Top Rated Parks to Visit in Normandy Isle

"Admittedly, I was a bit hesitant when we first arrived in Wynwood. After parking in an enormous lot of an industrial-looking area, I found myself wondering where all the “pretty stuff” was. It was honestly a bit overwhelming."

"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!"

"Teach kiddos about contemporary art and get outside at the same time by perusing the city’s colorful and creative murals."

"One of the best spots to relax in Miami is Bayfront Park, 32 acres of lush grounds that include the Klipsch Amphitheater and the Tina Hills Pavilion. The Fourth of July fireworks and the New Year’s Eve countdown are just two of..."

"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."

"Otherwise, drop off your bike along Ocean Drive and grab a spot on the beach, Lummus Beach, which runs from around 6th to 14th streets. This is a beach for locals and tourists alike, and the spread of humanity—supermodels, families and even topless tanners—make this a go-to spot for people-watching."

"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)."

"It’s neither polished nor particularly pretty, but it’s a glimpse into real life in Spanish-speaking Miami and a place to watch Cuba’s old guard face off over dominos in Maximo Gomez Park; grab a 50 cent cortadito (a shot of Cuban coffee with steamed milk) from a walk-up window; and watch cigar rollers hand roll stogies at family-run factories. End your jaunt in Little Havana with a scoop (or two or three) of homemade Abuela Maria® ice cream at"

"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."

"Bring a picnic and enjoy a relaxing, peaceful afternoon at Colee Hammock Park. Grassy areas shaded by large trees provide the perfect spot to spread out a blanket, plant your lawn chair, or hang a hammock and enjoy the amazing views along the shore of New River. You’ll have a beautiful vantage point of the mansions that line the shore and the amazing yachts and boats sailing in and out of the waterway."

"The best feeling is when you have nothing to do and nothing on your mind. This isn’t a state of mind that can be pulled out of nowhere, even when you’re on vacation. However, when you’re in Florida, Colee Hammock Park does a great of letting you draw out these feelings."

"West Lake and its surrounding mangrove forest occupy the center of the park and are the domain of boaters and kayakers who put in from the ramps at the main entrance. Boaters can head south to exit to the Stranahan River at the south end of the lake. Kayakers have some mazy meanders to explore where the canal meets the lake."

"2660 Coolidge Street This small neighborhood waterfront park is enjoyed by residents seeking a quiet place for reflection. This passive park has a view of the adjacent waterway."

"Drive past it on the way to North Beach and you may miss this off-the-beaten path park with three full basketball courts featuring perfect backboards to show off your Chef Curry skills. The park also has a lap pool for your starting five to cool off after a few pick-up games. If you can't find a spot in the lot for your car, there's plenty of street parking along the perimeter of the grounds."

"Joe’s Diner has it, with its all-day breakfast and lunch and vintage Americana feel. Don’t miss the free-song-play jukebox, the piece of a 1960s-era Mustang convertible mounted on the wall or the toy train track running above diners’ heads. On a sunny day, snag a covered glider booth and slide back and forth as you dig into the Joe’s Hangover, a half-pound cheeseburger with two eggs, potatoes or grits and a home-made biscuit or toast."

"Then there's Joe's Cafe, which has earned four stars out of 103 reviews on Yelp. Dig in at the Greek breakfast and brunch spot by heading over to 1913 Cordova Road. Formerly known as Joe Belair's Diner, the classic American/Greek fusion cafe serves up offerings like gyro platters, chicken kebabs and classic shrimp santorini — a sizzling dish of shrimp, tomatoes and feta cheese."

"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."

"South Florida – a land of escaped slaves, guerrilla Native Americans, gangsters, land grabbers, pirates, tourists, drug dealers and alligators – has a special history, and it takes a special kind of museum to capture that narrative. This highly recommended place, located in the Miami-Dade Cultural Center, does just that, weaving together the stories of the region’s successive waves of population, from Native Americans to Nicaraguans."

"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."

"Gathering, preserving, and celebrating Miami's history through exhibitions, city tours, collections and publications is the Historical Museum of Southern Florida.[Learn more]"

"South Florida – a land of escaped slaves, guerrilla Native Americans, gangsters, land grabbers, pirates, tourists, drug dealers and alligators – has a special history, and it takes a special kind of museum to capture that narrative. This highly recommended place, located in the Miami-Dade Cultural Center, does just that, weaving together the stories of the region’s successive waves of population, from Native Americans to Nicaraguans."

"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."

"Gathering, preserving, and celebrating Miami's history through exhibitions, city tours, collections and publications is the Historical Museum of Southern Florida.[Learn more]"

"A visit to the International Swimming Hall of Fame entails an impressive tour offering much more than visitors expect. The complex includes a museum, hall of fame, and world-class aquatic center. After its construction in 1965 and extensive renovations in 1991, the aquatic center today hosts national and international swimming events while the Hall of Fame showcases the accomplishments of competitive swimmers, water polo players, synchronized swimmers, divers, and others."

"A shrine to renowned swimmers and water polo players, the International Swimming Hall of Fame features a collection of memorabilia and Olympic Gold medals of famous swimmers. Anyone with even a passing interest in watersports will love learning about swimming from this official repository for aquatic history. Today, it aims to be a focal point for recording and sharing the history of aquatics and promoting swimming as the essential life skill it is."

"If you love to swim, it’s not all the difficult to figure out what to do in Florida. Surrounded by all this water and warm temperatures, you might get more swimming done in a weekend than you have in the last year or so. You should come to the International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum if swimming is something that really excites and delights you."

"The building opened in 1925 and became a US National Historic Landmark in 2008.* It’s an impressive landmark. It first started as headquarters for the newspaper Miami News. It now is a contemporary art museum."