Deering Estate is a Top Destination for Nature Lovers

When it comes to exploring Miami’s great outdoors, the historic Deering Estate deserves to be recognized. A preserved example of Miami in the 1920s, this home of Charles Deering—a Chicago industrialist, preservationist, environmentalist, art collector, philanthropist, first chairman of the International Harvester Company and an indelible part of Miami’s beginnings—is both a museum and an ecological gem. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this state-protected park is spread across 444 acres of coastal Miami and offers everything from canoe tours and bird walks to moonlit kayaking, Biscayne Bay boat tours, hiking, nature trails, eco-tours and more.

Ready to get outdoors in Miami? Read below for five nature experiences at Deering Estate you don’t want to miss.

Go on a Nature Preserve Tour

If you’re looking for a unique way to experience Miami’s great outdoors, this is the tour for you! Happening daily, Deering Estate’s Nature Preserve Tour takes interested guests to Cutler Burial Mound—a historically-significant, centuries-old Tequesta Indian site that exists onsite. Tours are led by one of Deering Estate’s own naturalists, and include an educational, hour-long hike through private trails within the 444-acre property and information about the area’s native plants and animals. It’s important to note that, because of the historic importance of the Cutler Burial Mound and the fragile nature of Deering’s protected ecosystems, guests can only access the Nature Preserve Trail areas when they do so as part of this tour or when accompanied by a Deering Estate staff member. Runs from October through May; tours meet at the bayside veranda of Deering Estate’s Stone House at 12:30 p.m. daily. This event is free for Deering Estate Foundation members and included with the price of admission for non-members.

Spend an Evening at Night Hike & Campfire

See South Dade’s protected natural areas at night! Follow a guide through the woods of Deering Estate after dark, get to know the estate’s nocturnal wildlife and end the adventure with complimentary s’mores around an old-fashioned campfire. Bonus: it’s a great local event with fun for the whole family! All participants must be 4+ years old. Runs from October through May; tours take place the second Wednesday of every month from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Hop on a Moonlight Kayak Tour

Biscayne Bay is known for its kayaking—but did you know you can do it at night in Palmetto Bay? When the full moon is shining, hop on a Moonlight Kayak Tour with Deering Estate. Departing from the estate, each tour takes guests to Chicken Key, a seven-acre mangrove island and bird rookery that’s just one mile off the coast of South Dade. When you paddle back to shore, the group will finish the evening with a fun campfire and s’mores. Runs from October through May; tour dates change based on the full moon. (Check the website for upcoming tour dates.) Reservations are required, as space is limited. All tours meet at the Deering Estate Visitor Center. This event is $45 per person for both Deering Estate Foundation members and non-members. Guests are encouraged to bring snacks and water, and close-toed shoes are required. This activity is recommended for intermediate-level paddlers and higher, and all participants must be 18+ years old.

See What You Find on a Bird Walk

As part of the Biscayne Bay Important Bird Area (IBA), an area internationally-recognized as an important habitat for bird conservation, Deering Estate is home to an estimated 170 resident and migratory species of birds. (Think: ibises, herons, egrets and other shorebirds.) Try and spot them yourself when you take one of Deering Estate’s expert-led Bird Walks, which occur seasonally. Runs from October through May; tours take place the second Saturday of every month from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. All tours meet at the Deering Estate Visitor Center. This event is $15 per person. Tickets can be purchased at the event.

Catch a Glimpse of Legendary Miami

Stiltsville is one of Miami’s most prized historic sites, and on this guided cruise, you can see it for yourself. This three-hour tour, which leaves from Deering Estate, takes passengers through the northernmost parts of Biscayne National Park to a small village of seven colorful, stilted houses that once were the discreet playground of the rich and famous. When you get back to Deering Estate, step inside another wealthy playground—the home of Charles Deering! Tickets include entry to Deering Estate, and all ages are invited to participate. Tours take place on the first and third Sunday of every month from noon to 2:30 p.m. All tours meet at the Deering Estate Main Gate. This event is priced at $56 for both Deering Estate Foundation members and non-members (ages 5+). Children under the age of five are free. Tickets must be purchased in advance, as no cash is accepted onsite.

General Information

It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. No admission is permitted after 4 p.m. Free parking is available onsite.

Admission is priced at $15 per adult and $7 per child (ages 4-14). Military personnel and senior citizens receive $2 off the price of entry on Tuesdays. Deering Estate Foundation members receive free admission.

Find out about becoming a member.

By: Jennifer Agress | Jan 15, 2020