Looking for a (free) oasis in Miami Beach? Looking for some peace and quiet off the beach? Then check out the Botanical Garden in Miami Beach. This small but great urban green space does not only showcase Florida native plants and trees, but also offers a Japanese garden, water fountains, and if you look close enough you will also see lizards, butterflies, koi and if you are lucky one or the other turtle.
Florida has not only beautiful sunrises, but also beautiful sunsets. In order to see the sun set over the water, the West Coast is the place to be. Places like Cape Coral, Sanibel Island, Fort Myers, Naples, etc. are all offering not only prime view on the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico, but also a nice and tranquille escape from the glamour and craziness that Miami can turn into.
Matheson Hammock is a scenic park in the Southern part of Miami. Besides the atoll-pool, it’s a place to wonder around and to check out the marine, the mangroves and the rich fauna with pelicans and anhinga (water turkey) just to name a few. In addition, the park offers a nice view of the Miami skyline.
Famous Miami Beach, what better way to start the day than with watching the sun come up on the beach. Especially in winter time, Miami offers some beautiful views of the daybreak.
Ocean Park, Santa Monica, Los Angeles County – one of the best places to live in California and former home of the Pacific Ocean Park, an amusement park which was demolished in the mid 70s and eventually replaced by the Pacific Park on Santa Monica Pier in the mid 90s. The neighbourhood is not only right next to the famous boardwalk that connects Venice Beach with Santa Monica, but is also home to one of the many famous surf beaches of California. And, it comes with very nice sunsets (even during times of wild and bushfires).
Besides a verity of flowers, the Japanese Garden is also home to quite a few animals. Especially iguanas could be spotted everywhere that are actually an invasive species here in Florida. Besides the animals I was able to capture on camera, you also get to spot turtles, aligators and kois.
Morikami Museum and Japanese Garden is located about an hour North of Miami and is a center of Japanese arts and culture. The garden is home to a variety of flowers, those include for example the blossoms of the Fire Bush, Allamandas and Plumbagos.
Wynwood is a neighbourhood of Miami, Florida that used to be known as an industrial and warehouse district. Since the early 2000s the area has developed into a hotspot for murals, streetart and graffiti. With constantly new and changing art displays it is for sure worth a (or even several) visit if you are living in Miami or just visiting.
Celestún is surrounded by the Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Celestún, a wildlife reserve with mangroves and above all an extensive variety of birdlife. While pink and red flamingos probably account for the majority of birds in the area, also pelicans, Roseate spoonbill, herons and other species can be found in the wetland reserve which is fed by a combination of fresh water from the estuary and salt water from Gulf of Mexico.
Celestún is a tiny fishing village on the Western side of the Yucatán peninsula. Barely any tourists, empty beaches besides the local fishermen taking the boats out for a fish in the morning, the perfect place to relax off the beaten track, watch the sunset and indulge into the surrounding nature.
