The Greater Miami area offers something for
everyone: great shopping, museums, zoos, golf & one
of the busiest ports in the United States.
��How about a cruise?����� ����Golf anyone?
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Those visiting Coconut Grove will never be lacking something to do. Activities abound to fit every taste and style. History buffs will want to be sure to visit the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, an Italian Renaissance-style villa featuring 19th-century antique furnishings and decorative arts.
The Grove is 5 miles south of Miami on Biscayne Bay. Here is one of many waterfront parks.
We are now heading for the University of Miami, in Coral Gables. This is the entrance fountain.
The University of Miami was chartered in 1925.
By the fall of 1926, the first class consisted of 560 students. Such were the beginnings of what has since become one of the nation's most distinguished private universities.
In the post-war years, U of M experienced tremendous growth and expansion. Enrollment stood at over 10,000 in 1953 and increased to nearly 14,000 by 1962.
The Lowe Art Museum features an extensive permanent collection of Renaissance, Baroque, American, Native American, and Asian art.
Jackson Memorial Medical Center is a research, teaching and education institution founded in 1952 as Florida's first accredited medical school. The hospital is U of M's main teaching facility and is
ranked by physicians as one of the nation's top 25 medical centers. It occupies 67 acres. The building in the foreground is the original hospital.
Fairchild Tropical Gardens in Coral Gables includes 83 acres of tropical plants from around the world, a museum, rainforest, and narrated tram tours.
Golden Shower Tree��������Clerodendrum
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Musacoccines
Carol, as long as we're in Homestead, would you please stop so we can visit the Coral Castle? Originally called "Rock Gate Park", it was built by one man, working alone. It took him 20 years to build - from 1920 to 1940. His name is Edward Leedskalnin. Ed was born in Latvia in 1887 & died in Miami in 1951. He embarked on a journey that would culminate in one of the world's most remarkable accomplishments. Over a period of twenty years, he sculpted and carved over 1,100 tons of coral rock.
This nine ton gate has baffled engineers and amazed people through the years. 9 tons of coral rock is so perfectly balanced a child can open it. When closed, there is only a 1/4 inch clearance on each side.
Ed's barbeque
The throne
As Carol continues driving us south, we come to downtown Homestead/Florida City. In 1992, this area was decimated by Hurricane Andrew. Those who stayed to rebuild are extremely proud of what they have accomplished.
Oh, what a magnificent sunset by the bay!
Carol, would you please drive us over to your house now? We need to switch cars & drivers for the final leg of our journey. As a matter of fact, as long as it's late, everyone unpack & we'll stay overnight at Carol's house.
What a surprise! Marcy and Joe have the rag top ready to roll in the morning.
Okay, DRIFTERS, start applying the sunscreen we've provided. We are now approaching our most favorite place in Florida:
