Miami’s number one attraction is a surreal Italian Renaissance-style villa in the middle of lush, laid-back Coconut Grove. Its meticulously landscaped gardens, sprawling bayfront terrace and, well, the house itself, make up a total of 43 acres.

Spanning across a massive 250,000 square feet, the new Frost Science (an upgrade from its previous Coconut Grove location) occupies four buildings—the Aquarium, the Frost Planetarium and the North and West Wings—features year-round exhibits and is a delight for curious minds of all ages.

South Beach, is region’s crown jewel, the art deco history of the city meets the vibrant nightlife of the younger generation. There’s something for everyone. White sand, an eclectic dining scene, prime shopping, luxurious spas and world-class nightlife. Just make sure to bring plenty of loot — Miami Beach can be done on a budget, but it won’t be nearly as fun.

HistoryMaimi houses multiple permanent collections, including one that follows the history back to its Native American heritage, the largest Pan American World Airways collections in the country, as well as artifacts from local artisans, musicians and religious relics. This Smithsonian affiliate is also home to an archives and research center and the South Florida Folklife Center.

The Deering Estate was, in fact, set up and built by James’s similarly well-off brother Charles, who erected his own winter retreat at about the same time that Vizcaya was constructed. The main building, the Stone House, takes a similarly revivalist tack to Vizcaya: Deering built it to remind himself of his properties in Spain. It’s not as grand as his brother’s digs, but it’s impressive nonetheless. Other buildings on the site include the Richmond Cottage, built at the turn of the 19th century, and three small but delightful utilitarian buildings from 1918. The vast grounds contain all manner of nature, including a mangrove boardwalk, and canoe trips to pleasant Chicken Key are available if you book in advance. The estate is most notable for its fossil pit of 50,000-year-old animal bones and 10,000-year-old human remains; the latter are Paleo-Indians.

Located to the immediate west of downtown Miami, Little Havana is the symbolic and cultural capital for Cuban-Americans in Miami. The neighborhood brings in droves of visitors with its vibrant atmosphere and excellent food.

Calle Ocho (8th Street) is the center of activity here. Maximo Gomez Park, also known as Domino Park, is located at the corner of Calle Ocho and 15th Avenue and is a pleasant place to hang out and take in a game of dominoes or chess. Travelers recommend El Pub for its authentic Cuban food and cheap prices. Every March, the Calle Ocho Festival takes over Miami for a week, drawing thousands of attendees for a massive street festival celebrating Carnaval with tons of music, food and dancing.

Travelers also enjoy visiting the cigar factories and the Cuban Memorial Boulevard on the corner of 13th Avenue and Calle Ocho. However, some visitors just don’t get the area’s appeal.

This beautiful zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals, representing more than 500 different species. It’s famous for providing a natural environment for its residents without the use of cages — rather, the zoo employs strategically placed moats to separate the animals from the visitors.

Petting zoos and plenty of “edutainment” programs are sure to keep your little ones interested. The whole family will enjoy the Samburu Giraffe Feeding Station.

This open-air street art installation, one of the largest in the world, is one of the reasons a run-down neighborhood has found new life as the art hub of Miami.

Founded in 2009 as a way to jump start revitalization in the neighborhood lying between downtown and the design district, the Wynwood Walls acts as an outdoor art museum covering more than 80,000 square feet of abandoned warehouse walls. The walls garnered such a positive response from the community that a year later the lot adjacent became known as the Wynwood Doors, where metal roll-down gates transformed into even more canvas space. The walls and doors are saturated with bright, eclectic street art and whimsical graffiti. Since its start, more than 50 artists from 16 countries have brought the walls to life.

About 30 miles west of downtown Miami and a world away from flashy South Beach, the Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wetland in North America. Known as the “River of Grass” for its slow moving water, the national park offers a unique look into the diverse ecosystem and vegetation that filters water as it moves farther south toward the Florida Bay and Key West.  While most of the 1.5 million-acre park is protected for wildlife preservation, the northern area closest to Miami is open for private airboat tours.

Known as one of the newest and most expensive major league ballparks to be built in the country, Marlins Park isn’t your run-of-the-mill baseball stadium.

That’s where the similarities with other major league parks end. Not only is Marlins Park equipped with a retractable roof with air conditioning to fend off the summer humidity, but it also houses a 700-piece bobblehead museum and two 450-gallon saltwater fish aquariums that line the walls behind home plate (with bullet-proof glass to protect them from stray balls).

Art is also a major presence at the park with four special projects selected by the Miami-Dade County Art in Public Places on display, and a 71-foot-tall sculpture featuring flamingos, palm trees and, of course, marlins that shoots water when the home team scores a homerun.

Downtown Aquarium was purchased by Landry’s Restaurants, Inc. when it was Colorado’s Ocean Journey Aquarium. Landry’s reopened the redesigned complex as Downtown Aquarium. The entertainment and dining complex features a public aquarium boasting more than a million gallons of underwater exhibits that highlight fascinating ecosystems around the world. Downtown Aquarium houses over 500 species of animals, the interactive Stingray Reef touch tank, Aquarium Restaurant, Dive Lounge, the Nautilus Ballroom and amusements for the entire family.

Historic Denver’s Molly Brown House Museum is among the most visited historic sites in the state of Colorado, and one of only a handful of sites nationally dedicated to the interpretation of a woman’s story. Open for more than 43 years, the Museum serves nearly 50,000 people every year, including 10,000 youth, successfully achieving its mission to enhancing the city’s unique identity by telling the story of Margaret “Molly” Brown’s activism, philanthropy and passion through educational programs, exhibits and stewardship.

Located just 5 miles from Denver and 40 minutes from Colorado Springs, Park Meadows is Colorado’s biggest and best shopping mall. Explore 185 stores and restaurants, from the largest selection of athletic apparel stores to the best in branded fashion and dining. It’s all set against a backdrop of Grand Mountain Lodge architecture enhanced by commissioned artwork by Colorado artists.

This landmark at 1626 Wazee Street has been making Western wear in Denver since before the streets were paved, and it has survived because a well-made Western shirt is always a joy to find. Fans will do anything to get one with a little pizzazz — just ask Ralph Lauren, Sting, John Travolta or any of the other celebrities who venture into Denver’s old warehouse district for Rhinestone Cowboy couture served up Rockmount style.

Cherry Creek Shopping Center always places among Denver’s top 10 attractions, but it isn’t the only retail game in town. A number of unique boutiques flourish in The Mile High City, adding spice to the standard fare offered at regional shopping malls in all seven Metro Denver counties. Work your way through these local favorites, starting Downtown and radiating outwards through some of Denver’s oldest neighborhoods. Each has enough one-of-a-kind shopping opportunities to qualify as an outing, especially when combined with a little sightseeing and a quick meal at a nearby bistro.

Today’s Ball & Chain is a recreation of a 1930s hot spot that once occupied the same space and welcomed jazz superstars such as Billie Holiday, Count Basie and Chet Baker to its stage.

Almost as famous locally as its palatial namesake is in France, Versailles is a kitschy Cuban diner with wall-to-wall mirrors, a constant buzz and an unabridged menu featuring every dish ever cataloged as Cuban. The Little Havana institution is also the unofficial meeting place for the city’s Cuban community during times of political unrest. Versailles has perfected the toasty ratio of bread, meat and cheese. And the most iconic sandwich on the menu is easily the Cuban. In fact, the Cubano might be the most popular thing on the entire menu. The original (there’s a special version that’s slightly larger) meets all the basic requirements: toasted, filled with the right ingredients and cut perfectly in half.

Azucar owner Suzy Batlle takes the best flavor combinations from her childhood and churns them into delicious “Cuban” ice cream, including the wildly popular Abuela Maria—vanilla ice cream, Maria crackers, guava and cream cheese. The dairy queen can often be found concocting new flavors from local ingredients, such as her recent creation with Knaus Berry Farm cinnamon buns soaked in bourbon.

Wynwood Brewery is one of the neighborhood’s OGs, and was doing its thing long before everyone and their grandma was brewing craft beer. You’ll have to walk a couple blocks west of Wynwood’s main drag, but once you find this intimate neighborhood joint, you’ll be glad you made it. There’s no food available, but occasionally a food truck will be parked outside. Order any beer on the menu—it’s all good. But definitely don’t leave without trying La Rubia.