Along the South Florida Waterfront

When you visit South Florida, there is a high likelihood you will find yourself near the ocean at some point. While there are no beach pictures in this post (sorry), here are some things to do on or very close to the water.

In South Beach (Miami Beach) interesting art deco architecture intermingles with modernness.

South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida

South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida

If you want the attention of parking valets, driving a convertible mustang on a sunny day will do it.

South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida

My favorite route between Miami Beach and mainland Miami is MacArthur Causeway. When I have time, I make pitstops on the islands: Star, Palm, and Hibiscus.

I previously showed you a picture of a quirky mailbox on Star Island. Star Island has some of the most expensive properties in the world.

Star Island, Miami, Florida

There is also a park, Buoy Park, in the center of Star Island.

Buoy Park, Star Island, Miami

Hibiscus Island and Palm Island are not as exclusive as Star Island but still have impressive and very expensive properties.

Hibiscus Island, Miami, Florida

OK, now back to reality. How old do you think Miami is?

Archaeological evidence shows the Tequesta Indians were at Miami Circle (at Brickell Point) 2,000 years ago. I finally visited Miami Circle last month, even though I parked in a loading zone to do so. There must be a legal place to park but I have not found it.

Miami Circle, Brickell Point, Florida

Miami Circle, Brickell Point, Florida

In a prior post, Florida Hills, I mentioned the William Powell Bridge on Rickenbacker Causeway. Here is a view of the bridge from the northwest tip of Virginia Key, looking back toward Miami. You can see the high rise buildings of Brickell Avenue peeking above the bridge.

Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne

No secret that there are plenty of alligators in South Florida. In fact, there is a canal behind my childhood South Florida home where we saw gators (and snakes, iguanas, and even a manatee). Anyway, this sign in North Miami Beach really threw me off.

Greynolds Park, North Miami Beach

I knew that crocs and gators mixed in the southern Everglades but I had no idea that crocs lived this far north. Yikes!

NOTE: As much as I wish I was compensated by the companies mentioned in this article, I am NOT.

Some other recent South Florida posts: Opa Locka: Funny Name, Cool Architecture, Spanish Monastery in North Miami Beach, and Quirky Sites of Miami and South Florida.

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© 2014, Charles McCool