South Florida is known for pristine beaches, party atmosphere and colorful drinks. Tourists looking for something other than beach life can also find a plentiful amount of culture, history and natural sciences to pursue. From Hemingway's house to Japanese villas, genetically mutated cats to monkey habitats, there's a little something for every interest.
Seated in Old Town Key West, the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum is the home of the literary giant, preserved as a museum after his death. Built in 1951, the house contains furniture used by Hemingway, and the pool, built specifically for Ernest Hemingway, was the first private pool in Key West. Living on the grounds are more than 60 cats, descendants of Hemingway's many cats, many of whom have a genetic mutation causing an extra toe.
The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
907 Whitehead St.
Key West, FL 33040
305-294-1575
hemingwayhome.com
With a slogan that proudly proclaims "Where humans are caged and monkeys run wild!" the Monkey Jungle in Miami is a nature reserve that is home to almost 400 primates. In Monkey Jungle, the primates roam the preserve freely, while people explore the reserve from pathways covered in wire protection. The reserve is home to 30 species of primates, including orangutans, spider monkeys and gibbons. Visitors can watch monkeys dive for treats or watch the trainers work with the orangutans.
Monkey Jungle
14805 Southwest 216th St.
Miami, FL 33170
305-235-1611
monkeyjungle.com
Also in Miami, the Zoo Miami, which celebrated its 30th birthday in June of 2010, is home to several exhibits, from local animals such as alligators to animals from faraway lands such as the tiger. The zoo offers visitors over 2,000 animals, gardens, specialized exhibits on lands such as the Amazon forest and a children's zoo where kids can interact with friendly animals.
Zoo Miami
1 Zoo Blvd
12400 SW 152 Street
Miami, FL 33177
305-251-0400
miamimetrozoo.com
Built to look like a traditional Japanese villa, the Morikami is a museum that celebrates Japanese history. From tea ceremonies, festivals and works of art, the museum also features six gardens, named Roji-en, or Garden of the Drops of Dew, each representing a different time period. The museum's different exhibits feature anything from pop culture---such as an exhibit on Kaiju, or monsters, such as Godzilla---to art from Kyoto. The museum also offers children's programming.
The Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens
4000 Morikami Park Road
Delray Beach, FL 33446
561-495-0233
morikami.org
