& BES T BEACH (MIAMI) Crandon Park Beach 6747 CRANDON BOULEVARD KEY BISCAYNE, 33149 305-361-5421 MIAMIDADE.GOV/PARKS/CRANDON.ASP Let’s face it: The reason many locals never make it to the beach is that it’s a friggin’ pain to park once you get there. Not so at Key Bis- cayne’s Crandon Park Beach, where parking spots are as plentiful as mangos in July. The prices aren’t so bad, either: just $5 on week- days and $7 on weekends. The beach is dotted with the kind of palm trees that make it easy to pretend you’re in Jamaica, and there’s no lack of amenities, including restrooms, picnic tables, grills, and even cabana rentals. You don’t even have to worry about packing a cooler: Openseas Cafe takes orders by phone or online (305-606-5288; openseascafe.com) and delivers right to you on the beach. BES T BEACH (BROWARD) Fort Lauderdale Jetties 2100 S. OCEAN LANE FORT LAUDERDALE, 33316 Venture about ten minutes south from the throngs of squealing children and boozy spring breakers on Fort Lauderdale Beach and you’ll find one of the best-kept secrets among Broward County residents. Known as “the Jetties” or “the Jetty,” the secluded stretch of sand is tucked away just north of Port Everglades and its southern tip ends in a rocky shoreline. The sandy path that leads down to the water from the metered-parking area might feel like a never-ending trek (espe- cially after a beer or three), but the view from the Jetties is well worth the journey — espe- cially at sunset or sunrise. Visit on a Saturday to watch cruise ships sail out of port. If you’re lucky, you might just run into some whole- some, old-time Jetty-goers wishing bon voy- age to the passengers as they glide past. BES T PL A CE T O TAKE OUT-OF - T OWNERS Homestead CITYOFHOMESTEAD.COM 34 34 You’ve seen it on the news: Hordes from New York and California are descending on our Sunshine State in hopes of trading gray skies and libs for palm trees and populism. If you’re acquainted with any of them, they’ll probably hit you up for a weekend of couch surfing be- fore they make the move. By all means take them to the beach. But once you’ve checked off that requisite box, head to Homestead to give them a taste of Old Florida. Hit up Ever- glades National Park for the obligatory alliga- tor sighting, then take them to Coral Castle (28655 S. Dixie Hwy.), a house Edward Leed- skalnin built entirely of coral rock for his make-believe wife and their nonexistent kids. Shake the creepy feelings with a fruit shake at Recreation Sports Robert Is Here (19200 SW 344th St.), and, be- fore you head back to town, stop at Schnebly Redland’s Winery & Brewery (30205 SW 217th Ave.) to taste wines made from tropical fruits, chased with a pint of fresh beer at the adjoining brewery. BES T-KEP T SE CRET The atoll pool at Matheson Hammock Park 9610 OLD CUTLER ROAD CORAL GABLES, 33156 305-665-5475 MIAMIDADE.GOV/PARKS/MATHESON- HAMMOCK.ASP Although the manmade atoll pool at Mathe- son Hammock Park has been around for de- cades, it was renovated in the spring of 2022. Parts of the round-shaped body of water ad- jacent to Biscayne Bay were damaged during Hurricane Irma, and Miami-Dade has re- paired and reopened the pool hidden behind Redfish by Chef Adrianne. What makes this pool better than any ordinary swimming hole, you ask? It’s essentially a saltwater pond that’s filled by the tidal movement of the bay. According to the Miami-Dade Parks website, the recent improvements have made the pool more resilient and storm-ready. The project included dredging the bed and re- pairing the pool’s three culverts, as well as maintenance on the interior retaining wall and stone breaker wall. Oh, and they im- proved the pedestrian walkways. The view from inside is magical: Tall palms line the area in a semicircle, their fronds dancing in the breeze while waves crash against the nearby rocks. The sun’s rays sparkle on the crisp blue water. Although it isn’t deep, there’s a lifeguard on duty to make you feel safe while you enjoy the mini beach. Admis- sion to the park is free, but you need to shell out for parking if you drive there: $5 on weekdays, $7 on weekends and holidays. BES T S TAYCATION Hollywood Beach HOLLYWOOD, 33019 HOLLYWOODFL.ORG/1049/ HOLLYWOOD-BEACH The Broadwalk is less than an hour from Ocean Drive, but the scene couldn’t be more different. If you want to go all-in on the Jimmy Buffett vibes, ask for the Florida resi- dent discount at the singer’s Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, where rooms typi- cally run $300 and up per night. Beaching on a budget? The Hollywood Beach Suites and Hotel, just a few blocks south, offers seasonal specials and often has rooms that dip below $200. The actual cheeseburger in paradise can be found at Le Tub Saloon, a Hollywood institution with one of the best waterfront views in South Florida, where the 13-ounce sirloin burger with cheese is a bargain at $11.50. Wash it down with a beer or four across the street at Nick’s Bar & Grill and — once you’re loosened up — free live music at the Margaritaville bandshell. Before you head out in the morning, grab an egg-and-cheese sandwich ($11) and a cold brew ($6) at Cafe Club and snag a spot on the beach to enjoy breakfast — and the knowledge that home is a short drive away. BES T D AY TRIP Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk 27020 TAMIAMI TRAIL EAST NAPLES, 34114 239-695-4593 FLORIDASTATEPARKS.ORG/LEARN/ BIG-CYPRESS-BEND-BOARDWALK You know what’s the cutest thing in the world? A family of otters frolicking in the water out in the wild, that’s what. It’s so damn cute you just want to puke rainbows and unicorns all over the place. And one spot in the world where you might just witness it is Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk in Faka- hatchee Strand Preserve State Park. If you don’t spot otters, it won’t matter, because you’re still immersed in the River of Grass on a boardwalk that goes an easy half-mile you’re gonna want to take real slow. The birds are breathtaking — anhingas with wings spread like vampires, the blue heron’s graceful S-shape neck, a peregrine falcon’s detached majesty. You’ll see massive cypress trees, some of them coiled in the grip of strangler figs, their long and arthritic fingers engaged in perhaps the slowest form of ho- micide on the planet. And of course there’ll be the requisite alligators and raccoons, maybe a snake or two, the aforementioned otters, even an occasional black bear. The journey equals the destination: roughly 90 minutes from Miami on the Tamiami Trail, one of the greatest American drives. Turn off the phone, savor the disconnect, and treat yourself to some prime Everglades therapy. BES T WEEKEND GETAWAY Rock Springs in Kelly Park 400 E. KELLY PARK ROAD APOPKA, 32712 407-254-1902 OCFL.NET/CULTUREPARKS/ PARKS.ASPX As you float along the crystal-clear blue wa- ter of Rock Springs, admiring the lush forest surroundings and the occasional deer or wild turkey scurrying past, you might just manage to convince yourself you’ve found paradise. Only 30 miles outside of Disney World lies an Eden that not even Walt’s Imagineers could re-create. While Rock Springs’ 68-degree water temp might at first seem cold to a Floridian’s tropical bloodstream, your body will eventually feel refreshed, even if your eyes and brain may GLENN WATERS IN JAPAN / GETT Y IMAGES JUNE 23-29, 2022 JUNE 23-29, 2022 NEW TIMES NEW TIMES BEST OF MIAMI® 2022 BEST OF MIAMI® 2022 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com
