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Miami

Attractions Cities of Florida Miami West Palm Beach

The Sanctuary for Manatees

If you are looking for a fun activity to do with the kids, your significant other or just by yourself, you have to stop by the Manatee Lagoon in Riviera Beach. Manatee Lagoon is an FPL Eco-Discovery Center and Palm Beach’s latest educational center, providing residents and tourists alike with the perfect vantage point to see these magnificent creatures.

Once a casual spot next to the local electric plant’s discharge waters, this center celebrating the manatee opened in 2016 at a spot where the peaceful creatures naturally congregate. The airy, two-story facility is surrounded by wraparound decks to accommodate sea-cow spotters from fall to spring. Educational, interactive displays tell the story of this once-endangered species. More than 150 giant manatees visit because of the warm waters put out by the nearby power plant.

Florida Power & Light, the main electric company for Palm Beach County, made this all possible as the warm waters that flow from the power plant have been a sanctuary for hundreds of manatees since the 1940’s. The power plant has worked with agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to ensure the manatees safety.

The marine science center includes interactive touch screen displays, galleries, a pavilion and picnic area, meeting and classroom spaces, a café and gift shop. A great benefit of this project, besides the entertainment aspect, is that raising awareness about these animals will help ensure their survival for the long term.

Manatee Lagoon offers visitors engaging opportunities to learn about the endangered and unique Florida manatee and the Lake Worth Lagoon ecosystem it inhabits. Visitors can also understand the role power plants play in sustaining the species. The warm water outflows from the adjacent FPL Riviera Beach Next Generation Clean Energy Center attract hundreds of manatees each year, particularly during these cold winter months.

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/ManateeLagoon/

Attractions Cities of Florida Miami West Palm Beach

A Major Performing Arts Facility

The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts works to enhance the quality of life in Palm Beach County by presenting a diverse schedule of national and international performing artists and companies of the highest quality. The Kravis Center also fosters arts education by offering comprehensive educational and community outreach programs.

As a community leader and major economic catalyst, the Center showcases regional performing arts organizations and supports efforts to increase travel and tourism to West Palm Beach. Set on 10.6 acres of property at the highest point in the city, the Kravis Center includes three venues — the 2,193-seat Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall, the flexible 300-seat Rinker Playhouse and the outdoor Michael and Andrew Gosman Amphitheatre with a capacity for 1,400 patrons.

The Center’s Cohen Pavilion houses the Weiner Banquet Center, The Picower Foundation Arts Education Center and The Elmore Family Business Center for the Arts, along with a five-level parking garage.

After celebrating its 22nd season the number of events hosted annually has grown to more than 800, with attendance of more than 500,000 patrons. Many regionally based arts organizations call the Kravis Center their home including Miami City Ballet, Palm Beach Opera, and the Palm Beach Pops.

During the 2013-2014 season, the Kravis Center itself will present more than 350 performances featuring acclaimed artists from every discipline. Established as a leading force in the social fabric of the community, its many outreach programs are as broad and varied as the community itself.

To date, the Center has opened the door to the performing arts for more than 1.7 million school children as well as thousands of economically disadvantaged senior citizens, minorities and community groups.

Photo Credit: https://www.visitwpb.com

Attractions Cities of Florida Miami West Palm Beach

All in One Park in West Palm Beach

Dog Parks are rapidly appearing across the nation and The Palm Beaches are home to many beautiful grounds through Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation. This four-acre grassland is equipped with five fenced-in enclosures with three separate sections for small, medium and large dogs, five covered gazebos, multiple dog wash stations, and several water fountains. Along with Lake Woof Dog Park, The Palm Beaches are home to many other dog parks. Jupiter is also in the process of building a park that pups and owners are guaranteed to enjoy.

The Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department is recognized as the best in Florida and tops in the nation, operates more than 110 parks and recreational facilities and provides organized recreational programs and services for people of all ages and abilities.

Your playtime is our business. And we take it seriously. Professional staff are always planning for your next visit. New facilities accommodate the latest in leisure trends, as well as the always-popular, timeless needs of our growing community. Exciting, educational, and rewarding recreation programs will stimulate your imagination and provide the challenges you’re looking for.

Palm Beach County’s award-winning park system offers the widest possible range of leisure opportunities. Over 8,000 acres of parkland are available to discover. Sports, fitness, environmental, and cultural opportunities abound, as well as restful places for solitude.

When it comes to safety, we don’t play games with your safety. High quality construction followed by rigorous inspections and maintenance schedules ensure your visit will be a safe one. Park rangers are nearby to greet and assist you, answer questions, and watch out for your well-being.

Say good-bye to boredom and the often-hectic routine of everyday life. Looking for a getaway? You’ll find it here!

Photo Credit: https://twitter.com/pbcparks

Cities of Florida Miami Restaurants West Palm Beach

A Mediterranean Cuisine Fit for The Gods

From hearty vegetarian fare to authentic Mediterranean favorites, Agora offers options for everyone in your family. Dig into a Greek salad or dive into the Cevabi while taking in a view of the water. Roasted eggplant, homemade hummus, and the lamb are amongst the favorite dishes of the locals. With superb meals and friendly owners, Agora proudly and deservingly proclaims itself as one of West Palm Beach’s favorite Mediterranean digs.

The place just re-opened after 6 months of huge remodeling, they now are on full blast and they are ready to serve their dearest Mediterranean Food Lovers. You will surely be addicted to their new atmosphere and watch the chef-owners unique food creations come to life; you will feel comfortable as you are at home with their smiling servers- managers and relaxing music.

The Mediterranean Kitchen serves a variety of specialties with a focus on Turkish preparations. One can enjoy a delicious meal and drink in a gallery-style restaurant with a view into the workings of the kitchen or outside on their patio. At the Agora Mediterranean Kitchen, they do their best to create a lively and fun atmosphere while enjoying your meal.

Also, the owner Semith Arif Ozdemir focuses on bringing the best out of their fresh ingredients and transforming them into a delightful Mediterranean dish, full of flavor. They promote locally sourced ingredients and cater to a variety of dietary options by including a wide array of vegan dishes.

The Mediterranean Kitchen has a cozy and inviting setting with very attentive Hostess, staff and servers. The menu selections are many but the Octopus is the main star of the restaurant.

Photo Credit: http://foodio54.com

Cities of Florida Miami Restaurants West Palm Beach

Nothing Beats A Classic Steak

A lot of restaurants claim to put their city or town on the map. But when Okeechobee Steakhouse opened in West Palm Beach, Florida, on an October day in 1947, there wasn’t an atlas or road that could even find the place. Just like everything else at the restaurant, stories from those early days are passed down through generations. Current proprietor Ralph Lewis, the grandson of the original owner, also Ralph, recounts the tale.

“It was so far out of town, they couldn’t even get deliveries,” he says. “They told my grandfather the restaurant would never make it this far out in the boondocks. But first night they opened they were on a two-hour wait, and the place has been busy like that ever since, for 70 years.”

Okeechobee Steakhouse holds the title as Florida’s oldest steakhouse, celebrated seven decades in business the most fitting way possible: by dry-aging some 38-ounce cuts for 70 days. They used the same process Lewis’ grandfather invented in the 1930s, and the same one the restaurant deploys today

In a restaurant industry rife with trends that flit in and out of conscious by the hour, delivery-only models, robot-flipping burgers, and countless other innovations, Okeechobee Steakhouse really hasn’t turned a 180 since Ralph and Norma Lewis brought it to life. The restaurant has, of course, adjusted over the years, but the heart of the experience remains in line with its original vision.

Expect no foodie lingo here, no “artisan” this or “hand-crafted” that, no menus tripped up in adjectives. Expect no calculated stabs at branding or ambiance. You won’t find proclamations of culinary hipdom here. But you will find a mighty fine steak. They have developed their own exclusive aging process for beef- it’s a decade old guarded family SECRET… creating a succulent flavor that will leave your taste buds begging for one more bite.

Photo Credit: www.foodnewsfeed.com

Attractions Cities of Florida Miami Tampa

The Beauty of the Flag Bridge

Sunshine Skyway Bridge is considered the “flag bridge” of Florida, stretches across Tampa Bay and features a cable-stayed main span. The original bridge was built in 1954, but construction on the current bridge began in 1982 and it was re-opened in 1987. Of the more than 5,200 bridges in the state of Florida, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, spanning scenic Tampa Bay, is by far the most famous. But the award-winning bridge that residents and tourists cross on a daily basis isn’t the first to hold the Skyway name.

Tampa Bay’s gorgeous bridge frequently rates amongst the top in the world. Travel Channel rated it number 3 on its Top 10 Bridges in the World List. The 5+ mile bridge connects St. Petersburg with Terra Ceia. Driving over this architectural wonder truly is a great experience; the views of the water on both side is simply amazing.

Numerous versions of the current bridge have stretched across lower Tampa Bay, and each has its own remarkable history. Nevin and Ric Sitler detail the suspension cables, concrete, nuts and bolts and political battles that combined to produce the fantastic history of the Skyway bridges and other historic Tampa Bay crossings.

Many visitors love crossing the bridge to take in views over the water. You must pay a small toll, but it’s worth it to snap a few photos from this spot. You can stop at a nearby park on the St. Petersburg side of the bridge to rest, swim, or have a picnic.

At 431 feet tall, it is also one of the tallest bridges in the world. As you drive up to the top, you almost feel as if you are heading up into the clouds. Due to its’ beauty, it is often used in car commercials. It is not a surprise that Sunshine Skyway Bridge has provided the setting for several films over the years, both credited and uncredited, e.g., Loren Cass and The Punisher (2004). Because of its height above the emerald-green Gulf waters, length of continuous travel, location in a warm-weather state, and modern architectural design.

Photo Credit: http://floridaphotomatt.com

Cities of Florida Miami Schools

Choosing and Living the Profession of Your Dream

In almost everyone`s childhood, often if not everyone, one goes through the stage of getting asked of what they would want to be when they grow up. One common answer would be becoming a pilot and travel around the world. Wherein sometimes there are instances where you would imagine being inside your cockpit and maneuvering your aircraft as you sail the skies. If not an Engineer, who creates, build and innovate things to help make exploring the unknown things in the aviation world and life itself easier for everyone.

Lucky for those who reside in Daytona Beach, Florida you can be a step closer from achieving your dreams of becoming the captain of your own aircraft, the chief engineer of your own assembly line. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University helps you live your dream and teaches you the essentials of attaining the profession you desire.

Serving approximately 5,700 undergraduates and 600 graduate students, the 185-acre Daytona Beach campus offers a traditional residential college experience to enhance our world-class, highly-ranked academic programs. Their campus provides you with what you need from sports facilities, accommodation and recreation to spiritual life needs. offers excellent support for flight training, research and industry partnerships.

The Daytona Beach Academic Colleges meet the needs of aviation or engineering students of the 21st century and set the standard in high-level quality education demanded by the profession. The university sees to it that their students are fully equipped with the skills, knowledge and right amount of professionalism as they venture the field of profession they choose.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University also offers other courses and adds to the many things to consider why Miami, Florida is absolutely the best place to settle down and build your own life.

Cities of Florida Miami Schools

Education Leads To A Brighter Future

When deciding on life changing matters like, place to settle and live there are crucial criteria to fill in before arriving on a conclusion such as accessibility, cost of living, salary and education for the children. Amongst all variables the most important one would be the quality of education available, because this will play a crucial role in determining the future of their children.

And that is why a lot of people are considering to settle in the Miami, Florida area because of a certain well-known school called University of Miami. The University of Miami has three campuses on more than 400 acres in Miami-Dade County locations stretching from Coral Gables and the city of Miami to South Dade.

One of the courses they offer and take pride on is Marine and Atmospheric Science, this was established in 1943 and since then it has grown from its modest beginnings in a boathouse to be one of the nation’s leading institutions for oceanographic and atmospheric research and education.

Originally a tropical marine biological facility, the Marine Laboratory initiated a program of studies leading to the Master of Science degree in 1949. Today the Rosenstiel School has a faculty of over 80 who conduct sponsored research while offering studies leading to the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Professional Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

The Rosenstiel School strives to be in the forefront of basic and applied research as it applies to the ocean, atmosphere and global environment, with particular emphasis on subjects of societal significance.

To maintain the high-quality standard of education they offer, Applications for incoming freshmen are processed and reviewed by the Office of Admission. Enrollment in the Undergraduate Marine Science and Atmospheric Science Programs is selective and highly competitive. Admission decisions are based on the secondary school record, SAT/ACT score, counselor’s evaluation and the applicant’s essay.

Life is all about choices, that is why it is always best to consider and weigh things in choosing the best option for a brighter future.

Cities of Florida Miami Restaurants

The Alter Experience

Since the opening night in 2015, not a day has gone by where the restaurant called Alter wasn`t packed. It has a very lively atmosphere and a menu that constantly changes from time to time, which makes customers come back for more. Dinner is tasting menu-only, with a choice of either five or seven courses. We know, it sounds overwhelming, but once you’re in your seat, you’re in the chef’s very capable hands.

The kitchen is lead by Executive Chef Brad Kilgore, what makes Kilgore amazing? In Miami’s up-and-coming Wynwood neighborhood, Kilgore is serving some of the country’s most brilliant and playful dishes. His version of cassoulet features mahimahi, with rye bread, smoked white beans and serrano ham jus. Brad is a well-recognized Miami based chef originally from Kansas City with more than 10 years of experience working at fine dining restaurants, including Chicago’s L2O, Alinea and Boka

Alter’s cuisine is focused on locally sourced ingredients from Florida, with an emphasis on seasonal flavors. Alter offers 3 different options for tasting menus; a 5 course, 7 course, or 8 course Chef’s Counter experience.

Also, they offer an uncompromising selection of wines that span from top well-known producers to small artisanal growers from around the world. There is also an optional wine pairing that can be added to your experience.

It doesn’t take a seasoned detective to figure out that what is now one of Miami’s most experimental New American restaurants used to be a run-of-the-mill warehouse. The space still retains much of that gritty, industrial edge—at least as far as the design—with its concrete walls and floors, exposed ceilings, and an open kitchen that gives diners a peek at the magic that’s happening in the kitchen.

The only prerequisite for enjoying a meal at Alter is an adventurous spirit, and a willingness to put the fate of your meal in the hands of Kilgore and his team. The restaurant is a great choice for pretty much any occasion—just be prepared to let the meal be the main topic of conversation.

Visit their website at www.altermiami.com

Cities of Florida Miami Restaurants

A Hidden Gem; Ferraro`s Kitchen and Wine Bar

In Miami, Florida there is a new spot in town that`s creating a buzz located at 1099 NE 79^th Street. You may not have heard of this place called Ferraro`s Kitchen before but you will be glad that you have after we go through a short overview of what the place offers.

The owner`s name is Igor Ferraro he is a native from Venice, Italy. He is also the chef of the restaurant, his father was a wine producer which led to Igor`s interest in becoming a sommelier. With a background in the hospitality industry he successfully created a cooking school in Rome since 2012. He opened a gastro pub called Tramezzini which focused on Venetian dishes. In 2013 he brought his Italian cuisine to Coconut Grove at La Bottega, where he brought his passion for regional recipes using top quality ingredients. After two years, in September 2016 he opened his own restaurant Ferraro Kitchen in the MiMo district.

The restaurant is quite attractive, with an open kitchen, a wraparound bar and a dining room that seats about 38. It also has a fabulous patio with lounge seats and tables within a walled off private garden.

His menu is a journey through the flavors of Italy. Igor takes pride in providing the freshest and most natural ingredients.

The menu offers charcuterie, crudos, salads, pastas, soups, fish, seafoods and meats as well as a nice selection of vegetables. He has built classic recipes with top notch ingredients. For instance, his zuppa di pesce (fish soup) has the most tender calamari, and it also contained shrimp, octopus and fish in a flavorful and well-seasoned broth. The octopus carpaccio was sliced thinly and drizzled with a good quality olive oil, lemon and sea salt.

That is the only garnish you need when you are using quality products. Also the burrata, which was a fine example of what excellent burrata should taste like, with the milk oozing at first bite.

Drawing from his experience as a sommelier, Ferraro offers an extensive wine collection, heavy on Italians. His prices are fair and you may want to experience a super Tuscan or a great choice from another region in Italy.

Ferraro also happens to offer wine tasting courses as well as cooking classes. Guests get a chance to sample and learn about a variety of wines and Italian dishes.

For dessert, he offers a wide selection of cakes like limoncello cake and the tiramisu. Without a doubt, you must try the tiramisu, it merits a special mention. I am not usually one to order this, but the version here is dreamy and a highlight. The restaurant is open 7 days a week for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch.

I have personally tried some of their cuisines and I can honestly say that I am a new fan of Ferraro Kitchen, where everything is made from scratch and Igor cooks from the heart.

Visit there website at www.ferraroskitchen.com