Explore Erotica, Opium Gardens and Monkey Jungles in South Beach, Florida

Places to Play and Stay in Florida

Sherri Granato
It would take the average person weeks to discover everything that South Beach has to offer as it is a vast area filled with endless possibilities. The majority of visitors cannot wait to feel the heavenly soft sand under their feet or to sample some of the most beautiful water in the world, but many people just want to absorb the hundreds of other attractions available from the one of a kind museums to the wonders of the extreme local architecture to the many art galleries and botanical gardens that await your arrival in South Beach.

The World Erotic Art Museum is located at 1205 Washington Avenue in Miami Beach, Florida, and screams with raw sex appeal as you will immediately be thrust on a global journey of eroticism through time and genres. The museum offers a collection of approximately 4,000 erotic objects and antiques dating back to as early as 200 B.C. and the rare items come from foreign lands as distant as Asia, Africa and India. The private collection, belonging to Wilzig is valued at some $10 million, and swings from classical to kitsch.

The Versace House, located at 1116 Ocean Drive is absolutely stunning and visitors come by the bus loads just to get a peek at this exquisite mansion. The Versace estate was built in 1930 and was modeled after the 1510 residence of Alcazar de Colon in Santo Domingo. The mansion sits in the heart of the South Beach Art Deco district that is known to be a Mecca for the rich and famous. The Versace mansion has been renovated into a $2,000 to $6,000 a night luxury hotel that is a classy refuge for anyone that can afford to inhabit its perimeter.

The Seminole Hard Rock Casino is located at 1 Seminole Way in Hollywood, Florida on the Seminole Indian Reservation, just a few miles north of Miami, and it is worth the trip as the casino offers over 2,100 gaming machines, 50 tables with live action poker, a full events calendar that regularly includes live performances by rock legends, a rock shop that includes hard to find and one of a kind merchandise, a first rate hotel, and a classy, but casual restaurant.

The Opium Garden Nightclub, located at 136 Collins Avenue is an Asian themed club with an exotic outside garden, and a beautiful interior that draws in large crowds of people wanting to party all night. Dancing at the two-level dance club is pulsating as the club is decorated with golden Buddha's, Chinese lanterns and palm trees, and the sound system, along with the light show are among the finest in South Beach. A secluded and private section of the club known as Privé was designed to attract celebrities and other A-list patrons to the Opium Garden, and although they have their own private entrance, celebrities like Paris Hilton have been known to mingle with the crowds. The club welcomes uninhibited fun with crazy antics that allow guests to have the time of their life which is why it is one of South Beach's hottest and longest running venues in the area.

After a night on the town you can relax and monkey around at the Monkey Jungle, located at 14805 Southwest 216th Street in Miami. This is the home of where nothing is at it seems as the humans are caged and the monkeys run wild. Thirty various species of monkeys are allowed to run free on 30 acres of prime reserve. Visitors are entertained by the non-stop entertainment of the orangutans, along with the swimming pool where the monkeys dive under water and swim for shellfish. The antics and feedings of these animals are simply amazing, and will give you a great alternative to shopping, swimming, and sun bathing.

Published by Sherri Granato

Sherri is a freelance writer who was born in Delaware, but currently lives in southwestern Pennsylvania. She has traveled the United States extensively in search of everything from the best to the strangest...  View profile

  • The Versace mansion has been renovated into a $2,000 to $6,000 a night luxury hotel.
  • The Opium Garden Nightclub, Florida's hottest venue, welcomes uninhibited fun with crazy antics.
A secluded and private section known as Privé was designed to attract celebrities and other A-list patrons to the Opium Garden.

7 Comments

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  • Sheri Fresonke Harper12/1/2009

    Interesting place :)

  • DrDevience1/17/2008

    I simply adore MonkeyJungle

  • Joanna E.3/5/2007

    Wow! I never knew about the erotica. And they call this the conservative state. Hehe.Great Article. Fun to read. Bye

  • Insomnia Princess2/21/2007

    Florida is so beautiful!

  • Manda Spring2/17/2007

    :0 WOW! neat info!

  • Roy Barnes2/16/2007

    The Opium Garden sounds very chic!

  • Carol Gilbert2/16/2007

    What a title tease!

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