Let’s start by saying that this area isn’t anything like the cacophony of downtown Miami amongst its continual hustle and bustle. The quiet and serene feeling of these narrow streets lined with mature banyan trees almost makes you forget the glass towers and masses of tourists rushing between beaches and cruise ports and trendy restaurants. Coral Gables and Coconut Grove are much more relaxed, quaint and historic neighborhoods. This is the Old Miami, the birthplace of Miami where it all began.
Coral Gables
The suburb of Coral Gables dates back to the 1920s and was designed in a Mediterranean style. Single-family homes—all unique, no cookie-cutter homes around here—line the streets ornamented with huge bougainvilleas and oak trees creating an aesthetic and harmonious look. Even peacocks can be seen roaming around the neighborhood!
Coral Gables’ gem is without a doubt the posh 1926 Biltmore Hotel, now a National Historic Monument. Still a fully functioning hotel, you can of course rent a room but it’s also possible to go inside and have a look around or perhaps treat yourself to a lunch or dinner. This is something that we intend to do for sure…
Miracle Mile is the place to go for shopping or to find a restaurant. It’s a four-block area that runs along Coral Way in between Le Jeune Rd and Douglas Rd. The city’s museum is housed in a coral structure and is one street over on Aragon Ave. Plenty of art galleries and theaters can be found in the area.
Another gem in the area is the spring-fed Venetian Pool, which was created out of an old quarry. The water is recycled everyday and is clear and refreshing; the water temperature is kept at 77 degrees. The perfect way to cool off in the heat of a Miami day!
Another quiet spot is Matheson Hammock Park located on the shores of Biscayne Bay. However, we were there recently and evidence of Hurricane Irma’s passage remained visible. It is still a lovely place for bird watching, as aquatic birds hang out in the quiet bay or swimming hole. From here we could see Miami’s skyline and the bridge to Key Biscayne.
Coconut Grove
Founded in 1873 by a group of intellectuals, artists and writers this is truly Miami’s oldest neighborhood and the laidback bohemian atmosphere still remains. The stresses of the city slowly dissipate. Concrete and glass are replaced by lush foliage.The level of noise drops and the pace of life slows down, especially along the coastline.
Not so much around CocoWalk, a three-story entertainment complex with restaurants, bars, shops and a theatre where locals and tourists alike seem to partake in some sort of activity or another. There are plenty of art galleries, boutiques, gourmet restaurants and cafes to choose from.
In the 1920s Coconut Grove became the place where prominent people came to escape the chill of winter. I guess these were the early Snow Birds! They build lovely nests, and the properties along the bayside are just beautiful. The most famous has to be Vizcaya. This elegant estate in the heart of Miami is reminiscent of a European architecture. The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a must-see while in the area.
Multiple parks line the shoreline of Biscayne Bay, but unfortunately when we visited the area there was still some damage from past storms and some of the accesses were blocked off. Fortunately, great views could be had from Miami’s City Hall. We will have to return at a later date to explore more of the area including the Barnacle Historic State Park.
