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Beautiful Spot Along the Shore of Biscayne Bay

Tahiti Beach is a neighborhood found within the city of Coral Gable, Florida. It is an exclusive enclave of luxury homes that constitute one of the most desirable locales to live in within the region. The place is on a small island located a few miles south of downtown Miami and the Miami International Airport. It is even closer to downtown Coral Gables which has a host of fine art galleries and world renowned restaurants. The shops and theaters around the Coconut Grove are close by. Also near at hand is the University of Miami along with other esteemed research centers.

Public schools in the region are rated as excellent, and there are a number of outstanding private facilities as well. Among these are the Gulliver Academy, Palmetto High School Pinecrest Elementary, and Ramsom Everglades.

Tahiti Beach is a gated community. Most of the homes are on the canal where residents can dock their yachts. Tahiti Beach has its own 24 hour security guard. Amenities include a marina, tennis courts, and a clubhouse.

Homes here near the waterfront boast of such regal features as double door entrances. Bathrooms are adorned with marble. Kitchens are trimmed with oak. Homes will have garages that can accommodate at least 3 cars. Prices here range from $2 million to over $12 million. These are eye catching properties which are ideal for growing families. They will also appeal to those who like to entertain numerous guests. These are beautifully designed mansions which are truly beyond compare. They are also located in one of the most affluent sections of Miami Dade County.

Luxury Living Along the Waterfront Enjoyed Here

Tahiti Beach is a bayfront community that provides quiet waterfront living and offers amazing levels of security and friendliness. Tahiti Beach’s location may feel far away from Miami Beach and downtown, but it’s really only ten to fifteen minutes away. Tahiti Beach residents enjoy quiet streets that are great for walks at any hour. It has many public parks good for pets or family outings. Tahiti Beach is the ultimate, exclusive, private gated community within the gated community of Cocoplum. Situated on its own private natural reserve, owners of this prized community of 29 homes enjoy their own private park, sandy beach, and Tennis Club. These are the best waterfront lots on Biscayne Bay.

Tahiti Beach homes may be recognized as a Coral Gables community, but it’s actually within another community known as Cocoplum. The whole “community within a community” concept means there are only twenty Tahiti Beach homes on or near the water from which to choose and thus, a very high degree of exclusivity. Tahiti Beach can only be accessed through a guarded entrance, heightening its already exceptional exclusivity and security. Several of the Tahiti Beach homes sit on huge lots which are often more than 25,000 square feet in size. The homes are also unique in that they manage to depict a variety of architectural styles into one cohesive and attractive design while boasting interior and exterior features like majestic foyers and large pools.

Luxury Spot to Reside Within Coral Gables

Cocoplum is a neighborhood within the city of Coral Gables. This is a residential community filled with recreational amenities such as tennis courts, a basketball court, a swimming pool, playground, gym, and clubhouse. Boating enthusiasts will be happy to note that there is direct access to Biscayne Bay. Most houses along the waterfront have boat docks. There is a marina at the CocoPlum Yacht Club,

The community entrance is located on the aptly named Cocoplum Circle, where LeJeune Road and Old Cutler Road meet. Nestled along the waterfront, Cocoplum is the ideal choice for boating enthusiasts. Not only will you be able to enjoy direct access to Biscayne Bay, but residents are also able to take advantage of a full service yacht club and marina that is members’ only. In fact, many of the properties in this beautiful neighborhood boast their own boat docks, making it even easier to get out on and enjoy the water.

Go for a swim when you wish to cool off or head to the tennis courts for an energizing match. Designed to blend with its naturally beautiful surroundings, Cocoplum is a wonderful place to call home.

All of Cocoplum’s homes are situated either on or very near the water and are designed to showcase the natural, lush landscapes surrounding them. The community has countless amenities; the greater Coral Gables area has much to offer as well. It has come to be known for its dedication to preserving its classic, historic past. Many gems from yesteryear that are still on display in their full glory, including the Venetian Pool and the Biltmore Hotel. If shopping is more to your liking, you will love living so near to the Village at Merrick Park and Miracle Mile. Attractions such as Deering Estate, Matheson Hammock Beach and Park and the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden can be enjoyed.

An Exquisite Place to Live Life to the Fullest

Another plus for people who live here is the areas proximity to a host of excellent public and private schools. Educational facilities extend all the way from the elementary level up to the nearby University of Miami. Children also have access to a playground.

Coral Gables is renowned for its strict adherence to preservation. It is proud of its past and has done a marvelous job of preserving historic structures. Coral Gables has such attractions as the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden. In addition to being a botanical marvel, this beautiful preserve is filled with statues, sculptures, and various works of art. There is also the historic Deering Estate at Cutler. Sun worshipers can head over to Matheson Hammock Beach and Park which is found in Coral Gables.

CocoPlum Coral Gables is just minutes away from the myriad attraction of the greater Miami area. This is one of the most cosmopolitan regions of the country. The array of dining experiences to be found in South Florida rivals any epicurean center on earth. The nightlife can simply be dazzling.

The Holocaust was one of history’s most horrific events, and the Holocaust Memorial in Miami serves as a reminder to visitors of the pain and loss of life that many Jews endured during this time. The Memorial also provides information for those looking to learn more about the Holocaust through exquisite artwork and architecture. The Holocaust Memorial is located between 19^th Street and Dade Blvd. in Miami Beach. This area may seem as an ironic location for a Holocaust museum, since Miami Beach is well known for its beach and party atmosphere. However, the Memorial is in an ideal location, since there is a significant Jewish population in South Florida.

The facility planning started in 1984, when a small group of individuals who had survived the Holocaust formed a committee for constructing a permanent structure dedicated to the memory of the six million Jews who were victims of the Holocaust. In 1985, the Holocaust Memorial Committee was officially formed as a nonprofit organization. The Committee sought to organize a permanent group for the building and maintenance of the Memorial, as well as locate a site for the facility, develop ideas for the Memorial, and figure out how to financially support the project.

The City of Miami Beach Commission was in full support of the construction of the Holocaust Memorial, and designated a space between Meridian Avenue and Dade Blvd. for building. Architect Kenneth Treister was responsible for creating a structure and sculptures that would accurate depict the Holocaust to Memorial visitors.

The Holocaust Memorial was dedicated and opened for the public in February of 1990. Since its opening the Memorial committee has been devoted to maintaining the facility, and developing educational and cultural programs for the community.

The Holocaust Museum showcases gloomy sculptures of people of all ages desperately crying out for help and relief. The artistry in the facility does not shy away from the horror of the Holocaust, but the Jerusalem stone and black granite used in the construction of the facility does add a stoic beauty to the artwork.

For instance, the first sculpture visitors see when entering the Memorial is of a mother attempting to comfort her two children, who are frightened and weeping. Guests will then go through a tunnel called the Arbor of History, which is made of Jerusalem stone. The stone, complimented with slabs of granite, has been etched with photos, words and drawings that share information about and memories of the Holocaust.

The Sculpture of Love and Anguish is perhaps the most spectacular sculpture at the Holocaust Memorial. It is a large hand that reaches toward the sky. The hand is connected to a wrist, which is connected to an arm made of the formation of naked, sickly bodies crying out in pain. Some of the bodies are choking themselves, while others are reaching out in a last attempt to receive aid. A lily pond that is about 200 feet in diameter surrounds the sculpture.

Admission to the Holocaust Memorial is free; the facility is open every day from 9am until sunset.

The Venetian Pool is located at 2701 de Sota Blvd. in Coral Gables, Florida. Thousands of people come from various parts of the world to enjoy the pool, and it is one of the main attractions for tourists visiting Coral Gables.

The pool was constructed in 1923 from a quarry made of coral rock; much of the original coral rock serves as the border for the pool. The Pool was officially opened in 1924 as the Venetian Casino, part of the Grand Plan that the Coral Gables’ developer, George Merrick, envisioned for the city. Merrick’s goal was to make Coral Gables a center for authentic hometown living. He sought to give the city a Mediterranean feel, with plazas, homes that were build in Mediterranean style, and grand entrances. In fact, the limestone that was extracted from the Venetian Pool quarry pit was utilized in the creation of some of the buildings that were built close to the pool.

The facility is also home to two lookout tours that provide a view to the City Beautiful. The Venetian Pool is 820,000 gallons and contains spring water that comes from an underground aquifer. During the spring and summer the pool is drained and filled every day. In addition to the aquifer, there are two waterfalls and cave-like grottos for swimmers to enjoy. An exquisite bridge, palm trees and a series of porticos also adorn the Venetian Pool area.

Merrick, with the help of Denman Fink, a designer, and architect Phineas Paist, created the beauty that is the Venetian Pool. Due to the handiwork and planning of these men, the Pool is included in the National Registry of Historic Places, and is the only swimming pool to have this distinction.

The Venetian pool was a popular destination for celebrities, especially in its early days. Movie stars like Esther Williams and Johnny Weismuller visited the pool often. The Pool also served as a location for concerts; the Venetial pool was emptied of its water and the orchestra would play at the pool bottom. Years later in 2001, the pool scene was replicated as a concert held at a pool bottom to celebrate the 75^th birthday of the City of Coral Gables. These days, the Venetian pool is often a site for weddings and special events.

The first renovation of the Pool was completed in 1989; in 2009 and 2010, the Venetian Pool undersent an additional renovation. However, guests can observe the rich history of the Pool by strolling through the fountain room at the entrance of the facility and looking at the historic photographs that display the glamour of an era past.

Children who visit the Venetian Pool may be at least three years old and be 38 inches tall. The Pool will be closed from December 2012 to January 2013. From February 1 to March 31 2013, the Pool will be open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 4:30pm. From April 1 to May 26, 2013, the Pool will open from Tuesday to Friday from 11am to 5:30pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4:30pm. The Pool will be closed on Martin Luther King Day and President’s Day.

The Kampong is located at 4013 Douglas Road in Miami, Florida, in the Biscayne Grove community. The property was once purchased as the winter home for horticulturalist David Fairchild and his wife Marian in 1916. For years, Fairchild managed the Department of Plant Introduction program for the USDA in Washington, D.C. the purpose of the Department was to search the planet for plans that could successfully be introduced to United States soil.

During his lifetime, David Fairchild brought over 30,000 plant varieties to the U.S. At his Florida home, he created a garden filled with the plants he obtained during his travels. in 1928, David and Marian made the Kampong their permanent home until their respective deaths in 1954 and 1962. In 1931, Marian’s sister Elsie and her husband Gilbert Grosvenor purchased the property adjacent to the Kampong as their winter residence.

The year after Marian passed away, Dr. Catherine Hauberg purchased the Kampong. Hauberg was a preservationist and botanist, and maintained Fairchild’s garden for study purposes, which secured the garden’s listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The property was donated to the Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden, now called the National Tropical Botanical Garden, in 1984.

The Kampong is named for the Javanese and Malay word meaning “village” or “cluster of homes.” Some of the first plants in the garden are native to Indo-Malaysia. Plant collections from Southeast Asia, South and Central America and the Caribbean are featured in the garden as well. Plants include the peanut butter fruit, the egg fruit, cocoplums, and more than 50 types of mango. Several beautiful palm trees and cycads grace the garden and well, and make the area especially picturesque.

The Kampong is the location for a number of educational courses sponsored by the National Tropical Botanical Garden. It is used as a live classroom for colleges and universities that offer botany and horticulture classes, but plant enthusiasts of every age visit the garden to take in the sights and learn more about exotic plant life often.

Additional features of the Kampong include:

• 23 cultivars of avocado
• An array of flowering trees
• Various bamboo variations
• The Fairchild-Sweeney House, designed by Edward Clarence Dean. The home was built in 1928, and was once visited by Presidents Henry Ford and Thomas Jefferson
• The Schokman Education Center, organized and constructed by architect Max Strang. The home was completed 2007, and has a pavilion that serves as a rainwater collection system.
• The Mangrove Preserve, which is one of the biggest areas of salt-water mangroves in the area. The Preserve contains all four of the native mangrove varieties, including the Bruguieria gymnorhiza from the Philippines.

Guests can book tours of the various gardens in the National Tropical Botanical Gardens by visiting http://ntbg.org/tours.php. Individuals can also donate to the gardens’ operations on the website.

The North Shore Park and Youth Center was completed in 2004. Plans for the park start more than a decade ago, when the local Miami community requested funding to improve the park area for the children of the community. However, the City of Miami decided to provide North Shore residents with much more than a better part for their kids.

The new park and youth center is on 17 acres of land, and costs about $7.7 million to complete. A two-story landscaped area was added to the land by the City of Miami as the Youth Center. The Center has a full—sized stage with professional theatrical lighting, a game room that is fully equipped, a weight lifting room, and plenty of rooms to host after-school activities. The second floor of the activity center has a mirrored dance studio with parquet floors and a high-quality art sound system booth.

The Youth Center was also designed with a full-size high school basketball court, also with parquet floors. The court can be transformed into a volleyball court with the single flip of a switch, due to its unique design. The nets and posts in the court are controlled electronically so that space can be converted depending on the events of the day.

There are also special locker rooms in the Youth Center with showering facilities and security spaces for personal belongings. The large bathroom stalls accommodate the large amount of visitors who come to the Center each day.

North Shore Park and Youth Center also has a tennis court center with 10 hydro courts, which is the latest in tennis technology. The area features two hard courts, a few courts for practice, three shuffleboard courts and a maintenance facility. There’s a retail center at the tennis court facility, selling all the equipment guests need to have a successful tennis game.

The most recent completion to the North Shore Park and Youth Center is the outdoor area, which includes softball and baseball fields. Teams can play on the grounds all year long, and has four dugout boxes, professional batting cages, and state-of-the-art irrigation systems so the greens will remain lush and healthy.

The area also has a quasi-wilderness park, featured coconut trees and sea grapes. The natural-looking beach extends from 87^th to 72^nd streets in the North Shore district. There are picnic tables for you and your loved ones to have an outdoor meal, a nature trail and bike path available for guests to enjoy. The park is open from dawn till dusk, and lifeguards are on duty every day to supervise guests who want to take a swim in the beach.

When you visit the North Shore Park and Youth Center, you’ll have plenty of room to park, as there are several parking lots on the west side of Collins Avenue. There’s also a huge lot on 72^nd street for guests to park their vehicles and take in all the attractions that the park and Youth Center have to offer.