Gold Coast around Miami, Florida Attractions
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Popularly known as the Gold Coast, the area north of Miami to West Palm Beach is a 70-mile stretch of some of the most developed and expensive real estate in the country. The name actually refers to the gold-laden Spanish ships that sometimes wrecked off shore. However, it could also be for the long stretches of gold sand found here.Prior to Spanish exploration, the area was home to Tequesta Indians, who fished along the coast and hunted within the everglades, which lie to the west.The Spanish were unable to establish a permanent settlement here and the area went mostly unnoticed until the 1890's when Henry Flagler extended his East Coast Railroad south from St Augustine, first to Palm Beach, then to Fort Lauderdale, Miami and the Keys.Part of the region's popularity lies in its consistently warm temperatures. It affects the economy in several ways, both for the citrus industry and well-established tourist business.
Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, encompassing unique wetlands that support a fragile ecosystem. Tourists often come here for a chance to see alligators and crocodiles.
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Fort Lauderdale, Florida
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Other Gold Coast Cities around Miami
The southeast coast of Florida offers recreational activities that include swimming, diving and snorkeling, and fishing.Stuart, Jensen Beach and Hutchinson Island are all part of the Treasure Coast. The Gold Coast is from the Palm Beaches to Miami.
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Florida City
Florida City is the southernmost city in the United States, which is not on an island. Agricultural fields surround the town with many winter crops such as snap and pole beans, zucchini and squash. Summer crops include okra, limes, and mangoes. Florida City has numerous hotels and tourist facilities with a small historic area.
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Lake Worth
Lake Worth began in the 1900s when lakeshore lots were given away to purchasers of nearby fruit and truck land. It was named for Gen. William Jenkins Worth, who became famous as a result of the Seminole Indian Wars.A variety of recreational activities such as fishing, golf, tennis and boating are available.
Museum of Contemporary Art
The Museum of Contemporary Art in Lake Worth is housed in a large art deco building with a permanent collection including significant ceramic, glass and kinetic works by world-renowned artists. Changing exhibits by established and emerging contemporary artists are also displayed.
Delray Beach
Delray Beach has a varied history since the land was purchased from the government in 1868. Originally populated by the Seminole Indians, Delray Beach is now a resort community.
Old School Square Cultural Arts Center and National Historic Site
The Old School Square Cultural Arts Center consists of early 20th century school buildings. The buildings are home to a reception hall, the Crest Theater, and the Cornell Museum of Art. The theater presents music, theater and dance while the museum features changing art exhibits in five galleries.The 1926 Delray High School gymnasium was restored to maintain the original structure, even sporting wooden beams with student's names still engraved! It is used for various shows and gatherings.
Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens opened in 1977. The museum is dedicated to the living culture of Japan and the Japanese style gardens feature nature trails, waterfalls and rare bonsai collection of miniature trees. Japanese items from daily life during the Meiji Period (1868-1912) to the present include fine arts and folk arts.
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
The Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge cover 221 miles and is home to the American alligator and the endangered Everglades snail kite. The refuge offers many recreational opportunities - walking trails, a canoe trail, bike trail, boat ramps, fishing platform, observation towers, butterfly garden, and a visitor center.
Singer Island
Singer Island is known for its wide beaches and close proximity to the Gulf Stream. It was owned by Paris Singer during the 1920s, and he planned to develop it but it became the property of an ex-wife who did not realize its potential.
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
The John D. MacArthur Beach State Park features nature trails, swimming and fishing opportunities as well as a nature center that displays ecology, flora and fauna of the area. The previous owner, John D. MacArthur, donated a section of his property for use as a public park.
Stuart
Fishing and boating are popular recreational activities in and around Stuart.At nearby Jensen Beach, over 6,000 sea turtles make a nesting journey from the ocean to the shore and back.
Elliott Museum
Many inventions and patents from Sterling Elliott and son are on display at the Elliott Museum in Stuart.Life in bygone days can be glimpsed with a visit to the Americana Wing complete with a turn of the century barber shop and ice cream parlour. Antique bicycles and vintage cars are also found within the museum. Life-size dioramas, vintage clothing and memorabilia, early inventions and baseball memorabilia bring the past to life at the Elliott Museum.
Maritime & Yachting Museum of the Treasure Coast
The Maritime & Yachting Museum has a broad collection of nautical artifacts and vessels that provide a link to the past. The collection of traditional boat building tools, antique wooden boats, and navigator instruments allow a nostalgic look at Florida's Treasure Coast.
Gilbert's House of Refuge Museum
Built in 1875, the House of Refuge is the oldest structure in Martin County. Gilbert's served as a rescue center for shipwrecked sailors. Today the home displays marine artifacts and turn-of-the-20th-century lifesaving equipment and photographs.
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