Broward County

The Wave Wall. State Road A1A, Fort Lauderdale.

The iconic Wave Wall along Fort Lauderdale beach hugs the sand and provides a resting place for visitors. (Doug Castanedo)

Fort Lauderdale Beach’s identifier: the Wave Wall. Although many South Florida natives recognize the swirling white bench that stretches three miles down A1A, not many realize it actually has a name. The Wave Wall is a great spot to pop-a-squat and capture South Florida’s iconic palm trees, white sand and blue waters. It also serves as the perfect divider between Fort Lauderdale Beach and the promenade of shops and restaurants that border it. Kick back and relax on the wave wall and take in the breathtaking view.

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Secret Woods Nature Center. 2701 W. State Road 84, Fort Lauderdale. 954-357-8884.

Secret Woods Nature Center is a 57 acre wilderness area that has nature trails, a butterfly garden and a reptile habitat.

It’s hard to believe there would be a 57-acre wilderness area where I-95 and I-595 meet, but there is. Secret Woods Nature Center is hidden under a canopy of mangroves in Fort Lauderdale. It’s a fabulous birding destination, with extensive boardwalks that border the south fork of the New River and other nature trails. There is also a butterfly garden, educational nature center and reptile habitat.

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The Yard. 2430 NE 13th Ave., Wilton Manors.

The Yard is an urban oasis in Wilton Manors home to shops and restaurants such as The Alchemist Coffee & Slicers and The Wander Shop.

Formerly known as Eucalyptus Gardens, the Yard is a hidden urban oasis in Wilton Manors that is home to shops and restaurants including The Alchemist, The Wander Shop and Lola’s Market. There is no shortage of greenery; rainbow eucalyptus trees surround the area and give off the illusion that guests are far from city life. If you follow the colorful walkway, you’ll find dozens of murals painted by local artists that will make a perfect-picture backdrop.

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Bonnet House Museum and Gardens. 900 N. Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale. 954-563-5393. bonnethouse.org

The lush courtyard of the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens in Fort Lauderdale. (Taimy Alvarez / Sun Sentinel)

This South Florida staple, celebrating its 100th year, is a 35-acre estate on Fort Lauderdale Beach. The Bonnet House was built in 1920 and has been turned into a museum. Its grounds have been preserved to maintain its native barrier island ecosystem, one of the last in the state. The scenic garden has five ecosystems including mangrove wetlands and a maritime forest. It’s a haven for native and migratory birds, and occasionally manatees will reside along the Boathouse Canal.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $16 for children ages 6 to 12, and free to those younger than 6. Guided tours are included in admission pricing, and the times can be found on its website.

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Palm Beach County

 

Blowing Rocks Preserve. 575 S. Beach Road, Hobe Sound. 561-744-6668.

One of the most unusual coastal sites in Florida is Blowing Rocks Preserve, a tiny sanctuary on Jupiter Island, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon. (PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT FLORIDA)

Prepare to get wet. Blowing Rocks Preserve, at the very tip of Palm Beach County, is a barrier island sanctuary home to endangered plants and animals such as loggerhead, green and leatherback sea turtles. Named for its rocky, Anastasia limestone shoreline, during high tide the ocean breaks against the rocks and sends the saltwater up to 50 feet skyward. Even if the sea is calm, Blowing Rock beach is a great place for families to hang out, play on the rocks (carefully) and enjoy the view.

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Palm Beach Island: The Breakers and Worth Avenue. 1 S County Road, Palm Beach. 561-655-6611

The Breakers resort on Palm Beach is known for its elegance and glamour, but you don't have to stay at the posh hotel to get a taste.

You may not be able to afford a one-night stay at The Breakers Palm Beach, but at least pictures are free. The historic hotel has areas open to the public, including its Florentine Fountain, lobby, spa, shopping center and restaurants. The hotel’s pool and beach area are only accessible to guests, but anyone is welcome to explore the beautiful grounds of the property and snap some pictures. There are limited free parking spots on site, but guests can valet their car for the day for $30. But, if you end up spending more than $30 while visiting the hotel, valet is complimentary.

While you’re on Palm Beach Island, you can also take a stroll down Worth Avenue, which has been recognized as one of the 10 Most Iconic Streets in America. Enjoy the beautiful architecture and Florida famous palm trees that line the streets as you partake in some shopping. If you take the four blocks down the road to the ocean, you can see the iconic Clock Tower that serves as a monument for the Palm Beach Pier that was destroyed by a hurricane in 1930.

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Restoration Hardware. 560 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. 561-804-6826. restorationhardware.com

The glitzy rooftop restaurant at Restoration Hardware in West Palm Beach. (RH Rooftop Restaurant / Courtesy)

Relatively new to the area, Restoration Hardware is a four-story furniture store with a unique twist. Visit the rooftop’s wrap-around patio for panoramic views of Rosemary Square and the Kravis Center across the street, or better still, stay inside. The indoor backdrop is just as swanky, with a central water fountain, vine vaults and 16-foot-tall birds of paradise, and marble-topped bistro tables and velvet banquettes. There is also a restaurant open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens. 253 Barcelona Road, West Palm Beach. 561-832-5328. ansg.org

Ann Norton’s monumental, silent, mysterious sculptures built over a period of 15 years were intended to be discovered as surprises amid the dense, jungle-like vegetation.

You’ve heard of the Norton Museum of Art, but did you know another Norton-named artist has her own collection of art in West Palm Beach? The Ann Norton Sculpture Garden is a two-acre property that displays more than 100 works by the artist, including nine monumental sculptures throughout the house, studio and gardens. The sculptures, eight of which are brick and one in granite, are surrounded by a collection of 250 species of tropical palms. The experience of coming across Norton’s mysterious monoliths in the jungle-like setting is like discovering a new world.

The garden is closed now, and will reopen in October. Admission is $15 per person, $10 for those over 65 and $7 for children over 5.

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Miami-Dade County

Coral Castle. 28655 S. Dixie Highway, Homestead. 305-248-6345. coralcastle.com

Edward Leedskalnin, a 5 foot tall, 100 pound Latvian immigrant, built an entire castle for the love of his life using only simple tools and no electricity.

 

Over 1,100 tons of coral rock carved into sculptures by one man over the course of about 30 years – that’s a sight everyone should see. Coral Castle is an “unusual accomplishment,” according to its creator Edward Leedskalnin, who carved that phrase into the entrance of the garden. To this day, no one knows how he created the Coral Castle; it was secretly built from 1923 to 1951 at night, at a time when there were no modern construction conveniences. Nevertheless, Leedskalnin left behind a wonder for visitors to marvel at and take amazing pictures.

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Coral Castle is open Sunday through Thursday from 9a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, $8 for children aged 7 to 12 and free to those under 6.

The Villa Casa Casuarina. 1116 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. 786-485-2200. vmmiamibeach.com

The Villa was originally built in 1930 by the architect, author, and philanthropist, Alden Freeman. In 1992, The Villa was purchased by the famous Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace and now operates as a luxury boutique hotel, restaurant and event venue. (CORTESIA)

Obviously the Versace Mansion, now known as The Villa Casa Casuarina, would make this list. When the Italian fashion designer bought the villa in 1992, he made sure it was ready for any and all photo ops with a $32 million renovation. The mansion, originally built in 1930, is now a luxury boutique hotel, restaurant and event venue. Guests can explore the 19,000-square-feet of the Villa Casa Casuarina, including the The Thousand Mosaic Pool, containing 24-karat gold tiles, and The Rooftop Lounge, where visitors can soak up the sun or gaze at the stars.

Wynwood Walls. 2520 NW 2nd Ave, Miami. 305-531-4411. thewynwoodwalls.com

Wynwood Walls is a complex of restaurants and art galleries that feature a rotating roster of prominent street artists in Miami's Wynwood neighborhood. (AP Photo/Jennifer Kay) (The Associated Press)

Wynwood Walls has brought the world’s greatest graffiti and street artists to Miami since its conception 10 years ago. It has seen over 50 artists representing 16 countries and have covered over 80,000 square feet of walls since this warehouse district of Wynwood was transformed to celebrate the under-appreciated art. The abstract designs and vibrant colors make the walls the perfect backdrop for anyone to post-up against and snap a pic. It’s free to the public, but there are guided tours available starting at $25 for adults and $20 for children under 10. Time slots must be booked in advance on Wynwood Wall’s website.

Ancient Spanish Monastery. 16711 W. Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach. 305-945-1461. spanishmonastery.com

A real monastery, built circa 1141 in Spain, winds up in Miami to be rebuilt stone by stone -- all 35,872 of them. (Sun-Sentinel/R. Justin Chan)

The original monastery was completed in 1141 in Spain, but after a revolution in the early 1800s, it was dismantled, sold, and converted into a granary and stable. In 1925, the structures of the building were bought and 11,000 crates containing the pieces were shipped to the United States, where the Spanish Monastery was eventually rebuilt near Miami Beach in 1964. Its parish, the Church of St. Bernard de Clairvaux, is active and holds services daily.

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