Homestead Guide

It’s a side of Miami many people don’t know: Situated about 30 miles southwest of the destination’s urban core, Homestead is the second-oldest city in Greater Miami and Miami Beach and offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure, agriculture, history and local culture.

From charming, family-owned farm stands to secret spots like a blue lagoon and a serene nature sanctuary, to a historic theater with live performances and authentic local eats, this insider’s guide will take you on a tour of the best things to do in Homestead.

Robert Is Here Fruit Stand and Farm

Robert Is Here Fruit Stand and Farm has been a must-stop attraction in Homestead since 1959, and it keeps getting better with age. While the family-run business started as a simple roadside stand, with an adorable backstory of six-year-old Robert helping to man the stand, it’s now a large open-air market.

It’s locally famous for its bounty of produce and exotic tropical fruits, much of it grown on the farm. While you shop and explore, grab a milkshake or smoothie blended with different local fruits (strawberry is a favorite).

Kids love the petting zoo with goats, emus and tortoises. There’s also a shaded play area with local vendors and live music and community programming on the weekends.

Schnebly Redland’s Winery & Brewery

Wine from avocados? It’s possible. While you may not think of Homestead as wine country, Schnebly Redland’s Winery & Brewery offers a sip of the tropics in a paradisal backdrop. Treat yourself to a tasting of five of their tropical fruit wines at the bar, then wander the lush grounds dreamily set with cascading waterfalls, koi ponds and tiki huts. Add on a walking tour of the estate to hear about their wine-making process.

The on-property restaurant serves elevated farm-to-table cuisine for lunch and dinner. Head over to the Miami Brewing Company taproom for beers made with locally sourced fruits for an only-in-Miami taste plus line-dancing events.

The Berry Farm

Fall through spring, The Berry Farm is in full swing with family-friendly fun and traditions. The third-generation family-owned farm is set on 45 acres and is a hub for seasonal festivals like the popular Harvest Festival, with sunflower fields, hayrides and a sprawling corn maze; and the holiday extravaganza, Winter Festival.

It’s also a prime spot for u-pick season, when you and the family can pick your own strawberries and flowers from the fields. Stop by the ice cream parlor and let the kids play on the bounce floor and lumber playground after meeting and feeding the farm’s furry friends.

Fruit & Spice Park

This public garden will blow your mind, and maybe even your tastebuds with its bounty of rare and exotic plants. The Fruit & Spice Park opened in 1944 and has bragging rights to the largest ethnobotanical plant collection in the nation. It’s home to more than 500 varieties of vegetables, fruits, nuts, spices and flowers.

While you can’t pick from the trees, if you see fruit on the ground, you can eat it or bring it to one of the park workers to help identify it. Bring your own lunch to have a picnic at one of the tables.

Everglades National Park

Homestead is the gateway to Everglades National Park, which is the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S. and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park spans more than 1.5 million acres, with wetland, forest and marine habitats that draw an array of animals, from hundreds of bird species to alligators and panthers.

The best way to experience the park is with a guided tour, which range from airboat rides through the slow-moving “river of grass,” to narrated tram tours through Shark Valley, or ranger-led walks.

Biscayne National Park

For water lovers, Biscayne National Park is the jewel of Homestead. It’s the largest marine sanctuary in the U.S. National Parks system and offers pristine blue waters, bright coral reefs and rich marine life. Since the park is 95% open water, it’s a boating, diving and fishing mecca, and we suggest taking one of the eco-tours through Biscayne National Park Institute.

At the neighboring Homestead Bayfront Park, you can sunbathe on the man-made beach, take a dip in the water, fish or play volleyball on the sand court. Grab fresh seafood and drinks at La Playa Grill Seafood Bar.

Coral Castle

Want to see an architectural marvel? The most unique attraction in Homestead is the Coral Castle, which was completely constructed of coral rock without modern machinery. The story goes that a Latvian immigrant, Edward Leeskalnin, built the castle from 1923 to 1951 after a broken engagement.

Leeskalnin claims to have unlocked the secrets of the Egyptians, moving and carving massive limestone blocks with only basic tools. It’s quite a feat when you see elements like the castle’s nine-ton gate and intricate celestial carvings. Tickets include a 30-minute documentary and a professional tour. 

Seminole Theatre

The original Seminole Theatre in downtown Homestead opened in the early 1900s as a silent movie house. After a devastating fire, it was rebuilt in the 1940s in Art Deco style, only to be left in ruins by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. 

Lovingly restored and reopened in 2015, the venue is now a lively performance space for theater, music, dance and more. Check the schedule for Broadway-style productions, jazz concerts and classic dance performances.

Homestead-Miami Speedway

Watch an adrenaline-pumping race, or experience the thrill of being a race-car driver yourself, at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Set on 600 acres in Homestead with a 1.5-mile oval course and a 2.21-mile road course, the speedway hosts major NASCAR race weekends, including the NASCAR Cup Series Championship.

If you’re obsessed with speed, you can get behind the wheel of a real race car by booking the NASCAR Race Experience. On Fast Lane Fridays, they even allow legal street racing, when those 18 and older can race other street-legal cars on the designated drag strip while the crowd cheers them on.

Patch of Heaven Sanctuary

Getting out of the city and visiting Homestead automatically causes one to relax, and Patch of Heaven Sanctuary furthers that mission with its 20-acre natural setting and mindfulness experiences.

Designed to reduce anxiety and create calm, guests can wander the retreat’s paths and gardens to commune with nature and experience the bee apiary and house filled with various species of butterflies. The park regularly hosts events and retreats, like full-moon forest bathing and music at its Thai Tapas pop-up café.

Blue Lagoon Farm

Blue Lagoon Farm looks like it’s ripped from a magical movie set, and you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported to the waters of the Caribbean. Surrounded by tropical beauty, the farm’s star is a fresh-water lagoon meant for swimming or relaxing in a float.

The farm offers open swims to the public for $20 on weekdays and $25 on weekends. You’ll need to bring your own towels, and coolers are allowed (just no glass).

Dine Around The World In Homestead

City of Homestead is home to some of the best restaurants in Miami serving authentic global flavors. Locals know you can find some of the most legit Mexican food in Homestead at places such as Taqueria Morelia and La Cruzada.

Another top restaurant in Homestead is Venezuelan steakhouse Nando Grill, a longtime favorite for steaks grilled over an open fire. The no-frills Shiver’s BBQ has been around since 1950, and crowds line up for the burnt ends, ribs smoked low and slow and made-in-house sides and sauces.

If you’d like to dine at an organic farm owned by one of Miami’s top chefs, Jeremy Ford of the MICHELIN-starred Stubborn Seed, check out Ford’s Farm in Homestead.