Between 1926 and 1931, North Miami went by “Town of Miami Shores” after 38 out of 47 registered voters agreed to form an official town.
After incorporation, the government issued $287,000 in bonds to help build sidewalks, a town hall, fire protection, and a water system.
By 1945, soldiers who fought in World War II brought their families to North Miami and ushered in a period of tremendous growth.
For decades, the town built homes, shops, stores, and office buildings.
The town had grown so quickly that in just six years, North Miami became one of the fastest-growing towns in the country.
North Miami, now a city, is home to a large contingent of Haitian-Americans. Prominent Haitian-Americans have served as mayors, too.
For example, the Republican Josaphat Celestin became its first Haitian-American mayor in 2001.
Another Haitian immigrant, Philippe Bien-Aime, became mayor in 2019.
Today, North Miami remains a bustling hive of activity and tourism. It’s got plenty of attractions to give you a good time and an unforgettable stay.
Do you want to know more about North Miami, FL?
Here’s a list of the best things to do in the city:
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You can find the largest urban park in Florida at the Oleta River State Park.
When you enter, you’ll feel the embrace of the stillness as you navigate the mangroves at this protected estuary.
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Over 1,000 acres of greenery offer tourists a bevy of possible activities.
For example, you can go kayaking, biking, camping, swimming, or hiking here.
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Whatever you do, bring your camera because you’ll never know when an osprey will come swooping into your field of view.
History buffs would also appreciate knowing that the Tequesta Indians had settled in this area before the Europeans arrived.
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If you want to stay indoors, you can bring the family to Dezerland Park in North Miami.
This new complex spans 250,000 square feet and provides dozens of indoor entertainment options and attractions.
For example, you can bring your kids to the Virtual Reality Park or the Miami Arcade, featuring over 200 games.
Likewise, you can take them go-kart racing, rock climbing, or a bumper car driving.
These engaging activities make the complex a terrific venue for corporate team-building events or plain and simple family fun.
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The Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami houses over 400 artworks in its permanent collection.
Many of these artworks come from some of the world’s best contemporary artists, like Keith Haring.
The MOCA has also loaned out this collection to the world’s biggest galleries and museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Every year, the MOCA also displays eight to ten art installations on the grounds, showing its commitment to featuring only the most innovative and provocative art.
Besides its collections, the MOCA also hosts programs such as artist forums, lectures, and art classes.
Like many other cities in the US, North Miami has a rich Native American history.
You can start your education at the Arch Creek Park & Nature Center.
This place gets its name from the natural bridge that crossed a small creek that flowed to Biscayne Bay from the Florida Everglades.
Before the European settlers arrived, the Tequesta Indians lived in the area, and they crossed the bridge to get around in the 19th century.
This limestone bridge collapsed in the 1970s, but the city built a replica to remind tourists about this part of history.
The nature center is also quite small, at only nine acres, but it offers city dwellers a way to explore the great outdoors without going too far.
Follow the half-mile trail to see a grove of gumbo limbo trees, strangler figs, and live oaks.
Likewise, the creek is also home to birds like the kingfisher and the egret.
The nature center also hosts exhibits on the Tequesta Indians and the early European settlers in Miami.
Your kids will surely enjoy frolicking at the Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park, and not just because of its charming name.
You’ll find 22 acres of forest canopies, native wildlife, and a scenic landscape filled with subtropical plants when you enter.
The park also sits on the border of Arch Creek, and it features butterfly gardens, horse stables, and a monument to the pillars of the LGBT community of Greater Miami.
Bring your kids to the playground or let them run around the open fields.
You can observe the butterflies in their gardens or enter the nature center for educational programs for kids.
Discover the wonders of nature at Frick & Frack Fishing Charters, a third-generation, family-run deep-sea fishing charter company.
They operate off of North Miami Beach nearby Haulover Inlet and have experienced fantastic outcomes fishing the surrounding and coastal waters of Miami.
Four, eight, or twelve-hour fishing trips and personalized excursions are available from Frick & Frack Fishing Charters for an unforgettable experience.
Their 27-foot Conch is completely outfitted for competition with the best gear and is supplied with all of the most recent USCG safety devices.
Their closeness to the Gulf Stream attracts a variety of fish species, such as dolphins, tuna, sailfish, sharks, swordfish, African pompano, amberjack, and barracuda.
Lost City Brewing Company aspires to provide clients with culturally influenced ales that will take them to far-off places and encourage discovery with each taste.
Their distinct tastes and locally made premium ingredients create a feeling of surprise and adventure.
Visit Lost City Brewing Company’s lovely 1,100-square-foot tasting room for on-site beer sampling and facilities tours.
The original Abraxas Lounge Bar is on display, and there are 16 taps of their best beers in the sampling area.
The Oleta River, Holy Scribe, Lemongrass, and Perdido Mexican Lager are among Lost City Brewing’s Core Beers.
A boutique workout center, Inner Balance Mind Body Studio focuses on group and private Barre, Yoga, and Pilates.
Inner Balance Mind Body Studio is conveniently situated on Biscayne Boulevard in the center of North Miami and offers a tranquil escape from the fast-paced bustle of daily life.
Their goal is for you to end each session feeling better about yourself, happier, and more equipped to deal with the difficulties you face daily.
Join yoga courses such as Flow Yoga, Gentle Yoga, and Yin Yoga, or schedule a private or personal training session.
Allow their incredible network of instructors and students to nourish your mind, body, and soul!
In North Miami, Captain Jim’s Seafood Store & Restaurant is a distinctive seafood market and restaurant with a fantastic variety of regional specialties.
They have a rich history of giving the community the freshest seafood.
Captain Jim immediately realized a demand for a fresh fish restaurant in North Miami and began using it as a distribution point for his daily catch.
People waited in line outside the warehouse entrance to purchase the freshest fish in Miami after a small display of products was put up in front of the facility.
All the fish served at Captain Jim’s is reeled in each day and made to order.
Their delectable cuisine offers classics like conch soup and whole-fried fish in addition to creative regional cuisine.
Try one of their signature meals or request that the fish be cooked to your preferences.
Take in all that North Miami has to offer during your stay at the budget-friendly North Miami Gardens Inn & Suites,
You can get everything you need at this hotel close to Haulover Beach Park.
They provide the necessities for traveling on a tight budget, together with the reliability and safety of a well-known major chain.
Luxurious bedding, linens, and complete bathrooms, including hairdryers, ref, microwave, flat-screen Television, and iron, are among the amenities offered in the guest rooms.
Complimentary WiFi, an outdoor swimming pool, a conference room, and free parking are available.
Additionally, you may earn benefits through their Choice Privileges Rewards program, featuring free nights and gift certificates.
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Just 19 minutes from North Miami lies the historic Art Deco District in Miami Beach.
This district contains the highest number of Art Deco-designed buildings anywhere in the United States, numbering 800 buildings in all.
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You can join guided walking tours with the Miami Design Preservation League. Likewise, you can do a self-guided tour if you want to keep your privacy.
Besides Art Deco buildings, you’ll also find many buildings in the Mediterranean Revival and Miami Modern (MiMo) styles.
Don’t be afraid of missing the tours, too, because they run every day.
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Thanks to its diverse population, Miami Beach has a rich community culture with a strong architectural heritage.
If you want to know more, visit the Art Deco Museum.
You’ll learn everything you need to know about the three major design philosophies that animate the neighborhoods and districts of Miami Beach.
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These would be the Mediterranean Revival, the Miami Modern (MiMo), and the Art Deco styles.
Find out what makes Miami Beach a unique architectural marvel that other cities have trouble replicating.
The museum carries engaging and entertaining exhibits about these styles, reflecting what makes Miami Beach special and attractive to travelers.
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Miami is home to a sizable Jewish population, including a group of Holocaust survivors.
These survivors conceived of the idea to build a Holocaust memorial in 1984.
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After nearly a decade, the Holocaust Memorial Committee opened the Miami Holocaust Memorial to the public in 1990.
If you want to reflect on the violence of history, drop by this memorial.
One of the main features of the complex is the Memorial Wall, listing the names of the people whom the Nazis killed during the Holocaust.
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You’ll also find an imposing bronze sculpture in the middle of the complex.
The sculpture is of an outstretched hand, with a tattoo of an Auschwitz number, with bronze figures of the victims surrounding it.
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Even though it covers three acres, the Miami Beach Botanical Garden teems with plant life.
You’ll find over 100 various species of palm, orchids, and other native plants, including the corky stem.
The number and variety of plants also attract native insects like the striped zebra longwing butterfly, the official state butterfly of Florida.
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Don’t worry if you don’t know much about plants.
You can simply explore the grounds and immerse yourself in this tropical oasis in the middle of Miami Beach.
Likewise, you can ponder the mysteries of life at the Japanese Garden, with an accompanying serene koi pond.
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On the other hand, Hialeah also offers the Milander Center for Arts & Entertainment, your one-stop shop for special events and occasions.
The center has various amenities that fit any event, from corporate meetings to weddings, baby showers, and family reunions.
Likewise, the facility is spacious enough to hold up to 800 people.
You can have a brief corporate meeting with ten people or fill the space with an extravagant wedding reception.
If you’ve ever thought about holding a special event out of town, the Milander Center might be your best bet.
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This time, drive 20 minutes away from North Miami to arrive at the nearby Coral Gables, where you can find the popular Venetian Pool.
This place cements a unique moment in Miami history, making it an unmissable attraction.
The sheer beauty of the Venetian Pool might make it hard to believe, but this place was once a rock quarry.
In 1924, the real estate developer George Merrick took his Mediterranean inspiration and built Coral Gables.
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Coral Gables’ centerpiece was the Venetian Pool, carved out of a sheer rock face, where locals could hang out and socialize.
The Venetian Pool contains 820,000 gallons of fresh water drawn from underground aquifers and artesian wells.
Likewise, you can find palm trees decorating the area, along with coral rocks and waterfalls.
You can even explore some caves there.
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Horse racing enthusiasts from all over the country have called the Hialeah Park Racing & Casino one of the United States’ top racetracks.
When you go there, you’ll see why.
The park complex has a gorgeous casino on the grounds, which houses over 800 game machines, covering blackjack to electronic roulette.
You’ll also find 33 poker tables so that you can try out your poker face at any of them.
When your stomach grumbles, head to the various restaurant and bar choices.
The pari-mutuel betting at this complex also runs all year.
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After traveling just 15 minutes down from North Miami, you’ll reach downtown Miami, the crown jewel of South Florida.
You might want to visit Wynwood Walls before you go anywhere else, though.
This collection of graffiti shows tourists another dimension to the glossy and glamorous Miami.
In the early 2000s, the radical entrepreneur and patron of the arts, Tony Goldman, decided to revive the Wynwood district.
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His company, Goldman Properties, turned the failing district into an open-air art gallery.
Today, you can’t turn your head in Wynwood without seeing a piece of urban art on the buildings or the walls.
The murals covering the walls and buildings also change regularly, reflecting the artists’ creative journeys who go through Wynwood for inspiration.
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Hialeah, Florida, sits just 15 minutes from North Miami, providing its twist to the art gallery with the open-air museum called the Garden of the Arts.
The Miami-Dade County Building Better Communities Bond Program built the Garden to inspire artists to create and express themselves.
When you enter, you’ll find a system of paved trails and a lot of green spaces.
You’ll also find historical murals, benches, and monuments to Hialeah’s past.
The place also has an amphitheater, a raised stage, and turf seating.
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If you think your North Miami trip can’t get more exciting, think again.
Just drive 16 minutes from North Miami, and you’ll reach Hollywood, Florida, where you can find the Hollywood Hot Glass studio.
Treat your eyes and imagination to the awe-inspiring feat of glassblowing, turning pieces of glass into eye-catching vases, bowls, and lamps.
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You can even learn the basics of glassblowing from the master craftsmen and women onsite.
While working with these master artisans, you can craft your glass wonder in just 20 minutes.
What better way to grab a souvenir than making one yourself?
North Miami and its surrounding locales have various activity and entertainment options for the curious tourist.
You can learn more about art and history in a single weekend here than you might anywhere else.
Likewise, these places offer terrific places to beat the summer heat that are as beautiful as they are refreshing.
Besides, you don’t even have to drive very far to reach these places.
Why wait?
Book your North Miami trip today!
Things to Do in Miami, Florida
Things to Do in Coral Gables, FL
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