(Photo) Statue of Former Miami Dolphins Coach Don Shula at Hard Rock Stadium.

Piece 1: Hard Rock Stadium/Miami Dolphins Football. Hard Rock Stadium is located in the city of Miami Gardens about 16 miles north of downtown Miami FL. It was built in the mid-1980s to serve as the home stadium for the National Football League’s (NFL) Miami Dolphins. The 65,000-seat facility has hosted six NFL Super Bowls, several college football championship games, and two Major League Baseball World Series championships.

The stadium has undergone several notable renovations and upgrades in recent years. One significant improvement was the addition of a state-of-the-art canopy roof, completed in 2016. This innovative feature offers protection from the elements while maintaining an open-air feel for fans. Large video boards positioned in the corners of the stadium provide replays and other content that can be seen from any seat.

The field at Hard Rock is natural grass (Bermuda) and equipped with a mechanical drainage system that can quickly create a firm playing surface after rainfall.

We arranged accommodations at the Stadium Hotel, located one mile from Hard Rock Stadium, when we attended an NFL regular season game between the Dolphins and the New England Patriots. The blend of fans at the hotel created a fun atmosphere, and an affordable 3rd party shuttle service made getting to and from the stadium on game day quick and easy.

Our 50-yard line seats were high (300 level), but our view of the game action was great and we were fully shaded by the stadium’s canopy roof.

Both teams featured former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterbacks, which was exciting for us. The Dolphins ultimately won, and that delighted the predominantly home-team crowd.

Kneeling Aphrodite Sculpture-Versace Mansion

Piece 2: Driving Tour of Miami Area. We downloaded an Action Tour Guide (~$15 cost) to our cell phone and enjoyed a narrated 2-hour driving tour of selected neighborhoods and features of the Greater Miami Area.

The starting point for the self-paced tour was Ocean Drive in the South Beach Neighborhood, located across Biscayne Bay from downtown Miami. The historic Art Deco District in South Beach is lined with beautiful pastel-colored buildings.

Included in this area is the Carlyle Hotel, a circa 1941 building distinguished by elegant curvatures nestled within sharp geometry. The Carlyle has been featured in several motion pictures, including the 1983 Al Pacino crime drama “Scarface” and the 1996 Robin Williams comedy “The Birdcage.”

Further down Ocean Drive is the Versace Mansion, home of the late Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace. The Kneeling Aphrodite sculpture that Versace reportedly loved so much is still in place, near the steps where the celebrated clothing creator and businessman was assassinated in 1997 by notorious spree killer Andrew Cunanan.

Heading back to the mainland from South Beach along the MacArthur Causeway, we drove past the Port of Miami, known as the Cruise Capital of the World. It was fascinating to see the long line of gigantic ships, representing almost every company in the pleasure cruise industry.

Our tour then moved into downtown Miami, where towering skyscrapers punctuate the skyline. One architectural highlight is the Freedom Tower (600 Biscayne Boulevard), a Mediterranean Revival-styled structure featuring a distinctive yellow exterior. The building has historical significance for hosting Cuban refugees fleeing their homeland following the 1959 revolution that installed Fidel Castro as leader.

Finally, we got a glimpse of Coconut Grove. Settled in the late 1800s by Bahamian immigrants and still one of the area’s oldest continuously inhabited neighborhoods, Coconut Grove is located about five miles south of downtown Miami. This upscale and eclectic community has attracted a variety of noteworthy residents over the years, including writer Tennessee Williams, musician David Crosby, tropical songwriter and businessman Jimmy Buffett, and iconic recording artist/performer Madonna.

Making Sugar Cane Juice

Piece 3: Little Havana Culture and Food Tour. Little Havana is a vibrant neighborhood in Miami FL established in the 1960s when an influx of Cuban immigrants settled in the area following Fidel Castro’s rise to power.

Little Havana’s Cuban residents preserve their homeland culture and traditions in the neighborhood, which has created a place where visitors can experience authentic Cuban cuisine, music, and art.

One symbolic element seen throughout Little Havana is the rooster, which represents strength and power. The rooster is an ever present subject in the neighborhood’s public art, and there are (typically) a number of live roosters free roaming within the area.

We took a guided culture and food walking tour along Calle Ocho (8th Street), the heart of Little Havana.

Beginning at the Tower Theater, a circa 1926 landmark that now serves as a cultural center, we strolled east down 8th Street to the Old Havana Restaurant. There, we enjoyed Cuban sandwiches (roasted pork, salami, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard on Cuban bread) and a Mojitos (a traditional Cuban punch featuring white rum).

Next, we walked about a block west along 8th to El Pub, a small eatery offering window service and a standing table for outdoor dining. There, we sampled Cuban style coffee (very sweet and strong) and some delicious empanadas (golden brown pastry filled with ground beef, potatoes, onions, green peppers, tomato sauce and a variety of spices).

Moving back eastward along 8th, we got to see a Cuban cigar store/factory and Domino Park, a city managed public space where elderly locals gather to play Dominos (a traditional Cuban social activity).

Our tour continued eastward on 8th, passing a variety of murals and other remarkable examples of public art.

We stopped at a long-standing Little Havana fruit market for a taste of fresh squeezed sugar cane juice (served over ice), and then finished our culinary adventure at the Party Cake Bakery for some pastry filled with guava (a tropical fruit) and cream cheese.

An entertaining (and tasty) experience!

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