Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Pinecrest Gardens
PARK
9am-6pm
spring & summer, to 5pm fall & winter; )
When Parrot Jungle (now Jungle Island) flew the coop for the big city, the village of
Pinecrest purchased the property in order to keep it as a municipal park. It's now a quiet
oasis with some of the best tropical gardens this side of the Gulf of Mexico, topped off by
a gorgeous centerpiece banyan tree. Outdoor movies and jazz concerts are held here, and
in all this is a total gem that is utterly off the tourism trail.
Fruit & Spice Park
PARK
der 6 $8/2/free; 9am-5pm; )
Set just on the edge of the Everglades, this 35-acre tropical public park grows all those
great tropical fruits you usually have to contract dysentery to enjoy. The park is divided in-
to 'continents' (Africa, Asia etc) and admission to the grounds includes a free tour; you
can't pick the fruit, but you can eat anything that falls to the ground. If you're coming
down this far, you may want to consider taking a day trip into Everglades National Park.
Gold Coast Railroad Museum
MUSEUM
10am-4pm Mon-Fri, from 11am Sat & Sun; )
Primarily of interest to train buffs, this museum displays more than 30 antique railway
cars, including the Ferdinand Magellan presidential car, where President Harry Truman
famously brandished a newspaper with the erroneous headline 'Dewey Defeats Truman.'
On weekends the museum offers 20-minute rides on old cabooses ($6), standard gauge
cabs ($12) and, for kids, on a small 'link' train ($2.50). It's advised you call ahead to make
an appointment to ride.
Miami Children's Museum
MUSEUM
305-373-5437;
www.miamichildrensmuseum.org
; 980 MacArthur Causeway; ad-
mission $18;
10am-6pm;
)
