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Taste the world's first butterscotch liqueur at Schnebly Redland's distillery.
Schnebly Redland's is a renowned winery in the Southern United States, nestled in a lush oasis of coconut palms and fountains. However, you won't find any sauvignon or merlot vineyards here. Instead, you'll find a "tropical collection" of handcrafted wines made from lychee, mango, passion fruit, coconut, and, notably, avocado.
You can learn about the exquisite winemaking process for just $8, or sample five different butterbeer wines for $12.95. If you're feeling hungry, there's a restaurant on-site serving tropical dishes that perfectly complement each rich wine flavor.
Visit an ancient Spanish monastery.
If you are a fan of art, history, and architecture, the St. Bernard de Clairvaux Episcopal Church is a place you absolutely must visit at least once.
Built in 1141 in Segovia, the church is one of the oldest buildings in the Western Hemisphere. Legend says that William Randolph Hearst, an American journalist, businessman, and politician, bought the dilapidated monastery in Spain in 1925 (when it was being used as a warehouse) and shipped it to America in 11,000 crates for restoration.
The monastery is now a diocesan center for bishops in South Florida and is open to the public for tours, with an entrance fee of $10 for adults and $5 for children and seniors.
Note:The monastery is often used for weddings and events, so please call ahead before you arrive, especially on weekends.
Place your bet on the fastest game in the world.
Jai alai is a game originating from the Basque Country, listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest ball game in the world. Players must throw a hard leather ball against a wall at a speed of 150 miles per hour (241 km/h).
In 1920, jai alai was introduced to the United States via Cuba and Mexico and quickly gained popularity in sports betting. However, since 1980, the game has lost much of its popularity. Today, many Americans have never heard of jai alai or witnessed a match firsthand.
Although jai alai matches are no longer as crowded and boisterous as they once were, watching the world's fastest football game at The Casino on Dania Beach is sure to excite you. Try sipping a beer, enjoying a hot dog drizzled with sauce, and praying for the player you've bet on.
Dive into the underwater city for the deceased.
The Neptune Memorial Reef is a 6-hectare labyrinth located 12 meters underwater. Constructed from stone pathways, carved lion statues, and massive Roman columns, the memorial serves both as an artificial reef and the final resting place for renowned divers. Diving enthusiasts come here to pay their respects to the greatest diving heroes and to explore the rich and diverse life at the bottom of the ocean.
Beaten by oak leaf brooms in a Russian bathtub.
Have you ever been "beaten" by a massage therapist with a broom made of fragrant leaves? At Miami Beach's Russian & Turkish Baths, you can visit a banya – a traditional Russian sauna – where you'll be "beaten" by a bundle of fragrant oak leaves to remove toxins from your body. The fresh forest scent will relieve stress, open pores, rejuvenate your skin, and prevent aging.
If being "beaten" with leaves doesn't make you comfortable, you can substitute it with Dead Sea salt or mud, or simply spend the afternoon exploring the underground labyrinth filled with Turkish saunas, Finnish steam rooms, and Swedish showers.
Visiting the zoo in the unconventional way.
In 1935, a zoo with the novel concept of humans being confined in cages while animals roamed freely was built and named Monkey Jungle.
Here, visitors can observe orangutans, gibbons, and monkeys in a 12-hectare wildlife sanctuary from cages that run throughout the park. This allows scientists, students, and wildlife enthusiasts to observe the monkeys in an environment very similar to their natural habitat without disturbing or stressing them.
Swimming in the ancient Venetian lake
The Venetian Pool in Coral Gables is a tropical paradise with its turquoise waters and pastel pink colonial-style buildings. It's the perfect place to escape the sweltering Miami afternoon heat. Because the Venetian is the only pool listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a visit here allows you to immerse yourself in history and enjoy the cleanest pool in Florida (it's drained, cleaned, and refilled with fresh water daily during the spring and summer).
Try to avoid weekends and major holidays, as the crowds at those times can disrupt the usual tranquility. Midweek is the best time to find your own Venetian paradise.
