Image courtesy of Alan PARKER at Flickr.com
We’ll start our trip in Hallandale Beach, precisely at the municipal beach located approximately at 1800 Collins Avenue, the well-known A1A highway that runs through the Barrier Islands of the east coast. The Southernmost Canadian city is the nickname given to the enclave since out of the thousands of visitors to the area each year, a lot of them comes from that country, particularly from Quebec.
In this area there are no bike lanes enabled, but as we move southward, we realize we will not be the only ones pedaling amongst motor vehicles. In a way, drivers are accustomed to this and respect cyclists. Of course, we must always be alert. In just half a mile we will be crossing the County Line Road which is the road that divides the counties of Broward and Dade, where we’ll get to the small and prosperous settlement of Golden Beach, which was created in 1924.
Then we’ll enter Sunny Isles Beach, that since the 1920s was designed as a tourist Resort publicized as "The Venice of America."
Before reaching the village of Bal Harbour we’ll pass through Haulover Beach, which owes its name to the old natural canal linking the Atlantic Ocean to the intercostal passage that separates the Barrier Islands from the continent.
Once in Bal Harbour, we’ll enter another town whose origins date back to the 1920s, when a community began on the then wetlands. In this locality it is expressly prohibited to ride bicycles on sidewalks.
About six and a half miles after crossing the street that divides the two counties we’ll get to Surfside, which was founded in 1935 by the Surf Club members in the area. Thanks to municipal regulations that protect the enclave against aggressive urban development of other nearby points we can enjoy a classic and quaint shopping district with one-level stores. Just as we get to the 96th Street we’ll turn right and begin to move towards the west through Bay Harbor Islands where luxurious condos abound. Immediately after this, we will be across Biscayne Bay towards the mainland through the Broad Causeway, the toll bridge system linking both sides. At the end we’ll arrive at the NW 125th Street in the city of North Miami and once we get to the US 1 we’ll head north.
Within the limits of the municipality is also the Oleta River State Park, which is the largest urban state park in Florida. It was named Big Snake Creek by federal troops in 1841 who came to fight the natives. Just north, we will see the huge Maule lake.
North Miami Beach appears immediately as we move through the US 1. It was incorporated in 1926 and it was originally known as Fulford in honor of the captain of the coast guard William H. Fulford. One of the main attractions is the Ancient Spanish Monastery, the Monastery of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, which was built in the twelfth century in Segovia, Spain. In 1925 it would be dismantled and brought piece by piece on a ship thanks to the magnate and art collector William R. Hearst, although the current location dates back to the 1950s. The truth is that it is the oldest building not only in the US but throughout the Americas, from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. We will then briefly cross the enclave that was once the city of Ojus and was founded around 1897. Other communities in the area that we’ll pass by without realizing it include the small village of Biscayne Park and Indian Creek or the nearby Ives Estates and Golden Glades.
In this area there are no bike lanes enabled, but as we move southward, we realize we will not be the only ones pedaling amongst motor vehicles. In a way, drivers are accustomed to this and respect cyclists. Of course, we must always be alert. In just half a mile we will be crossing the County Line Road which is the road that divides the counties of Broward and Dade, where we’ll get to the small and prosperous settlement of Golden Beach, which was created in 1924.
Then we’ll enter Sunny Isles Beach, that since the 1920s was designed as a tourist Resort publicized as "The Venice of America."
Before reaching the village of Bal Harbour we’ll pass through Haulover Beach, which owes its name to the old natural canal linking the Atlantic Ocean to the intercostal passage that separates the Barrier Islands from the continent.
Once in Bal Harbour, we’ll enter another town whose origins date back to the 1920s, when a community began on the then wetlands. In this locality it is expressly prohibited to ride bicycles on sidewalks.
About six and a half miles after crossing the street that divides the two counties we’ll get to Surfside, which was founded in 1935 by the Surf Club members in the area. Thanks to municipal regulations that protect the enclave against aggressive urban development of other nearby points we can enjoy a classic and quaint shopping district with one-level stores. Just as we get to the 96th Street we’ll turn right and begin to move towards the west through Bay Harbor Islands where luxurious condos abound. Immediately after this, we will be across Biscayne Bay towards the mainland through the Broad Causeway, the toll bridge system linking both sides. At the end we’ll arrive at the NW 125th Street in the city of North Miami and once we get to the US 1 we’ll head north.
Within the limits of the municipality is also the Oleta River State Park, which is the largest urban state park in Florida. It was named Big Snake Creek by federal troops in 1841 who came to fight the natives. Just north, we will see the huge Maule lake.
North Miami Beach appears immediately as we move through the US 1. It was incorporated in 1926 and it was originally known as Fulford in honor of the captain of the coast guard William H. Fulford. One of the main attractions is the Ancient Spanish Monastery, the Monastery of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, which was built in the twelfth century in Segovia, Spain. In 1925 it would be dismantled and brought piece by piece on a ship thanks to the magnate and art collector William R. Hearst, although the current location dates back to the 1950s. The truth is that it is the oldest building not only in the US but throughout the Americas, from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. We will then briefly cross the enclave that was once the city of Ojus and was founded around 1897. Other communities in the area that we’ll pass by without realizing it include the small village of Biscayne Park and Indian Creek or the nearby Ives Estates and Golden Glades.
Image courtesy of Kimb0lene at Flickr.com
Before returning to Broward County in NW 215th Street, we’ll pass by Aventura, a community planned from scratch in the 1970s in a swampy area they called Biscayne Gardens. The name makes clear reference to what was the project of the Oxford Development Company, who developed the now prosperous city that was erected in 1995. In it we can find the immense Aventura Mall, which is the largest mall in the Sunshine State and the fifth in the nation.
Already in Broward, the numbering of the streets begins at SW 11th Street as we tour the mainland Hallandale. To the west is West Park, which was built in 2005 and encompasses neighborhoods like Carver Ranches, Lake Forest or Utopia. Just east of this, we will see Pembroke Park, which is a bit older and is so called because of the road running through it. Then comes Hollywood, the famous eponymous Californian landmark.
Dania Beach is the last resort to visit on this trip and once we get to Dania Beach Blvd we’ll turn right to return to the Barrier Islands.
At the barrier islands, we’ll go back south through the beaches of Hollywood yet again to reach the Hallandale municipal park, where we will finish this route which is short in miles but extensive in history and landscapes.
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Already in Broward, the numbering of the streets begins at SW 11th Street as we tour the mainland Hallandale. To the west is West Park, which was built in 2005 and encompasses neighborhoods like Carver Ranches, Lake Forest or Utopia. Just east of this, we will see Pembroke Park, which is a bit older and is so called because of the road running through it. Then comes Hollywood, the famous eponymous Californian landmark.
Dania Beach is the last resort to visit on this trip and once we get to Dania Beach Blvd we’ll turn right to return to the Barrier Islands.
At the barrier islands, we’ll go back south through the beaches of Hollywood yet again to reach the Hallandale municipal park, where we will finish this route which is short in miles but extensive in history and landscapes.
Related contents
Breath-taking and exciting cycling routes around Miami