Heading to Miami/Fort Lauderdale area for a few days and would like to know the TOP THINGS TO SEE while I'm there (besides the South Beach area). We love mansions, gardens, and other interesting worthwhile tourist sites. This is my first time to the area. Thanks!

The John Deere mansion at Vizcaya. The Fairchild Gardens in Old Cutler Ridge.

If you love mansions, then Vizcaya is a must!

The Deering Estate off of Old Cutler Road has a beautiful location by the Bay, and is a great example of an early Florida mansion (not in the Italianate style like Vizcaya). I second Fairchild as one of the most beautiful places in South Florida. Coral Gables has the Venetian Pool, and is a nice area for strolling.

Just drive around Coral Gables residential area and you will see beautiful mediterranean gems.

Actually Vizcaya was not the estate of John Deere...his name was James Deering. Nonetheless, it's still a good place to visit. The only problem with driving around Coral Gables is that most of the places you would want to see are in gated communities you can't get into.

One of the best things to do to see fabulous properties is to take the Water Bus in Ft Lauderdale which rund through the intercoastal.

http://www.watertaxi.com/FortLauderdale/FLLMap.Asp

Thanks for all the great suggestions.
Will add all of these to my list of things to see.... Thanks!

Actually, Coral Gables is remarkably free of gates. The few places that are gated are Tahiti Beach at the end of Cocoplum, Gables Estates, and Gables by the Sea, that while nice, rich houses, are not generally typical of the Coral Gables Mediterranean design that George Merrick developed. If architectural styles are interesting to you, I would recommend a drive down Alhambra Circle, or down Columbus, which ends at the Biltmore. Throughout the City are also scattered international "villages" envisioned by the founder of the city as recreations of the wonders he had seen (maybe imagined). My favorites are the Dutch South African on LeJeune Road, and the Chinese Village on Riviera Drive. You can download a map on www.coralgables.com

Key Biscayne National Park is beautiful.

http://www.key-biscayne.com/

Miami's Design District and downtown are the place to be for young urban professionals. Tandoori Girl has a thread and here is a good article.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...6912306.htm?1c