South Florida Blog by The Desoto

One of the benefits of travel is expanding your knowledge the history of people and places. No matter what you’re interested in, South Florida probably has a museum devoted to it. So if its too hot or rainy to be outdoors, spend sometime inside one of these South Florida museums.

Miami

World Chess Hall of Fame

This unusual museum features some of the most famous chess players in history, including Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky. Enjoy the many fascinating chess exhibits and artifacts, especially if you are an avid chess player.

Holocaust Museum

The museum’s centerpiece, a hand made of bodies rising from the midst of a reflecting pond, is hard to miss. Visitors walk past panels telling the story of Hitler’s campaign against the Jewish people. A dim corridor leads to the roof exhibit where pleading sculptures speak of the horrors sustained by the victims of the holocaust. It is a deeply moving and a must see in the area.

Gold Coast Railroad Museum

The rarely visited museum features old Florida’s many memorable railroad cars, including the “Ferdinand Magellan,” the private railroad car built for President Franklin Roosevelt and the Florida East Coast Railway locomotive #153 , the engine that pulled the rescue train out of Marathon, Florida after the 1935 hurricane.

Historical Museum of Southern Florida

This museum is one of the largest private history museums in the country. It houses 1,900 maps, more than one and a half million photographic images and over 12,000 local artifacts. Replicas of forts, movie theaters, a trolley, and even a diner from the 50′s can be seen in this expansive museum.

Fort Lauderdale

Buehler Planetarium

This state-of-the-art facility offers shows on astronomy and space exploration. For $2 at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, visitors enjoy a live history tour on the universe and galaxy. The 8 p.m., visitos can look through the telescopes for free!

IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum

This fun museum includes six galleries, an outdoor marina, a theater and indoor/outdoor demonstration area devoted to the most popular sport in Florida- fishing!

Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum

Featuring an amazing gallery collection of vehicles, ornaments, and packard car-related paraphernalia, this museum is a hidden gem in the heart of Fort Lauderdale for car enthuthiasts.

International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum
If the sport of swimming and its history is an intrest of yours, check out this little known location. Its exhibits include ancient art and reproductions and original art depicting famous moments in swimming in the United States and around the world.

By Nuria Almeida

Photo By Celia Hippie

There is something wonderful about a love affair that is easy to care for. A simple love note, a kiss on the forehead, a whispered message, a shoulder rub can all remind some of the love commitment in their lives. Valentine’s Day does not have to be any different. It could be carefree, unique and spontaneous, and still shoot cupid’s long range arrow right into your partner’s heart. There are some wonderful options for those who appreciate an unfettered and untethered Valentine’s day when they can concentrate on their loved ones and not the activity:

Strolling

The Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens present a serene, scenic strolling path just under a mile long with all that makes Japanese aesthetics so pleasing. Surrounding a lake, where turtles sun themselves, and bamboo grows in thickets, it is a wonderful, quiet and romantic place to reconnect. Of special interest is the bamboo arch- be sure to stop within in it and steal a kiss. There is also a cafe on the grounds which offers authentic and delicious Japanese cuisine.

Celebrating 85 years, Flamingo Gardens offers beautiful and native grounds for your strolling pleasure. Enjoy the breathtaking wild and free peacocks wandering around you, and the shade from the gorgeous oaks on the path, all the while listening to the wonderful sounds of nature. There are also narrated tram tours departing every hour available, if you would like to take a break.

Staying In

If you have a cozy room with a couch,TV and a dvd player, Redbox is offering free DVD rentals for Valentine’s Day. Thos free movie offer is available for Facebook users who send a digital Valentine to their friends and then the friends receive a promo code for a free rental from a Redbox kiosk February 14. To receive the promo code, a Facebook account is required, and another Facebook user needs to send you a Valentine. Pair it up with a romantic, home cooked meal, and you’ve got a winning combination.

Get Physical

Pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it on a tandem kayak . Rent one, get comfortable in it and set out to explore. Head out to roam through the isles of Fort Lauderdale, known as the “Venice of America,” and be mesmerized by the views of lush tropical foliage, marine life, stunning mansions and magnificent mega-yachts along the way.

Something Different

Connect on a deeper level by doing something new and exciting. Endorphins are scientifically proven to make everything that much more amazing. For a life-altering experience you will always remember, jump out of a plane together! Skydiving is a thrilling experience and there is no reason why this Valentine’s Day should not be marked by an activity that will win you bragging rights and a unique shared experience. For daily jumps in an area where the Everglades, Keys and Miami skyline panoramas surround you as you descend, check out Homestead’s Skydive Miami. This option will cost you a little bit more than say renting a kayak, but its probably no more than you would have spent on an expensive dinner and a gift.

By Nuria Almeida

Photo By moonlightbulb

Looking for green ways to celebrate your relationship? Celebrate Valentine’s Day with these fun local tips.

Trains

Train travel is a greener option than car travel. Plus, there’s an inherent sort of romance to boarding a train bound for a nearby city. Amtrak has several South Florida stations (including stations in Miami, Hollywood, and Fort Lauderdale) in case you and your beloved want to travel while reducing your carbon footprint.

Parks

A little ways into Tree Tops Park off of Flamingo Road in South Florida is a small playground and a footbridge. Cross the foot bridge and you’ll find some picnic tables overlooking a lake. This spot is a beautiful place for a Valentine’s Day picnic. In the five minutes that I stood on the bridge, I watched a pair of ducks glide through the lake and even heard a loud splash as some fish jumped out of the water and then dove back in. Check out some of Broward’s parks to explore fun and green ways to be romantic.

Maximize Sunsets

South Florida has many wonderful and romantic places to watch the day come to a close. Any of South Florida’s parks – including my Tree Tops nook – would be a perfect choice for watching the mesmerizing golden-red of an early evening sunset. It’s only a short, two-minute walk from the front door of the Desoto Inn to Hollywood Beach, and the ocean is so close that you can watch the sunset just from standing on Desoto Street. Hollywood Beach is fairly intimate, a natural romantic getaway. Closer than the Keys, this section of Hollywood Beach can give you all the intimacy of Key West without putting all the extra mileage on your car.

Get Raw

If you’ve wondered about raw food and thought, “I can’t eat raw food! It tastes like garden clippings,” then think again. I defy you not to get addicted to the nearby wonder of The Green Wave Café. For couples looking for a casual green restaurant, you can’t go wrong. Located on Broward Boulevard in Plantation, proprietor Raoul runs the Green Wave with a mixture of charm and intelligence. He and the staff will answer any questions you have about raw food and they’ll go easy on you if it’s your first time. The cafe’s laid-back diner atmosphere brings to mind a green version of Cheers (where everybody knows your vegan habits) and it’s a wonderful casual place to take a date.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By joshDubya

Valentine’s Day may begin with roses and a box of chocolates, however if a classic Valentine’s Day which requires a little planning is your goal, this is the time to prepare. Choose any of the following options in lovely Fort Lauderdale, as they each showcase just the right romance and passion to share with the love of your life on that special night.

Music

Andrea Bocelli

On February 14th at 7:30 p.m, the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise offers you the opportunity to listen to the magnificence that is Andrea Bocelli’s voice, with all of its power and subtlety. This world-renowned Italian tenor has been said to sound like an angel. Tickets sell from $398 to $91.

Gladys Knight

There is no better deal this Valentine’s Day than this. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is offering dinner and concert by powerhouse entertainer Gladys Knight. This intimate and uplifting performance is sure to be note perfect. Imagine, you and your loved one holding hands and sipping wine as the strong and vibrant voice of this musical legend bathes over you. Concert tickets are still available for Tuesday, February 14th at 8:00 p.m from $116 to $465.

Moonlight and Music Concert

The 13th annual Valentine’s concert at the Deering Estate features the sultry musical artist Sarah Packiam. Playing the mandolin, traditional Irish instruments and tablas create unique and catchy compositions, described as a blend of acoustic pop and traditional Irish and Indian music. This is a romantic, outdoor concert under the stars, on the edge of Biscayne Bay. Bring a blanket and a picnic basket or enjoy the limited refreshments and food available for an additional fee. Get your tickets today for the February 14th 8 p.m concert selling for just $20.

Dancing on the Water

If you prefer the intoxicating ocean breeze caressing your skin as you dance under the night sky, a Valentine’s Day cruise may be for you. The Island Queen Cruise offers a romantic dancing cruise for $69 each that sails out of Bayside Marketplace. Unlimited wine, champagne and a chocolate fountain enhance the treat.

Dining in Love

Italian

The Bistro Mezzaluna features a piano bar, your choice from the house wine cellar and a private patio to lounge in. This exquisite restaurant will be serving its regular a la carte menu along with Valentine’s Day Dinner Specials. Reservations are recommended.

Vegetarian, Vegan and Raw Food

Top notch award winning restaurant Sublime is not only known for its magnificent vegetarian dining fare but also for its romantic ambience, replete with cascading window waterfalls, skylights, italian glass tiles, open-hearth oven and exotic trees. Open from 5:30-10:00 p.m, reservations are required.

The intimate and casual Greenwave Cafe is open until 9 PM, serving organic vegan and raw food prepared with a love for healthy living foods. Reservations are not required.

Asian

SAIA is a hip southeast Japanese sushi restaurant. Featuring a performance kitchen, this hidden jewel is located within the famous B Ocean Hotel. On Valentine’s day, SAIA will be offering a five-course dinner with Hanahouhoushu Sparkling Pink Sake for $159 per couple.

By Nuria Almeida

Photo By _e.t

Whether as a spectator or as a participant, sun kissed South Florida offers some of the most popular and thrilling sporting events for visitors to enjoy.

South Florida perpetual sunny weather makes a variety of sports possible. The southern tip of the US will not disappoint sports fans, as professional teams in every major sport can be experienced here.

Sunlife Stadium

Sunlife Stadium has two teams alternately playing within it during the fall – the NFL’s Miami Dolphins and the NCAA Division 1 football Miami Hurricanes. The Dolphins also run their training camp in nearby Davie, where attendance to public practices are free.

Major League Baseball’s Florida Marlins also used to share Sunlife stadium, but will be playing in their own Miami Marlins stadium this year, featuring a retractable roof to provide relief on both rainy days and scorching afternoons.

American Airlines Arena

If visiting during Florida’s winter months, visitors can experience exhilarating teams such as the Miami Heat playing at the American Airlines Arena , led by perennial all-stars Dwayne Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh. Or if it’s hockey you prefer, the much loved Florida Panthers rule the rink at the Bank Atlantic Center .

The best sporting events in South Florida are not exclusive to the NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA venues. With the numerous professional and collegiate sports teams based here, true sports fans can always find an athletic event to attend. Experience the well attended university games featuring the Miami Hurricanes, Florida Atlantic Owls, and FIU Golden Panthers during college football and basketball season.

Tennis and Golf, Racing and Jai-Alai

South Florida is also known for the local tennis Sony Ericsson Open and the TPC Blue Monster Golf Tournament at Doral as well as racing and unique sports such as the Jai-Alai.

If thoroughbred horse racing gets your heart going, visit Gulfstream Park, the new world-class racing location known as the best in the sport. Also home to the Florida Derby, the complex also has plenty of other fun activities.

Another unique diversion is the Dania Jai-Alai. This sport has been labeled the world’s fastest ball sport by the Guinness Book of World Records. Jai-Alai is an exhilarating, high-octane game, where players hurl and catch a rock-hard ball with a stick that has a curved well at the end. The ball speeds have been clocked in excess of 180 mph. The games are considered the most uniquely local sports in South Florida.

If participating is more up your alley and speed is your adrenalin pump of choice, check out the ultimate, one of a kind Richard Petty Driving Experience. Sit shot-gun in a real NASCAR car and reach speeds up to 120mph in 3 laps.

By Nuria Almeida

Photo By John and Christina

South Forida is a place rich in creative spirit. There are many fine art museums with timeless pieces and galleries for new and talented artists to include in your travel itinerary.

The Bonnet House

Fort Lauderdale

Artist Haven Gallery

This trendy gallery features contemporary fine art paintings, abstract, landscape, photography and mixed media from around the world. If you like new art, this is the place to go. Most art work is also for sale, a wonderful treat for any collector.

Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art

Located in downtown, on Las Olas near Riverwalk, this museum is easy to get to and has free metered parking. Inside visitors can enjoy new and permanent large scale exhibitions, along with other monthly special events. American and European modern and contemporary art and contemporary Cuban art can always be found there. There is also a quiet cafe and bookstore for your pleasure.

Bonnet House

This beachfront old Florida estate rests on 30+ acres of land. As you exit your car, you instantly feel as though you have been transported back in time. The wild monkeys in the trees, the beautiful palms, the gardens brimming with bromeliads and orchids make the grounds truly extraordinary. Owned by two famous artists, the Bonnet House contains all the art they collected over the years. A tour is offered and is an interesting way to spend an afternoon.

Miami

Wolfsonian Museum

A hidden gem in Miami Beach, this intimate and rarely visited museum features a collection of propaganda art that includes anyting from paintings to furniture with an emphasis on design at the height of the industrial age, 1885-1945. Admission is free after 6pm on Friday. There is also a beautiful period cafe and gift shop, including period music and free wifi.

Art Center of South Florida

This public art gallery provides affordable art studio space for up and coming visual artists. The gallery is made up of two buildings, which include 52 artists’ studios, exhibition galleries, and classrooms. The gallery is open long into the evening and shows its style in the detailed and beautiful mosaic floor in the main floor. From there, visitors can enjoy the art on exhibit in each of the artist personal studio. Many styles can be found here, including pop art, public and political art. Visitors also sometimes have a chance to see some of the artists at work. Admission to the gallery is free.

Rubell Family Art Collection

This amazing and memorable contemporary art collection is owned by the the Rubell family, known for their hotel empire. The collection is housed in a warehouse where even the bathrooms are artistic and features more than a thousand pieces, by such well known and unique artists as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Paul McCarthy, and Charles Ray.

Miami Art Museum

This cozy museum is known for its quality exhibitions. Though it has a limited permanent collection, their focus is mostly on local art, including video art, sculpture and photography. A unique take away is in the gift shop, where visitors can purchase a tiny original art piece from local artists from an art vending machine for $5.

By Nuria Almeida

Photo By cliff1066â„¢

The best cultural experience sometimes is that which is presented on a stage. It is not Broadway, however South Florida offers plenty of locations to enjoy any performance you desire during your stay.

Miami

Gusman Center

The Gusman Center for the Performing Arts is a unique, sophisticated and charming setting to enjoy a ballet, musical or movie. Open since 1925, nowadays this theater leads a double life. During the day, its lobby becomes the Downtown Miami Welcome Center. When darkness descends, a faux night sky donning 246 twinkling stars and clouds cast over an indigo-deep, sensual shade sparkle in the lobby ceiling, ensuring every person who enters experiences the old-world glamor this historical place has always been known for. Complete with arches, statues, glowing chandeliers and a majestic curving staircase, this theater makes you feel like you have been trasported to an older and simpler time. A must see!

Actors Playhouse at Miracle Theater

This 80-year-old theater is a gorgeous deco structure. It contains within it three performance venues: a 600-seat stage auditorium, a children’s theater and a black box for modern performances works. You may visit the theater whether you’ve got tickets or not. This wonderful theater stages musicals and comedies, children’s theater and avant-garde productions. Actors’ Playhouse is a Carbonell Award winning theatre. Check out their site for the performance schedule.

Gablestage

The Gablestage is located in beautiful Coral Gables and was originally the Florida Shakespeare Theatre. It is now residing on the property of the historical Biltmore Hotel. Audiences are lucky enough to still witness the company performiming an occasional Shakespeare play, however most recently it presents more contemporary and classical pieces. Recent productions have received great reviews.

West Palm Beach

Kravis Center

The Kravis Center is worth the drive. It is many things to different people. It contains a main concert hall, the black-box Rinker Playhouse, a pavilion housing lecture halls and practice rooms, and an outdoor amphitheater. The Kravis Center is known for its classy productions, including the World Famous Count Basie Orchestra. A favorite for many is its authoritative presentations of lavish opera productions.

Harriet Himmel Theater

The Harriet Himmel Theather is located within Cityplace, an 11,000-sq-ft space housed in a 1926 Methodist church. It’s the place to go to see a weekly Sunday Brunch Jazz Series, and the First Tuesdays Piano Series. It is available for rental and fully equipped for any lighting, sound system and staging needs for weddings, fundraisers and other events. It is a charming, restored historical landmark available for a tour.

By Nuria Almeida

Photo By Phillip Pessar

It would seem that most people visit in search of that one perfect day at the beach, or that once in a lifetime wave in sunny and sandy south of Florida. However, it is the thrill of vintage and thrift hunting that brings others here in droves. This kind of shopping can be considered a sport that makes the heart race. Scoring a fabulous, unique find for a great deal can be just as exhilarating as scoring a goal. South Florida has within its confines some one of a kind and large vintage and thrift stores, some of which can be found in upscale communities and which may contain that once in a lifetime find.

Miami

Night Owl

This tiny, studio sized vintage accessories shop is open into the wee hours, features a DJ whose rhythmic creations can be danced to by avid customers. There is also a courtyard bar, combining drink, dancing, socializing and shopping. It’s a location often frequented by celebrities.

Sobe Thrifty

This location is a haven for designer fashions for a steal. Located in what is possibly the trendiest section of Miami Beach, the clothing pieces featured here shop are up-to-date and classic fashion. This wonderful shop also offers books and music CDs. Perhaps it’s most important service is to its LGBT community by providing medical care and testing.

The Rabbit Hole

Although the Miami location exists and is well visited, this vintage store also provides online shopping, so a visit is not absolutely necessary, but recommended. The merchandise is eclectic, even quirky. It could also fit perfectly into the old-fashioned goods category. You won’t find the latest fashions, but rather truly vintage items Think cat-eye sunglasses, fedoras, and poodle skirts. Open until after midnight, its like night safari, except your prey may something unexpected.

Fort Lauderdale

PreviewMod

This 3000 sq.ft. thrift store is unusual in that it is pristine and features mid-century decor. Very minimalist, white space houses furniture, clothing and everything else regular thrift stores provide. The difference is this place looks like a house of interior design, not what is normally associated with thrift.

Red White & Blue Thrift Store

This place is massive. The goods within are almost endless and the prices phenomenal, starting at .95 cents. This is a thrift-er’s paradise. Put aside at least two hours to check this place out thoroughly. Since the selection changes daily, every day can be a surprise. It features large selections of clothing, shoes, linens, jewelry, accessories, housewares, and toys all organized by area, and priced to sell. In fact, if an item doesn’t get sold fast enough, prices are cut further, including half-off sales on specials every day but Wednesday, which is senior citizen day. There are 14 check-outs available and only cash is accepted. There is an in-store ATM.

By Nuria Almeida

Photo By Lance McCord

There is no reason why you should not be able to broaden your horizons while on vacation and learn something new. How about scuba diving? Any scuba instructor will tell you that the only necessary trait you must have to learn is the ability to have fun. They teach you everything else.

Scuba Diving

South Florida destinations provide plenty of scuba learning opportunities, since many diving expeditions will provide a quick certifications shortly before heading out. Once you have your diving skills in order, take time to explore South Florida, which is considered a premiere diving destination. There are many great, popular diving spots, including shipswrecks, offshore oil platforms, airplanes, tanks among others. These structures attract the growth of corals and a multitude of vibrant marine life, ensuring fantastic underwater photographs of artificial reefs. If you want to dive into the deep in unusual diving locations, get your GPS device ready and check these out:

Miami

Neptune Memorial Reef

(N25 41.41572 W80 5.44554)

This underwater cemetery is the first of its kind. It is an underwater mausoleum dedicated as a final resting spot for the cremated remains of those who loved the sea. It is located about 45 feet deep, approximately 3 1/2 miles east of Key Biscayne. As you swim through it, you will see actual gates, walkways, plot plaques, statues and benches. It is also the world’s largest man-made reef and makes for a strange, surreal and wonderful destination for certified divers. Among the cementary structures, schooling fish, sting rays, sponges and soft coral abound.

Boeing 727 Aircraft Wreck

(N25 41.880 W080 05.220)

Ever see a jet plane up close? Just off the coast of Miami, a broken up Boeing 727 jet is waiting for you in the deep. It was originally sunk as part of an artificial reef program in 1993. Going by the name of the Spirit of Miami, the pieces are covered with corals and snapping oysters. Urban legend says there is a time capsule hidden somewhere in this wreckage that will be unearthed and opened in 2043. If found by a diver, they have dibs to open it first.

Fort Lauderdale

MERCEDES I

(N26 09.370 W080 04.513)

This famous but rarely visited underwater wreck is a 198-foot freighter, approximately 97 feet offshore of Fort Lauderdale. The freighter’s deck can be reached at 60 feet and her tower at 45 feet. Florida hurricanes have, over time, almost torn her into two pieces. It is an enchanting dive for more advanced divers, as the current can sometimes be strong. For the serious recreational scuba diver, this would be in their short list of great dives. Sharks, turtles and other colorful marine life are common companions.

Capt. Dan Wreck

(N26 13.125 W80 3.975)

For all skill level divers, this 175-foot U.S. Coast Guard buoy has a long history, going back to 1937. Nowadays, she has been repurposed as an artificial reef. Named and reefed in the memory of Captain Dan Garnsey, a well-known local drift fishing boat owner, this vessel lies beneath 110 feet of sea water, with most of it under the sand. It is almost completely intact and has large access holes providing divers easy opportunity to enter and explore to their heart’s desire. Since there are many hiding spots, divers can expect to be surprised by the current marine residents.

By Nuria Almeida

Photo By Grand Velas Riviera Maya

‘Tis the season to give. Donating and making eco-friendly choices can go hand in hand. Whether you’re looking into eco-friendly and socially responsible cell phone companies or just trying to figure out what to do with old travel books, below are some great ways to give back and make your dollar (or your old stuff) count for something.

Phone Activism

Cell phones are an often critical part of travel. I just discovered Credomobile and I’m fascinated. As far as I’ve found, this is the only phone plan that comes with a side order of eco-friendly and socially aware activism. If you want a portion of your monthly phone bill to go towards a number of causes, look into it. Your money goes directly to socially aware causes: CredoMobile supports everything from animal rights groups to human rights organizations. They’ve donated over 10 million dollars to groups such as the Sierra Club and were named the Environmental Business of the Year in 2009. For extra fun, check out their green policy . Plus, you can donate your old phones.

Old Luggage

Part of being green also means being aware of finances. Heading on vacation for the winter holidays? Consider borrowing luggage from a friend or family member, rather than spending your green on brand new gear. If you’re looking to unload old suitcases, consider donating them to this charity, devoted to making sure that foster children (who may move several times before being permanently placed in a loving home) have suitcases of their own.

Book Donation

Is it time to give away tattered and out of date travel books? Give them away to libraries or hospitals. Also, check out book trading sites that allow you to trade old books for credits towards new ones. The aptly named Better World Books  has raised over 10 million dollars for literacy programs and even has a carbon offset program for their shipped books. If you want to donate to them, they pay for the shipping (complete with carbon offsets), so your old books can transform someone else’s life. Plus, for every book you purchase, they’ll donate one book to someone who needs it.

Photo by Newton Free Library

by Marissa Cohen