Hialeah is a vibrant, family-centric community in Miami-Dade County, Florida, distinguished by a rich cultural heritage and traditions.
The word “Hialeah” comes from the Muskogee, which combines the words “Haiyakpo” (prairie) and “hili” (beautiful), meaning “lovely prairie.”
Incorporated in 1925, Hialeah has a long and proud background, including being home to Cuban exiles.
Today, Hialeah’s immigrant community is home to Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and other Hispanic groups.
It has one of the country’s largest Spanish-speaking populations.
Check out this list of the best things to do in Hialeah, Florida.
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Travel to an era of lavish celebrations, beautifully manicured lawns, and French Mediterranean architecture at the Hialeah Park Casino!
Formerly the renowned Hialeah Park Race Track or Hialeah Park, this South Florida icon has 200 acres of lush gardens and historic architecture.
Hialeah Park, once called “The World’s Most Beautiful Horse Race Course,” ceased holding races in 2001 after an alteration in state law.
Since its 2013 reopening as a casino, patrons have enjoyed the state-of-the-art facility that offers slot machines, Blackjack, electronic roulettes, concerts, bingo nights, car and boat shows, world-class boxing, and more!
To get the whole Hialeah Park Casino experience, enjoy the food, entertainment, and live horse racing broadcasts in their gorgeous Champions simulcasting room!
Entrance Plaza Park is one of Hialeah’s most popular and noticeable landmarks.
The park serves as the entryway to Hialeah, welcoming locals and visitors into this lovely city.
The famous Hialeah Fountain lies at the junction of SE 4th Avenue and East Okeechobee Road.
The serene ambiance of Entrance Plaza Park sets the mood for this beautiful city!
If you’re a first-time visitor to the city, stop by a secure location and snap a photo of this iconic entrance and fountain!
The Miami Watersports Complex is a water park in Hialeah, delivering customers an active, safe, environmentally-conscious, and family-friendly water sports lifestyle.
Miami Watersports Complex is one of the country’s biggest cable wakeboard parks and one of the world’s most well-known parks!
Enjoy skiing, wakeboarding, wake surfing, kneeboarding, tubing, boating, and more, on the park’s 90-acre freshwater lake with their Super Air Nautique G23!
From children to experienced riders, all ages and ability levels can be accommodated by professional instructors who can provide boat and cable lessons for all water sports activities.
Florida Gun Center is a full-service gun store conveniently located in Hialeah, off the Palmetto Expressway.
Florida Gun Center’s contemporary, state-of-the-art gun range is friendly, clean, and safe, with adjustable targets that can move up to a distance of 55 feet.
They also have a six-stall pistol shooting range and ten shooting stalls that can handle firearms up to .50 caliber and guns up to .308 caliber.
The most up-to-date security measures are offered by Florida Gun Center, featuring ballistically secured walls and ceilings in the booths between downrange and shooters.
From the beginner shooter to the most experienced marksman, Florida Gun Center has had a wide range of goods and services to please every customer since 1985.
The Leah Arts District supports art and culture in the City of Hialeah while providing accessible living and working spaces for local artists.
In 2015, the City of Hialeah held a street festival to launch its first art district to draw as many artists and tourists as possible, similar to Miami’s renowned Wynwood Arts District.
The Leah Arts District is in the east section of Hialeah, close to the Flamingo Plaza.
This area comprises light-industrial shops, thrift stores, and restaurants encompassing approximately six city blocks.
Stroll around the Leah Arts District and appreciate the beautiful art and murals on the buildings within the area.
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The 515-acre Amelia Earhart Park is an urban park north of Hialeah that offers a variety of recreational activities like biking, skateboarding, fishing, boating, and wakeboarding!
Other amenities include a five-acre fenced dog park, paved pathways, an 18-hole disc golf course, benches, playgrounds, and garbage disposal stations.
Eight miles of bike trails include single track and fire road trails with numerous climbs, descents, and banked corners.
Explore the Bill Graham Farm Village, a model farm with a demonstration shed where guests may see cow-milking, horseshoeing, sheep-shearing, and livestock judging.
It also has an exhibit hall, a petting zoo, a pony ring, and a sugar cane press.
Finally, take the kids to Tom Sawyer’s Play Island, a tree house fort equipped with balance beams, climbers, slides, swings, spinners, and musical instruments.
This playground is fully available for inclusive play and is intended for kids ages two to 12.
Enjoy the Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah!
Henry Milander Park is a recreational park in Hialeah that spans 19.2 acres, offering sports and entertainment amenities.
The park includes two lighted basketball courts, a junior-sized basketball court, a general field area, and a children’s playground.
It is also home to the Ted Hendricks Stadium, where local high schools hold sporting events throughout their academic year.
Also within the park grounds is the Milander Center for Arts & Entertainment, an art gallery and event space.
Henry Milander Park was named in honor of Mayor Henry Milander, who served from 1941 to 1945, and once more from 1947 to 1974.
The Milander Center for Arts and Entertainment, situated at the heart of Hialeah, sets the standard for elegance and beauty.
The gorgeous Milander Center for Arts and Entertainment is the perfect place to host your upcoming birthday, meeting, trade show, convention, wedding, or event.
The Milander Center can accommodate gatherings of as few as ten people to as many as 800!
Rotating artworks from local and global artists illuminate the halls, adding a touch of culture and a creative mood to every occasion.
It boasts versatility of space, attentive staff, vendors, and the wide range of available equipment.
The Milander Center for Arts and Entertainment the ideal location for any event, from intimate gatherings to large celebrations.
Cuban Culture in Exile Heritage Park honors Cuban heritage with various monuments honoring prominent Cubans in Florida.
Filled with various historical markers, memorials, and monuments, this landmark ties to the history of multiple eras and nations.
The park was created by founder Pedro Roman and the Academia de las Luminarias de las Bellas Artes (ALBA) in collaboration with the city.
It also features a stage and plenty of open spaces for community interaction, allowing locals and visitors to experience the park in any way they like.
Enjoy the greenery and truly understand the people and stories behind the park.
The Cuban Culture in Exile Heritage Park is a venue for people to engage in multiple ways.
The El Rinconcito de Santa Barbara Restaurant is avibrant, family-run restaurant that serves various Cuban and Puerto Rican dishes, including the classic plantain Mofongo.
Founded by Pedro Delgado and Rosa Rivera in 1997, Rinconcito de Santa Barbara Restaurant began as a tiny Cuban cafeteria.
It served Cuban coladas, toast, and “cortaditos,” and it had a little canteen for takeout.
Today, the restaurant can accommodate up to 100 people and offers an extensive menu with a range of Cuban and Puerto Rican specialties, a cantina, and a party menu for special occasions.
For over 25 years, El Rinconcito de Santa Barbara Restaurant has made itself an authentic piece of Cuba and Puerto Rico in Hialeah.
For authentic Caribbean cuisine and food, visit El Rinconcito de Santa Barbara Restaurant!
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Westland Mall is Hialeah’s regional shopping center with more than 100 specialty shops, dining, entertainment, and fun for the whole family!
Stroll by and shop at some of its popular stores, including anchor stores Macy’s and JCPenney!
The mall opened in 1971 to the east of the former standalone Burdines Department Store.
Approximately 12,000 visitors from the Miami metropolitan area visit the mall every day.
Westland Mall is about 15 minutes from the Miami International Airport and is easily accessible from a major thoroughfare.
Garden of the Arts blends the gorgeous South Florida native plant life with the creative brilliance of local artists through the arts on display.
Garden of the Arts offers a small amphitheater that can be rented, ideal for small events such as intimate weddings.
This cultural and passive park also consists of an elevated stage, turf seating, benches, historic murals, monuments, paved walking trails, lush landscapes, and parking areas.
The Miami-Dade County Building Better Communities Bond Program allowed for the development of the Garden of the Arts.
The Garden of the Arts seeks to provide an environment where everyone can have an exceptional cultural experience and a space for inspiration and peaceful reflection.
Enjoy McDonald Water Park, the only wave pool in South Florida, along with various other attractions!
The park’s 17 acres offer a wave pool, a 1,000-foot lazy river that meanders beneath beautiful waterfalls, and many shaded areas.
This affordable water park also has ten pavilions, a large lake, a playground, lighted tennis courts, and racquetball courts.
McDonald Water Park is a fun location to spend any special occasion, such as birthdays, and they offer private Water Park Parties and swim lessons too!
McDonald Water Park operates on a seasonal basis to make way for the colder season.
El Palacio de los Jugos takes pleasure and pride in serving authentic, home-cooked Cuban dishes and the freshest tropical juices.
They will bring back memories to those who grew up in the community.
Otherwise, they will be a delightful experience to those trying it for the first time!
Founded by Apolonia Bermudez in 1977, El Palacio de los Jugos is in a modest building at Flagler Street and 57th Avenue.
The concept is a small takeaway eatery featuring Chicharrones and other traditional Cuban recipes alongside freshly-made Batidos and Jugos (fruit juices and smoothies).
Shortly after, the Bodega was unveiled, where visitors can shop for fresh produce like coconut, papaya, pineapple, mango, eggs, cheeses, and many more.
El Palacio de los Jugos has kept its original open-air eatery concept and its bright signature red and yellow canopies.
Don’t miss the Chicharrones, which have gained popularity among visitors seeking an authentic Cuban experience, including locals and well-known chefs worldwide!
James H. Goodlet Park, or Goodlet Park, is the biggest recreational facility in the city, conveniently situated to serve thousands of Hialeah residents and visitors.
The park was named in honor of James H. Goodlet, an Air Force veteran during World War II who served as a City Clerk for 11 years starting in 1968.
Moreover, Goodlet Park is home to the Goodlet Theater and the Goodlet Tennis Center, offering physical and culturally enriching activities.
This 28-acre recreational facility includes a 13-acre park, three lighted youth baseball fields, and four lighted basketball courts.
It also has two artificial turf soccer fields, 11 lighted tennis courts, a lighted running track, a children’s playground, a recreation building, a dance studio, and more!
Whether you want to play a game of sports, watch a theatrical show, or stroll around, Goodlet Park is a fantastic place.
Hialeah is a superb location if you seek a quaint and suburban feel.
Visiting the city can also be a culturally-enriching experience, especially for first-time guests.
People in the Hialeah community are a unique mix of cultures and ethnicities.
Discover history, culture, and tradition by indulging in the best things to do in Hialeah, Florida!
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