Must See Sights and Landmarks in Sunset Islands Area

"Located just off South Dixie Highway in Homestead, the Coral Castle Museum is a unique outdoor attraction that was built by a local man entirely from local limestone. It’s still a mystery how he moved and manipulated the massive limestone blocks used in the castle’s construction; some have suggested he may have had extraterrestrial help. Though the verdict is still out on that claim, there’s no doubt that it’s a popular attraction with children and adults alike, and it’s one of those one-of-a-kind Florida attractions that you won’t see elsewhere."

"‘You will be seeing unusual accomplishment,’ reads the inscription on the rough-hewn quarried wall. That’s an understatement. There is no greater temple to all that is weird and wacky about South Florida. The legend: a Latvian gets snubbed at the altar. Comes to the USA and settles in Florida. Handcarves, unseen, in the dead of night, a monument to unrequited love."

"Unlike the Medditerian Revival mansions at Coral Gables or the Art Deco buildings of the South beach, The Coral Castle Museum is a singular structure. It is said that the 1,100-ton coral rock castle was built single-handedly by a man who lost his love. The structure alludes to mysteries like that of Stonehenge."

"The Barnacle Historic State Park is home to the oldest house in Miami|© William Silver / Shutterstock. Also in Coconut Grove, this fairly small park tops our list for having the oldest house in its original location in Miami. Visitors can tour the 1891 home, The Barnacle, to learn about the frontier life during the “Era of the Bay” at a time when all travel to the city was done by boat."

"The Barnacle Historic State Park offers an opportunity to relax in a serene atmosphere. Also, there are a few beautiful boutiques (The Showroom, First Flight Out, Nikki's Beachouse Boutique) on Commodore Plaza -beach style clothes, cosy decoration, design accessories. Fringed by trees and cafés with terraces, this district has a cool Caribbean vibe going on."

"3485 Main Hwy This historic Florida State Park is located in the Coconut Grove neighborhood and spans about 5 acres. Dade County’s oldest home resides on this five-acre site that overlooks the scenic Biscayne Bay. It was built by Commodore Ralph Middleton Munroe in 1891."

"Located in the neighbourhood of Miami on the Main Highway in Coconut Grove, Plymouth Congregational Church was built in 1917 and is one of the ancient churches in the city. Plymouth Congregational Church is architecture in mission revival style with inspiration from old city church in Mexico and is a part of the US National Register of Historic Places since 1974. The church is well known as a pretty wedding venue among locals."

"A mere 21 years after Miami was officially incorporated as a city, the mission-style "coral rock" building of the Plymouth Congregational Church was constructed in Miami's oldest neighborhood, Coconut Grove."

"As I stand outside and walk into this beautiful old church feelings coming to mind are; beauty, old, history, planning, stories, Spanish, love, unique,… read more ». Rating: 5 based on 5 reviews"

"Created by renowned Italian artist Claudio Ciaravolo to launch the SoBe is Love public art project a few Art Basels ago, this sculpture symbolizes the project’s message of love and community unity in light of post-election political divide and an epidemic of national gun violence and highlights intercultural principles of hope and faith. The SOBE sculpturer pays tribute to the late artist Robert Indiana, whose sculptures are universally recognized as symbolic of these same messages, and looks totally cute in pink."

"Take I-95 south and grab the Rickenbacker Causeway until you hit Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. This beautiful state park is right at the end of Key Biscayne and gives you uninterrupted views of the ocean—a perfect sunset watching spot. The state park has a lighthouse, where guests can climb to the top and look out into the ocean and the beach below. Next to it is a cement lookout spot that serves as a bench to watch the sunset and enjoy your Zak the Baker treats (if you didn't eat them already on the car ride down)."

"Miracle Mile is one of the Miami area's most beautiful shopping locations. There are over 150 shops and 40 gourmet restaurants, all within a short walking distance of each other. These shops include a wide range of bridal boutiques, kitchen and appliance stores, men's apparel shops, jewelry stores, hair salons, spas, and more."

"A post shared by Katarzyna Arkusińska (@kate_through_the_looking_glass) on Sep 14, 2018 at 8:28pm PDT. Miracle Mile features an upscale shopping experience in the Coral Gables area of Miami. Miracle Mile is one of Miami’s coolest shopping centers with boutiques and one of a kind stores lining the beautiful tree-lined street."

"Pop into Threefold Cafe for breakfast, then spend a few moments walking off your meal in the Miracle Mile area."

"Formerly known as the American Airlines Arena, the FTX Arena is home to the Miami Heat basketball team as well as serving as a venue for various shows and events. With almost 20,000 seats, this is a popular and fun spot to watch an NBA game while in Miami. Located along Biscayne Bay with easy access thanks to public transportation, everyone in the family will enjoy a visit to this famous spot."

"The 3,400 square-foot oceanfront basketball arena is the home court of the NBA’s Miami Heat. The 19,00 capacity arena has been awarded the Leed Green Building certification for being an energy-efficient building. When there isn’t an exciting basketball game, the American Airlines Arena hosts more than 80 music and other events, including WWE Smackdown."

"The BEST and most beautiful church I’ve ever been to in my entire life. It’s in a hidden part of Coconut Grove near Mercy Hospital. This place is right by… read more »"

"The privately funded luxury collection of Rosa and Carlos de la Cruz finally got a name as the de la Cruz Collection in Miami, designed by John Marquette. The de la Cruz art museum, established in 2009, has been the home of the art-lovers for more than three decades, and now they have opened it for the public to encourage the free flow of artistic thoughts in the neighborhood. Covering an area of 30,000 square feet, the gallery is stuffed with contemporary art exhibits and also organizes lectures, summer workshops, and scholarships for students at DASH and NWSA."

"If you’re looking to veer away from the conventional art gallery scene, visit the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), which overlooks Biscayne Bay. Walking through the 200,000-square-foot museum, visitors experience curated nature through PAMM’s remarkable hanging gardens. The thousands of plants stemming from the outdoor ceiling transports museum-goers into a jungle-like world."

"Miami is known for its art, and this collection of contemporary works, Miami’s flagship art museum, is a must-visit. In addition to its rotating exhibits, the museum is home to the Caribbean Cultural Institute, which promotes the arts and culture of the Caribbean. 1103 Biscayne Blvd, Miami | 305.375.5662 l Distance from Hotel: 5.6 miles"

"Not far from that is the superb Pérez Art Museum. I highly recommend the guided architecture tour. It's free, it takes about half and hour, and it gives you a great explanation of the architects' work. It's stunning, a beautiful mix between green and concrete."

"With about a dozen specialty beers on tap (plus seasonal selections) and another half-dozen or so microbrews in bottle, Titanic may not have the biggest selection, but there's no arguing that this brewery and restaurant has the most flavorful, carefully crafted beer in town. Brewmaster Jamie Ray whips up at least half of the daily draught offerings, including the evocatively named Boiler Room Nut Brown Ale and Triple Screw light ale, and he keeps receiving national awards for them at competitions where the judges, for the record, never spit. Then there are all the beer-related events -- live blues-and-brews, Mug Club specials, name-that-brewski contests, University of Miami sports nights, Brewmaster dinners, free T-shirt happy hours."

"In 1982 two Florida International University students in their early twenties, Patrick Gleber and Kevin Rusk, helped transform Miami's oldest bar, Tobacco Road, from a decrepit, crime-ridden dive into one of the most popular food and music venues in the county. Then came Fishbone Grille, continuing a tradition of excellent food at a moderate price. So in 1997, when Rusk announced he was going to start a brew pub in Coral Gables, it seemed a recipe for success."

"Focal Brewing Co.is a locally owned brewery right in the heart of Little River. Stop in for the daily happy hour (starts at 5 pm) with fantastic music. It’s great for pop, rock, and jazz listeners!"

"Bars Breweries Little River. Happy hour: Yes, Fri 4–7:30pm. Standout beer: Honey Blonde"

"Beginning distribution in 2014, Biscayne Bay Brewing Company didn’t open with a 3,400 square-foot taproom until 2016. Lucky for Doral drinkers, it keeps 15 rotating beers on tap, a handful of which are its own brews. Unique to its competition, this brewery has a temperature-controlled barrel-aging room that allows it to create whiskey barrel-aged beers like La Salida, El Roble and Buenas Noches."

"Breweries and children don’t tend to go hand-in-hand, but at Biscayne Bay Brewing every Saturday kids under 12 eat for free off a menu, which features a cheese pizza, grilled cheese sandwich, and chicken fingers. Available from noon to 3 p.m. View this post on Instagram"

"Bars Breweries Doral. Happy hour: Yes, Mon–Fri 3–7pm. Standout beer: La Colada"