48 June 27- July 3, 2024 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times b e s T o f m i a m i ® 2 0 2 4 ones that need stimulation. Heck, there’s even a sloping hill that makes for some fun tumbling, and the kids can explore nature in the giant roots of the banyan trees. We just advise, for your stomach’s sake, that you tumble before your picnic. BEST DAY TRIP Everglades City via Tamiami Trail No plans this afternoon? It’s only a two-hour drive west from Miami to Everglades City, a storied frontier town settled in the 1800s and haunted with sleepy Old Florida charm. Reason enough to make the trek is a chance to feast on modestly priced stone crabs and oysters at the wonderfully divey City Seafood or Triad Sea- food Market and Cafe. But the real treat is in all the fun stops along the Tamiami Trail, includ- ing Miccosukee landmarks, America’s smallest (and most Instagrammable) post office in Ochopee, the Skunk Ape Research Headquar- ters, and fine-art photographer Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery. BEST WEEKEND GETAWAY The Boca Raton 501 East Camino Real Boca Raton, 33432 855-743-6130 thebocaraton.com The Boca Raton has been the talk of the town since its recent renovation, and the fact that it’s also equidistant for Palm Beachers and Miam- ians makes it the ideal tri-county getaway. Whether it’s for a romantic retreat or family romp, book the Tower Suite Collection, where each suite comes with a butler, all-inclusive top-shelf mini-bar, and access to “Top of the Tower,” a suite-only space comparable to a first-class lounge with a sprawling 365-degree view of the ocean and mainland. Don’t miss breakfast at Sadelle’s or dinner at Bocce. The property is decorated with blue-chip art and is home to boutiques and a purely blissful spa. But besides the upscale stuff, water is the main at- traction. At the Harbourside Pool Club, there’s a water park for kids and a lazy river. Jump from one of the pools to the in-house boat at the marina for efficient transport to the beach club. BEST STAYCATION Mr. C Coconut Grove 2988 McFarlane Road Miami, 33133 305-800-6672 mrccoconutgrove.com Step aside, Miami Beach, Coconut Grove is the spot to staycation. After checking out Michelin- starred dining like Ariete or Los Felix, but be- fore you revel in a raw fruit pie at Coconut Grove Organic Farmers Market, you need a place to stay. And that undeniable spot is Mr. C. Exuding modern, approachable luxury, there are plenty of nooks to unwind on the property. Highlights include its rooftop pool with ca- banas and panoramic vistas of the city and bay. You’ll shed your worries with a personalized fa- cial or detox at Beatala wellness club. On the top floor, Bellini serves up a memorable baked truffle polenta, not to be passed over. But the glue of any Mr. C stay is its service — count on all the pleasantries and then head home as if you’d traveled the world in style. BEST ESCAPE Cheeca Lodge and Spa in Islamorada 81801 Overseas Highway Islamorada, 33036 305-664-2893 cheeca.com Located in the Florida Keys, Islamorada is a picturesque escape that’s under two hours from Miami by car. The views are breathtaking from anywhere on its stretch of land, but perhaps the most stunning sights are from Cheeca Lodge and Spa. The resort itself offers adults-only, un- derstated island luxury, but its amenities are what make it a real escape from the city. Pools and dining with views of turquoise Atlantic wa- ters, a spa with 72 years of experience in mak- ing sun-burned guests look their best, and well-kept tennis courts. The kindly staff also hooks guests up with snorkeling experiences, kayaks, or paddleboards. Pack your bags and leave your stress on the mainland. Rooms start at $299 a night. BEST OUTDOOR RECREATION SPACE Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park 1725 NE 135th Street North Miami, 33181 305-895-1119 northmiamifl.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/ Enchanted-Forest-Elaine-Gordon-Park-12 With 22 acres of trails and fields, Enchanted Forest goes toe-to-toe with the most handsome public parks in town. But what makes En- chanted Forest the best outdoor recreation space is that it’s the only urban park around with its own petting zoo and pony rides. Thanks to M&M Equestrian, a private conces- sion that runs the offerings, kids of all ages can get up close and personal with goats, chickens, pigs, horses, ducks, a donkey, miniature horses, and, of course, the coveted ponies. They’re open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. but are also available for birthday parties and field trips. The rest of Enchanted Forest, which also impresses with its butterfly and community gardens, pavilions, grill stations, and tot lot, is open to the public seven days a week from sunrise to sunset. BEST OUTDOOR ATTRACTION Treetop Trekking at Jungle Island 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail Miami, 33132 321-277-7310 miamitreetoptrekking.com Just off the MacArthur Causeway, Jungle Is- land remains a distinctly Floridian, elevated roadside attraction with wild animals and a rad new zipline aerial adventure. Treetop Trekking Miami literally elevates the park by taking the space above its forest canopy. Guests willingly and gleefully navigate the wild, sky-high courses. There are a few adventures to choose from depending on your fear of heights and age. They may test your strength and stomach, but the views from 20 feet in the air as you zip over monkey cages and through the greenery will make it all worthwhile. BEST INDOOR ATTRACTION Puttery 239 NW 28th Street Miami, 33127 786-733-0770 puttery.com TopGolf, step aside, there’s a new indoor mini- golf spot in town: Puttery. Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy invested in this fresh, intimate, and affordable adults-only sports ex- perience in Wynwood. Unlike other upscale mini golf spots, just $27 per person gets you gameplay in three themed areas, with nine-hole courses between the Library, the Lodge, and the Rooftop. The 17,800-square-foot space also provides plenty of culinary offerings that beat out its competitors, featuring dishes like crab rangoon dip, pork tostones, and blackened mahi salad bowls in addition to a full-service bar. With plenty of quirks and design flair, Put- tery feels like a makeshift golf course inside a remote vacation home where you can hide out from the chaos of the neighborhood — or pre- game for a night on the town. (If you’re in the vicinity of North Broward or Palm Beach County, you might prefer to get your roll on at the Puttery in West Palm Beach.) BEST RAINY-DAY ACTIVITY Xtreme Action Park 5300 Powerline Road Fort Lauderdale, 33309 954-491-6265 xtremeactionpark.com Indoor entertainment venues used to be a dime a dozen in South Florida, peaking in the ’80s and early ’90s. Of course, with the convenience of smartphones, tablets, and packed sports schedules, kids today are spoiled for choices when it comes to keeping busy. But on the days when the Miami rain just won’t quit and You- Tubers bore, there’s Xtreme Action Park, a massive indoor playground that features every- thing from escape rooms and arcade games to minigolf and laser tag. Of course, the big lure here is the indoor go-kart track with a fleet that includes pro-level, gas-powered vehicles that reach speeds of up to 45 mph. If you need even more speed, there are super-karts that go up to 65 mph. But tiny speed demons, be warned: You have to meet several requirements before you’re allowed to take them on the track.
