Barnacle Historic State Park

Only steps from CocoWalk and the bustling restaurants and shops of Coconut Grove’s entertainment district, Barnacle Historic State Park is the location of the oldest home still in its original location to be built in Miami-Dade. It also happens to be one of the most secluded, quieter parks to discover on one’s own, as the winding, canopied entryway leads to a grassy lawn with a head-on view of Biscayne Bay. And it is Barnacle Historic State Park which is one of the best parks in Miami.

Built by Ralph Middleton Munroe, a 20th-century settler of the area who fought off developers seeking to build artificial islands offshore and engineers who wished to pipe raw sewage into the bay, the passion project of a man who loved yachts and boats and, most of all, his Grove home, continues to be enjoyed by visitors today. Admission is $2 per person. It opens Sunday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Address: 3485 Main Hwy., Coconut Grove
Contact: 305-442-6866
Website: floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/barnacle-historic-state-park

Entrance fee: $2

Rating: 4.0/5.0