Excellent place to have meetings like the one we had…read more It's located in this gorgeous building in the middle of Miami Beach. You can park on the street or in the parking lot next to this building which is with right and the hourly rate is practically the same as parking on the streets.

This Visitor Center has the most helpful people and lots of information to plan things to do…read more First time we come to Miami Beach and found this charming office on Lincoln Road killing time before we could check-in. They really do a good job in explaining and printing directions to get to places, have lots of useful maps, coupons and guides. We didn't have a plan where to start exploring the city and we walked away with fun and exciting suggestions. They even helped us to get an early check-in at the hotel. Great service and location!

The City of Miami Springs was founded as Country Club Estates by aviation pioneer, inventor and…read moreland developer Glenn H. Curtiss who was a contemporary of the Wright brothers. The area was known for its natural springs and after being referred to as Miami Springs, the name was officially changed in 1930. The expansion of the Miami canal along with major canal projects changed the landscape and reduced the water pressure that used to force water up from the Biscayne Aquifer so there are no longer any springs. Glenn started his career building and racing motorcycles. From there he moved into building airships racking up many flying firsts along the way. His innovation in planes helped the military in the run up to WWI. His planes were also used during WWII. His  accomplishments and inventions are too many to list. He was considered the Henry Ford of the aviation world. Curtiss moved to Miami in the 1920's to start an aviation school with his partner James Bright. Curtiss and Bright purchased 17,000 acres of scrub and pasture land that years later would become Miami Springs, Hialeah, and Opa-Locka. Curtiss went on to found 18 corporations and he developed Miami Springs in 1926. Many of the earliest residents of Miami Springs were employed by the Seaboard and Florida Coast Railroads whose yards were adjacent to the city. Glenn Curtiss was instrumental in developing the airport to the south and as it grew so did Miami Springs. The city became the favorite community for people employed by airlines and related businesses. Miami Springs is only a 2.9-square-mile, triangle. It is packed with historic buildings from the 1920's, many of which are in the Pueblo Revival design. My favorite part of Miami Springs is the historic downtown area where you will find a circle with a gazebo that has a tiny plane on top in honor of Curtiss. In the circle is historical information related to Glenn Curtiss. The downtown contains professional offices, restaurants and small retail stores. The Miami Springs Golf Course was the first golf course to be built in Miami-Dade County and pre-dates the incorporation of Miami Springs. The Miami Open was held at the club for 30 years, from 1925 to 1955. In 2006 the clubhouse and greens were renovated and the course was declared a local historic site. It is the oldest municipal golf course in South Florida. Some of the most prestigious homes in the community line the golf course including the Curtiss Mansion. You can learn more about Glenn Curtiss at his mansion that has been beautifully restored. It is open for tours and can be rented for private events. I love visiting Miami Springs to explore the architecture, grab a meal, or learn more about Glenn Curtiss. This small city has an Old Florida feel completely different from the rest of Miami. They are some really cool historic lift bridges in and out of the city. It is like it's own island and the Pueblo Revival architecture is so charming. It is always a pleasure to visit Miami Springs.

"At the heart of it all." Miami Springs Motto…read more Did you know that Miami Springs is only 3 x 3 sq. miles and shaped like a triangle? Located in Dade County, FL and founded by Glenn Hammond Curtiss, "The Father of Naval Aviation" and James Bright during the famous "land boom" of the 1920s and was originally named Country Club Estates! As you Miami Springs is home to the Miami International Airport (MIA) which brings in people from all over the world!

Lemon City is an unincorporated area that predates Miami. It was a farming community that sprang up…read morein the 1850's, 26 years before the founding of Miami. The community took their name from the unusually sweet lemon trees that grew in the area. By the time Miami was incorporated, Lemon City already had a population of 300. Lemon City had the areas oldest school, the Lemon City School, and the first library, the Lemon City Library. Lemon City was segregated with Black families living in three neighborhoods, Nazarine, Boles Town, and Knightsville. The exact boundaries of Lemon City have been lost to time since it was never incorporated. During the 1980's many Haitian immigrants made what was once Lemon City their home. The area has now been designated as Little Haiti which upset some of the descendants of the pioneers of Lemon City who thought the name change was insulting to their history. To be more inclusive of all of the history of the area, 10 historical signs marking the history of Lemon City were erected by the Mayor's office. Markers were placed at the Lemon City Train Station, Lemon City Pharmacy, Lemon City Library, and here at the Lemon City Post Office. Marker F-945 installed in 2017 details the history of the Lemon City Post Office. The Lemon City post office opened on October 1, 1889. It was located in a corner of Moffat's bayside store and E.L. White served as the first postmaster. Mail came into Lemon City from the port or by train before being sent south. In 1891 the post office broke with the Moffat family and moved from location to location. It finally got a permanent location in 1905 in its own building. During the years the post office was open, it moved nine times and had twelve postmasters. The post office became part of the Miami postal system in 1925. In 1974, it ceased operation. I am watching with anticipation to see what is going to happen in Little Haiti. You can already see the spark with new businesses opening like the Citadel Food Hall in the Little River area. I had heard of Lemon City in passing when bones were discovered in an unmarked cemetery during construction of an affordable housing unit. I always meant to learn more about this historic area but never had the time. I finally got to explore this area and was really delighted to find all of the historical markers. It was like a scavenger hunt discovering them and learning another piece of Lemon City's history. Although the post office is no longer here, there is a huge MAGIC sign set up heralding what will hopefully be good things to come for this area. I am excited to see the next chapter of history unfold here.

The 1920s brought the planning & establishment of Coral Gables. City founder Rev. George Merrick…read moreestablished the business section of Coral Gables & embarked on development. In the 1940s, as the city began to develop, a few developers and businesses filled a 4 block commercial strip of Coral Way between LeJeune & Douglas Road. In the 1950's, the Gables was rebranding the area as a high-end shopping destination "Miracle Mile". George Zain the "Father of Miracle Mile." he leased the land to the City for off-street parking garages. In the 1960s, the City dedicated a plaque in his honor located at the western entrance of Miracle Mile. The Miracle Mile is actually a 1/2 a mile long. Coral Way is the Central Business District between LeJeune Road & Douglas Road. It's synonymous with great customer service, international cuisines, award-winning cultural programming & unique, independent sho9ps. Brides come from all over the world to shop for wedding dresses, & jewelry;Miracle Mile is known as the premier destination for bridal shops. Miracle Mile's allure lies in its blend of Mediterranean architectural styles with stucco facades & arches. Wide vibrant sidewalks created with quartz pavers resemble the sky. Outdoor sidewalk cafes, elegant boutique shops are perfect to stroll & people watch. The Miracle Theatre was built in 1948 & now houses the Actors' Playhouse. Towering palm trees line the median & large oaks line the sidewalk providing shade and a tropical ambiance. Art walks, shopping crawls, musical performances & holiday celebrations are high points .

It was a beautiful day but Miracle Mile is a sad area these days. I remember every time we were…read moreout I will tell my husband to drive me by Miracle Mile to see all the stores to me it was heaven . More than half the stores are closed, I guess rents and taxes are super high. I remember when there were boutiques, women's clothing stores, restaurants, and shoe stores in every corner. Now most of it is closed even restaurants. The Miracle Theater is still there and the Barnes and Noble. We were dumbfounded. We walked from 37 Ave to LeJeune and back in half an hour. The only street that still has good open restaurants is on Ponce de Leon. The City should help this area to bring it back.

The Port of Miami Tunnel is one of those things you don't really think about until you realize how…read moremuch easier it makes everything. If you're heading to or from PortMiami, this tunnel just makes the whole process smoother. Instead of dealing with all the downtown traffic, you're in, through, and out before you even have time to get frustrated. The drive itself is easy. Clean, well lit, and straightforward. No confusion, no weird turns, just follow the flow and you're good. What I like most is how efficient it feels. Especially in a busy area like Miami, anything that helps you avoid traffic and keep things moving is a win. It's one of those things you might not notice if you're not thinking about it, but once you've used it, you definitely appreciate it. Overall, it does exactly what it's supposed to do, and it does it well. Quick, smooth, and reliable. Definitely a clutch part of getting in and out of the port area.

Everyone talks about the port how traffic can get pretty bad, if you go early enough to your cruise…read moreyou won't have that issue. Very modern and easy port tunnel to go through. Only one way in to your cruise is to go through lols

Traffic tickets were never a part of my life until recently. I scored a double header and earned…read moremyself some traffic school. I did what any tech lovin' girl would do and completed traffic school online. Then I decided to go drop off my freshly awarded traffic school graduation certificate to the powers that be over at the county clerk's office. I reviewed the locations and decided between Downtown and South Beach. Ultimately, South Beach won as I had a hunch it'd be more pleasant. Lo and behold it was lovely. Well, as lovely as a county clerk office can be. Everyone from the security guard to the ladies printing up receipts and records were friendly and helpful. They had a television on and although it's a small room there was almost enough seating for all. Best part yet? This office is situated inside Miami Beach City Hall a beautiful, historic building that screams Old Miami. Nothing like a local landmark to cheer this girl up.

I have to agree with Maria. If you have to spend time paying " the man " for any traffic stuff in…read moreDade county, this the place to go. Everyone from the Officer on Duty who directs you which ticket to take, to all the counter people behind the glass are friendly and helpful. In fact, they are just plain funny and patient beyond belief. If you get there at 8:30 am, you can be out before 9:30 and he some crazy stories from the people around you that make think twice about complaining you little parking tickets that you know you deserve anyway - Monday is the best day for great stories because of the weekend. Tips: Bring Cash or Check - they do not take Credit Cards for all fines and the ATM at the Police Station is always empty from people bailing out the crazy cousin who came to SoBe and thought they were untouchable ...lol

I see this monument ALL the time when I am on the motorway and it means that I am nearly home! so I…read moredecided to go to the source. This makes for fab pics, very instagram worthy. This is what I found on the web about it. Sunshine State Arch is a national historic site located at the intersection between NW 13th Ave. and NW 167th St., at the entrance to the Sunshine State Industrial Park in Miami Gardens, Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA. It was inspired by the monumental Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

Meet Coral Gables founder George E. Merrick who was born in 1886, right before before the turn of…read morethe century. On February 5, 1916 Merrick married Eunice Isabella Peacock a daughter of the Miami pioneer family, the Peacocks. In 1921 he attended Rollins College in Winter Park. Shortly after he started planning the City of Coral Gables. It was one of the first planned communities in the United States. He took his inspiration from the City Beautiful movement that was popular in the 1900's. In 1925 Merrick's family moved to Miami from Pennsylvania to join him. It was two years after Henry Flagler brought the railroad to Florida and it was the dawn of the development of Florida. Merrick started selling lots in the city in 1921. He marketed the city as having 40 miles of waterfront property. He wanted all of the city landmarks to be connected by water. He offered gondola rides from the Biltmore to the Cocoplum neighborhood to prospective home buyers. Merrick wanted his buildings to be strictly Spanish and later the Mediterranean style that was popular during Florida's land boom years in the 1920's. Eventually he expanded his vision to include seven unique villages inspired by different international influences. Today they are some of the most sought after addresses in the city. The buildings in Coral Gables were so well made that they survived hurricanes before there were building codes. George Merrick was in active in the development of Coral Gables between 1920 to 1928. George Merrick was a champion of education. In 1923, he commissioned the Coral Gables Elementary School and sold it to the Dade County School Board. In 1925, he donated 500 acres of land and $5 million of his personal money to found the University of Miami, a major higher educational institution still today. In 1927, Merrick was decorated by King Alphonso of Spain with the honorary title of "Don of the Order of Isabella De Catolica." Thanks to George Merrick's meticulous planning many of Coral Gables historic landmarks survive today including the Venetian Pool, the Alhambra Water Tower, and the Miami Biltmore Hotel. One of his last projects was Coral Gables City Hall. The later years were not kind to George Merrick. The Florida land boom went bust due to two hurricanes followed by the Great Depression. By 1928 George Merrick was forced out of the city he founded and ended up in the Keys. He went bankrupt in 1929. He returned to the city two years before he died to serve as postmaster. Even when he was down and out, one of his first priorities as post master was to give women equal pay. He died in 1942 at the young age of 55. He and Eunice are buried under a very simple marker in Woodlawn North. You can learn more about George Merrick by taking a tour of his family home in Coral Gables. This historic marker in Merrick Park was erected in 1955 by The Historical Association of Southern Florida. It list some of George Merrick's many accomplishments, dreamer, writer, poet, philosopher, Dade County commissioner from 1914 to 1916, advocated of infrastructure, founder of the University of Miami, founder of the historical association of Southern Florida, (first president), director of Fairchild Tropical Garden, trustee of Plymouth Congregational Church, and Miami Post-Master from 1940 until his death. It calls the city of Coral Gables a monument to him. Across the street from this park is city hall which was one of George Merrick's last projects. A statue of Merrick stands in front of the building looking out towards downtown Coral Gables.