Free Museums in West Park

"Featuring international modern and contemporary art, the museum’s collection showcases the diversity of the 20th and 21st century through art from the US Latino experience, the African diaspora, and Latin America and the Caribbean. The Pérez Art Museum Miami building was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects Herzog & de Meuron based on the 1930s design of Stiltsville homes built offshore. It has wide-open spaces and outstanding views, making it a must in all the things to do in Miami."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user B137 used under CC BY-SA 3.0. Before the debut of this institution in 1984, there was no contemporary art museum in Miami. Perez Art Museum of Miami was established to fill this broad gap."

"To witness some eye-goggling mural arts in the lap of Miami, the one and only destination are Wynwood walls, a mosaic of colors and vibrancy created under the guidance of Tony Goldman. Started as an initiative in the early 2000s to support and encourage artists, now the Wynwood Walls, a popular open-air art gallery in Miami, stands out in the history of wall art, around the world. You can see artworks displayed at all corners and buildings of the neighborhood represent a grand fusion of wall murals."

"In the midst of rusted warehouses and concrete blah, there's a pastel-and-graffiti explosion of urban art. Wynwood Walls is a collection of murals and paintings laid out over an open courtyard that invariably bowls people over with its sheer color profile and unexpected location. What’s on offer tends to change with the coming and going of major arts events such as Art Basel, but it's always interesting stuff."

"Our last day was spent at the creative Wynwood Walls art exhibit. Beautiful mosaics are spread across a few blocks on streets and on buildings, even on the sidewalks!"

"Long before Wynwood became an international art-hub, before places like the PAMM opened its doors, the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami was doing its part to bring contemporary art into the lives of all Miamians. Opened in 1996, the museum in its current state is now entering its 24th year and puts on 8 to 10 exhibitions annually. Notable artists like Anna Gaskell, Louise Bourgeois, Roy Lichtenstein, Annette Messager, and Frank Stella have all enjoyed either exhibitions or solo shows of their work in the halls of the MoCA NoMi."

"The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) has come a long way since its inception as a single gallery space in 1981. Now one of Miami’s most beloved cultural institutions, the MOCA hosts around eight to 10 special exhibits a year alongside its stellar permanent collections. Among those showcased in the MOCA permanent collection are Keith Haring, Gabriel Orozco and José Bedia, with the collection boasting a whopping 500 works of art."

"The newly opened Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami offers a "Family Day” on the third Sunday of every month. Be there for interactive activities and performances for all ages. A post shared by ICA Miami (@icamiami) on Jan 22, 2018 at 11:25am PST"

"Fort Lauderdale has a rich history which may be overshadowed by the more modern an sophisticated metro area that it has become. Old Fort Lauderdale Village and Museum chronicles the city's history from the early Seminole era to World War II. It also offers information about the city's historic district and a chronology of its development. Other exhibits feature scale models of historic structures, including a recreation of a Seminole village complete with arts and crafts."

"HistoryMiami doesn't sound like the name of a historical museum, which is exactly what organizers and board members had in mind. The less-bulky name signified a new direction for what was previously called the Historical Museum of Southern Florida. Today, the museum, which actually began as a historical association in 1940 (George Merrick and Marjory Stoneman Douglas were members) continues to offer the exhibits that were developed throughout the previous decades, along with new ones."

"Don’t let the museum’s rather plain Mediterranean-style building and courtyard fool you: Inside, HistoryMiami paints a colorful portrait of how the city transformed itself from a mosquito-filled swampland to one of the country’s most vibrant urban areas. Located in Miami’s downtown, the museum is not one you’ll likely stumble upon while wandering the city—which is a good thing if you prefer quieter spaces ($10/adult). Find out more: https://www.historymiami.org/"

"Narrow in on the history of Miami itself with this cool museum. For extra fun, head out on the second Saturday of the month for crafts, music, and more as part of Family Fun Days."

"Surround yourself with a world of relaxation at this full-service spa. You will never want to leave your treatment room after you unwind with a 50-minute restorative massage, complete with a revitalizing body exfoliator, a soothing cucumber and chamomile eye treatment, a mineral-rich hair mask, and warm plant-based emollients and paraffin hand treatment ($99). The Mary’s Way facial afterglow is also a great way to disconnect from the world — it includes a skin analysis, a purifying dead sea mud mask, a hydrating hyaluronic serum, a brightening eye serum, and a CBD body oil treatment ($99)."

"Photo courtesy of Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. Nothing says luxury more than The Ritz-Carlton. This highly-esteemed hotel joined the stellar A-list, world-class properties along Fort Lauderdale Beach and brought their high standards to the many sophisticated travelers that arrive here each year."

"Take I-95 south and grab the Rickenbacker Causeway until you hit Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. This beautiful state park is right at the end of Key Biscayne and gives you uninterrupted views of the ocean—a perfect sunset watching spot. The state park has a lighthouse, where guests can climb to the top and look out into the ocean and the beach below. Next to it is a cement lookout spot that serves as a bench to watch the sunset and enjoy your Zak the Baker treats (if you didn't eat them already on the car ride down)."

"The shallow and relatively calm waters make it the perfect location for your fur babies to have a carefree splash. If you’re feeling generous, you can even give them a bite of your arepa from the nearby concession stand. Lined with palm trees, there's always a place to cool off in the shade after a frolic in the sun, but if you’re feeling adventurous, you could opt for a parasailing session from nearby Miami Watersports for $110 per person."