1. Miami Everglades Campground
City: Southwest Miami, FL
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (305) 233-5300
Address: 20675 SW 162nd Ave.
Description: The Miami Everglades Campground offers space for personal tents and RVs as well as cabins and lodges for bigger groups. A tent site with no hook-ups starts at $32 daily during high season, which runs from November 15 through March 31. RV sites that include water, electric, and full hook-ups cost up to $65 per night. Cabins that sleep 4 people start at $49 per night and a bunkhouse, which sleeps up to 16 people and requires a 2-night minimum, is $179 nightly. Reservations should be made in advance on the website, www.miamicamp.com, or by calling (305) 233-5300.
2. El Titan De Bronze
City: Southwest Miami, FL
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (305) 860-1412
Address: 1071 SW 8th St.
Description: The opportunity to watch expert, Level 9 certified cigar rollers at work makes a trip to this tiny cigar factory enjoyable even for nonsmokers. Located in Little Havana, the family-run shop produces four different types of cigars with tobacco imported from Brazil, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic. Most cigars run between $4 and $13, which means even the budget-minded can feel like a cigar aficionado.
3. Bird Bowl
City: Southwest Miami, FL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (305) 221-1221
Address: 9275 SW 40th St.
Description: This is the city’s token old-school alley equipped with retro furnishings. For competitive bowlers, there are plenty of adult leagues that play year-round. Lessons with pros are also available. Daily specials offer discounted fees and games such as Wacky Wednesday’s $1.50 per-game, per-person offer from 7 p.m. to closing and $3 Thursday specials for games and shoes from 7 p.m. until closing. The bowling alley also has billiards and an arcade room.
4. Larry & Penny Thompson Park
City: Southwest Miami, FL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (305) 232-1049
Address: 12451 SW 184th St.
Description: The 270 acres of natural Miami woodland make up this popular campsite, which offers both RV and tent sites. The camp’s proximity to the Metro Zoo makes it ideal for those with children. Laundry facilities, hot showers, and a large restroom make “roughing it” a little easier for city folk. During the day, campers can relax on the beaches of the camp’s large freshwater lake, run on a jogging trail, or have a picnic. In the summer months, 3 gigantic water slides that are carved out of the rock offer a fun alternative for cooling off. Use of the slide costs $6 for adults, $4 for children, and $3 for seniors. RV rates daily are $33.90, $192.10 for the week and include full electrical/water hookups. Tent sites are $16.95 a night. Pets are only allowed at RV sites.
5. Miami Everglades Campground
City: Southwest Miami, FL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (305) 233-5300
Address: 20675 SW 162nd Ave.
Description: Outdoorsy types looking for an escape from the Miami traffic and smog have come to the right place. This large campsite is 10 miles from all the indigenous flora and fauna that fill the Everglades National Park. The camp welcomes RVs and tents in addition to its own 330 cabins, all of which are air-conditioned and come with a grill. Lodges are also available for larger groups (up to 8 people) along with a bunk that sleeps 14 to 16 people. The majority of cabins and lodges include screened-in porches and rocking chairs. For those not staying in cabins, the campsite offers plenty of other amenities including laundry facilities, a heated pool, a hot tub, and courts for volleyball, basketball, and shuffleboard. In addition, there are various daily events ranging from rummage sales and painting classes in the morning to potluck dinners and movies in the evening. Check the website’s calendar for the upcoming months. Daily rates for tents and RVs range from $32 for no hookups to $65 for a “Super site.” Dry cabins cost $49. Those with a kitchen, refrigerator, and bathroom cost $89 and go up from there.
6. Redland Historic Bike Tour
City: Southwest Miami, FL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (305) 365-3018
Address: 22301 SW 162 Ave.
Description: For $28, cyclists looking for a more bucolic setting can ride through the Redland Agriculture District and observe the community’s various farms. Organized through Eco Adventures, a naturalist guides the tour giving riders some background information on the area while exploring. The trip is kept at a leisurely pace, making several stops at local farms to sample fruit or enjoy a snack.
7. Palmetto Mini Golf
City: Southwest Miami, FL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (305) 238-2922
Address: 9300 SW 152 St.
Description: Though not quite as challenging as its par 70 big brother, this minigolf course has its share of obstacles including trees, water, and a waterfall. The course hosts minigolf tournaments that are qualifiers for the Harris Cup Mini Golf National Tournament (think the Masters of minigolf). Competitive leagues for both adults and children also play here.
8. Porky’S Gym
City: Southwest Miami, FL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (305) 279-0610
Address: 10000 SW 56th St.
Description: This no-nonsense is far from hefty. Open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. The facility is straightforward with bright yellow machines like treadmills and StairMasters and a large selection of free weights. Standard amenities like showers, lockers, and a supplement store are also on site. While there are no group classes at this location, there are several other Porky’s around Miami that offer cycling, aerobics, and Silver and Fit classes, created for older members.
9. Arbetter Hot Dogs
City: Southwest Miami, FL
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (305) 207-0555
Address: 8747 SW 40th St.
Description: The family-owned stand has been around for over 37 years and has been serving standard dogs and chili fries and is a local favorite. The menu remains untouched since then—hot dogs, fries, and drinks. That’s it. No burgers, no milkshakes, and definitely no chicken fingers. Fortunately the prices haven’t changed much either with the most expensive item costing $3.45. Toppings like chili, sauerkraut, and relish are available to dress dogs up. Sit inside at the counter and enjoy the nostalgic decor. Unsurprisingly, the restaurant is cash-only.
10. The Alliance Theatre Lab
City: Southwest Miami, FL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (786) 276-1657
Address: 15133 SW 142nd Court
Description: The theater was founded in 2001 and has seasonal lineups of full-blown productions. The 2011 season includes Brothers Beckett and Fool for Love. Tickets can be purchased on the website.
11. Miami Metro Zoo
City: Southwest Miami, FL
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (305) 251-0400
Address: 12400 SW 152nd St.
Description: Miami’s zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals from over 500 different species, 40 of which are endangered. The zoo, which spans over 740 acres, provides an air-conditioned monorail to transport visitors between 4 different stops (an all-day pass costs $3). Families or anyone in a group can opt to rent a safari cycle, which holds up to 3 adults and 2 small children. A narrated tram also runs along the walkways of the Asia and Africa sections of the zoo. Besides all the elephants, tigers, gorillas, and bears, the zoo also has several featured exhibits, including the noteworthy American Bankers Family Aviary and the Wings of Asia exhibit which highlights the similarities between birds and dinosaurs. The children’s zoo has camel rides, a carousel, and a petting zoo. Children can also get the opportunity to put their investigative skills to work with ZSI, a presentation at the children’s zoo stage that gives them the chance to touch and learn about wildlife. For adults seeking the hands-on experience, the zoo offers the Zookeeper for a Day program. For $145, you can spend a full day working with one of the hired zookeepers. Four restaurants offering standard grill fare such as hot dogs, chicken tenders, and hamburgers are also on site. Open 365 days a year from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Check the website for special events.