Just 35 miles south of bustling Downtown Miami, there is a quieter side of Greater Miami & Miami Beach: Homestead and Florida City, in South Dade. This area is packed with things for you and your family to do and explore, from farms and animal adventures to historic sites, national parks, museums, NASCAR races and even a castle.

Coral rock-sculpted tower at Coral Castle — Learn about Coral Castle's romantic history

Discover A Mysterious Monument

When you visit Coral Castle Museum & Sculpture Garden, you’ll be baffled by more than 30 stone structures – all carved, sculpted and built by hand by one man, Ed Leedskalnin, out of 1,100 tons of coral. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, this stone castle took 28 years to build and served as a monument to Ed’s long-lost love, Agnes. Its long list of coral structures includes a sculpture garden, rocking chairs, a Polaris telescope, a Sundial that tells the time of day (down to the minute) as well as seasons and solstices, celestial sculptures and a nine-ton gate that can somehow open with the touch of a finger. How did Ed do it? Not even scientists, engineers and scholars know. He was only five feet tall, weighed 100 pounds and did most of the work at night, by lantern light. Guided tours are available at the top of every hour.

Jackfruit at the Fruit & Spice Park — Giant jackfruit and more at Fruit & Spice Park

Find Exotic Fruits in a Tropical Paradise

If you’re looking for fun things to do outdoors in Miami, bring your family to the Fruit & Spice Park. Spanning 37 acres, the site features over 500 varieties of exotic fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs and nuts, including 180 varieties of mangoes, 70 species of bamboo, 40 banana varieties, 15 types of jackfruit trees, an herb and vegetable garden, shady banana groves and African baobab trees. While picking from the trees isn’t allowed, visitors are free to take any produce that has fallen to the ground as long as they eat it before they leave. Plants and trees are organized by geographical origin and can grow year-round in Miami’s subtropical climate. See it all by exploring the park on your own, taking a tour or attending one of the park’s annual festivals, such as the Redland International Orchid Festival.

Try World-Famous Strawberry Shakes and Cinnamon Rolls

Famously open for only half the year, from November through May, Knaus Berry Farm is a South Dade staple. It all started in 1956, when brothers Ray and Russell Knaus began selling their homegrown strawberries on the side of the road, not far from where Knaus Berry Farm is today. At its core, it's a decades-old, cash-only fruit stand-turned-shop with U-pick strawberry patches and tomato fields, fresh-made strawberry milkshakes and hot, gooey cinnamon rolls that people wait in line to try. Be sure to check out their other treats, including baked goods, homemade honey, jams and jellies, and homegrown lettuce and herbs.

Spend a Day at the Park

One of the best things to do on a beautiful day in Miami is to get outside. Spend a morning or afternoon with your family at South Dade Park, which features a skate park, tennis and basketball courts, a walking trail, a soccer field, a fitness zone, and a playground with a ship that children can climb. The main draw is the park’s elaborate aquatic complex – the South Dade Park Aquatic Center and Helen Sands Pool – which has an eight-lane swimming pool, a beach-style shallow entry, a water slide tower, waterfall palm trees, a “dancing” splash pad, a children’s splash-and-play area, water aerobics classes and swim lessons.

Fast Lane Friday at Homestead Miami Speedway — Ready, set, go! Anyone can race Fast Lane Friday

Enjoy NASCAR Racing Action

One of the coolest things to do in Miami is to experience Homestead-Miami Speedway. Along with hosting world-class races, including NASCAR Championship Weekend, the Speedway is home to over 200 events a year. On Fast Lane Fridays, you can bring your own street-legal car and drag race right on the track. Got the need for more speed? Sign up for NASCAR Experiences and do laps in an actual racecar – you can drive one yourself or go on a ride-along with a professional driver. Anyone 18 or older with a valid driver’s license can drive; all passengers must be at least nine years old.

Lifeguard stand with a heart at Homestead Bayfront Park beach — Find sun, sand and fun at Homestead Bayfront Park

Family-Friendly Fun, Sun and Waterfront Adventures

When in Miami, you’ll want to find the nearest beach – and in South Dade, that’s Homestead Bayfront Park. It’s a great place for some family fun in the sun, with an atoll pool for swimming, pavilions with grills and picnic tables, fishing, a pier, kayak rentals, and the full-service Herbert Hoover Marina for visitors who want to arrive by boat. When you’re hungry, sit down for a casual seafood lunch and Biscayne Bay views at La Playa Grill.

Robert cutting sugar cane at Robert Is Here — Come meet Robert at Robert Is Here

Farm-Fresh Finds, Tropical Treats and Family Fun

Once a roadside fruit stand, Robert Is Here Fruit Stand and Farm is now a beloved produce and local food shop. It’s been around since 1959, selling hundreds of varieties of produce (most grown in Homestead) that run the gamut from lettuce, onions and tomatoes to rare and exotic fruits, such as dragon fruit, sapodilla, guava, eggfruit and giant jackfruit. They make milkshakes and smoothies out of almost any fruit they sell. You can also buy preserves, dips and sweet treats made from local produce, such as Key lime cookies or Florida orange jam. There’s a small animal farm for kids featuring goats, tortoises, parrots, rabbits and even an ostrich, as well as vintage tractors, fun signs, sunflower fields and picnic tables where families can sip their shakes.

Learn About the Early Days of South Dade

Bring your family to the Florida Pioneer Museum and learn about the early days of South Dade through 1945. Browse the exhibits and see photographs and tools from original settlers that show how Florida pioneers built their homes and furniture, plowed fields, harvested crops and did leather work and blacksmithing. Spread across 21 acres, there are over 12 buildings – including Trilby Train Depot, a one-room Lacoochee schoolhouse, a general store, blacksmith and woodworking shops, and a restored 1860s Overstreet House. The latter has everything from a butter churn and weaving machines to a wood-burning oven and pots used for boiling water to wash clothes.

Baby alligator at Everglades Alligator Farm — Enjoy animal encounters at Everglades Alligator Farm

Alligator Viewing and Thrilling Airboat Rides

You can see thousands of alligators when you visit Everglades Alligator Farm, where there are daily alligator shows, airboat rides, guided tours and even alligator “encounters” where you can hold or feed one yourself. This farm cared for the famous 14-foot “Grandpa” alligator. Today, he’s mounted on a wall – take a picture next to him to see just how big he really was.

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