Miami Beach Off The Beaten Path

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As I was saying in the previous tip, for as long as I can remember, I have dreamt of visiting the Everglades and seeing the 'sea of grass' first hand. So we headed along highway 41 in search of a place to do just this.

The first Air Boat place we came to was Coopertown, which claims to be the home of the 'original air boat tour'. I had read some good reviews on Coopertown prior to our trip, so we decided to see what they had on offer.

A friendly welcome came our way and we were told that we could take a ride in about 10 minutes time, as they were just setting up for the day. While we were waiting, we had a look at some of the resident alligators.

Then it was time, and Alex and I jumped on board a small Air Boat, along with 2 German tourists, and our friendly captain/guide. The large fan started up and I was very pleased to have bought my ear plugs as it is VERY loud. They supply you with cotton wool if required.

We started off slowly cruising along the swamp, birds taking off in our path, then we picked up speed as we came to the 'sea of grass' and before long we where skimming across the (water logged) grass at a great pace. After a while we slowed down again and entered a more swamp like area where we started some serious alligator spotting, along with turtles and numerous bird species.

We were lucky to see about a dozen alligators, including one big one that came right over to the boat to have a closer look at us. A couple of birds also hitched a ride with us for some parts of the trip.

We stopped at intervals, and the guide gave us lots of information about the Everglades and the flora and fauna around us. It was very informative and very interesting.

The ride lasted around 40 minutes, and at 18 USD each, I thought it was great value. It really was an amazing experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Afterwards we got to hold a baby alligator - it was a lot softer than I imagined it would be, though I thought it wasn't wise to give it a kiss!

11 miles west of Florida Turnpike on U.S 41

You can go by Miami and South Beach by ignoring or not really getting a feel for the Latin community and culture. Which would be a big pitty. Miami is very much Latin. Not only Cuban anymore, but Argentine, Colombian, Venezuelan, just to mention a few.

So I suggest you enter one of the small Latin cafeterias on Washington Avenue, the one at number 1515 for example, which is quite nice and very much typical. Go there to have a coffee, a coke, a mango milkshake, or even better a typical and very cheap breakfast or snack, like a beef empanada, eggs, sandwiches, etc. I promise you won't regret it!

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As we were walking around Lincoln Road trying to find a place to eat, we happen to notice this rooster at an outdoor cafe perched on a chair having a drink (water) on a hot sunny day!

Apparently he's a fixture in Miami Beach and was accompanied by his owner who was enjoying a lunch at an outdoor cafe.

Later on, as we were having our lunch, we caught a glimpse of the rooster perched on his owner's bicycle handle-bars riding along Lincoln Road. He looked like a stuffed animal, didn't even move, such a well behaved a"cock"It was quite interested to watch them going about their daily business.

The things you see in Miaimi Beach.

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There are many things in Miami Beach that you really don't see anywhere else...and watching these men picking these coconuts right here on Ocean Drive one morning was quite bizarre to say the least.

There was a crowd around the group of men, one guy was up on the palm tree, the others were catching them in a net and another was putting them in shopping carts.

Only in Miami Beach folks, only in Miami Beach.

Miami Beach is South Floridas most historic and popular vacation spot. The Miami Beach real estate market is among the most active in the United States. The revival of Florida's premier oceanfront location has sparked unparralled real estate appreciation and Miami condo sales which continues as buidling locations are quickly running out.

South of 5th street, which is the most sought location on the beach, has seen the uprise of numerous breathtaking condominium buildings, offering the most prestegious living on Miami Beach. And this is where I stayed, at Murano at Portofino!

South Beach is the lower 1/3 of Miami Beach. Only about 30,000 people live here, mostly in pretty little Art Deco condos less than 4 stories tall. In 1980 the average age was 66, now it has dropped to 42. The real action takes place on Lincoln Road and Ocean Drive, each of which is packed with cafes, galleries, models, boutiques, artists, and portable phones.

And then there's ballet, movie houses, the symphony, artists' studios, trendy nightclubs and some of the most expensive hotels in the United States. It's urban, but tropical urban - the kind of place which has attracted the new economy entrepreneurs in software development, e-commerce, and entertainment.