2021 Destination Blogs

The City of Pembroke Pines is located about a half an hour’s drive southwest from Port Everglades and Ft. Lauderdale International Airport.  It’s also about the same distance northwest from Miami.  The City Hall is part of a larger complex named the Charles City Center.  It houses not only governmental offices, but also holds many events throughout the year. Another major attraction in Pembroke Pines is C. B. Smith Park.  The massive park truly offers something for everyone!  There are…

The City of Weston is located about 30 minutes by car west of Port Everglades and Ft. Lauderdale International Airport and just east of the Florida Everglades.  This area is known for its golf courses, tennis courts, and spas. The most famous of these is the Bonaventure Country Club.  The golf course is home to the nationally known #3 Waterfall Hole. If you aren’t much of a golfer, this course is a part of the Bonaventure Resort and Spa.  You…

The City of Wilton Manors is many things to many people, but above all else it’s about freedom.  The freedom to be oneself, the freedom to enjoy nature, and the freedom to enjoy and make art. The city is home to the second largest proportion of gay couples relative to the entire population in the United States.  As of the 2018 elections, the City of Wilton Manors became the first city in Florida and the only the second city in…

The City of Sunrise is located approximately half an hour’s drive northwest of Port Everglades and Ft. Lauderdale International Airport. The area boasts several large and small venues for entertainment.  The largest is the BB&T Center Arena, home to the NHL Florida Panthers hockey team.  You can also see concerts and shows of nationally and internationally known acts, such as Billy Joel, KISS, Bon Jovi, John Legend, comedian Joe Rogan, classical artists Il Volo, and Cirque Du Soleil have all…

Approximately a 45-minute drive southwest of Port Miami and Miami International Airport you’ll find the area of Homestead and Florida City.  This area boasts a lot of history as well as exciting adventures!  Florida City is the southernmost municipality in the South Florida area. Stroll along the street of the historical downtown of Homestead and stop into the City Hall Museum to get an idea of what life was like for the founding fathers.  The antique fire truck provides a…

The area of North Miami, Biscayne Park, North Miami Beach, El Portal and Miami Shores is situated 15 minutes north of Port Miami and 20 minutes northwest of Miami International Airport.  You will find much more to explore here than just the iconic beaches. In the spirit of jigsaw puzzles, North Miami is home to one of the largest ever done in the form of an ancient Spanish Monastery, originally built in the 1100s and used for that purpose for 700 years.…

The area of Hialeah and Hialeah Gardens is about 20 minutes north of the Miami International Airport and about 25 minutes north and west of Port Miami.  It is centered around a large Cuban community and features lots of parks, creativity, and art. Amelia Earhart Park is the largest in the area with five lakes, water skiing, wakeboarding, mountain bike trails, a petting zoo, boat rentals, a bark park, a farm, disc golf, a Tom Sawyer Island tree fort, and…

Just over 20 minutes south of Miami International Airport and under 30 minutes southwest of Port Miami, you will find the Village of Pinecrest.  The village is home to a number of parks featuring tennis courts, soccer fields, picnic areas, green spaces, and lots more, but the crown jewel of the village is Pinecrest Gardens.  The Gardens feature over 1000 varieties of tropical plants and trees.  There is also a beautiful indoor space for parties and gatherings as well.  The park…

If you travel about 20 minutes’ drive south and east of Port Miami and about 30 minutes southeast from Miami International Airport, you’ll find the island village of Key Biscayne.  Located just across Biscayne Bay from Miami, Key Biscayne is home to current and past notables such as actor Brad Pitt, former President Richard Nixon (his “Florida White House”), singer and actor Cher, and actor Andy Garcia. Water sports and activities are king here as you can imagine.  There are…

Miami Springs is located approximately 20 minutes’ drive west and north of Port Miami and about 15 minutes north of Miami International Airport.  You will really get the small-town feel here.  The center piece of activity is the Circle which appropriately enough is in the middle of downtown and features a large gazebo.  The grounds play host to several festivals and events throughout the year including the Festival of Fine Arts and the River Cities Festival.               The City…

The Town of Miami Lakes is found 20 minutes north of the Miami International Airport and about ½ an hour north and west of Port Miami.  The town was once part of a very large dairy farm and you will see cows in pastures right outside of downtown.  The animal is a very important part of the community and you will see them honored in many ways.  They even occasionally get loose and take a trek through town!         The…

Drive a half an hour southwest from Port Miami or the same amount of time due south from Miami International Airport and you will come to the Village of Palmetto Bay. The centerpiece attraction here is the Charles Deering Estate.  Mr. Deering, his brother James of neighboring Vizcaya fame, and their father were the founders and owners of Deering Harvester, which became International Harvester. The estate is a true treasure and has many opportunities to enjoy history, nature, music and…

The city of Miami Gardens is located about 30 minutes’ drive north and slightly east of the Miami International Airport and about 20 minutes north and slightly west of Port Miami.  Sports are the name of the game here, particularly football, tennis, and golf.  There’s also a horse race track and casino for those that prefer a little gaming. Miami Gardens is home to the Hard Rock Stadium where the NFL Miami Dolphins play.  Since the 2019 debut of the…

Travel about 25 minutes west and north from Port Miami or about 25 minutes west and north from Miami International Airport and you will find the area of Doral and Sweetwater. This community is very diverse and offers activities for everyone from high-end shopping to parks and green spaces for relaxing.  There are festivals to attend, music performances to enjoy, and even comedy to revel in.  The downtown area offers shopping, restaurants, and entertainment in many forms. The most prominent…