On our recent trip to Miami, we walked around the Miami Design District. While I’m not a big shopper (especially regarding high-end brands such as Chanel, Gucci, and Fendi), I loved visiting the 18-block Miami Design District with jaw-dropping architectural features.
In the previous post, I wrote about touring Vizcaya’s main house. This post will focus more on Vizcaya’s elaborate gardens completed in 1922. You could easily spend a few hours taking in this 10-acre area.
Serving as the winter home of John Deering, founder of International Harvester Corporation, the original estate consisted of 180 acres and cost close to $26 million ($780 million in today’s dollars) to build. The 54-room house features a Central Courtyard filled with lush tropical plants, shrubbery, and a soothing fountain. Once open to the elements, glass now protects the area from heat and direct sunlight.
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One of the top places to visit in Miami is Vizcaya Museum & Gardens. Completed in 1916, the estate served as the final home of John Deering (1859-1925), founder of International Harvester. Who knew there was so much money in agricultural farming equipment?
Tucked in the Coconut Grove neighborhood, Viscaya encompasses 43 acres on Biscayne Bay. John Deering, who retired from his company in 1909, hired Paul Chalfin to design and furnish a 38,000-square-foot, 54-room estate in Miami.
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When researching things to do in Miami, everyone suggested a visit to Wynwood Arts District. Due to a scheduling error on our part, we had to hastily rearrange our schedule and I placed Wynwood on the back burner. Fortunately, the bartender at our hotel suggested we go to Wynwood for dinner that night.
Whether you go during the day (as I’d originally planned) or in the evening, you can see the vibrant murals for which the neighborhood is now known. It’s a feast for the eyes you don’t want to miss!
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