Top Local Trivia About South Florida
Everglades: Largest Wilderness Area East of the Mississippi River
40001 State Road 9336
Homestead, FL 33034
(305) 242-7700
www.nps.gov/ever
Everglades National Park is home to the largest area of wilderness still in existence east of the Mississippi River. Florida's sprawling national park is home to wild mangroves, swamps, bays and other exotic terrain. Historic trails abound for visitors seeking adventure on their own or as part of guided tours. The long list of activities at the park includes camping, fishing, bird watching, hiking and airboat rides.
Miami Beach Used To be a Mangrove Swamp
Miami Beach City Hall
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, FL 33139
www.miamibeachfl.gov
The famous City of Miami Beach was actually a mangrove swamp until the 1920s. In the 1920s, development began to create a warm and sunny area where people could come to enjoy the heat and take it easy. The terrain was transformed and vegetation that still exists today was brought in such as royal palms and coconut trees. Entrepreneur Carl Fisher was the main figure behind the development, brilliantly adding good roads and highways for more business. The private luxury island of residences and resorts, Fisher Island, was named for Carl Fisher and has been home to such celebrities as Oprah Winfrey and Boris Becker.
Miami is the Wreck Diving Capital of the Americas
South Beach Divers
850 Washington Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 531-6110
www.southbeachdivers.com/wrecks
The scuba diving is great in South Florida because of the weather, the gorgeous ocean and the staggering number of shipwrecks. Scuba divers come to Miami from around the world to explore these shipwrecks – even professional treasure hunters. What is maybe most interesting is that a great number of the shipwrecks were purposefully sunken in order to create artificial reefs in the area. Group explorations are available with organizations familiar with the waters and the sites.
Fontainebleau Miami Beach: Hangout of the Stars in 1950s and 60s
4441 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33140
(305) 538-2000
www.fontainebleau.com
Today the fabulous Fontainebleau Miami Beach resort is the place to rub elbows with pop stars, supermodels, socialites and other famous faces and personalities, but that star power shined in the 1950s and 1960s as well. In those decades, performances were held by the likes of Elvis Presley and the celebrities who were regulars at the hotel included the Rat Pack, Lucille Ball and Marlene Dietrich. Today the resort is home to hotel suites and residences as well as world-class shopping, dining and spa services. The nightlife is some of the best the country has to offer at Liv Nightclub and the Bleau Bar of yesteryear continues to create an impressive scene.
Miami Seaquarium: Home to Various Flippers
4400 Rickenbacker Causeway
Key Biscayne, FL 33149
(305) 361-5705
www.miamiseaquarium.com
The famous television show from the 1960s as well as the "Flipper" movies were filmed at the Miami Seaquarium. The role of Flipper was played by several dolphins at the local attraction. Dolphins are still one of the main attractions at Miami Seaquarium, as well as fantastic orca shows among other great aquatic wildlife. Guests to the park can interact with dolphins at a cove at the park where they can shake hands, kiss or give training signals to the friendly animals.
Related: A Guide To Zoo MiamiChanoa Chen
Chanoa Chen is a well-published blogger and online journalist on topics ranging from luxury lifestyle living to fashion shows and trends. A self-proclaimed Miami Beach fashion expert, she is also working on launching her first jewelry line, Boki Love. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
