Walking Tours in Miami
10 Historic Places in Florida
Paola Bortolin
Florida is filled with history and many of its historic districts attract heritage tourism from all over the world. So, we wanted to highlight some of our favorite spots around the state that are a must-visit.
From South, Central and North, here are 10 historic places in Florida to add to your travel wish list.
01
Art Deco Historic Distric, Miami Beach
Pops of pastel color plus the style’s notable architectural modern lines, curves and tropical and nautical motifs can be found in the Art Deco District of South Beach. The district is home to the nation’s largest concentration of Art Deco architecture in the world with more than 800 historic buildings.
Learn about Art Deco design, history and architecture by booking a walking tour offered by SoBeach Tours. The tours provide a deep dive into the Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival and Miami Modern styles found in the historic district plus visits to the interior of historic hotels, diners, rooftop terraces, museums, bars, secret garden cafés and other gems scattered throughout Miami South Beach.
02
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, Miami
The former villa of James Deering, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is known as one of the most historic and magical places in Miami. In the Mediterranean-style of architecture, Vizcaya’s main house was built between 1914 and 1922.
Explore the beautiful European-inspired gardens which are among the most elaborate in the US reminiscent of gardens of 17th and 18th century Italy and France, visit the café and take a tour of the main house and its impressive art collection.
03
The Kampong, Coconut Grove
A hidden gem in Coconut Grove, The Kampong is a 9-acre garden containing a fascinating array of tropical fruit, plants and flowering trees. Named for the Malay or Javanese word for village, The Kampong is the former estate of Dr. David Fairchild, a famed botanical explorer who collected exotic plants from Southeast Asia and other tropical regions.
Explore the gardens or take a guided or self-guided tour among flowering plants prized by the perfume industry, fruits and trees from the tropics. Advanced reservations and payment are required for the tours.
04
Grand Park, Key Biscayne
Once part of the country’s largest coconut plantation, Crandon Park was owned by South Florida industrialist William Matheson, whose family donated the land to Miami-Dade County in 1940 to create the park.
Visit Crandon Park for its picturesque beaches, marina and unique views of the Miami skyline. Spend a day enjoying watersports, picnicking or simply relaxing beneath a palm tree.
05
Stiltsville, Biscayne National Park
This collection of wood-stilt houses and shacks have a colorful history that dates back to the 1930s when “Crawfish Eddie Walker” built the first shack on stilts above the water.
Accessible only by water, the area was the place to see and be seen when visiting the winter resorts in nearby Miami Beach. Book a tour and learn about the rich history of the Stiltsville houses which were known for parties, gambling and alcohol smuggling in their heyday.
06
Lightner Museum, St. Augustine
An iconic building at the heart of historic St. Augustine occupying the former Hotel Alcazar, a Gilded Age resort hotel commissioned by railroad magnate Henry Flagler, the Lightner Museum welcomes you to explore Florida’s rich history.
Learn about St. Augustine while exploring this 1888 magnificent Spanish Renaissance Revival building designed by the prominent architecture firm of Carrere and Hastings.
07
Ybor City, Tampa
Founded by cigar manufacturer Vicente Martinez-Ybor, Ybor City is famously known as Cigar City. Explore the historic heart of the Tampa Bay area, which is filled with charming brick buildings of converted cigar factories in homage to the area’s celebrated history as the Cigar Capital of the World.
Take a tour of the independent cigar rollers keeping the tradition alive. Hop on the TECO Line Streetcar and enjoy a free ride of the historic city or take your time browsing the local cigar shops – including the new on-site museum.
08
Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales
Bok Tower Gardens is a 250-acre garden and bird sanctuary atop Iron Mountain, north of Lakes Wales. It invites visitors to explore its lush gardens and ponds. The gardens’ attractions include the Singing Tower and its 60-bell carillon.
The tower is built of pink Etowah marble and gray Creole marble mined in Tate, Georgia and coquina stone from St. Augustine. Come and enjoy the music. The carillon is played every day at 1pm and 3pm inside the neo-Gothic Revival tower.
09
Coral Castle Museum, Homestead
The Coral Castle Museum is made up of a giant coral rock carving. These were created by hand by Edward Leedskalnin between 1923 and 1951. The artist carved over 1,100 tons of coral rock to create the Coral Castle. To this day, no one knows how Ed created the Coral Castle at the time when there was no modern construction. Ed would say that he knew “the secret of the pyramids”.
Experience the sculpture garden with a guided tour or self-guided audio tour and marvel at the furniture, a crescent moon, a water fountain and a sundial all made of stone.
10
John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota
Built in 1925 for circus businessman John Ringling and his wife Mable, The Ringling is the official state art museum of Florida. It was established in 1927 as the couples’ legacy for the people of Florida.
Explore the Renaissance-inspired pink mansion and its 21 galleries filled with 16th to 20th century European paintings as well as Cypriot antiquities and Asian, American, and contemporary art. You can enhance your visit with printable guides, maps, itineraries and audio guides. Also visit the Bayfront Gardens and the Circus Museum.
