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Whilst you could spend several days without entirely exhausting the pleasures and attractions of Miami there are dozens of things to do and see just a short drive from the city.
The African Queen
A must for all film buffs and a great place to spend an hour if driving down to Key West. Situated at the Holiday Inn Dock, Mile Marker 100 Key Largo this is the original "The African Queen" boat from the Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall 1951 film. Built in Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire England in 1912 the boat is now an official Historic Monument. The boat spends a lot of time being transported around the world on promotional tours so call the dock in advance if you are making a special journey on (305) 451-2121.
Ancient Spanish Monastery
Originally built in Segovia, Spain, and completed in 1141, this former home to Cistercian monks is the oldest European building in the Western Hemisphere. Rebuilt on its present site in 1952 after William Randolph Hearst brought it to the United States in pieces it remained unassembled until 1964 when it was erected to serve as a tourist attraction by its new owners. The monastery is used for weddings and social events occasionally and is a peaceful retreat to spend an hour or two away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Miami. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, Noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. Situated at 16711 W. Dixie Hwy. North Miami Beach.
Deerfield Beach
If you want to get away from all the posers and wannabees of South Beach for a day of traditional seaside atmosphere then head for Deerfield Beach, just north of Fort Lauderdale about 20 miles from Miami. This is a great place to swim especially for kids; the lifeguard-manned beach has a great family atmosphere with picnic tables, barbeques and water sport rentals. For the fisherman there is a 24-hour fishing pier here, complete with bait and tackle shop and a number of lazy pelicans waiting for the odd morsel to be thrown their way. Just offshore there are some great artificial reefs and wreck diving for the scuba fanatic.
Everglades Safari Park
To do justice to the Everglades one would need several days and a strong constitution just to comprehend the scale of this vast wilderness. One of the best ways to get a glimpse of this fascinating eco system is to pay a visit to the Everglades Safari Park situated at 26700 SW 8th Street on the west side of Miami. Whilst the park is clearly a commercial operation the owners have a strong dedication to the conservation and preservation of the Everglades. A must for most visitors is a trip on one of the parks Airboats gliding through the swamps and keeping a wary eye open for lurking alligators. The expert guides on these trips provide an informative running commentary on the areas wildlife, vegetation and history. The park also has an alligator show and jungle trail.
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
An Italian Renaissance-style villa built in 1916, originally the winter residence of agricultural machinery industrialist James Deering, set in 10 acres of formal gardens on Biscayne Bay. There are 34 decorated rooms in the Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassic styles. The gardens feature the recently opened David A. Klein Orchidarium. The gallery of orchids, including huge specimens of Vanda orchids, aromatic Cattleya hybrids and exotic swan orchids, is designed in keeping with the Italianate architecture of the estate. Open 9-5 Daily.
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