South Miami-Dade

South Miami-Dade offers numerous parks, ocean beaches, tropical gardens and wildlife sanctuaries. The Florida Keys and coral reefs, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Miami Seaquarium,and the Museum of Science are readily accessible for outdoor activities.

From Parrot Jungle and Gardens, radiant parrots alight on your shoulders to Monkey Jungle, where our species closest cousins roam free, nature ceases to be a spectacle and becomes a wonder. Fairchild Tropical Garden and nearby Deering Estate at Cutler are havens of rare and exotic vegetation . Miami MetroZoo is rated one of the top 10 zoos in the country and nearby the Gold Coast Railroad Museum is a living tribute to South Florida's history. Created by a lovelorn immigrant to Miami, the historic Coral Castle, carved from two million pounds of oolitic limestone, is a monument to enduring faith. Speed reigns supreme at The Homestead-Miami Speedway Complex home to NASCAR, Indy and other motorsports events including the Grand Prix of Miami, Pennzoil Miami 400 and NASCAR Winston Cup Race.

The Everglades

Inside of an hour's drive of Greater Miami is the largest wilderness in the eastern US. Everglades National Park, set aside in 1947 as one of the nation's largest parks, is home to many rare and endangered species.

Enter the Park at Shark Valley just off the Tamiami Trail and hike, bike or take a two-hour guided tram ride. For a different view of the 'Glades start from the Visitor Center at the Park entrance southwest of Florida City and drive the 38 miles through Long Pine Key to Flamingo, overlooking Florida Bay. A lodge, restaurant and marina distinguish this outpost. This is also a popular base for taking in the untouched beauty of the Everglades by canoe or on guided hiking trips.

Biscayne National Park, surrounding the northernmost coral reef in the U.S., is 95 percent underwater and best explored by boat. Glass-bottomed boat tours run regularly. Diving and snorkeling are also accessible.

At Miccosukee Indian Village and Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation you can safely patrol the sawgrass in swamp buggies or on air boats and observe local alligator wrestling acts. At the Everglades Alligator Farm, you can see 2,500 alligators, snakes and reptiles all on a working farm.