Top 5 Instagrammable Places in High Pines | Ponce Davis

1) Dante Fascell Park

8600 Red Rd, South Miami, FL 33143

Hailed one of South Miami's largest parks, Dante Fascell Parks is a crowd-favorite for the best nature photos around High Pines and Ponce Davis, and here's why--

Boasting 7.73 acres of green space, home to outdoor sports recreational areas, a beautiful sculpture garden donated by the City of South Miami's sister city Medellin in Colombia, and lush mature trees, Dante Fascell is an urban paradise amidst the bustle of metro Miami, providing a much-needed respite from your hectic travel schedule.

And apart from its immaculate scenery, Dante Fascell Park offers a trail around the sculpture garden for a quick stroll, picnic tables for your family gatherings, and an expansive outdoor space for fun under the sun! 

Meanwhile, for other recreational activities in Dante Fascell Park, check out its six clay tennis courts, outdoor fitness equipment, sand volleyball court, gated playground and tot lot, and basketball half-court!

Undoubtedly a dreamy park to visit when in High Pines and Ponce Davis!

2) Merrie Christmas Park

4355 SW 42nd Ave, Miami, FL 33133

Do you need more inspiring photos for your social media feeds?

A quick visit to Merrie Christmas Park might do the trick!

With an array of Ficus and banyan trees with thick, twinning trunks dominating the park, you can say that Merrie Christmas Park's standout feature is its lush nature. 

But it offers way more than that!

Unlike many Miami parks, Merrie Christmas Park focuses on providing open green space, with only a tiny portion of land paved for sidewalks and playground equipment. 

Its rolling lawns make a perfect spot for jogging or a gentle meandering walk. 

And since it's a sunken park that sits in a natural bowl, Merrie Christmas Park can safely contain all kinds of play-- and it can be an interesting backdrop for your IG snaps too!

Fly your drones, dish out your poses, and give your cameras the biggest smile-- you're in Merrie Christmas Park, one of Miami's most beautiful parks, only a 4-minute drive from High Pines and Ponce Davis!

3) Ingraham Park 

4751 Ingraham Terrace, Coral Gables, FL 33133

A leafy public park featuring shaded benches, a playground, and scenic water views, Coral Gables' Ingraham Park is one of several nature spots you can visit for jaw-dropping nature shots near High Pines and Ponce Davis, especially since it's only a 4-minute drive!

An eclectic little spot with over two acres of open spaces and picnic tables, Ingraham Park has recently been revamped into a neighborhood park of elegance. 

From its stunning fountain inspired by the Palace of Alhambra in Granada, Spain, to its enhanced landscaping, exercise stations, walking & jogging paths, misting machines, inviting benches, and more-- it's a sight to behold!

Along with Ingraham Park's reconstruction, you'll find a new bright red bridge enhancing the Commodore Bike Trail. 

The bridge provides bicyclists and pedestrians a safe crossing over the Coral Gables Waterway between Cocoplum Circle and Ingraham Park, so you can also take a quick peek around the prestigious Cocoplum while you're there!

Convenient, beautiful, and best of all, free-- it's a "no-brainer" photo spot to visit while you're in High Pines and Ponce Davis!

4) Pinecrest Gardens 

11000 SW 57th Ave, Pinecrest, FL 33156

Located at the corner of Red Road and 110th Street, only 5 minutes from High Pines and Ponce Davis, is another famous tourist attraction you shouldn't miss, especially if you love nature and fun activities-- Pinecrest Gardens!

Encompassing around 14 acres of lush botanical gardens and family-friendly attractions, Pinecrest Gardens showcases South Florida's natural beauty, boasting gardens and forested areas of native cypress sloughs, tropical hardwood hammocks, and riverine landscapes.

Pinecrest Gardens also has various specialty gardens (including a desert garden), more than 1,000 varieties of both native and non-native tropical flora, and many notable natural features, including remnants of the Snapper Creek streambed, a 30,000-year-old solution hole, a piece of cypress hammock that was once connected to Big Cypress National Preserve, a 100-year-old Cocoplum, and various other mature landmark trees.

Meanwhile, for connecting and interacting with nature, Pinecrest Gardens features tranquil paths that wind through the botanical garden, a meadowed lake viewing area (Swan Lake) with resident wildlife, and fish-populated waterways.

Are you looking for more ways to have fun at Pinecrest Gardens?

Take the kids at the Garden's Splash N' Play water playground, petting zoo, giant outdoor chess/checkers games, or its large playground area!

They can also have fun at Pinecrest Garden's Sensory Garden educational area, where you'll see a butterfly garden, raised vegetable/herb garden, watering cans, drop-in garden programs, and an Investigation Station that invites exploration!

Best of all, there are plenty of spots to take photos around Pinecrest Gardens, so you can update your socials with gorgeous snaps while you're having a blast!

5) Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden 

10901 Old Cutler Rd, Coral Gables, FL 33156

Anyone who's been taking photos for long knows how natural backdrops help produce great pictures-- yes, it's a huge factor! 

You see, at Coral Gables, a self-proclaimed tropical jungle-slash-vibrant city, you'll find a languid but manicured landscape of Banyans and Ficus with neatly trimmed lawns everywhere you go, so finding a lush spot for an IG-worthy snap shouldn't be too difficult.

But, if you're looking to feed your cravings for fresh air and natural beauty AND get picture-perfect shots for your socials, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden may be the tourist spot you're looking for.

The good news is that it's only a 6-minute drive from High Pines and Ponce Davis!

Situated on 83 sprawling acres of lush, colorful tropical gardens, rainforests, and coastal habitat, the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden remains one of South Florida's premier gardens. 

Founded in 1938 by famed plant explorer Dr. David Fairchild, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden's collection includes more than 3,400 species, including tropical fruit, orchids, butterflies, and native and exotic plants throughout its Uplands and Lowlands ecosystems and exhibits.

Needless to say, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden makes for a perfect outdoor adventure for families, a romantic date, or a sublime oasis for anyone who enjoys the beauty of the natural world. 

The Allée, the Overlook, the Water Gardens, the Aquatic Exhibits, the Arboretum, the Geiger Tropical Flower Garden, the Butterfly Garden, and the Children's Garden-- imagine all the places you can visit and photos you can take at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden!