Every year during March, I like to head south. No, not South America (though Buenos Aires is certainly tempting) or even South of the Border. I simply drive a little ways south of my home to a lovely, rural part of Miami called the Redland. While it’s true that the words ‘rural’ and ‘Miami’ are usually not found in the same sentence, in this case they definitely belong together.

The Redland was discovered by pioneers in the late 1800s. They guessed (correctly) that this area would be excellent for growing fruits and vegetables, since this southern corner of the state is rarely prone to frost. With a lot of hard work, the farmers who settled here soon produced beans, tomatoes, corn, mangos, avocados and other tropical fruits like lychee and longan. Driving down the long country roads of the Redland, you can spot historic homesteads built from coral rock, as well as newer ranches where city slickers have escaped the urban craziness and started their own orchid farms.

This weekend, I plan to make a southerly jaunt to the Redland to check out the Asian Culture Festival at the Fruit & Spice Park. If you’re a plant lover, this is one cool park. If you’re not into plants, I guarantee you will find something to love about this place. Fruit & Spice Park grows more than 500 varieties of fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs, nuts, and other commercially important plant specimens from around the world. You can see 125 varieties of mango, 75 varieties of bananas, 70 bamboo varieties, and numerous other exotic edibles here. You can also munch on exotic tropical fruit like longans and lychees at the Tasting Counter inside the gift shop. Or buy unusual jams and jellies to impress the folks back home. Habañero pepper jelly, anyone?

Among many eye-catching attractions at the Asian Culture Festival is the food. This festival is a spectacle of delicious eats, from savory Thai satay with peanut dipping sauce to spicy hot Korean barbecue. I shamelessly gorge myself on enough Pad Thai, egg rolls, spring rolls and fried rice to last me until the following year. Everything is fresh and delicious, and there are plenty of shady spots to lay back and enjoy the beautiful outdoors. Of course there’s also culture at the Asian Culture Festival. It’s not just about the food.

In between bites, my family and I love to watch the dancing. Traditional dances from Japan, China, Thailand, Bangladesh and India are performed beneath a large white tent. Talented young dancers thrill the crowd with their elastic movements. Pounding drum beats and colorful, elaborate costumes add to the excitement. The dancing continues throughout the day, so there is plenty of time to check out the numerous booths selling Asian crafts and, of course, grab another egg roll.

Fun stuff sold at the festival includes baskets, saris, kimonos, wind chimes, musical instruments, bamboo crafts, jewelry and perfumes – as well as an assortment of gorgeous orchids and other tropical plants and trees. This festival reminds me of why I choose to live in Miami. The weather is almost always picture-perfect, and you can buy orchids and beautiful tropical fruits amidst the beauty of an exotic tropical garden. I remember what March was like when I lived in Boston, and it can be summed up like this: cold mud, wet mud, and dried mud.

There are many other attractions in the Redland which are well worth a stop. Driving and finding places in this rural area can be tricky. The best way to get oriented is with a good map of Miami Dade County, and by visiting the Historic Redland Tropical Trail web site, which pinpoints area attractions like Schnebly’s Redlands Winery, Everglades Alligator Farm, Robert Is Here Fruit Stand and R.F. Orchids with easy-to-follow driving directions. The Tropical Everglades Visitor Center, located at 160 U.S. 1 in Florida City, also provides maps and other information about the Redland.

So go check out Miami's wild side. The one that's approximately 30 miles from South Beach!

Around Miami : redland

Asian Culture Festival

Miami's Less Traveled Path

Historic Redland Tropical Trail