Weird, Wacky, and Wonderful Roadside Adventures
What’s more iconic than a summertime road trip? While both Miami and New York City have many attractions that draw people from all over the world, there are still many hidden gems nearby that are waiting to be discovered. Part of the fun of travel is discovering the little known, offbeat destinations that offer a unique and quirky experience for those seeking something out of the ordinary. Whether it’s giant sculptures, bizarre museums, or eccentric landmarks, roadside attractions capture the imagination and provide a healthy dose of fun. We are here to celebrate the weird, wacky, and wonderful places you can visit near our properties in South Florida and the New York Metro area.
New York City and Hoboken
Explore the today and yesterday of Hoboken at Hoboken Historical Museum. Just a short walk from our apartments at Novia in Hoboken, you can check out the old school 1932 fire truck and gear at their Fire Department Museum or take a walking tour of Hoboken that includes highlights from the life of Old Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra, who was born and raised in Hoboken.
New York City’s subway system is one of the oldest and largest public transit systems in the world, and you can explore its history at the New York Transit Museum. Check out vintage cars, starting with a wooden train car from 1908. On July 8th, you can take a ride on a 1930s R 1-9 vintage train car for a two-hour jaunt to Coney Island on the Nostalgia ride: Beach Bound, Coney Island.
Once you make it to Coney Island, you can visit another weird and wacky attraction: the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. These family friendly shows feature classic sideshow acts and cirque feats presented by New York’s finest and most talented sword swallowers, fire eaters, glass walkers, and variety artists.
South Florida
For a truly twisted tour of South Florida, check out the Crime Tours Museum. Just under a half hour drive from Sheridan Ocean Club, this museum has exhibits and artifacts dating back to the 1500’s., where you can get an understanding of how South Florida rose to fame through the many illegal activities that took place. They also offer crime tours that include the era of Prohibition, drug smuggling, the history of gambling, and the wacky things that South Florida criminals have done.
Add a little excitement to a day of shopping by taking a turn on the Aventura Slide Tower. Close to both our Sheridan Ocean Club and Monte Carlo properties, this 9-story steel and glass enclosed slide was created by German conceptional artist Carsten Höller.
Nothing screams weird and wacky more than the legend of Bigfoot, and Florida has its own version called the skunk ape, who is rumored to reside in the swamps of the Everglades. Learn all about the “Sasquatch of the Southeast” at Skealy’s Official Skunk Ape Headquarters. Located about an hour and a half from the apartments at Red Road Commons and Grand Plaza, this attraction offers a tour of the waterways of the Everglades, a native animal exhibit, and a gift shop where you can buy a piece of skunk ape memorabilia.
Located about 40 minutes from our property at Red Road Commons lies a purely South Florida structure called Coral Castle. From 1923 to 1951, a man named Ed Leedskalnin single-handedly carved over 1,100 tons of coral rock, to create a coral garden. Built under the cover of night and in secret, at a time when there were no modern construction conveniences, Ed would only say that he knew “the secret of the pyramids.” When he died, his secrets died with him, and to this day scientists and thinkers still debate Ed’s methods.
Whether you are visiting the apartments at Dharma Home Suites in Metro Miami or NYC, be sure to make the most of the wacky and weird places that surround these wonderful cities.
