Homestead

In recent years the Homestead area has redefined itself as a destination for tropical agro- and ecotourism. Seated at the juncture between Miami and the Keys as well as Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park, it has the added dimension of shopping centers, residential development, hotel chains, and the Homestead Miami Speedway—when car races are scheduled there, hotels increase rates and have minimum stays. The historic downtown area has become a preservation-driven Main Street. Krome Avenue, where it cuts through the city's heart, is lined with restaurants, an arts complex, antiques shops, and low-budget, sometimes undesirable accommodations. West of north-south Krome Avenue, miles of fields grow fresh fruits and vegetables. Some are harvested commercially, and others have u-pick signs, inviting you to harvest your own. Stands selling farm-fresh produce and nurseries that grow and sell orchids and tropical plants abound. In addition to its agricultural legacy, the town has an eclectic flavor, attributable to its population mix: descendants of pioneer Crackers, Hispanic growers and farm workers, professionals escaping Miami's hustle and bustle, and latter-day Northern retirees.