World Travel Guide

City Guide  - Miami  - Excursions
Excursions

For a Half Day

Fort Lauderdale:
Often described as the 'Venice of America', because of its many canals and waterways, this smart east coast resort and international yachting centre, is only 40km (25 miles) north of Miami. It is easily accessible by train from Miami railway station, but really has so much to recommend it that a full day could easily be whiled away here. It boasts magnificent sandy beaches, as well as excellent shopping and nightlife. Attractions include the contemporary collections of the Museum of Art, the Museum of Discovery and Science, and the spectacular Hugh Taylor Birch State Park and Recreation Area. The Tourist Office, Port Evergaldes, Suite 303, 1850 Eller Drive (tel: (954) 765 4466; fax: (954) 765 4467; web site: www.sunny.org), can provide more information.

For a Whole Day

Everglades:
Gator-spotting is one of the main attractions of the Everglades National Park, the second largest national park in the USA, with its 6070 sq kilometres (2344 sq miles) of marshes, mangrove forests, freshwater and saltwater areas and open grass prairies. This vast subtropical wilderness is home to an abundance of rare plants, birds and animals, including wild orchids, Florida panthers, ospreys, manatees, giant loggerhead turtles, the Everglades mink, the Florida black bear and the only saltwater crocodiles in America. There are several entry points each with visitor centres that organise ranger-led walks and talks, boat and tram tours, and canoe trails. The main Visitor Center is just southwest of Homestead (tel: (305) 242 7700; web site: www.nps.gov/ever).

Key West and the Keys:
This chain of small coral-and-limestone islands ('keys') south of Miami, stretches 180km (113 miles) out across Florida Bay, linked by just one highway, the US-1. The keys have a unique atmosphere, more slow Caribbean than fast-paced American, and offer some of the best sport fishing, scuba diving, boating, swimming and snorkelling in the world. Further information is available from the Florida Keys and Key West Visitor's Bureau, 402 Wall Street, Key West (tel: (305) 294 2587).
Key
West, the most visited island, is at the southernmost point of Continental USA, just 144km (90 miles) north of Cuba. This five-kilometre-long (3.5-mile) sandbar is renowned for its sunset celebrations, its key lime pie, its sizeable gay community and as the home of Ernest Hemingway (see Literary Notes). The Key West Information Center, 1601 North Roosevelt Boulevard, Key West (tel: (305) 292 5000; web site: www.keywestinfo.com) can provide more information.



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