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One of the most popular eateries, especially with the gay crowd.

Starting just at the northern tip of Miami Beach is a stretch of beautiful, wealthy communities that goes on for at least 50 miles (80 km). As diverse in their own ways as the Greater Miami area, they add immeasurably to the cultural richness of South Florida and make an unsurpassed choice for beaching it, too (see Gold Coast Highway A1A).

Palm Beach, on the Gold Coast, is the winter playground and shopping mecca of the rich (see Worth Avenue, Palm Beach). If you continue on A1A north of Palm Beach, the megalopolis gives way to the smaller, quieter towns of the Treasure Coast. These include Vero, the largest; Jupiter, which has no barrier islands; Stuart, with its charming historic district; rural-feeling Fort Pierce; and, at the northern extension of the Treasure Coast, the little fishing village of Sebastian. Vist these if you want to experience South Florida beach life without the hurly-burly of Miami.

Resembling a plump lighthouse, this colorful tower (built 1924) was the work of Denman Fink, George Merrick’s uncle. Neglected for decades, it was fully restored in 1993 and, although no longer used, the tower’s elegant Moorish touches make it an intriguing piece of industrial architecture.

A fun and wholesome day out. There’s a petting zoo with lots of baby animals and pony rides on weekends. There are also islands to search out, beaches to explore, playgrounds, and fish-filled lakes. Blacksmiths demonstrate their skills, as do other craftsmen, and the whole is delightfully uncrowded, as the park is well away from the tourist track.

This is the oldest Europeantradition building in the Western Hemisphere, originally built in 1133–41 near Segovia, Spain. In 1925, William Randolph Hearst bought the magnificent cloisters, had them dismantled stone by stone, and sent to the US. After many trials and tribulations, the stones were reassembled here in the early 1950s for $1.5 million. Call before visiting on weekends as the monastery will close for events such as weddings.

With its magnificent gardens and cloisters redolent of ancient lands and courtly love, this has become a popular spot for weddings. The building can be traced back to 12th-century Spain, though it didn’t make its way to Florida until the 20th century. Having lain dormant in packing crates for years, it was finally reassembled in the 1950s (see Ancient Spanish Monastery).

Late March is when this traditional means of musical expression – or noise-making in less skilled cases – fills the air over Key West. Expect anything from poetic foghorn-like sounds to pathetic blats. It’s great fun for children.

Created around a natural limestone bridge formation, this location used to be part of an important Native American trail. A museum/nature center contains artifacts left by those peoples. Naturalists will be your guides as they point out native birds, animals, insects, and trees.