Take This Historic Tropical Trail Through Florida For An Adventure The Whole Family Will Love
By Marisa Roman|Published May 21, 2018
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Marisa Roman
Author
A New Jersey native with over 15 years of writing experience, Marisa has studied at both New York University and Florida International University. She has lived all over the country, including a decade stint in South Florida. Marisa is well-versed in exploration as she travels a good majority of the year in her self-converted Sprinter van. Her articles have been featured in various notable publications over the years, she has a published collection of short stories, and three completed screenplays under her belt.
There is so much to do in Florida, between the delicious restaurants popping up here and there and the natural swimming holes which make for a perfect summer cool-down. But sometimes it might seem hard to know where to start when you have a free day and just want a little bit of exploration. If you want to take a tour through some of the most historic, and also awesomely unique parts of south Florida, then we have the perfect historic trail for you. Not only do you get to explore the Miami “countryside” but you also will come across two National Parks, which will blow you away. The Redland Trail is entirely free to take, while some of the activities may cost money to participate. However, where else will you find endangered monkeys, refreshing homemade milkshakes, and an alligator farm all in one trip? And now the trail begins…
Established in 1933, Monkey Jungle has been a staple within the Miami community for what seems like forever. This 30-acre wildlife park allows guests to visit all different types of monkeys, with the guests being the ones in the cages! Monkey Jungle is a perfect afternoon for the whole family, especially during those unique months where the baby monkeys are born! To visit Monkey Jungle use the address here: 14805 SW 216th St, Miami, FL 33170.
Cauley Square Historic Village, described as "Old Florida" dates back centuries. A nice place to wander around and get lost, the area is fit with small buildings, charming shops, and beautiful gardens. A nice break from the chaos of the big city, you might even find a unique antique treasure or two while here. To find Cauley Square Historic Village, use the address here: 22400 Old Dixie Hwy, Miami, FL 33170.
Miami Tropical Bonsai Garden is another great stop along the trail if you’re a nature lover. Learn all about the Bonsai trees and the history behind these little gems. As the northern part of the Redland trail, you’ll be able to see for yourself one of the largest collections of Bonsai trees in the U.S., and believe it or not, most of these are for sale! To visit Miami Tropical Bonsai Garden, use this address: 14775 SW 232nd St, Miami, FL 33170.
While we’re talking about modern marvels in the area, let’s talk about the famed Coral Castle. This fascinating garden area has withstood the test of time and is truly a sight to see. Beyond the physical feat of building something so impressive, it’s worth learning about Edward Leedskalnin, the small man who single-handledly built the castle, carving and sculpting over 1,000-tons of coral rock. The address for Coral Castle is 28655 S Dixie Hwy, Homestead, FL 33033.
R.F. Orchids is one of the most beautiful orchid nurseries in the country. Imagine houses upon houses, rows upon rows of some of the most stunning floral scenes you’ve ever come across. R.F Orchids offers a day where you can tour their home grounds and see what the owners have done to the area, but sometimes just perusing the orchid nursery in itself is a modern marvel—and beautiful smelling one at that. To visit R.F. Orchids, the address is 28100 SW 182 Avenue, Homestead, FL 33030-1804.
You’ve probably worked up an appetite on this trail so far. But what about a thirst? Schnebly Redland’s Winery & Brewery is right on the way to your next trail stop and this is one you’ll want to spend time relaxing at (Sorry, Everglades Alligator Farm). You can snag yourself a wine tasting from this local winery and taste some of the strangest wine concoctions you’ve ever tried—sweet avocado wine, anyone? With tours of the stunning grounds on weekend too, you can make this trip and educational one while you’re at it. The address for Schnebly’s is 30205 SW 217th Ave, Homestead, FL 33030.
It’s probably high time for a proper meal, right? The next stop on the historic trail is the famed Capri Restaurant. If you’re looking for seriously top-notch Italian food in the middle of the Miami countryside, this is the place to visit. With tons of authentic food options to choose from like the Chicken Parmigiana or the personal pizza loaded with whatever you’d like, this is the perfect way to satisfy your cravings along the trail. To find Capri Restaurant, use the address here: 935 N Krome Ave, Florida City, FL 33034.
It’s time to cool off with a sweet, tropical milkshake from Robert is Here Fruit Stand. This hot spot in southern Florida has been charming guests for years with the plethora of tropical fruits, plus the rich, creamy milkshakes. It is so easy to fall in love with the fresh fruit milkshakes from Robert is Here, this unique fruit stand will become your summer go-to every year, no matter how long the drive is. To find Robert is Here Fruit Stand, use the address here: 19200 SW 344th St, Homestead, FL 33034.
The Everglades Alligator Farm is exactly what you would expect from the business name. A gigantic farm dedicated to alligators. Guests can take part in the airboat tour and watch the alligators feast, wrestle and so much more. They even have other reptile shows worth checking out while you’re there. Snakes anyone? To visit Everglades Alligator Farm, use the address 40351 SW 192nd Ave, Florida City, FL 33034.
Everglades National Park is a true wonder for Florida, and a magical place for all who visit. Imagine 1.5-million acres of wetlands, preserved at the southern tip of the state. Over a million visitors come to Everglades National Park every year, many of whom ride bikes, hit the trails, fish, boat, and so much more. It is nice to spend an afternoon enjoying the area, viewing all different types of natural habitats and wildlife. Heck, if you even want to end this trail on a high note, you would bring a tent and some sleeping bags and make it a weekend worth remembering. To find Everglades National Park, head to the visitor center first at 40001 State Hwy 9336, Homestead, FL 33034.
There is a bonus to this historic trail that will be absolutely worth it if you wanted to tack it on to your journey—Biscayne National Park. This is a free water-based National Park which features so many unique activities, from snorkeling to kayaking, paddle boarding and fishing. The only issue is that you can’t drive there, since it is smack dab in the middle of the ocean. You can find a few boat tours that’ll drop you off, or maybe a friend who’s nice enough to take you all the way, but this is one National Park not to miss. The address for Biscayne National Park is 9700 SW 328th St, Homestead, FL 33033-5634.
The entire trail for the Redlands Historic Trail can be found below or you can click here to access all the trail stops:
Have you ever taken the Redland Trail before? Share with us your experience in the comments section! You can also visit the Redland Trail website to find more information.
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