The Barnacle Historic State Park

I went to the Barnacle Historic State Park back in December, which is the oldest house in its original location in Miami. Built by Coconut Grove pioneer Commodore Ralph M. Munroe, the house and the property take you back over 100 years, to a time when Miami was still a frontier. I don't want to post too much about it, because there is a tour and I think everyone should take it, to learn more about a very interesting time in Miami's history, and one of the most important figures in the development of the city. If you want to know more about Ralph M. Munroe, and the early days of Coconut Grove, visit: http://scholar.library.miami.edu/commodoreMunroe/

Better yet, visit the place! Here are some pictures:

The Barnacle and its great lawn

Replica ship

Ralph Munroe was a true commodore, and one of the founders of the Biscayne Bay Yacht Club

Christmas time at the Barnacle

Not all the appliances date back to the building of the house, but they are still dated

Built on a hill, the house actually came with it's own small cellar, for herbs I believe

Family dinner at the Munroe's.

A child's bedroom, before there was Xbox

The house is built in a way to capture the breeze of the sea, and let air circulate throughout.

The boathouse

A replica of one of the Commodore's ships

Way out there, in the distance, if you are here in person, you can see Stiltsville

Porch life

Million dollar view

Old fashioned doorbell instructions

A chair fit for a king

This is your final warning

The road leading to the Barnacle

Outside the park

David T. Kennedy Park

David T. Kennedy Park is in the Miami neighborhood of Coconut Grove, the city's oldest neighborhood and certainly one of its most vibrant. The park sits on the eastern edge of the city, just before Miami gives way to the water. Public access to waterfront land is a big thing that is missing from Miami, but as long as places like Kennedy Park exist we should take full advantage of them.  Though at times the water might be hidden behind trees entirely, you can never truly forget it is there. In a way it is comforting, knowing that at some point the land must stop, Miami's rapid development must stop, we can all stop to sit and look out at the ocean.

When I first came to Kennedy Park, it was to play soccer, and we picked one of the many open space areas to set up matches. At times there were even nets to play with, although they were absent on this visit. There is also a sandpit and nets set up for beach volleyball.

Other features of the park include a playground for young kids, a bike path that surrounds the whole park, and a dock that leads you to the other side of the park, bordered by the water and mangroves. Mangroves surround the park, and the area is dotted with a mixture of different kinds of trees, from pines to palms. The most interesting trees to me were those seen below, all bending at the same way towards the water. 

 Once you cross the small dock to the other side of the park, there are two separate, fenced off areas exclusively for dogs. Although there were many dogs on leashes in the other parts of the park, this would seem to be the area where dogs can truly stretch their legs, roam free, and just act like dogs. There is even a water fountain fit for man and beast!

On a hot day like today, you might be tempted to jump right into the water that borders the park. Luckily there is A.C.'s Icees, a Miami institution! Quench your thirst with a frozen lemonade or delicious fresh squeezed juice.

Kennedy Park would be a cool place even away from the water, but sitting on the edge of Coconut Grove along Biscayne Bay really sets it apart. What Miami needs is public access to waterfront land, and more of it! More waterfront parks, more public beaches, more places where we can go and enjoy the coastal region we all live in. Thank you to Michelle for taking the photos, there are more after the jump.