Top Rated Parks to Visit in Leisure City

"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."

"Start your Wynwood adventure at the Wynwood Walls, home to dozens of murals by the world’s top street artists. The murals change regularly, so the next time you visit Miami, many of them will be different. It’s easy to spend an hour or more wandering through the murals and the galleries connected to the Walls."

"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!"

"Few American parks can claim to front such a lovely stretch of turquoise as Biscayne Bay, but this fantastic green space is packed full of freebies too, including a great playground for the kids. The Tina Hills Pavilion has free concerts and yoga sessions, but Bayfront Park has some interesting public art worth discovering as well. The JFK Torch of Friendship recognizes the accomplishments of US congressman Claude Pepper, while Isamu Noguchi, who redesigned much of Bayfront Park in the 1980s, has three great sculptures: the Challenger Memorial, The Light Tower, and our favorite, the Slide Mantra."

"Few American parks can claim to front such a lovely stretch of turquoise (Biscayne Bay), but Miamians are lucky like that. Notable park features are two performance venues: the Klipsch Amphitheater, which boasts excellent views over Biscayne Bay and is a good spot for live-music shows, and the smaller 200-seat (lawn seating can accommodate 800 more) Tina Hills Pavilion, which hosts free springtime performances."

"When you’re dreaming of Miami, you're dreaming of Lummus Park Beach, a postcard-perfect spot surrounded by historic art deco buildings, high-end hotels, a winding beachfront walkway, and bronzed athletes playing volleyball games on the sandy courts. This beach is full of action and a favorite among tourists looking for the full Miami experience (Muscle Beach and frozen margaritas included). At the heart of Lummus Park, find Miami Beach's LGBTQ+ beach located at the intersection of 12th street, a hotspot during Miami Beach Pride and identifiable year-round by the rainbow flags at each lifeguard station."

"Because South Beach is such a broad description, and the varying beaches here go on for miles, we thought we'd narrow it down. Lummus Park, the area of the beach located along Ocean Drive from 5th to 15th Street, is the all-encompassing South Beach experience. This is the strip of sand that is always the most crowded, which makes for excellent people watching."

"Wander around Calle Ocho for some interesting street art, watch locals play dominos in Maximo Gomez Park, and pick up a hand-rolled cigar as a souvenir. Although it’s known for its Cuban heritage and influence, Calle Ocho isn’t just limited to Cuban food. Go for that Cuban sandwich or basket of croquetas from Versailles, or try some Nicaraguan food at Guayacan, Mexican food at Mi Rinconcito Mexicano, or, my personal favorite, the Thai cuisine at Lung Yai Thai Tapas. Yep, some of Miami’s best Thai food is found in Little Havana!"

"Little Havana’s most evocative reminder of Old Cuba is Máximo Gómez Park, or ‘Domino Park,’ where the sound of elderly men trash-talking over games of chess is harmonized with the quick clack-clack of slapping dominoes. The jarring backtrack, plus the heavy smell of cigars and a sunrise-bright mural of the 1994 Summit of the Americas, combine to make Máximo Gómez one of the most sensory sites in Miami (although it is admittedly one of the most tourist-heavy ones as well)."

"The Barnacle Historic State Park is home to the oldest house in Miami|© William Silver / Shutterstock. Also in Coconut Grove, this fairly small park tops our list for having the oldest house in its original location in Miami. Visitors can tour the 1891 home, The Barnacle, to learn about the frontier life during the “Era of the Bay” at a time when all travel to the city was done by boat."

"3485 Main Hwy This historic Florida State Park is located in the Coconut Grove neighborhood and spans about 5 acres. Dade County’s oldest home resides on this five-acre site that overlooks the scenic Biscayne Bay. It was built by Commodore Ralph Middleton Munroe in 1891."

"Plaza of the Spanish Navy at Museum Park|© Phillip Pessar Flickr. Perched along Biscayne Bay in downtown Miami, the urban Museum Park is bordered by the Perez Art Museum, the Frost Museum of Science and the American Airlines Arena. The park which first opened in 1976 as the Bicentennial Park, features a waterfront baywalk where pedestrians can gain access of the museums and enjoy views of the bay."

"Drive from Miami Beach back to the mainland, and travel along Biscayne Boulevard to get a glimpse at some of the hypermodern, ambitious mixed-use projects under construction: the 10-block, $2 billion Miami Worldcenter, the $1 billion Brickell City Centre, and Museum Park, home to"

"If sunny, the Museum Park is perfect for a nap under a palm tree. >> WHERE TO EAT IN BAYSIDE - our favorites discoveries10 Fruits : Healthy salads and sandwiches, delicious juices. - 143 NE 3rd AveVerde : Waterfront restaurant and bar with great coffee - Pérez Art Museum"

"Barnes Park is located on Bird Road near the Palmetto, offering a string of trails, peaceful enclaves, and various activities."

"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."

"The Miami Selfie Museum, located in Wynwood has many colorful art installations for a variety of fun backdrops. It’s a super Instagrammable museum and one of the fun places to take pictures in Miami. From interactive rooms, donut walls, a bathtub with plastic bubbles, and much more it will make your Instagram feed super unique."

"Showcasing the best contemporary art of the 20th and 21st centuries while also reflecting the multitude of nationalities that call Miami home – that’s the aim of the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM). The Pérez Art Museum is an absolute staple in modern art in the US alone, providing a deeply visceral experience through sight, sound and touch. Since 2016, it’s estimated that over 2,000 works live in the PAMM’s permanent collection."

"If you’re looking to veer away from the conventional art gallery scene, visit the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), which overlooks Biscayne Bay. Walking through the 200,000-square-foot museum, visitors experience curated nature through PAMM’s remarkable hanging gardens. The thousands of plants stemming from the outdoor ceiling transports museum-goers into a jungle-like world."

"Established by restaurateurs Mauro Bortignon, Stefano Cavinato, and Tommaso Morelato, Toscana Divino is an authentic Italian restaurant in Miami offering traditional and modern Tuscan dishes in the heart of the Mary Bricknell Village. Inspired by Italy's rich culinary history and penchant for locally sourced and sun-ripened ingredients, Italian Chef Andrea Marchesini creates dishes that reflect these principles and bring a taste of Italy to diner's plates in Miami. Appetizers range from bruschetta and ribollita (a thick Tuscan vegetable bread stew) to thinly sliced beef carpaccio and Octopus puttanesca."

"Toscana Divino is an Italian Restaurant and wine bar located in the central square of the Mary Brickell Village. The restaurant, built in partnership with the consortium of leading Italian businesses Wine & Fashion Florence, brings the best of Tuscan cuisine and Tuscan products to Miami. Toscana Divino presents an expansive view of modern Tuscany, ranging from the art, crafts and fashion items of the region to the diversity of its cuisine."

"Inventive French cuisine with one of the city’s premier wine lists Pound for pound this French spot hidden in the Cadet hotel might be the most romantic restaurant in Miami. The name is dead-on accurate as the tiny 40-seater gives the feel of eating in someone’s Paris apartment, complete with unique art on the walls and decorative china. Though you might find yourselves sitting close to other couples, somehow you still feel like you’re the only people there, dining on stuff like short ribs marinated in burgundy wine, or steamed squab and foie gras wrapped in savoy cabbage."

"In the lobby of the Cadet hotel, there is a 30-seater restaurant, where chefs with a Michelin star are preparing wonderful dishes under the watchful eye of restaurateurs seeking to create an authentic French dinner. You will find impeccable service, innovative cuisine and a well-designed wine list. In an intimate setting, guests of Pied à Terre feel like participants in an important culinary event."

"Outpost of the upscale steakhouse chain offers classic American fare & a clubby, refined setting. Curbside Takeout & Delivery. Menu:thecapitalgrille.com"