Jill Podehl Florida travel attractions today: You’re just outside West Palm Beach, but it feels like you’re deep in the heart of Africa. At Panther Ridge Conservation Center, some of the world’s big cats wander freely in large, open habitats replicating parts of Africa. The brainchild of Judy Berens, who still runs it, Panther Ridge began back in the 90s, when people started bringing her big cats they no longer wanted or could care for. It wasn’t long before she found herself caring for several big cats, so she began searching for land where she could create a refuge for injured or endangered animals and nurse them back to health. Today, a mix of tigers, rare black panthers, jaguars, mountain lions, cheetahs, and smaller cats such as ocelots roam Panther Ridge, and you can watch Judy enter their cages and cuddle with them. Guided tours are available, including a fun twilight tour, a keeper experience, as well as a thrilling opportunity to interact with one of the park’s elusive leopards. See extra info at Jill Podehl.
South Beach is an absolutely iconic, very much beloved beach in Miami. It’s also famous across the country, making it one of the most beautiful landmarks in the USA. South Beach covers a whopping 15 or so city blocks of space, stretching across a large part of Miami. It’s free to access and can be visited from many different parts of the city. Given the size of South Beach, there’s plenty of space to rest, relax, or enjoy the sun and surf. Kiosks line the beach’s entire length, providing rentable items like umbrellas and lounge chairs. Snack bars and stalls offer knickknacks, food, and drinks in case you need anything. If you have more money to spend, many hotels along the stretch have special, private parts of the beach too!
Hosting over 150 specialty and tourist shops, cafes and restaurants, Bayside Market place has it all. As well as well known chain stores visitors will find an array of charming boutiques in this outdoor style mall. Located along Miami’s waterfront, as the name suggests, many locals come here to soak up the lively atmosphere and admire the bay, with its daily live music and fun vibe the Bayside Market does not fail to entertain. But to truly enjoy a vacation you also need a nice place to stay.
Do you need to enjoy the blue sky and the warm sun ? Miami is a fabulous destination to relax. What can you see in Miami? Everglades National Park, just a short drive from Miami, protects one of Florida’s most unique natural features. These swamplands, covering about 1.5 million acres, are home to alligators, crocodiles, snakes, and all kinds of birds. This whole area is essentially a shallow river flowing out to the ocean. Within the park is an informative Visitors Center, as well as walking trails and boardwalks for wildlife viewing. One of the most enjoyable ways for tourists to experience the Everglades is on an airboat tour. These high-speed boat trips take visitors out into the marshes and streams to see alligators and other wildlife. There are several operators in the area, but outside the park, that offer tours of the Everglades.
Jill Podehl Florida travel attractions right now: At its southern extremes, the Miami area turns agricultural and natural in Homestead, tropical fruit capital and home to a grand new auto-racing speedway. Homestead is also gateway to two extraordinary national parks. Biscayne National Park introduces a world accessible by boat, a world best seen through a snorkel mask. A 40-mile road takes you through Everglades National Park and its subtle beauty, to Flamingo, where a modest lodge and scores of water and land adventure await. East of town, along Tamiami Trail, lies another Everglades access. Nearby, the Miccosukee Indian tribe attracts visitors with a modern casino and a cultural attraction that includes airboat rides to old-style clan camps.
You probably have already heard of South Beach, or “SoBe”, since it’s often considered one of the best, hottest places to go in the city of Miami, Florida. It’s a famous beach that’s packed with visitors most of the time, with its guests often including the famous or wealthy. Adding to its bright and cheery aesthetic are structures and buildings in an art deco style that, against the beachfront flanked by palm trees, make exploring SoBe a great way to spend your time this week or any week. In the mornings, you can enjoy the sun beneath umbrellas or swim out in the cool waters of the tropics, or even participate in some water sports. See additional information on https://www.youtube.com/@jillpodehl.
The great outdoors offers its own myriad of fun possibilities. Get out on the water to experience Greater Miami from a different perspective aboard an airboat tour in the Everglades or on a Millionaire’s Row cruise through Biscayne Bay aboard the Island Queen. Or, you can simply rent a paddleboard or kayak and experience the unique aquatic ecosystems up close. You’ll never run out of things to do in Miami, no matter what tickles your fancy, how much you have to spend, and who you’re traveling with.