In Miami, the bright lights and big city vibe is only one part of its charm and popularity. There's also a great appreciation for animals and nature, as evident at Zoo Miami. This 35 year old local landmark boasts an exciting array of animals and plants from around the world. For most visitors, it's just plain fun to see animals that you'd normally never come in contact with.
Best and worst time to go to Zoo Miami
The best times to visit Zoo Miami are: weekdays –- the zoo isn't crowded, and when you can avoid rush hour traffic, the travel time is significantly shorter.
Another great time is on a day of your trip you can dedicate several hours to a zoo visit. It's not one of those places you can cover in an hour, so the more time you have to spend there, the better.
The worst times to visit Zoo Miami are during weekday afternoon rush hour (travel time to Zoo Miami can exceed two hours) or when temperatures are in excess of 90 degrees. Because this is an outdoor attraction, exposure to the sun is increased. When it gets hot in Miami, not only does increase the risk of injury and illness due to heat exposure, it also puts a major strain on your wallet from all the water and soft drinks you'll need to buy.
Must see & do at Zoo Miami
Ride the Monorail: Visitors get a three-fold benefit when they ride the Monorail. One, it's a very quick and convenient way to move across the large property. Two, it's air-conditioned, a much appreciated luxury when temperatures start to creep up. Three, it provides a bird's eye view of the zoo, which adds to the fun.
Samburu Giraffe Feeding Station: One of the zoo's highlighted attractions is the Samburu Giraffe Feeding Station. It's a neat way to get interactive with the animals at the zoo, which is a special treat for the kids.
Admission to Zoo Miami
Rates for admission to Zoo Miami are charged by age group: visitors 13 and older pay the adult rate; visitors 3-12 pay the child rate, and kids up to age 2 get in free. Members of the Zoological Society of Florida are also privy to free admission. The zoo offers discounts to some groups and industry professionals, such as seniors, travel agents and Miami-Dade County employees.
Parking at Zoo Miami
General parking is free every day. Valet parking is available on the weekends and holidays for a nominal fee.
Public Transportation to Zoo Miami
Miami-Dade Transit offers service to Zoo Miami, via Route 252 (Coral Reef Max). Riders can transfer to this bus using other routes around the county, or using the Metrorail, the county's commuter train service. Rates and schedule information can be found on the Miami-Dade Transit website.
Food at Zoo Miami
Around the park visitors will find vending machines where they can buy cold drinks, water, and even ice cream. Looking for something more substantial? Visit one (or all three) of Zoo Miami's restaurants: Oasis Grill, Carousel Café and Fiesta Café. Each offers a wide selection of items from several different cuisines.
Insider tip for visitors to Zoo Miami
Check the zoo's website for information on Monorail service. Periodically, the Monorail is closed for maintenance or repairs. When this happens, they usually provide ground tram service as an alternate.
Author's bio: Shawanda James is a busy freelance writer, wife, and mom of four in Miami. She giddily writes about travel on the It's All Travel Blog. She's written local and national articles for CBS. Follow Shawanda on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
Intro: Shark Valley Visitor Center and Tram Tours, or simply Shark Valley as locals refer to it, is one of the most popular sections for those who want to explore Everglades National Park. A paved, fifteen-mile path loops through this northern region of the "River of Grass," offering close encounters with native wildlife ranging from alligators, snakes and turtles to more varieties of birds than you ever suspected existed.
Must see and do at Shark Valley Visitor Center and Tram Tours
Bring your own or rent bicycles at the Visitor Center to cycle the path. It takes a good 2-3 hours to do the whole path, depending on how many times you stop. One of those stops should be the Observation Tower, at the midway point, from which you can observe the largest alligators swimming in the deepest pools of water. You can also hike two short trails near the entrance or take a guided, two-hour tram tour. The tram tour is perhaps the best way for newbies to the Everglades to understand both the complicated ecosystem and the wildlife that lives so abundantly here, and unlike some guided tours, these are hugely entertaining and interesting, led by naturalists and rangers who really know their stuff.
Best and worst time to go to Shark Valley Visitor Center and Tram Tours
Winter is the best season to visit this part of the park, especially if you plan to cycle. The weather is temperate and dry, the sun is mild and the bugs are at their most minimal. The worst time to visit is in the peak of the summer, especially during the afternoons, when thunderclouds gather. The lightning these storms bring is extremely dangerous in the flat, open land of the park. And while the summer rains are terrific for filling alligator holes, the standing water also breeds mosquitos and other biting bugs.
Admission to Shark Valley Visitor Center and Tram Tours
Entrance to the park is $10 per vehicle. For tram tours, adults are $23; senior citizens (62+) are $19; and children (3-12) are $12.75. Bicycle rentals are $9 per hour.
Wildlife at Shark Valley Visitor Center and Tram Tours
Species available for sightings will change with the seasons. For instance, you may be able to spot, if you're really lucky, a bald eagle wintering over in January. But he certainly won't be around in June. Still, you can almost always count on viewing – and perhaps even having to step over one lazing on the path in the sun – an alligator. The park is rife with 'gators, ranging from tiny to tremendous, and other reptiles and amphibians including turtles, frogs and snakes. (Other parts of the Everglades are more prone to crocodiles, manatees, dolphin and pilot whales, but it's rare to see those here.) You'll also never get tired of looking for the big wading birds such as the great blue heron, great egret, anhinga or white ibis, or birds of prey such as the majestic osprey and the red-shouldered hawk. Mammals that live in the Everglades include deer, raccoon, bobcat, the Florida black bear and the elusive Florida panther, although it's unlikely to see any mammals but deer during daylight hours.
Insider tip for Shark Valley Visitor Center and Tram Tours
It's much more expensive to buy sunscreen, bug repellent and drinks at the gift shop on site, so come prepared. Don't forget a hat, because even in the coldest winter, the sun can burn you. And if you're not planning on taking the tram tour, bring a birding book to help you identify the various breeds. Some, like the purple gallinule, are so colorful and unique you'll want to read about them. If you're planning on renting bicycles, arrive early – rentals begin at 8:30 a.m. and it's first come, first serve until they end at 4 p.m. A limited number of children's bicycles and bicycles with baby seats are available. Also, you'll need a driver's license or official ID to hold for deposit. Finally, don't worry about meeting an alligator on the path. They're too busy sunning themselves and warming up their blood to worry about you. If you don't provoke a 'gator, on land it'll leave you alone (In the water is a different story. Always assume any body of water in Florida has an alligator in it, and keep small children and pets away from the edges.) Just take a picture - they do like to pose - and step around.
Author's bio: Jen Karetnick has been living in and writing about Miami since 1992. Her most recent books are Mango (University Press of Florida, 2014) and Brie Season (White Violet Press, 2014).
What began as a modest bird-centered attraction nearly 80 years ago has now bloomed into a full-fledged theme park. Originally called Parrot Jungle, Jungle Island spotlights an array of birds, plants, reptiles, mammals, and more. Entertaining shows, interactive wildlife tours and even a private beach off the coast of Biscayne Bay continues to make Jungle Island one of Miami's must-see legendary landmarks.
Best and worst time to go to Jungle Island
The best time to go to Jungle Island is when the weather is cooperative. Jungle Island is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Each day provides a different schedule of shows and tours. Even though the weekends are more crowded than weekdays, it's still better to visit the park on a good weekend weather day to aptly enjoy all the park has to offer.
The worst times to go to Jungle Island are on certain holidays and during inclement weather. Some holidays, like Halloween, bring special themed events, shows, and activities (and discount admission). The downside to that is the increase in crowds. Because Jungle Island is a fully outdoor park, bad weather will put a damper (no pun intended) on your visit.
Must see/do at Jungle Island
Winged Wonders: Since the park was originally built as a bird-theme attraction, birds are an important part of Jungle Island's history. This show wows visitors with the awesome and surprising capabilities of these winged creatures.
VIP Safari Tours: Get a true-to-form safari experience on this guided tour, where you get to experience real life interaction with monkeys, lemurs, and a host of other animals. Select the 1.5 or 3 hour tour, and receive admission to the park, free parking, a private tour of the park, and other amenities as part of your package.
Admission to Jungle Island
Visitors can purchase general admission tickets, or they can select from daily passes that include tickets to one of the park's interactive animal or water attractions. Other ticket options include annual passes, and VIP Safari Tour packages. For an additional fee, you can add on extras like access to the petting barn and the Kangaroo Konnection exhibit.
Parking at Jungle Island
Onsite parking is available for a nominal fee. If you book your tickets to the park online, you can also pay for parking in advance. Some packages, including the VIP Safari Tour and the Annual Value Pass includes complimentary parking. See package details for more information.
Public Transportation to Jungle Island
Miami-Dade Transit operates four routes that provide direct service to Jungle Island, including Routes S, C, M, and 120 Max. Information on fares and schedules can be found on the transit website.
Food at Jungle Island
At Lakeside Café, visitors can indulge in casual comfort food, including fresh sandwiches, pizza and other popular plated dishes.
Insider tip for visitors to Jungle Island
Check the forecast before planning your trip, and call ahead if the skies start to get a little cloudy. Inclement weather can impact the park's hours of operations on a certain day (including abrupt early closure).
Author's bio: Shawanda James is a busy freelance writer, wife, and mom of four in Miami. She giddily writes about travel on the It's All Travel Blog. She's written local and national articles for CBS. Follow Shawanda on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+
Primate lovers will be charmed by Monkey Jungle, a 30-acre wildlife park in Redlands, Florida, that really does look like a rainforest. Here, it's the 300 or so endangered monkeys who are free, and the humans who are restricted to certain walkways and areas, giving you the best possible way to observe the primates in a natural habitat.
Best and worst times to go to Monkey Jungle
The wildlife park is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, but the ticket office closes at 4 p.m. Given Monkey Jungle's southern location, which requires transport from the main part of the city on several highways, it's best to avoid times when you'll have to drive during rush hour, especially returning from south to north. Keep in mind that the summertime can be very hot and humid as well, even though there's plenty of shade in this semi-natural tropical rainforest.
Must see and do at Monkey Jungle
At the Wild Monkey Swimming Pool, observe the Southeast Asian Java Macaques, comprising more than 90 individuals, who impress visitors with their diving and swimming skills. For experiences with orangutans and gorillas, check out the Hangin' with Orangs and Cameroon Gorilla Forest sections, which are always great fun. Other trails and sections include the Amazonian Rainforest, which houses three species of monkeys: squirrel, howler and black-capped capuchin. The zoological park, which stresses conservation, also houses the Golden Lion Tamarin, a Brazilian primate threatened with extinction, and the Wings of Love Foundation, a sanctuary of large, free-flight, geodesic domes for former, captive parrots who were given up by owners or who were displaced for other reasons.
Admission to Monkey Jungle
Adult tickets cost $30 each, while children (3-9) are nearly $25. Senior citizens (65+) get a slight break at $28. Children under 3 are free, as are Miami-Dade County police/fire-rescue active military personnel (family members receive a discount). Immersion tours, which include close-up feeding encounters and meet-and-greets with capuchin and/or squirrel monkeys, cost $90 per person and take place three times per day; reservations are suggested.
Parking at Monkey Jungle
Parking is onsite and free.
Public Transportation to Monkey Jungle
It's difficult to get directly to Monkey Jungle by public transportation. You can take the MetroRail from Government Station to Dadeland South Station, then transfer to MetroBus 38 – Busway Max Florida City and get off at SW 244 Street. But you still have 3.5 miles to drive or taxi to the site from there.
Food at Monkey Jungle
A small snack bar sells a variety of snack-bar type food, including treats for the monkeys (raisins and other dried fruit), which you're allowed to feed them. If you book a birthday party here, the fare – pizza or hot dogs plus soft drinks and chips -- will be included with the ticket price ($21.95 per child), and served at Safari Base Camp, which is a large tiki hut. Safari Base Camp is also available for school groups and other special events; call to inquire about bringing or catering food.
Insider tip for visitors at Monkey Jungle
Check the website for printable coupons before you go to save a little on admission; ticket prices are high because of park upkeep. A stop here takes about two hours; it's not a day-long excursion. It's best to combine with other nearby activities such as the Fruit and Spice Park, Knaus Berry Farm or Robert Is Here to break up a trip from Miami to the Keys or vice-versa.
Author's bio: Jen Karetnick has been living in and writing about Miami since 1992. Her latest books are Mango (University Press of Florida, 2014) and Brie Season (White Violet Press, 2014).