Florida boasts a wide range of attractions, from thrilling theme parks and vibrant Latin and Caribbean cultures to abundant wildlife, expansive wetlands, and countless beautiful beaches.
Stroll along lush pathways in the Tropical Plant Conservatory and Rare Plant House, home to rare philodendrons, orchids, begonias, palms, rhododendrons, ferns, and mosses. The Richard H. Simons Rainforest, though compact, offers a vivid tropical experience complete with a stream, waterfalls, orchids, and towering trees adorned with lianas and epiphytes.
The garden also showcases spectacular aquatic exhibits. The Sibley Victoria Pool features the world’s largest Victoria water lilies, while the Fountain Court Pool pairs water lilies with dazzling glass art by Dale Chihuly. Nearby, the Palm Glade Pool displays sacred lotus plants, and another Chihuly sculpture, End of Day Tower, graces the Tropical Plant Conservatory’s pools.
Among the garden’s most popular attractions is the Wings of the Tropics exhibit, where hundreds of butterflies flutter freely in an indoor gallery. Visitors can observe around 40 species, including exotic Central and South American butterflies like blue morphos and owl butterflies. The Vollmer Metamorphosis Lab offers a fascinating glimpse into butterfly development as chrysalises transform in real time.
Fairchild also conserves rare and endangered cycads—ancient plants native to South Florida and Puerto Rico, capable of living up to a thousand years and historically pollinated by beetles. The garden’s plant collection is diverse, featuring both lush tropical and arid succulents adapted to hot, dry climates.
Visiting Tips & Practical Info
Open daily from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Admission: Adults $24.95; Seniors $17.95; Students (with ID) $15.95; Children (6–17) $11.95; Children under 6 free.
Location: About 6 miles south of Coral Gables downtown—best reached by car or taxi. Public transit options include metrorail to South Miami plus bus 57.
Parking available near the Visitor Center and Lowlands Parking Field.
Bring water, sun protection, and bug spray as it can get hot and humid. Water fountains are currently unavailable due to health precautions.
Enjoy self-guided walking tours or hop on the free 45-minute tram tours running hourly from 10 AM to 3 PM (until 4 PM on weekends).
Several cafes onsite offer light fare, or you can bring your own picnic.
Accessibility
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is fully ADA accessible, including tram service, restrooms, and paths. Shuttle service and wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Assistive listening devices are also provided for visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Nestled in the most lavish neighborhood of one of the world’s flashiest cities, the Biltmore stands as the ultimate grand hotel of the American Jazz Age. If it were a character in a novel, it would undoubtedly be Jay Gatsby himself. The hotel once housed a speakeasy run by Al Capone, and the infamous Capone Suite is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of Fats Walsh, who was murdered on the 13th floor — a floor still whispered about to this day.
In its heyday, imported gondolas transported celebrities like Judy Garland and the Vanderbilts through a private canal system out back. Though the canals are gone, the Biltmore still boasts the largest hotel pool in the continental U.S., designed to evoke a sultan’s water garden from One Thousand and One Nights. Its palatial grounds are so expansive that it could take an entire week to explore all the hotel’s offerings.
What the Biltmore Is Like
Spanning 150 acres, the Biltmore encompasses lush tropical gardens, tennis courts, the iconic swimming pool, and a restored 18-hole golf course. Inside, there’s even more to discover — you could easily spend days enjoying the many activities available. The hotel even hosts its own theater company, GableStage, which presents thought-provoking contemporary plays in an intimate setting where every seat has a great view.
Guest rooms blend businesslike functionality with flashes of baroque style, while the soaring central tower—modeled after the 12th-century Giralda tower in Seville, Spain—makes a bold architectural statement. The hotel’s grandeur extends to the interior, with a colonnaded lobby featuring a hand-painted ceiling, antique chandeliers, Corinthian columns, and a beautifully landscaped courtyard centered around an elegant fountain.
Things to Do Near the Biltmore
Free guided tours of the property are offered on Sundays at 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM, providing fascinating insights into the hotel’s history, design, and its developer George Merrick—who not only founded the Coral Gables neighborhood but also the University of Miami. Alongside hotelier John McEntee Bowman, Merrick brought the Biltmore to life in 1926.
Coral Gables feels more like a charming Mediterranean village than a Miami suburb. It’s a paradise for food lovers, with a rich selection of international, eclectic, and upscale dining options, many clustered along ‘Restaurant Row’ on Giralda Avenue between Ponce de Leon Boulevard and South Le Jeune Road. With its blend of cultural attractions, cinemas, theaters, shops, and world-class restaurants, Coral Gables perfectly complements the Biltmore’s Old Hollywood glamour—making it easy to spend several delightful days soaking it all in.
If you want to experience something truly “Miami,” this is it — lush, grandiose, and unapologetically over the top. It’s a showcase of everything a wealthy American industrialist might flaunt to impress his friends. This is exactly what James Deering did back in 1916, kickstarting a Miami tradition of amassing fortunes and building outrageously extravagant estates. At its peak, he employed 1,000 people — about 10% of the local population — and filled his mansion with Renaissance furniture, tapestries, paintings, and decorative art.
The mansion is a prime example of Miami’s Mediterranean Revival style. Its largest room, the informal living space often called the “Renaissance Hall,” features artwork spanning the 14th to 17th centuries. The music room captivates visitors with beautiful wall canvases imported from Northern Italy, while the banquet hall exudes the opulence of Europe’s imperial dining rooms, complete with majestic furnishings.
On the mansion’s south side, a series of stunning gardens rival the interior’s grandeur. Designed after formal Italian gardens of the 17th and 18th centuries, these meticulously maintained grounds provide a striking contrast to the wild mangroves nearby. With sculptures, fountains, and vine-covered walls, the gardens evoke an antiquarian charm. An elevated terrace known as the Garden Mound offers sweeping views of the lush landscape.
For a quick refreshment while exploring, the on-site Vizcaya Café serves light snacks and coffee to keep you energized as you admire the lavish collections.
The Salvador Dalí Museum’s striking exterior hints at the wonders inside: a towering white “shoe box” building pierced by a 75-foot geodesic glass atrium that seems to spill forth like a surreal wound. Inside, the museum unfolds as a masterclass in how a modern art museum dedicated to Dalí’s life and legacy should be. Even skeptics of his melting clocks and iconic mustache find themselves captivated—especially by the monumental Hallucinogenic Toreador.
Spanning 20,000 square feet of gallery space, the museum houses all 96 of Dalí’s oil paintings, alongside a curated selection of drawings, prints, sculptures, photographs, manuscripts, films, and even a virtual reality experience that invites visitors into Dalí’s dreamscape. The exhibits are arranged chronologically and richly contextualized, providing a deep dive into his evolving artistry.
Outside, the garden delights with whimsical touches like a wish tree, a melting clock bench, and a giant steel mustache sculpture—a playful nod to Dalí’s own flamboyance.
Free docent-led tours run hourly on the half-hour and are highly recommended to unlock the dense symbolism woven throughout Dalí’s works. Audioguides add another layer of fun, featuring secret, humor-laden narration from a voice claiming to be Dalí’s mustache. Afterward, visitors can relax at the Catalan-inspired café or browse the excellent gift shop. With crowds sometimes reaching 5,000 daily, arriving early or visiting during off-peak hours is a smart move.
Spanning 1.5 million acres, this vast wilderness is one of America’s most treasured natural wonders. A top attraction in South Florida, it offers visitors a choice: relax quietly watching alligators bask in the sun while herons hunt nearby, or embrace adventure by kayaking through tangled mangrove canals and wading knee-deep through cypress domes on a rugged “slough slog.”
Visitors can enjoy sunrise walks along boardwalks filled with birdsong or catch moonlit sightings of alligators gliding silently through narrow waterways. For those seeking more, there’s backcountry camping, bike tours, and ranger-led programs that bring the park’s magic to life.
The park has three main entrances and areas: the Ernest Coe section near Homestead and Florida City on the southeast edge; Shark Valley in the central-north along Tamiami Trail; and the Gulf Coast section by Everglades City on the northwest shore. While Shark Valley and Gulf Coast lie close together, Ernest Coe is separate. A single admission fee grants access to the entire park for seven consecutive days.
Universal Orlando Resort is a lively, pedestrian-friendly destination packed with energy and excitement. Offering fantastic rides, excellent kids’ attractions, and entertaining shows, it rivals Walt Disney World® but with a bit more edge, humor, and ease of navigation. Instead of the Seven Dwarfs, you’ll find the Simpsons; instead of Mickey Mouse, there’s Harry Potter. Universal delivers nonstop, high-octane fun perfect for the whole family.
The resort includes two theme parks—Islands of Adventure, home to most thrill rides, and Universal Studios, featuring movie-themed attractions and shows like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. A third park, Volcano Bay, opened in 2017 as a water park full of thrilling rides and splash zones centered around a towering 200-foot volcano.
CityWalk serves as Universal’s vibrant dining and entertainment district, while five resort hotels (with Universal’s Aventura Hotel opening in 2018) provide guests with great perks, including early access to Harry Potter attractions. Water taxis and scenic walking paths make getting around the resort easy and enjoyable.
If you only have time for one walk in the Everglades, make it the Anhinga Trail. Here, alligators bask along the shore, anhingas dive for fish, and elegant wading birds stride through the reeds. This easy, 0.8-mile trail at the Royal Palm Visitor Center offers fantastic close-up wildlife views. Several overlooks often reveal dozens of alligators lounging together during the day.
For a truly unforgettable experience, return at night with a flashlight. Watch alligators glide silently through the waterways, sometimes just feet away. The park also offers occasional ranger-led night walks along the boardwalk, but you’re welcome to explore on your own. Spotting the glowing eyes of prowling gators in the dark is something you won’t forget!
Ah, the Miami Beach Boardwalk! Stretching a lively seven miles from South Point up to Surfside, it’s a vibrant parade of life that never fails to amaze. On any day, you’ll see barefoot sunbathers in swimsuits, families with strollers, rollerbladers, cyclists, dancers, street vendors, people blasting tunes from all sorts of devices, groups of friends chatting, couples strolling, joggers, mimes, musicians—young and old alike. No single description can capture the sheer diversity and energy flowing through this bustling walkway. The excitement builds as you approach South Beach, where DJs spin at hotel pool parties along one side and lively beach clubs line the shore, creating a nonstop festival of sound and movement.
