Here - Stiltsville

Like many ideas, travel starts at home. When I first moved to Florida one of my goals was to visit at least two new local places each year. I have been wanting to see Stiltsville for a long time now. Sitting 1 mile off the Miami shoreline these buildings dot the bay and draw you back to another time. Now part of Biscayne National Park the first stilt structure was built in the 1930s. The original 27 buildings functioned both as residences and commercial properties, some hosting wild parties with gambling and alleged prostitution.

Finally making it there I was thrilled to experience this unique, historical Miami site. We took the boat tour organized by Biscayne National Park Institute, a leisurely 2 hour trip departing from Dinner Key Marina in Coconut Grove. Sadly fires and hurricanes have destroyed most of the structures and only 6 remain. It is not hard to imagine what it must have been like circa 1955 to dock your boat at one of the Stiltsville clubs with a rollicking party in full effect.