46 June 26 – July 2, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES B E S T º F M I A M I ® 2 0 2 5 can head there for west-facing views of the Venetian Islands, sailboats moored in Bis- cayne Bay, and the iconic Miami skyline. Maurice Gibb Memorial Park got a recent glow-up thanks to the construction of a mas- sive playground-but-also-art-installation. The two-storey acoustic guitar neck and synth play space is a rock ’n’ rollin’ pre-picnic photo opp (before you get mustard on your shirt). Eat in the shadow of the gigantic in- struments after strolling to a nearby grocery store or restaurant for takeout. Publix subs never disappoint or go upscale with cured meats to-go from Barceloneta Miami or pizza from Lucali. You can set up shop on one of the picnic tables and benches or enjoy the glow of the fading sun from a blanket on the ground. BEST PLACE TO GO STONED The Planetarium Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science 1101 Biscayne Blvd. Miami 33132 305-434-9600 frostscience.org Got the munchies and a sense of wonder? Blast off to the Phillip and Patricia Frost Mu- seum of Science’s planetarium — the ultimate trip when you’re, well, on a trip. Float through swirling stars, drift past cosmic jellyfish made of light, and melt right into a 67-foot dome of pure space magic. Tilted at a trippy 23.5 de- grees, it’s engineered for full-blown, mind- melting awe. With an 8K projector shooting 16 million colors, it’s like everything in the his- tory of the universe came together to create this moment for you. And when the laser shows start? It’s time to blast off. Whether you’re vibing to Led Zeppelin, Bad Bunny, the Stones, or even Taylor Swift, it’s a full-sensory ride you won’t forget — even if your short- term memory taps out halfway through. BEST CHEAP THRILL Day Drinking at Zeke’s Roadhouse on Lincoln Road Zeke’s Roadhouse 625 Lincoln Rd. Miami Beach 33139 It seems impossible, but there’s still a spot in South Florida that offers $4 beers. And on the prime real estate of Lincoln Road no less! On and off for the last few decades, Zeke’s Road- house, under various name changes, has of- fered locals and tourists sidewalk seating for premium people watching while getting sloshed at actually affordable prices. Every- thing at Zeke’s is somewhat random and un- predictable from the selection of bottled and tap beers to which bags of chips they’ll sell for $1 to what hours they’re open (officially it’s 3-9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 12-7 p.m. on Fridays, 7:30-10 p.m. on Saturday, 12-6 p.m. on Sundays, and closed on Tuesdays). What is consistent is it’s a cash only bar where beers always cost 4 bucks even during these inflationary times. BEST FREE THRILL Fox Observatory 16001 West State Road 84 Sunrise 33326 954-384-0442 sfaaa.com When it comes to stargazing, light pollution is a real downer. And it turns out that more than six million people in the Miami metro- politan area can really drown out our view of the heavens. But if you have a little Jack Horkheimer: Star Hustler in ya, head out to the Fox Observatory in Sunrise’s Markham Park on a cloudless Saturday night. Follow the red-lit LED pathway to look at celestial sightings through two telescopes with the guidance of volunteers from the South Flor- ida Amateur Astronomers Association, which owns and operates the observatory. Make sure to visit with the amateur astrono- mers on the platform outside the observatory, too — they set up their own telescopes and are happy to chat about the stunning visuals from light years away. BEST UNAFFORDABLE THRILL Miami Grand Prix Miami International Autodrome 19810 NW 14th Ct. Miami 33169 f1miamigp.com Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsports, and its Miami round brings the Magic City a new level of prestige. Though tickets for the race have come down significantly in price since its debut, the Miami Grand Prix remains unattainably expensive to attend in earnest. In fact, it’s one of the priciest grands prix on the Formula 1 calendar, with a spot in the swankiest sections climbing into the four and five figures. Still, for all that dough, you get one hell of a race day packed with celebrities, really fast cars, and incredible entertainment on and off the track. BEST HISTORIC LANDMARK The Doc Thomas House 5530 Sunset Dr. South Miami 33143 305-667-7337 tropicalaudubon.org South Miami’s Sunset Place isn’t a historic monument, but with plans to raze the mall in favor of a new retail village, the structure is about to be history. Less than two blocks away and visible from its 57th Avenue entrance is another landmark that has withstood the test of time (so far). The Doc Thomas House, completed nearly a century ago in 1932, was once home to pioneering pharmacist Arden Hayes “Doc” Thomas. A lifelong nature lover, he deeded the home to Tropical Audubon So- ciety upon his death. Today, the former estate serves as the nonprofit conservation organi- zation’s headquarters. Its grounds, known as the Steinberg Nature Center, offer 2.2 acres of green space, including pine rockland and tropical hardwood hammock — both increas- ingly rare, with the latter considered critically endangered. Whether you’re there for a tour of the wood cottage or its surrounding gar- dens and trails, this haven is a portal into Mi- ami’s earliest days. BEST PLACE TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWNERS Everglades National Park (Shark Valley Entrance) 36000 SW Eighth St. Miami 33194 305-242-7700 nps.gov/ever We’ve all been there: Your out-of-town friend is visiting for the first time, and they want to get turnt. Indulge them for a night or two, then rehydrate and heal them in the Everglades. The River of Grass may look like a mass expanse of stillness. But if you take a closer look at the gently swaying grasslands, you’ll find a biodiverse treasure trove of wildlife, from gators to manatees, rose- ate spoonbills, wood storks, and — if you’re really lucky — Florida pan- thers. If you haven’t been on an air- boat since your fourth-grade class field trip, pass by Miccosukee Indian Village and Airboat Rides where you can also get a glimpse of Indigenous culture. Daredevils can alley-oop at the Miccosukee Skatepark off Old Tamiami Trail (which won Best Mural in 2024) or zig-zag around lazy, sunbathing gators on the paved 15-mile bike route to the Shark Valley Observation Tower. BEST INDOOR ATTRACTION Museum of Sex Miami 2200 NW 24th Ave. Miami 33142 786-206-9210 museumofsex.com After a long gestation period, this southern branch of the kinky, kitschy Museum of Sex in New York opened up in Allapattah last year. Prudes will want to avoid, as this provocative attraction features wild art sexhibits from the likes of Japanese illustrator Hajime Sorayama, educational displays on sexuality throughout the ages, and an entire floor dedicated to erotic carnival games where, on certain evenings, you may encounter mermaid burlesque dancers diving into a giant tank and spinning on poles. Not to be confused with Miami Beach’s World Erotic Art Museum, the Museum of Sex is kind of a tourist trap. But it’s the kind where you might actually learn something. Don’t forget to pick up a souvenir vibrator from the museum shop – it’s the gift that keeps on giving! BEST OUTDOOR ATTRACTION Patch of Heaven Sanctuary 21900 SW 157th Ave. Miami 33170 786-719-9903 patchofheavensanctuary.org You know the familiar refrain from the Joni Mitchell classic, “Big Yellow Taxi”: “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” That’s often the case in overdeveloped Mi- ami, but not at Patch of Heaven Sanctuary. Deep south in Miami-Dade County near the Redlands, this 20-acre nature preserve is the result of a massive, nearly two-decade rewilding project. Today, it’s home to a Zen garden with a giant Buddha statue, a koi pond, a furnished joglo, and other spaces ideal for silent meditation or forest bathing. The park regularly hosts retreats and public events that will let you unplug from the web and plug into your higher consciousness in the least obnoxious way possible. BEST PLACE TO MEET SINGLE MEN Allapattah Art District 22nd Street and 23rd Street from NW Eighth Avenue to NW 22nd Avenue Unless you’re capable of staying out until the wee hours, Miami’s intellectual and social scene revolves largely around art. And right now there’s no better place to dive into the art scene and socialize with a future man- date than in Allapattah. The Rubell Museum, Superblue, and a row of art galleries throughout the neighborhood — especially on NW 22nd Street between NW Seventh and NW Tenth avenues — provide plenty of opportunity to hobnob with artists, collec- tors, and other culturally relevant dudes. The Rubell Museum also offers events for mem- bers, and galleries such as KDR and Baker– Hall have even been known to turn their openings into sick parties that make flirting that much easier. Follow galleries for open- ing days and check the next Progressive Art Brunch to see when the single, be-toted bros are hitting the streets of Allapattah for a dose of culture and maybe you. motorsports, and its Miami closer look at the gently swaying grasslands, you’ll find a biodiverse treasure trove of wildlife, from gators to manatees, rose-
