Our community is close to many attractions. but, for the moment…
Miami-Dade Speedway tops the list. That’s because there’s so much action ‘just around the corner,’ in terms of both time (Izod Indy Series Championship on Oct.1st & 2nd) and distance ( the speedway is only six miles away). Make your reservations now for The Izod and for the other events to closely follow.
This relatively young track (1992) had already notched a place in racing history when Penske Motorsports, Inc (PMI) and International Speedway Corporation (ISC) took the helm (1998). It was the first venue to host ALL of North America’s premier championships: the IndyCar, Grand-Am and Firestone Indy Lights series; NASCAR’s Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series.
Coral Castle – Designated a National Historic Site, has been featured numerous times on TV. Created by Latvian Ed Leedskalnin in 1923, it features a massive nine-ton gate and one-of-a-kind sundial.
Parrot Jungle – Parrot Jungle and Gardens is not only a world famous bird sanctuary, but also a wildlife habitat and botanical garden. This lush wonderland is home to over 1,100 birds and a variety of unique animals. Note: Due to its rich ‘diversity’ of inhabitants, Parrot Jungle has been recently renamed ”Jungle Island.” But since most still think of it as Parrot Island, we’re sticking with the original name.
Ernest Hemingway Home – Hemingway owned the home from 1931 until his passing in 1961. The Spanish Colonial style home, constructed of native rock hewn from its own grounds, boasts the first swimming pool built in Key West. For more than ten years this winner of the Nobel Prize lived and wrote here. Along the way, he accumulated a menagerie of cats… and sixty of their offspring continue to live on the property.
Key West Aquarium - The Aquarium, built in 1934, features sea turtles, sharks and the tropical fish native to the waters of the Keys.
Gatorpark - Offers airboat tours, narrated by professional guides, through the unique natural beauty of the Everglades. You’ll see alligator nests and working Indian fish camps, plus get a first hand look at wildlife in its natural habitat. Caution: Keep your hands in the boat!
Miami Seaquarium – This is home to ’Lolita the Killer Whale’ and TV Superstar ‘Flipper’. You’ll see 100+ species of sea life, including the endangered Florida manatees and many varieties of sea turtles. So much to see and so much to do, we won’t even try to list it all. But it’s a great place to spend the day!
Xtreme Indoor Karting - Recognized as one of the fastest go-kart tracks in the country, this 1/2 mile indoor track invites fast, adrenalin pumping laps. In addition, there are 120 interactive arcade games, 5 conference rooms (2 with a skybox view of the track), and the Finish Line Sports Bar. This is definitely a must-see for all tourists coming to South Florida.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park - A long name, but worth remembering. Developed in the 60′s as the nation’s first underwater park, it encompasses over 100 square miles of mangrove shoreline, grass flats and, of course, our famous coral reef. The Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary, adjacent to Pennekamp, extends the park boundaries into international waters .
