Miami-Dade: Nature, Coast and Culture

Discover Miami-Dade through its impressive natural areas, coastal landscapes and historic sites. Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park showcase different sides of this region; gardens, wildlife viewing and water sports add further highlights. You can plan your trip around the experiences that interest you most.

National Parks and Protected Landscapes

Everglades National Park covers 1.5 million acres in South Florida and spans the three counties of Monroe, Miami-Dade and Collier. Biscayne National Park is also located in Miami-Dade County. Its landscape includes subtropical islands, coastal areas and coral reefs. The park also protects mangrove forests, barrier reef habitats and clear, shallow waters in Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

The national parks each put different landscape features in the spotlight: Biscayne National Park brings together islands and coastlines with reef habitats, mangroves and shallow waters; Everglades National Park spans a large area of South Florida and several counties. If you want to include nature experiences in your trip, these differences can help guide your choices.

Coast, Trails and Outdoor Activities

At Crandon Park, a beach with calm waters is complemented by a winding promenade and several picnic areas. Kiteboarding equipment and lessons are available at the beach's water sports concessions. You can also explore the park's natural environment: visitors can discover dunes, mangroves, coastal hardwood forests and seagrass meadows, and spot herons, ospreys and colorful butterflies.

The Rickenbacker Causeway is one of the most heavily used cycling and running routes in Miami-Dade County. It also provides the only land access to Crandon Park. For trip planning, these are two distinct aspects of the same connection: its importance as a route for cyclists and runners, and its role in providing land access to the park. On Elliott Key, two trails wind through a tropical hardwood forest; one runs the full seven-mile length of the island.

Another way to get out on the water is at Matheson Hammock Park, where a self-service kiosk offers kayaks and paddleboards. You can choose between kiteboarding at Crandon Park and kayaking or paddleboarding at Matheson Hammock Park based on which type of water sport better suits your travel plans.

Tropical Gardens, Plants and Tastings

Fruit & Spice Park is the only tropical botanical garden of its kind in the United States. It is home to more than 500 varieties of fruit, vegetables, spices, herbs, nuts and other commercially important plants. The park grew out of a vision to showcase Redland's agricultural diversity and heritage. Tastings give visitors the chance to explore the different regions; guided tours help them identify produce that is ripe, edible and flavorful.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden features garden paths, tropical plants, and butterfly and hummingbird exhibits. It also hosts talks on horticulture and conservation science. A free, narrated ride on the garden tram adds to the visit. Those who want to experience gardens not only through their plants but also through topics such as conservation and horticulture will find several points of interest here.

History, Wildlife and Visitor Offerings

Deering Estate is a historic house museum, a national landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The estate is part of the Biscayne Bay Important Bird Area and the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. Here, historical significance and designated natural areas come together at one named site.

Zoo Miami also offers a unique perspective on wildlife: more than 2,000 wild animals live there in an environment that closely resembles their natural habitats. Zoo Miami is the only zoo in the contiguous United States located in a subtropical climate. At Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, an audio tour offers insight into the design and history of the gardens; it is available through the museum's app or a web browser.

When choosing a hotel location, it helps to first decide what you are interested in for your trip: national parks and coastal landscapes, water sports, wildlife viewing, botanical gardens or historic sites, for example. Then compare specific locations with your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Golden Beach, South Miami Heights, North Miami, Glenvar Heights, Coral Gables, Doral, Florida City, Country Walk, Miami, Miami Beach, Hialeah, Kendall, Cutler Bay, Opa-locka, El Portal, Homestead, Bal Harbour, Sunny Isles Beach, Virginia Gardens, Surfside, Key Biscayne, North Bay Village, Naranja, Ives Estates, Bay Harbor Islands, Pinecrest, North Miami Beach and Aventura.

For the broader travel overview: Florida.