SIGHTSEEING
South Miami-Dade's attractions have a distinct character-fun, fascinating and unique. At Parrot Jungle and Gardens, brilliantly colored parrots perch on your shoulders while in Monkey Jungle, the monkeys frolic free. Nature blooms in a riot of exotic vegetation at Fairchild Tropical Garden and rules over the Deering Estate at Cutler. Miami Metrozoo is rated one of the top 10 zoos in the country and nearby the Gold Coast Railroad Museum recalls a vital stage in South Florida history. Coral Castle, carved from two million pounds of oolitic limestone, is an extraordinary monument to lost love. Speed is the scene at The Homestead-Miami Speedway Complex home to NASCAR, Indy and other motorsports events including the Grand Prix of Miami, Pennzoil Miami 400 and NASCAR Winston Cup Race.

SHOPPING
Follow the major thoroughfares south to find superb shopping in the department stores and specialty stores at The Shops of Sunset Place, Dadeland Mall, The Falls Shopping Center and Cutler Ridge Mall and seek bargains galore at the open-air Prime Outlet Mall at Florida City. Browse for hidden treasures in Cauley Square Village Shops in Goulds and in the antique district of Homestead's Main Street.

THE EVERGLADES
Within an hour's drive of Greater Miami is the largest wilderness in the eastern United States, supporting a unique and fragile ecosystem. The Everglades is truly a river of grass - fresh water six inches deep and 50 miles wide creeping seaward from Lake Okeechobee to empty into Florida Bay. Everglades National Park, set aside in 1947 as one of the nation's largest parks, is home to many rare and endangered species.

Enter the Park at Shark Valley just off the Tamiami Trail 30 miles west of Greater Miami and hike, bike or take a two-hour guided tram ride. Or, for a different view of the Everglades start from the Visitor Center at the Park entrance southwest of Florida City and drive the 38 miles through Long Pine Key to Flamingo, which overlooks Florida Bay. A lodge, restaurant and marina mark this outpost. Flamingo is a popular base for experiencing the raw beauty of the Everglades by canoe or on guided excursions through nature trails and mangrove islands.

Biscayne National Park, surrounding the northermost coral reef in the U.S., is 95 percent underwater and best explored by boat. Glass-bottomed boat tours run regularly. Diving and snorkeling are also available.

At Miccosukee Indian Village and Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation you can skim through the sawgrass in swamp buggies or on air boats and observe exhibitions of alligator wrestling. At the Everglades Alligator Farm, you can see 2,500 alligators, snakes and reptiles on a working farm.