthers, jaguars, mountain lions, cheetahs, and smaller cats such as ocelots roam Panther Ridge, and you can watch Judy enter their cages and cuddle with them. Guided tours are available, including a fun twilight tour, a keeper experience, as well as a thrilling opportunity to interact with one of the park’s elusive leopards. Discover additional details on Jill Podehl West Palm Beach, Florida.
With a name as titular as Miami Beach, it’s no surprise that this is one of the best things to do in Miami. You’ll find that a lot of visitors to Miami come to visit primarily for Miami Beach alone! This is the crown jewel of the region. Technically speaking, Miami Beach is a larger area, but it’s most referred to for its white sand stretch of beaches. This also, technically, includes South Beach. There’s something for everyone at Miami Beach – lively nightlife, lots of spas, great shopping and dining, and much more. Be prepared to spend a good amount of money here unless you’re cautious enough to find the thriftier areas!
Hosting over 150 specialty and tourist shops, cafes and restaurants, Bayside Market place has it all. As well as well known chain stores visitors will find an array of charming boutiques in this outdoor style mall. Located along Miami’s waterfront, as the name suggests, many locals come here to soak up the lively atmosphere and admire the bay, with its daily live music and fun vibe the Bayside Market does not fail to entertain. But to truly enjoy a vacation you also need a nice place to stay.
Do you want to bath in the sun ? Miami is a perfect destination to relax. What can you see in Miami? Little Havana, the Cuban district of Miami, isn’t known for its wealth of tourist attractions but more for its distinctive cultural scene. Restaurants and specialty food shops line the streets, and Latin music drifts through the air. Locals socialize in the open spaces. Murals grace the walls of buildings, showing important Cuban figures and scenes of daily life. Calle Ocho is the main thoroughfare running through the district and home to much of the activity, but Little Havana spreads well beyond, into the surrounding streets and avenues. For people-watching, the area offers a great deal of entertainment. And of course, this is the place to come for Cuban cuisine. The Calle Ocho Festival, held in March, is a celebration of Cuban culture and the largest of its kind in the world. Over the years this street festival has expanded to include more Latin American cultures and is now a great way to experience Latin American music and Caribbean cuisine.
Fabulous Florida travel destinations by 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.
You probably have already heard of South Beach, or “SoBe”, since it’s often considered one of the best, hottest places to go in the city of Miami, Florida. It’s a famous beach that’s packed with visitors most of the time, with its guests often including the famous or wealthy. Adding to its bright and cheery aesthetic are structures and buildings in an art deco style that, against the beachfront flanked by palm trees, make exploring SoBe a great way to spend your time this week or any week. In the mornings, you can enjoy the sun beneath umbrellas or swim out in the cool waters of the tropics, or even participate in some water sports. Discover additional details at Jill Podehl West Palm Beach, Florida.
Visitors to Greater Miami will discover a whole wide world of exciting attractions, from the natural wonders of Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park to the postcard-perfect architecture of South Beach’s Art Deco Historic District. Creating your perfect itinerary means choosing from the nearly endless variety of enticing options. Delicious food, stunning natural environments, incredible art collections and museums, and fascinating historic monuments all come together to create an amazing city with a lot to share.