As a native South Floridian, I've heard of, and driven by signs for, Fruit & Spice Park for as long…read moreas I can remember, but today was the first time I ever actually went, and I'm sorry I waited so long! 37 acres of fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, and medicinal plants here for you to explore, and sample!! We started with a seasonal special event, the Mango Tasting Tour. Our guide, Madelyn was a font of knowledge about the park itself, the trees we were passing through, and the fruits we sampled. I think in the end it was about 8 different varieties and everyone on the tour had their own favorites. Then we went back to base for different tasting tour with Phillip, who showed us new areas of the park and we tasted another 6 fruits with him! Really cool fruits like longan and caviar limes, but also things I'd never heard of, like bael and bilimbi. Once our tours were done we went back to the gift shop / lobby for some cold drinks. They sell iced coffee, soda, energy drinks, Gatorade, and even beer, wine, and cider, so something for everyone. You can also simply walk the grounds on your own if you don't feel like riding around in a tram. Anything on the ground is up for grabs, so if you want to try something go ahead and taste it! They do have rules, no picking growing fruits, and you can't take fruit home, but they welcome you taking all the seeds you want.

The plant version of a zoo, this park is amazing! Trees of all kinds, where patrons can see how all…read morethings tropical grow - from the ice cream bean to baobob trees, from dragon fruit to mangoes, this is the only place in the continental United States where one can see over 500 varieties of fruit, nut and spice trees (even poisonous ones!) all in one setting. The path will wind and walk you around the property, where you can not only see the trees, but also the ponds and invasive iguana population. Beautiful little waterfall features are also on the property. We took the tram tour, offered daily at 11:00 and 1:30. Andrew was very knowledgeable, excited and passionate about his work and interests in gardening, and since there were just four of us on the tour, he offered samples of some freshly picked produce. He also shared interesting facts and information - the bananas we eat today are overproduced and so prone to disease, that likely we will no longer have them in the next 8 years! Instead, we should diversify our farming practices and learn to enjoy things like the dwarf Brazilian bananas, and any of the plethora other varieties.

Despite living in Miami for 17 years, I had somehow never been to Monkey Jungle. I finally stopped…read moreby on a recent trip and I'm glad I did. It's smaller than I expected, but still a lot of fun and definitely unique. Pro tip: arrive early in the day. Once the heat picks up, the monkeys tend to stay out of sight, so the earlier you go, the better your experience will be. Pro tip 2: The signage for the bathroom is awful. The bathroom is located in area where the monkeys are over the water. The exhibits were interesting, but the highlight was feeding the monkeys through the cages and watching them cleverly lift the little food trays really entertaining to see up close. The staff was friendly and informative, and the whole visit felt relaxed and enjoyable. I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you're looking for something a little different to do in Miami.

We were in Miami and looking for something interesting to do nearby and decided to go to monkey…read morejungle. Make sure to set your expectations low as half the jungle is closed due to renovations but they offered discounted admission due to that reason. The monkeys were very fun to feed through the small buckets and the monkey pool show was fun and informational! If you're looking for a fun and short (less than an hour) adventure outside of Miami this is it!

Fun for kids and surprisingly enjoyable for adults too…read more We ended up at Pinto's Farm somewhat by accident while in the area, and we were glad we did. It's clearly geared toward kids, but we still had a good time as adults. We were able to pet the goats and sheep and talk with one of the staff members, who was friendly, patient, and happy to answer our questions. It made the visit feel welcoming rather than just a quick walk-through. There are a few growing pains, it seems. Some areas could use clearer signage, and the place felt a bit understaffed at times but nothing that ruined the experience. Overall, it's a worthwhile visit. Adults will enjoy it, and kids will almost certainly love it.

Here at Pinto's Farm in the Redlands area of Miami, FL, I'd like to highlight two sections around…read morethe grounds that made for a worthwhile visit. The first part is the paddle boats. Designed to accommodate 2 passengers, leisurely float down the tropical inlet of a man-made river. Riders can enjoy unlimited paddling trips and it's a nice way to appreciate nature, surrounded by colorfully green waters and palm trees. Next area of the farm to check out is the Petting Zoo. Quickly grab the attentions of goats and sheep by purchasing a small bucket of hay for $5. The animals are not shy and they have endless appetites. Pinto's Farm also has a race track, pony and tractor rides. The Brewery House offers food and refreshments and Pinto's Ice Cream Truck sells handcrafted milkshakes. General admission is $20 per person on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Overall, Pinto's Farm is a pleasant way to spend a few quality hours within the suburban community of Miami, FL.

Our nex summer adventure with kids take us to Redlands Koi Gardens located in Homestead an a…read morecategory of 4.2 with more than 80 reviews, this place is very calm and quiet. When you go through the doors of the gate which have a peculiar decoration, it is the union of yin and yan, that is, a place where you will find spiritual peace and that's right, Zen and Japanese style, this place transports you to the country where it originates this kind of architecture. With different shelves where you can see the original Japanese koi fish from when they are small until they reach the size where they become majestic due to their colors. Redlands is It is an escape from tranquility with mother nature to recover the constant sound of different waterfalls that produce a unique sound, protected by trees that do not let the high temperatures break the charm of the place.

Deeply concerned about the treatment of the birds and other animals at Redlands Koi & Gardens…read more During my visit, I observed multiple exotic birds being kept in conditions that appeared unsanitary and harmful to their health. Some food dishes were dirty and even had feces inside, many cages appeared to have little to no food available, and I witnessed birds trying to eat from empty bowls. I also observed dirty water feeders, including some with algae buildup, and in some cages there did not appear to be fresh water available. The birds also seemed to be fed mainly only black sunflower seeds, which is not an appropriate primary diet for parrots and similar birds. Birds are highly intelligent animals and need stimulation, toys, and proper daily care. I did not see toys or enrichment tools in the cages. It is even more troubling that this property operates as a wedding and event venue. Loud music, nighttime events, and constant disruption are not an appropriate environment for animals, especially sensitive exotic birds. I hope the owners do the right thing and hire a qualified professional to properly care for these birds. There have also been concerns raised about the treatment of birds at this property going back to 2023. A macaw that was reportedly showing signs of severe stress, where he plucked all his feathers out. That bird is no longer there, which adds to the concern about the overall welfare of the exotic birds kept on site. (Plumage destructive behavior; which stemmed from boredom, stress, improper diet, and/or illness.)

Todo maravilloso, muy especial, la música, el ambiente familiar que siempre existió, un servicio y…read moreatenciones la valoraría de primera...encantados

We loved our Easter weekend at the farm! there were so many fun activities going, the kids enjoyed…read moreevery bit of out trip!

After a pleasant drive south from the Cocoa FL area we arrived at Larry and Penny Thompson Memorial…read morePark and Campground. The campground was suggested by our friends Bob and Lori. We're absolutely delighted to overnight in quiet Pod 5 site 1 which is a back in site with full hookup. Larry Thompson was a humor columnist for the Miami Herald for more than two decades until his death February 18, 1973. He is in the Florida Newspaper Hall of Fame. His wife Gladys "Penny" Thompson (née Rhodes), who died September 22, 1975, was a pioneer in women's aviation during the 1940s-1950s. She is in the Florida Aviation Hall of Fame and the Florida Women's Hall of Fame. She was the Florida chapter president of the Ninety-Nines, the women's pilot organization founded by Amelia Earhart. While in the Civil Air Patrol, she flew over the Gulf of Mexico searching for German submarines during World War II. Her plane was one of several hundred destroyed in a 1945 blimp hangar fire at the Naval Air Station Richmond, part of which was rebuilt as the park.

I love the layout of this park and the amount of trees!! The shelters are amazing for bday parties…read moreand if you get the ones by the lake then you're in for a treat for a beautiful sunset

This is an interesting pit stop if you're in South Florida. We went because it was mentioned in…read moresome TV shows and was something that stood out as unusual. But, it is really quite small. If this was a $10 admission fee, I'd probably add one star. But, they charge $25/pp and there's not much to the place. All that said....is it interesting? Sure. It makes you wonder why the guy who built the place obsessively worked to make it. The story about his lost love gives his the motivation. Still, pretty incredible that he went to this effort by himself.

My husband has wanted to come here ever since he was a kid, after hearing Leonard Nimoy talk about…read moreit on his show In Search Of.... Hubs told me about it, and then we heard about it together on Coast to Coast Am, early in our marriage. I had forgotten all about it until we were planning our trip to the Keys and my husband brought it up, so, we made it a priority to visit. Homestead is basically the last city you hit on the mainland before you begin your journey through the Keys, so you don't really have to make special plans to get here if you're heading there. Admission is $25 per adult, slightly less for children. With tax and a credit card convenience fee of $1.50, our total admission cost was $55. Personally, I think it was worth it, but then, I am into the weird stuff. The place can accomodate at least 100 people, but due to the oddity of the place and, I'm guessing, it's lack of notoriety, it doesn't seem to get very busy. There were maybe 25-30 people in the 2.5 hours we spent there. Coral Castle is almost entirely outdoors and exposed to the elements, so it is not really a castle. There are sitting areas, a dining area, bathing area and one enclosed living (sleeping) area. The living area could be called a tower, as it is two floors, but 1) You only get to see the lower floor which is now kind of a tool shed museum and 2) You can peek in it, but you can't actually go in it. Everything is made of a type of stone called oolite limestone. It is extremely strong and very heavy. The mystery of the castle is how it was built. How did one 5' tall man move multiple stones, weighing a ton or more, by himself? How did he make his stone chairs rock, and his stone gates turn? He claimed to know the secrets of the pyramid builders, and to this day, no one really knows how he did it. There are guided tours at regularly scheduled intervals, and you can join in anytime at no additional charge (recommended), or you can walk around and look at everything yourself, but there is no signage. You can stay as long as you want and take as many pictures as you want as well. There is a gift shop which has a cutout of Edward Leedskalnin, the man who built Coral Castle, that you can take a photo of or selfie with, along with the usual gift shop fare of shirts/sweatshirts, postcards, magnets, books, and other items. If you're looking for something interesting and unusual to do on the way to the Keys, I highly suggest a stop here. 99/2025

This was a cute place…read more Ended up here one Saturday afternoon in Miami as my little cousin's horse lives there. Apparently, this little farm does a lot because while I only knew about the animals staying and being kept well, reviews say they've had events there and what not. Cannot say anything except that my cousin's horse was healthy and that it appeared she rode well. I don't ride horses, but some of my family members do and they took turns. It was a nice afternoon. I mainly spent it talking to family and just watching my little cousin ride. I'm sure I'll go again while in town. My little cousin was so excited to show me how well she rides.

Precious farm with kind and informative staff. I would recommend for anyone looking to have a laid…read moreback experience or anyone with small children.

I asked them for a night blooming water lily and they went out of their way to get some in stock…read morefor me. Good quality plants - already blooming!

I love this place!! Super nice people and lots of variety of fish peaceful place to visitread more

The airboat experience was amazing! Captain Pete was so nice and super knowledgeable. Just fyi, you…read moremeet your guide at the local gas station and follow in your own vehicle to the boat ramp. It was SO FUN and we loved our experience!

Our family of four did the 1.5 hour private airboat tour. It was a little more expensive than…read morereserving spaces on a larger airboat/larger group tour, of course, but we had the tour to ourselves. Captain Pete was our tour guide, and he was WONDERFUL! He is friends with Freida and Fred (birds) and Ali the alligator. Pete is a great and genuine man, we could tell. It sprinkled on and off; at one point, it started raining; Pete got out a big umbrella. If a lot of rain is expected, I would bring lite rain jackets, We recommend calling or reserving your adventure online; i don't think it would work to show up and try to buy a ticket. I called, and this company was very responsive, luckily, or we would not have been able to fit this into our vacation schedule. 5 Stars, without a doubt!