PARKS AND GARDENS
If you start to get sick of the artificial feel of so much of Miami, don't fret. There are plenty of outdoor activities waiting for you and they're closer than you think. Located a half hour outside the downtown the Oleta River State Recreation Area is one of the best. Consisting of over 900 acres and filled with miles of bicycle and canoe trails, beaches, picnic pavilions and a fishing pier this park offers visitors an outstanding outdoor recreational experience. Offering some of the most secluded beaches in Miami the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is only a twenty-minute drive away and worth every second. Make sure to check out the historic lighthouse that was built in 1825. A rental shack leases bicycles, hydrobikes, kayaks and other water toys for less than you'd think. The Fairchild Tropical Garden will thrill plant lovers. The largest of its kind in the continental United States, this veritable rain forest has both rare and exotic plants as well as eleven lakes and countless meadows spread across 83 acres. More than 100 species of birds have been spotted at the garden and it's home to a variety of animals as well. Kampong, a 7-acre botanical garden is another popular stop for anyone with a passion for plants. The site features a stunning array of flowering trees and tropical fruit trees including mango, avocado and pomelo. Families are sure to love any of the numerous fruit and berry farms located in the Miami area. A Berry Good Time and Burr's Berry Farms were two of our favourites.
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