traveldk.com

Justifiably SoBe’s most famous café.

The epitome of the “American Riviera.” Sit in a café, or cruise up and down the strip in a convertible, on skates, or simply on foot. And, of course, if you’ve got it – the buff bod, golden tan, and all – Ocean Drive is the place to show it off.

This is a crafts show held in late January, but also an excuse for “Conchs” to celebrate being themselves – something they’re always ready to do in Key West.

A lantern-lit evening stroll through the mysterious streets of Key’s West’s Old Town allows you to discover a haunted island.

Another delightful example of the quirky fantasy architecture dreamed up in the 1920s. Unfortunately, the run-down area around is anything but a dream.

Nicknamed the “Baghdad of Dade County,” the fantasy follies of this now-depressed district were the brainchild of Glenn Curtiss in the 1920s. All in pink, with minarets, burnished domes, and keyhole arches, the restored City Hall is the best example left. (But don’t stray far from it.)

A wonderful place to sit and sip a drink, or to enjoy a superb pizza or salad you’re invited to design yourself.

This new $47-million theme park is conveniently located in the heart of Miami.

See more than 3,000 species of animals and over 110 species of plants at this 18.6- acre theme park. The centerpiece is the beautiful tropical gardens, and a highlight is the park's worldfamous bird show, with parrots, storks, macaws, cockatoos, cranes, a Blythe hornbill, and other unusual birds. But there are more than birds here: there is a huge collection of reptiles (including a rare albino alligator) and poisonous snakes, in the Serpentarium, and a petting farm with lots of friendly animals. You don’t even have to pay admission to enjoy the beautiful views at the Lakeside Cafe – it overlooks a sea of pink flamingos in Flamingo Lake.

In the 1960s, this was where the Grove hippies grooved, and on weekends now and when there’s a festival, some of the old magic gets temporarily resurrected. The park is named after Charles and Isabella Peacock, who built the area’s first hotel, the Peacock Inn, which at the time was the only hotel between Palm Beach and Key West. The park is now largely a baseball field, and there’s also a rustic Chamber of Commerce building.