Located on Miami's main thoroughfare, Biscayne Boulevard, the Freedom Tower is an historic building that holds a special place in the hearts of Miami's Cuban exile community. In the 1960s, the Freedom Tower was the first stopping point for thousands of Cuban exiles fleeing Fidel Castro's communist regime. It's Miami's own version of Ellis Island.
Public transportation and parking at Freedom Tower
The Freedom Tower is easily accessible by Metromover via the Freedom Tower station. For those with a car, there is a plenty of metered street parking around the building.
Best and worst times to go to Freedom Tower
The building and museum are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Otherwise, it is a hidden gem without the crowds.
Must see at Freedom Tower
The building is now owned and operated by Miami Dade College and houses the MDC Museum of Art + Design on the 2nd floor. Exhibitions change on a rotating basis and admission is free.
Other places to visit near Freedom Tower
Visit with enough time to check out other nearby attractions like the famed American Airlines Arena, home of the Miami Heat, and the Perez Art Museum Miami.
Insider tip for visitors to Freedom Tower
Before leaving, be sure to sneak a peek of the "New World" mural on the 1st floor. Restored from a 1920s tapestry in 1987, the 60 by 20 foot mural highlights the journey and discovery of the New World and how two worlds became one.
Author's bio: Mandy Baca has lived in Miami for 27 years. She is a freelance writer for various Miami publications.
In Miami, the bright lights and big city vibe is only one part of its charm and popularity. There's also a great appreciation for animals and nature, as evident at Zoo Miami. This 35 year old local landmark boasts an exciting array of animals and plants from around the world. For most visitors, it's just plain fun to see animals that you'd normally never come in contact with.
Best and worst time to go to Zoo Miami
The best times to visit Zoo Miami are: weekdays –- the zoo isn't crowded, and when you can avoid rush hour traffic, the travel time is significantly shorter.
Another great time is on a day of your trip you can dedicate several hours to a zoo visit. It's not one of those places you can cover in an hour, so the more time you have to spend there, the better.
The worst times to visit Zoo Miami are during weekday afternoon rush hour (travel time to Zoo Miami can exceed two hours) or when temperatures are in excess of 90 degrees. Because this is an outdoor attraction, exposure to the sun is increased. When it gets hot in Miami, not only does increase the risk of injury and illness due to heat exposure, it also puts a major strain on your wallet from all the water and soft drinks you'll need to buy.
Must see & do at Zoo Miami
Ride the Monorail: Visitors get a three-fold benefit when they ride the Monorail. One, it's a very quick and convenient way to move across the large property. Two, it's air-conditioned, a much appreciated luxury when temperatures start to creep up. Three, it provides a bird's eye view of the zoo, which adds to the fun.
Samburu Giraffe Feeding Station: One of the zoo's highlighted attractions is the Samburu Giraffe Feeding Station. It's a neat way to get interactive with the animals at the zoo, which is a special treat for the kids.
Admission to Zoo Miami
Rates for admission to Zoo Miami are charged by age group: visitors 13 and older pay the adult rate; visitors 3-12 pay the child rate, and kids up to age 2 get in free. Members of the Zoological Society of Florida are also privy to free admission. The zoo offers discounts to some groups and industry professionals, such as seniors, travel agents and Miami-Dade County employees.
Parking at Zoo Miami
General parking is free every day. Valet parking is available on the weekends and holidays for a nominal fee.
Public Transportation to Zoo Miami
Miami-Dade Transit offers service to Zoo Miami, via Route 252 (Coral Reef Max). Riders can transfer to this bus using other routes around the county, or using the Metrorail, the county's commuter train service. Rates and schedule information can be found on the Miami-Dade Transit website.
Food at Zoo Miami
Around the park visitors will find vending machines where they can buy cold drinks, water, and even ice cream. Looking for something more substantial? Visit one (or all three) of Zoo Miami's restaurants: Oasis Grill, Carousel Café and Fiesta Café. Each offers a wide selection of items from several different cuisines.
Insider tip for visitors to Zoo Miami
Check the zoo's website for information on Monorail service. Periodically, the Monorail is closed for maintenance or repairs. When this happens, they usually provide ground tram service as an alternate.
Author's bio: Shawanda James is a busy freelance writer, wife, and mom of four in Miami. She giddily writes about travel on the It's All Travel Blog. She's written local and national articles for CBS. Follow Shawanda on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
What began as a modest bird-centered attraction nearly 80 years ago has now bloomed into a full-fledged theme park. Originally called Parrot Jungle, Jungle Island spotlights an array of birds, plants, reptiles, mammals, and more. Entertaining shows, interactive wildlife tours and even a private beach off the coast of Biscayne Bay continues to make Jungle Island one of Miami's must-see legendary landmarks.
Best and worst time to go to Jungle Island
The best time to go to Jungle Island is when the weather is cooperative. Jungle Island is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Each day provides a different schedule of shows and tours. Even though the weekends are more crowded than weekdays, it's still better to visit the park on a good weekend weather day to aptly enjoy all the park has to offer.
The worst times to go to Jungle Island are on certain holidays and during inclement weather. Some holidays, like Halloween, bring special themed events, shows, and activities (and discount admission). The downside to that is the increase in crowds. Because Jungle Island is a fully outdoor park, bad weather will put a damper (no pun intended) on your visit.
Must see/do at Jungle Island
Winged Wonders: Since the park was originally built as a bird-theme attraction, birds are an important part of Jungle Island's history. This show wows visitors with the awesome and surprising capabilities of these winged creatures.
VIP Safari Tours: Get a true-to-form safari experience on this guided tour, where you get to experience real life interaction with monkeys, lemurs, and a host of other animals. Select the 1.5 or 3 hour tour, and receive admission to the park, free parking, a private tour of the park, and other amenities as part of your package.
Admission to Jungle Island
Visitors can purchase general admission tickets, or they can select from daily passes that include tickets to one of the park's interactive animal or water attractions. Other ticket options include annual passes, and VIP Safari Tour packages. For an additional fee, you can add on extras like access to the petting barn and the Kangaroo Konnection exhibit.
Parking at Jungle Island
Onsite parking is available for a nominal fee. If you book your tickets to the park online, you can also pay for parking in advance. Some packages, including the VIP Safari Tour and the Annual Value Pass includes complimentary parking. See package details for more information.
Public Transportation to Jungle Island
Miami-Dade Transit operates four routes that provide direct service to Jungle Island, including Routes S, C, M, and 120 Max. Information on fares and schedules can be found on the transit website.
Food at Jungle Island
At Lakeside Café, visitors can indulge in casual comfort food, including fresh sandwiches, pizza and other popular plated dishes.
Insider tip for visitors to Jungle Island
Check the forecast before planning your trip, and call ahead if the skies start to get a little cloudy. Inclement weather can impact the park's hours of operations on a certain day (including abrupt early closure).
Author's bio: Shawanda James is a busy freelance writer, wife, and mom of four in Miami. She giddily writes about travel on the It's All Travel Blog. She's written local and national articles for CBS. Follow Shawanda on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+
HistoryMiami is the signature historical museum of Miami-Dade County. In addition to framing exhibits that tell the story of the city and its people from before its inception to current days, the museum runs popular tours of regions, landmarks and parks by coach, boat, bicycle and foot.
Best and worst time to go to HistoryMiami
Given the museum's location in the Miami-Dade Cultual Center smack in the middle of downtown, visitors should wait until traffic has calmed from the morning rush and leave well before the afternoon one begins. In addition, trying to maneuver through the streets at lunchtime can be difficult. The best time to visit is in the early afternoon. Keep in mind that the museum is closed on major bank and postal holidays, including Columbus Day and Martin Luther King Day.
Must see/do at HistoryMiami
The permanent, interactive exhibits, which include "Tropical Dreams," "History & Ourselves" and "Folklife Gallery," provide visitors with the best possible foundation regarding the ethnicities that built this multifaceted place. In addition, the collections of artifacts, which range from pre-Colombian relics to those rescued from today's immigrant society, tell significant political and socio-cultural stories. For bird lovers and artists, HistoryMiami also has one of the most complete Audobon collections in the nation.
Admission to HistoryMiami
Admission is generally under $10 for adults, a dollar less for students and senior citizens, and half-price for children between the ages 6-12. Under 6, children are free. Admission is also free for active-duty military personnel and their families. Call for group or special rates.
Parking and public transportation to HistoryMiami
Street parking is so hard to find it's almost nonexistent, so it's best not to bother. If you drive, it's wisest to park at the Miami-Dade Cultural Center Parking Garage, located at 50 NW 2nd Avenue. The Visitor Services Desk will validate tickets for this garage. For public transportation, take any MetroBus that stops at Government Station, which is also where the MetroRail and MetroMover stop. Then walk south across NW 1st Street to the Miami-Dade Cultural Center.
Food at HistoryMiami
There are no food amenities at HistoryMiami. However, because the museum is located in the heart of the thriving downtown region, there's plenty of opportunity to grab a bite to eat within walking distance. Both Bayside Marketplace and The Shops at Mary Brickell Village, collections of restaurants and shops, are also nearby.
Insider tip for visitors to HistoryMiami
The reasonably priced eco-history boat tours of Biscayne Bay, the Downtown archaeology walking tours and the Little Havana art and culture walking tours are some of the most complete in town. Don't hesitate to sign up, especially if you like to eat – the Little Havana tour offers up servings of Cuban coffee and pastries along the way.
Author's bio: Jen Karetnick has been living in and writing about Miami since 1992. Her latest books are Mango (University Press of Florida, 2014) and Brie Season (White Violet Press, 2014).
