Family Fun in Miami's Outback

Back in 1933, Joseph DuMond, who loved monkeys, turned six crab-eating Java troop monkeys loose in a dense native hardwood hammock to study their behavior. An artist lacking the academic degrees to attract research grants, he raised funds for his research by opening Monkey Jungle. At first both humans and monkeys could roam free, but later the humans were caged under a protective wire fencing.

DuMond's family continues to run the attraction much as he did. Descendants of the original Javas have been joined by 29 other species. Educational shows and tours are scheduled throughout the day, but nothing beats strolling through the 30-acre (12-hectare) preserve just off US1 to spy on monkeys at their leisure and yours. It offers an intimacy few zoos can match.
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14805 SW 216th St.
Miami, FL 33170
Tel: (305) 235-1611

Daily 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission
Adults $29.95
Children (3-9) $23.95
Seniors $27.95

Between 1923 and 1951, Ed Leedskainin, a Latvian immigrant, created a monument to his lost love. Not just any monument but a castle constructed from more than 1,000 pounds (nearly 5,000 kilos) of coral rock he mined locally. Only five feet tall and weighing about 100 pounds, he worked all by himself with the most primitive of tools.

He fit his coral walls together perfectly without cement, created a 28-ton obelisk from one piece of coral and engineered the world's only sundial calibrated to noon of the summer and winter solstices.

How did he build this New World Stonehenge? All he would ever say is that he knew the secret of the pyramids. Since 1984, it has been on the National Register of Historic Places under its original name: Rock Gate Park.

British rock star Billy Idol filmed a video here in the 1980s, featuring "Sweet Sixteen," a song inspired by the sad love story behind Coral Castle. Ed's 16-year-old sweetheart stood him up at the altar back in Riga in 1913. She never saw the amazing testament to his one true love.
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28655 South Dixie Highway
Miami, FL 33033
Tel: (305) 248-6345

Sun.-Thurs. 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Fri. and Sat. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Admission
Children (7-12) $7
Adults $15
Seniors $12)
Under 7 free

Tickets can be bought online.

The first farmers began growing winter crops here in 1898, traveling down Homesteader's Trail from Miami, the only link until Henry Flagler completed his Overseas Railroad to Key West in 1912. Incorporated in 1913, it is the second oldest city in Miami-Dade County and on the National Register of Historic Places.

The old town hall, built in 1917, is now the Homestead Historic Town Hall Museum. displaying old photos like the one here. Kids will love playing on the 1924 American La France pump firetruck and with an antique dollhouse. Admission is free.

With its palm-lined streets and country flavor, it's a good place to pause for lunch in one of the Mexican restaurants, opened after migrant workers put down roots here. Or, if you are traveling with a picky eater, there also are plenty of kid-friendly fast-food chain restaurants around.

If you're in town in January, don't miss the three-day Homestead Rodeo, the southernmost rodeo in the nation. There's a parade through downtown followed by steer wrestling, bronco riding, the whole works.

Homestead Air Force Base, where more than 10,000 Army troops stood ready during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, was destroyed when Hurricane Andrew scored a direct hit in 1992. Officially re-designated as an air reserve base two years later, it still hosts occasional air shows.

Big attraction these days is the Homestead Miami Speedway, home of the final races in all three NASCAR series. Free general admission for kids 12 and under.

Visit the Tropical Everglades Visitor Association to see what special family-oriented activities may be happening when you're in the neighborhood.
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Homestead Historical Town Hall Museum
41 N. Krome Ave.
Homestead, FL 33030
Tel: (305) 242-4463
Tues. - Sat., 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (and by appointment)

Homestead Miami Speedway
1 Speedway Road
Homestead, FL 33035
Tel: (305) 230-5000

Tropical Everglades Visitors Association
160 US Highway #1 (west side of highway)
Florida City, FL 33034
Tel: (305) 245-9180

Robert is Here is indeed a fruit stand with all sorts of locally grown fruits and vegetables, but the big draw is the fresh-fruit milk shake menu. The key lime shake tastes better than the richest key lime pie. Yum! Get in line to order as soon as you get there. Then look around. You'll hear your number called when it's finally ready.

While you're waiting, shop for tropical fruits, jams, jellies and honeys. And take in the farm animal petting zoo, swings and splash park out back.

Nice stop on your way to or from the Everglades Alligator Farm or the Everglades National Park. Or better yet, to AND from after you've tasted a shake.

Live music and antique tractors and trucks on weekends and holidays.
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19200 SW 344th St
Homestead, FL 33034
Tel: (305) 246-1592

Daily 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Closed September and October

Not to be confused with Everglades National Park, which is a little to the southwest, this Florida attraction with an old-timey feel lets you and the kids get up close but not overly personal with alligators, snakes and other inhabitants of South Florida's "River of Grass."

The farm has educational alligator and snake shows, but the most exciting time is when more than 500 alligators that live in the fenced-off breeding pond crawl over each other to get to lunch.

You'll leave with a better understanding of how tiny alligators grow into big ones, and even the smallest child will get a kick out of holding baby alligators.

Don't miss the chance to skim over the surface of the Everglades in an airboat, a flat-bottomed craft with a giant engine and propeller mounted in a cage on the back. Whee!
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40351 SW 192 Ave.
Homestead, FL 33034
Tel: (305) 247-2628
Daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission:
Alligator Farm shows only
Adults $15.50
Children $10.50
Shows plus Airboat Ride
Adults $23
Children (4-11) $15.50

With about 1.5 million acres (roughly 600,000 hectares), this is the third largest national park in the lower 48 states as well as the largest subtropical wilderness in the country. You'll see more wildlife activity in the winter, swat more mosquitos in the summer. Outdoor activities include hiking, canoe and kayaking, biking, camping and fishing.

For a kid-friendly sampling of the Glades, visit the educational displays and orientation films at the Ernest Coe Visitor Center and then proceed to the Royal Palm Visitor Center, the first turn on your left after the park entrance station.

Handicap (and stroller) accessible, it has restrooms, water fountains. picnic tables and shade. The boardwalk Anhinga Trail (0.8 miles --1200 meters - round trip) never disappoints with wildlife -- including alligators pretending to be logs. The Gumbo Limbo Trail is a brief circuit through a shady jungle hammock. Both trails are self-guided.
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40001 State Rd. 9336
Homestead, FL 33034-6733
Tel: (305) 242-7700

Park open 24 hours a day.
Visiting Center: 9am-5pm, mid-April to mid-December;
8am-5pm, mid-December-mid-April.
Both park and visiting center are open 365 days a year.

Note: June through November is the wet season.

Admission
$10 per car, good for 7 consecutive days

Getting there: From Florida City, travel west on Palm Drive (State Road 9336/SW344th St.) and follow signs to the park.

The Fuchs family has been growing orchids in Homestead for three generations. As a boy, Bob Fuchs, president of R.F. Orchids, hunted orchids in the Everglades. Today he hunts them around the world, develops new strains in Thailand and wins gold medals at international orchid shows.

The orchid nursery makes a tranquil stop. You'll be greeted like honored guests with a chilled citrus drinks and invited to wander through five greenhouses full of orchid beauties. The kids will be intrigued with the cockatoos and macaws on view.

Free garden tours at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays include the owners' walled garden with waterfall and pool.
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28100 SW 182 Ave.
Homestead, FL 33030
Tel: (305) 245-4570

Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Daily except Mondays