Awash in pastel and mostly under cloudless blue skies, the Art Deco Historic District is a feast for the eyes for both its architecture and the beautiful people that spend time there. Lovingly restored in the 1980s by the Miami Design Preservation League, the District is where it’s at. Celebrities flock here and Ocean Drive has long been considered the American version of the French Riviera. Stroll along famed Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road Mall, funky Washington Avenue and chic Collins Avenue to take in historic buildings that were all the rage in the roaring 1920s and have stood the test of time. Architect Morris Lapidus put the area on the map with his unique designs, check out the legacy he created.
La Folie
This small french restaurant is just the right size. The intimate atmosphere is a great spot to take your family for a real treat. The dining room is a little bit of luxury with beautiful woodworking, plenty of mirrors and gorgeous drapes. Choose from french favorites like quail and foie gras lollipops, roasted rabbit or sauteed halibut. There are also plenty of vegetarian options if you’d rather stay that route.
Mobia (Museum of Bibical Art)
The Museum of Biblical Art fosters understanding and appreciation of art inspired, by the Bible and its legacy through the centuries by highlighting the connection between art and religion in the Jewish and Christian traditions.
Rubin Museum of Art
The Rubin Museum of Art (RMA) is home to a comprehensive collection of art from the Himalayas and surrounding regions. The artistic heritage of this vast and culturally varied area of the world remains relatively obscure. Through changing exhibitions and an array of engaging public programs, RMA offers opportunities to explore the artistic legacy of the Himalayan region and to appreciate its place in the context of world cultures.
Ground Zero Museum Workshop
The Ground Zero Museum Workshop is the brainchild of Gary Marlon Suson, an Honorary FDNY Battalion Chief and the Official Photographer at Ground Zero for the Uniformed Firefighters Association. The only all-access, sanctioned photographer at Ground Zero, Suson’s one-of-a-kind, 3-D photo installations place viewers into the “hole” at Ground Zero. Visitors are also allowed the rare opportunity to pick up and hold World Trade Center steel and window glass. The non-profit Museum, a must-see before visiting Ground Zero, also benefits numerous 9/11 and Fire Department-related charities and is endorsed by many noted firefighters and 9/11 families. Open to 25 people per tour, which includes a powerful 15-minute video.
New York City Fire Museum
This museum is dedicated to the history of the men and women in the New York City Fire Department. This museum is a great way to teach your “junior” firefighter about how the fires were fought from colonial times to today. Besides just showing tools and apparatus, the museum also contains actual carriages used to carry water. This museum contains a large collection of fire memorabilia with many rare artifacts.