It doesn’t take much to convince someone to spend time in Miami. From the magnificent nightlife to the unbelievable food scene, it’s hard to ignore everything Miami has to offer visitors. And that doesn’t even begin to touch on the various cultures who have influenced this city.
But in addition to all of the famous destinations and landmarks Miami all over this amazing city, there are a lot of unexpected places to go, too. This city hides it’s weird side pretty well but it’s there and it should be sought out.
Neptune Memorial Reef
So, this isn’t so much in Miami as it is off the coast of Miami. To be more specific, Neptune Memorial Reef is just over three miles east of Key Biscayne in the ocean. It is the world’s largest man made reef. More than that, it’s also a cemetery, or to be more precise a memorial.
Designed to be a representation of Atlantis, it serves as the ultimate opportunity to have a positive impact on the world. Ocean life has multiplied drastically in the region. Visitors who don’t have loved ones memorialized there can still dive and experience the beauty it offers.
Pegasus and Dragon
No, this isn’t the name of a British pub in Miami. That being said, it would be a pretty solid name for a British Pub. But in this case, Pegasus and Dragon is the name of a statue located in Hallandale Beach, which is part of the Metropolitan Miami region.
Pegasus and Dragon is second in size in the contiguous United States only to the Statue of Liberty. The installation literally features a Pegasus and a dragon, and has a full water and light show surrounding it. The experience is beautiful and absurd at the same time.
Miami’s Monkey Jungle
The tag line for this place is, “Where humans are caged and monkeys run wild.” It’s not a weird homage to the Planet of the Apes movies, though it could be interpreted that way. Located in southern Miami-Dade County, Monkey Jungle is a wildlife park in a natural subtropical forest.
It features a variety of vast environments for different primates, including gorillas. On top of that, it’s also home to a sanctuary for captive pet parrots who can no longer be cared for by their owners for any number of reasons.
The Kampong
Located in the on Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove area of Miami, The Kampong stands out as one of the most special and relaxing spots in the city. It is one of a network of five botanical gardens managed by National Tropical Botanical Garden in Florida and Hawai’i.
The collections of plants specifically housed in The Kampong come from a variety of worldwide tropical regions. Keeping in mind that it’s a great spot for plant lovers from any walk of life, it’s also a living classroom for several schools.
World Erotic Art Museum
The World Erotic Art Museum is located smack dab in the middle of the Florida Art Deco District in Miami Beach. Admittedly, this stop might not be for everyone traveling to the city. But it’s also not just a big pile of pornography sitting in a musty box. That’s a completely different place.
WEAM, on the other hand, is a thorough examination of the history and impact of erotic art on the world, going back thousands of years. It’s home to the massive collection of the late Naomi Wilzig and features artists like Salvador Dalí, Hajime Sorayama, Rembrandt and Picasso.