Wow a great discovery today the Ft. Lauderdale Garden Club! Located inside Hugh Taylor Birch State…read morePark. I followed the signs once inside the Park and if you head to your first right at the very end of the parking lot to the east end is the Garden Club. Since coming back home today I explored their website WWW.FLGC.ORG and it gives a little more insight as well as calendar of events that are now held on Zoom due to Covid. As I took the paths in the gardens I got to see some familiar plants and trees and some new ones too. I especially am fond of the bromeliads and they had a couple varieties that I have not seen nor do I have in my gardens. The colors were brilliant and really added to an enjoyable walk. I also saw a Jamaican Croton that I have not seen in years. I had one many years ago at my last home and gardens but find they are not readily available to buy. Loved taking photos that I shared on this page for future reference and inspiration for my own gardens. Definitely will return for one of their Events after Covid has ended. In the meantime I will definitely check out their website for their next events.

I've been here many times to walk my dogs. I'm not sure if I intended to write a review or it…read moredisappeared. Either way, this is a small park with a few pavilions. Some evenings they have AA meetings and the parking lot gets full. I try to go here in the morning. Often I see goats along B the fence line from the neighboring property. The best is when there are horses in the park and I can tell that my dogs are thinking, what is that? It's a simple park but a nice place to walk and it's quiet. There are restrooms but not much other amenities.

Great Park for the kids! Beautifully themed barn and tractor playgrounds with a lot of open space…read moreand enclosed with white fencing and has large picnic table!

Exceptional museum with lovely exhibitions on view. Absolutely loved seeing the South Florida…read moreartist consortium and loved seeing MOCA's permanent collection. They have great community programming even throughout the summer and are a significant staple in North Miami.

Went with my girls to the Miami Art Week opening reception at MoCA and it was stunning! We were…read moregreeted right away by the museum staff and spoke with them for a bit about the event. I've been to this museum a few times before and each exhibition is better than the last. Make the time and go check out the two new solo shows that just opened - 'The Garden' by Hiba Schahbaz and 'Field of Dreams' by Diana Eusebio - they are spectacular! Both shows immediately transport you into the artists' worlds. Miami Art Week is one of my favorite times of the year. It's such a privilege to live where everyone vacations!

I believe this exhibit is now closed but I'll post this review in case it reopens. Happy Go Lucky…read morewas located next to the food court in the Aventura Mall. There were 10 rooms of lighting, sculpture, sound and visual illusions. It was fun, just some photo opps though nothing especially thought provoking. We went during the last week of the exhibit so there were very few people there and we breezed through This was very similar to the Happy exhibit I went to in Chicago. Tickets for this were $29 each for adults and there was ample parking since it was located in a mall. It was worth it to take some fun pictures in some cool setups. The staff was really good at taking pictures to highlight the exhibit.

Ok, this is not an art exhibit. This is a glorified selfie studio. It's really nice, and you can…read moreget some great selfies. And it's nice that they have people in there to take pictures of you with your own phone, so you don't have to buy anything afterwards but basically it's just a fun place for you and a bunch of your girlfriends to go and take a million pictures of each other.

In all the years that I lived in Miami, I never once visited Viscaya; I live in shame. Mostly…read morebecause when you're local the mentality is, "why pay to see a fancy house? you can drive by coral gables or south beach and see them for free". I will say, the grounds are absolutely delightful, especially if you go in the Springtime as we did where flowers are all in full bloom, that alone is worth the ticket price. The architecture is exquisite! A feast for the eyes in so many ways. When we came to visit, they were doing renovations. You could see the water damage on the roof and walls, probably caused by one of the many Summer storms, because of that the tickets were at a discount that day but we were still able to appreciate the beauty of Viscaya. There are two cafe's. One in the garden of the main house, and another across the street where farm animals use to be kept. Surprisingly, the food and drinks are reasonably priced. The day we were there, a wedding was going to take place and there was a lot of commotion going on. Fancy tables being set up, fine china, crystal glasses, the whole works. We asked a security guard how much it costs to have a wedding reception there and he said: "Just to rent the space, no tables, no nothing, starting price is 100k". So if you have 100k lying around, and plan to get married soon, this could be an option for you. Jokes aside though; I'd definitely visit again.

Imagine being transported to a palatial European setting...except you're in Miami. We took the…read moremetro to Vizcaya and made the ten minute walk to the gardens. The property and history is pretty amazing. As many other reviews have mentioned, a good portion of the rooms and structures are closed for renovations. They have reduced the entry to $20 from $25 but it still was a little disappointing that the casino building and several rooms in the house were closed. Being that it was the offseason, some of the gardens did seem to be past their peak. We hope to return when everything is open in season and tour the whole facility.

This is a planetarium, museum, aquarium all in one!…read more Place is very close to the Miami port. We had several hours to kill in Miami but had four large carryon bags. They luckily hold onto the bags while we explore the museum and this worked perfectly for us. In addition to the 4-5 floors and two buildings worth of area to explore, there are amazing view of Miami from most of the floors. Kids thoroughly enjoyed seeing the Florida gators and other reptiles. The aquarium has shark and a huge turtle in addition to several other varieties of sea life. Kids spent several hours in the flight museum and the interactive universe simulator model as well. We also caught one of the shows in the planetarium, make sure to reserve a spot during a time slot of your choice well before hand. Perfect stop if you have a few hours in Miami.

My husband and I visited this museum as part of our day trip to Miami. I wish parking wasn't so…read moreexpensive ($18 flat rate). It took us about 2.5 hours to explore the entire place including the planetarium show. The show that worked out best with timing was called "How to Die in Space: An Interactive Adventure Through the Cosmos." The girl leading it was wonderful but as you may figure by its name, the show was not a peaceful experience. There were a number of explosions that I think scared some of the kids in attendance. The other exhibits included one about flight, the human body/mind, an aquarium, dinosaurs, and general Florida wildlife. I can't say I learned a terrible amount of new information but it was fine. I appreciate the museum's mission and it probably would be cool for toddlers-little kids.

Located at the Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines. I had no idea this place existed…read moreuntil a friend of mine told me they offered different types of art classes here. When you arrive at the Charles F. Dodge City Center and see the huge yellow structures in the front, The Frank Art Gallery is located on the opposite side. It's a small but beautiful and modern space. They change out their art exhibits regularly. Check out their website for different classes for all ages. We attend the monthly Teen Art Club and it's only $5. So crazy how inexpensive. But something different and fun. Highly recommended. The staff here is very friendly and knowledgeable. The space is gorgeous. Love the modern vibe!

So during the pandemic I have been out and about discovering everything and anything on my literal…read moredoorstep. I therefore stumbled upon this place, and came to see it for the artsy, architectural aspect of the building, and it did not disappoint. I did not gain a look to the inside, so my review is reflective of just the outside only. See my numerous photograpghs to get the feel of the place. Here is some information about the Mayor that this place is named after - A resident of Pembroke Pines since 1977, Mayor Frank C. Ortis has a long history of service to the community. He was elected to the Pembroke Pines City Commission in 1996 and served as Vice Mayor in 1998 and 2002. After serving two terms as City Commissioner, he was elected Mayor of the City of Pembroke Pines in 2004 and re-elected in 2008. In 2012, he was elected unopposed to a third term as Mayor of Pembroke Pines. In 2016, he was once again elected unopposed to a fourth term as Mayor of Pembroke Pines, and in 2020 Mayor Ortis was re-elected. "I like making a difference and helping people with their concerns," said Mayor Ortis. "This is a great city to live and work in, and I'm extremely proud to be a part of it." He has served and currently serves on numerous boards and committees, including being on the Board of the Broward and Florida League of Cities; Chair of the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) Committee on Jobs, Education and the Workforce; the USCM Vice Chair for Sports and Recreation, Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports; and the USCM Advisory Board; on the Broward County Workforce One Development Board; and on the Board of the United Way of Broward County.. He is also the recipient of many awards, honors and recognition for his work as a civic leader, including being a recipient of the 2019 Florida League of Cities Home Rule Hero Award, and being named the 2013 winner of the prestigious E. Harris Drew Municipal Official Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by the Florida League of Cities, which recognizes and honors a local elected official who has made a lasting and worthwhile contribution to the citizens of Florida through their efforts and dedication in the performance of their duties on the local level.  He was also presented the 2012 Public Leadership in the Arts Award; and was named the Cities of Excellence "Mayor of the Year" by the Florida League of Cities. Mayor Ortis graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. He lives with his wife Barbara in Pembroke Pines

What a delightful and incredibly informative tour of this historic home in the City Beautiful. A…read moregreat restoration project, both inside and out, and the docents' passion for the place comes through in every word of the hourlong tour. Super cheap too with plenty of parking out back.

This review is based on seeing the outside as the inside, was shut. I would like to come back to…read morealso see inside, maybe after the pandemic. Built in 1899 by Reverend Solomon Merrick, this residence, which served as the home base for Merrick's 3000-acre grapefruit plantation, grew from a modest frame house to one encased in coral rock. Solomon's wife Althea planted oaks, gumbo limbos, n rubber trees throughout her vegetable n cut flower gardens n lined the keystone walkways with low coral walls, conch shells, n crepe myrtles. In 1921 the plantation was transformed into a planned community by Solomon's son George who named his subdivision "Coral Gables" for the oolitic limestone pillars that ornamented his childhood home, preserved on a half-acre lot. At this time, Althea added a grotto, a bamboo grove, n a fish pond planted with water lilies n irises. Following the collapse of the land boom, the house became a boarding house through the 1940s. George's sister Ethel continued to add plantings n cared for the gardens until she passed away in 1961. At this time the property was purchased by W.L. Philbrick who funded the Merrick Manor Foundation. In 1976 the City of Coral Gables acquired the house n gardens n encouraged the Coral Gables Garden Club to undertake its restoration. Aided by historic photographs n personal interviews, the garden club worked with landscape architect Jonathon Seymour to restore the garden. Flowering b fruit trees native to Florida's high hammock were rejuvenated or replaced, the pond was restored, and a replica sundial was set in the cut flower garden. The house, restored to its 1920s appearance, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.