South Florida was once home to one of the largest grouping of Holocaust survivors -- 20,000-25,000 -- in the United States. The proposed address for the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach, 1933-1945 Meridian Avenue, matches exactly the years of the Nazi Regime. These are two of the reasons the Miami Beach Planning Board and the City Commission both approved plans for the Memorial. Architect Kenneth Treister's design of an arm, four stories high, thrusting skyward with emaciated figures clinging to it and each other, was controversial. It took three years for the design to be approved and another four years for the sculpture to be cast in bronze. The Memorial, with additional elements including pink Jerusalem stone that late advocate Abe Resnick would personally guard against thieves at night, was finally dedicated in February, 1990, with Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel as keynote speaker.
How to get to Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach
Coin-metered parking is available. Across 17th Street, at Lincoln Road, large lots with municipal parking, with modern credit card-reading machines, are also available. If you prefer public transportation, take the Metrobus Route 123- South Beach Local.
Best and worst times to go to Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach
The best times to go to the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach are in the morning around 10 or 11 a.m. before it gets too hot, or in late afternoon when the sun is on its way toward the horizon. The sun can really beat down in the early afternoon, making the journey around the site physically unpleasant. Plus, food and drink are not allowed (with the exception of babies), so you can easily become dehydrated. Some of the space is enclosed and other parts are open, but either way, cooler is better. Also, if you hope to encounter a Holocaust survivor, your chances are better in the morning hours before these elderly men and women who volunteer their time need to rest.
Admission to Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach
Admission to the Memorial is free and the site is open every single day of the year. Hours range according to the sun: It opens around 9:30 a.m. and closes at sunset, so plan to leave around dusk. Make sure to figure Daylight Savings times into your calculations. The last time of admission on the website says 10 p.m., but daylight never really lasts that long in Miami even in the summer. If you wait that long, chances are the site will be closed.
Must see/do at Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach
Don't just take a glance at the main sculpture, as arresting as it is, and call it a day. There are dozens of smaller sculptures, just as intense, that can't be seen from the road. You need to circulate through the Garden of Meditation, dedicated to the six million lives lost, to see them and feel the enormous emotional affect. Continue on to The Dome of Contemplation, where an eternal light burns and a patch of yellow light shines through from the "Jude" star. The tour continues on what is called the "Lonely Path" with a series of powerful sculpture vignettes, and ends with the black granite Memorial Wall, which like the Vietnam Memorial is engraved with lists of names of those who were lost, and is constantly updated with submissions. A self-guided tour -– a brochure is available for a $2 donation –- generally takes about 60-90 minutes.
Other places to visit near Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach
Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach is located next to the Miami Beach Convention Center, where there are often antique, car or boat shows, and the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, where visitors are free to explore the grounds during daylight hours. Just a few blocks away, the The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater hosts a concert nearly every evening, and the renowned walking mall Lincoln Road Mall, filled with shops and outdoor cafes, is across 17th Street. At the far eastern end of Lincoln Road, the beach beckons, along with the famous Ocean Drive, where the restored Art Deco hotels await.
Insider tips for visitors at Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach
The Holocaust Memorial isn't a religious site to the point where visitors need to wear yarmulkes or other head coverings, but respect is in order. Leave Segways, skateboards, scooters and bicycles outside the memorial, and wear clothing over bathing suits. As often as possible, Holocaust survivors circulate among guests, telling their stories. These survivors are by now extremely elderly, and should also be treated with the utmost courtesy, as all their work is volunteer and in the name of education. Keep cells phones on mute and try not to use them unless you're taking pictures with them, which is allowed. Don't bring pets unless they are service animals. Don't use profanity.
Author's bio: Jen Karetnick has been writing about Miami since she moved there in 1992. The author of 12 books, most recently the poetry book Brie Season (White Violet Press), she formerly lived in Miami Beach only three blocks away from the Holocaust Memorial.
Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse, or Ponce Inlet Lighthouse if you're a local, is the tallest lighthouse in Florida (175 feet tall), and it's also one of the tallest masonry lighthouses in the United States. This National Historic Landmark invites visitors of all ages to climb to the top and enjoy the scenic view from the deck. If climbing 203 stairs is not for you, visit the lighthouse keeper dwellings and other buildings that are part of the museum. Explore the coastal hammock on a nature walk and look for foxes, armadillos and gopher tortoises.
Parking at Ponce de Leon Lighthouse and Museum
Two parking lots are accessible through the main entrance. The lower is appropriate for most vehicles and offers handicap parking. The upper lot serves as an overflow parking lot and is able to accommodate RV's and buses.
Best and Worst times to Go to Ponce de Leon Lighthouse and Museum
Opens to the public seven days a week, usually at 10:00 A.M. Closing times are seasonal (typically around 9:00 P.M. in the summer and 6:00 P.M. otherwise). However, hours vary depending on local events, so call before you go. If you're planning to visit later in the day, remember the sale of the last tour ticket occurs about an hour or two before closing time.
Must See/Do at Ponce de Leon Lighthouse and Museum
Climb to the top of the lighthouse and stand on the gallery deck. Peruse the maritime gift shop. Learn about the lives of the lighthouse keepers by visiting the museum buildings. See the Fresnel lens and learn how it made this lighthouse a part of cutting edge of technology back in the 1800's. Explore the nature trail before hitting the beach.
Other Places to Visit Near Ponce de Leon Lighthouse and Museum
Visit the beach and the paved, rock Jetty that extends out into the ocean. Lighthouse Point Park is a 52 acre preserve of largely undisturbed land, making it an excellent place to spot wildlife. The Marine Science Center, with its stingray touch pool, is both fun and educational for all ages. After you work up an appetite, stop by Down the Hatch Seafood Company or Inlet Harbor Restaurant, Marina & Gift shop.
Insider Tips for Visitors to Ponce de Leon Lighthouse and Museum
There's a reason it was originally called Mosquito Inlet. Be sure to pack plenty of sunscreen and insect repellent if you plan to engage in the nature walk.
Author's bio: Edie Schmidt is a freelance writer in Central Florida, who loves sharing her favorite places with you. She invites you to view some of her work here and here.
The De Soto National Memorial is a national park that commemorates famed Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto's nearby landing and subsequent march across Florida in 1539. The park offers spectacular views of the mouth of the Manatee River and a living history lesson about the de Soto expedition. Park employees are on hand to give demonstrations on Florida's Native American heritage at Camp Uzita and take visitors on guided walks along the park's nature trail.
History buffs should also check out the bookstore and educational film shown in the visitor's center, as well as the commemorative stone placed in the park in 1939 on the 400th anniversary of de Soto's landing. It marks the start of de Soto's trail from Florida to the Mississippi River.
The park hosts many special events, including a yearly reenactment of the landing. There is a picnic area available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Visitors can also enjoy hiking, fishing and bird watching, and there are also great spots to launch a canoe or kayak. Dogs are welcome at the park but must be kept on a leash.
The Henry B. Plant Museum is located on the campus of the University of Tampa in the old Tampa Bay Hotel. The mission of the museum is to preserve the turn-of-the-century history of Tampa and the Tampa Bay Hotel.
Self-guided audio tours, live tours and group tours are offered. You may take pictures in the museum, but flash photography is not permitted. The lighting is low in most areas, so be prepared if you plan to take photographs.
There is a gift shop on the premises, and you need not pay admission to the museum to shop. Museum memberships are available.
Ongoing events include the live theater, live guided tours and antique evaluation Saturdays.
Please visit the museum Web site or call for more information about group tours, including school tours, membership and the current schedule of events.
