MENU THE HIDDEN GEMS OF MIAMI NEWS (/BLOG/CATEGORY/NEWS) By Azamara Club Cruises on Thursday, September 20, 2018The hidden gems of Miami Share The Desnaon Immersion® Experiences Blog Miami is a world famous desnaon, known for its beauful beaches, aracve climate, and vibrant culture. But this wonderful Florida ci is also replete with aracons and locaons that those unfamiliar with Miami will probably not be aware of. There really is a plethora of amazing hidden gems to discover for those looking to make their luxury holiday cruise (hps://www.azamaraclubcruises.co.uk/luxury-cruise-deals) to Miami a memorable and eclecc adventure. From stunning parks to quirky museums, it’s all here. So, without any further ado, let’s begin our guide to the hidden gems of Miami. DEERING ESTATE MENU Image credit: Armando Rodriguez One of the truly most idyllic spots in Miami, and a locaon replete with hidden gems is the Deering Estate (hp://www.deeringestate.org/) , an area that was created to preserve Charles Deering’s 1920s-era proper. Deering was a preservaonist and art collector and the estate is today a wonderful escape from the outside world, thanks in no small part to its picturesque locaon on the South Dade coast. Featuring historical buildings, mangrove forests, tropical Rockland, and much more – the Deering Estate shouldn’t be missed. Speaking to us about what makes it an unmissable Miami aracon, the team behind the Deering Estate told us: “The Deering Estate is a 21st Century house museum and an environmental preserve listed on the Naonal Register of Historic Places, owned by the State of Florida and managed by Miami-Dade Coun Parks, Recreaon and Open Spaces Department. The Deering Estate provides exceponal recreaonal and cultural acvies for the communi where guests can experience a unique mixture of nature and culture. From canoe tours to buerfly walks and guided museum and natural areas tours, the Deering Estate has diverse acvies and special events for the whole MENUfamily to enjoy!” Image credit: Armando Rodriguez Puing to one side the house tours, hikes, lectures, exhibits, canoe tours, full moon yoga, and musical concerts, the Deering Estate listed for us a few of what they believe are their best-kept secrets for visitors to discover: “The Prohibion Cellar at the Deering Estate: Delve into prohibion history by joining us in the prohibion era cellar, in the basement of the Stone House, built in 1922. Join us for a tasng of fine spirits from a local Florida disllery at the Deering Estate. “Natural Areas Tour – Tequesta Indian burial mound: Guests can learn about South Florida’s nave peoples while hiking through the Tropical Hardwood Hammock to one of the last Tequesta Indian burial mounds in existence. Centuries ago, the lush grounds at the Deering Estate were home to the Tequesta Indians and in the Natural Areas Tour, guests can visit a burial mound where 12 tribal chieains were laid to rest more than 600 years ago. “Flora & Fauna: By preserving threatened and endangered ecosystems, the Deering Estate MENUprovides habitat for 89 species of flora and fauna deemed endangered or threatened by state and federal authories. Eight nave ecosystems include globally endangered pine Rockland habitat, a tropical hardwood hammock, mangrove forests, salt marshes, Chicken Key, and submerged seagrasses.” CORAL GABLES One of Miami’s most aracve neighbourhoods is Coral Gables (hps://www.coralgables.com/) and is a locaon that should under no circumstances be avoided just to spend another day at the beach (no maer how tempng it might be!). Coral Gables is known as ‘The Ci Beauful’ and upon vising it’s not at all dicult to see why with its picturesque natural features and tree-lined streets. If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the ci, the lush vegetaon that greets visitors to Coral Gables will be a true delight, and with the disnctly European flavour of its historic plazas, fountains, and architecture, Coral Gables only further sets itself apart. A representave of the communi described the excitement that visitors can expect to enjoy in Coral Gables: “Hundreds of visitors have re-discovered Downtown Coral Gables, thanks to the summer sensaon of the Umbrella Sky exhibit at Giralda Plaza. These colourful umbrellas will be on exhibit only unl the weekend of September 15-16 but don't worry, the Ci plans on MENUshowcasing addional awe-inspiring installaons later on Giralda Plaza to connue the momentum created by Umbrella Sky. Stay tuned for more details soon. “While vising Giralda Plaza, you can stay for lunch or dinner at any of the top-rated restaurant choices, grab coee at any of our new local gathering spots, watch an independent flick at the Gables Art Cinema (hp://www.gablescinema.com/) , or watch a live play at Actors Playhouse at the Miracle Theater (hps://www.actorsplayhouse.org/) .” Coral Gables also made sure to recommend to us a hidden gem that visitors can’t leave without seeing: “Definitely visit the coolest pool in the naon, the Venean Pool (hps://www.coralgables.com/maps/locaon/CoralGablesVeneanPool) . You’ll feel like you’re somewhere in Italy. The pool was created in 1923 from a coral rock quarry and is fed with spring water daily in the spring/summer months from an underground aquifer, which makes it really cool and perfect for the hot days of summer. There are two waterfalls that provide the perfect spot for photos, as well as cave-like groos oering a fun experience for swimmers.” RUBELL FAMILY COLLECTION MUSEUM MENU Image credit: Rubell Family Collecon Established in 1964 in New York, the Rubell Family Collecon (hps://rfc.museum/) has been in Miami, Florida since 1993 and is a museum housed within a whopping 45,000-square-foot space that was interesngly once a facili for the Drug Enforcement Agency. This contemporary art museum from Mera and Don Rubell boasts a fascinang collecon of both internaonally recognised arsts while also championing exhibits and work from impressive emerging contemporary arsts. Such is the allure and quali of the exhibits at the museum, that they oen travel around the world to be presented to lovers of contemporary art. Being one of the largest privately owned and most accessible contemporary collecons for the public, the Rubell Family Collecon Museum is certainly worth shoung about and is unquesonably one of Miami’s hidden gems. For those looking to expand their horizons at a truly unique Florida aracon, this Wynwood-set marvel is the place to be. ART AND CULTURE IN WYNWOOD MENU Image credit: Mary Beth Koeth/Wynwood BID Speaking of Wynwood (hps://wynwoodmiami.com/) , which is one of Miami’s most excing districts, this is an area of the ci that is not only replete with hidden gems but for the outsider, is one of Miami’s best-kept secrets in its own right. Known as Miami’s art district, this fun and colourful neighbourhood is an essenal place to stop by for visitors that not only love art but want nothing more from their trip than to be immersed in Miami’s vibrant culture. Apart from the aforemenoned Rubell Family Collecon Museum, visitors to Wynwood can also look forward to some truly impressive street art that leaps out upon arrival, seing this neighbourhood apart from all others. A true highlight of the Wynwood experience has to be the Second Saturday Art Walk (hps://wynwoodmiami.com/experience/art-walk/) , where thousands of visitors come in search of culture, food, and just some darn good fun. People crowd the streets from 6pm and enjoy the fesvies all throughout the night, with art galleries, restaurants, and retail businesses all taking part. If you then add the many wonderful anque shops, bars, and eateries that populate the district, Wynwood proves to be an essenal stop during any Miami adventure. Manny Gonzalez, execuve director of Wynwood Business Improvement District, spoke to us about what makes the neighbourhood one of Miami’s best-kept secrets: “In recent years, Wynwood has transformed from a largely-forgoen industrial warehouse district into a global arts MENUand culture desnaon. Named a top hipster desnaon in the U.S. by Trip Advisor, Wynwood is now known for its trademark street art murals, as well as its award-winning breweries, restaurants and retailers. Each year, more than a million visitors from across the U.S. and around the globe venture beyond pical Miami tourist desnaons to experience the urban arts district, which boasts the highest concentraon of street art in the U.S.” And the vice chair of Wynwood Business Improvement District Board, Albert Garcia, told us about the hidden gems located within Wynwood that he would recommend for visitors: “Home to more than 400 businesses, Wynwood caters to art lovers, foodies, fashion trendseers and beer aficionados, alike. When in Wynwood, visitors should experience one of the five award-winning cra breweries and beer markets in the district, such as J. Wakefield Brewing (hps://jwakefieldbrewing.com/) . The Wynwood Walls (hp://www.thewynwoodwalls.com/) , though not exactly a hidden gem, is a must-see on a trip to the neighbourhood. The open-air urban art exhibit, located in the heart of the neigbourhood, showcases artwork by internaonally-renowned arsts. Curated by Goldman Properes, the Walls debut a new exhibit of murals each year for Art Basel (hps://www.artbasel.com/) , assuring that each visit to the Walls is a unique experience.” BLUE COLLAR MENU Delighng its guests for years, Blue Collar (hps://www.bluecollarmiami.com/) is a delightful lile restaurant just 10-minutes from Wynwood that will be the perfect low-key venue for any Miami meal.