{"id":1856,"date":"2013-09-26T15:44:14","date_gmt":"2013-09-26T19:44:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/~travelwriting\/?page_id=1856"},"modified":"2013-09-27T06:34:54","modified_gmt":"2013-09-27T10:34:54","slug":"matheson-hammock-surprises-visitors-with-natural-diversity-and-beauty","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/?page_id=1856","title":{"rendered":"Matheson Hammock surprises visitors with bayside views and natural beauty"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted Sept. 26, 2013<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

By PATRICK RILEY<\/p>\n

CORAL GABLES, Fla. \u2013 If you find yourself looking up at giant spiders high in the sky, ivy-covered restaurants against a marvelous ocean backdrop and scenic moonrises right next to a stunning view of downtown, then you\u2019re probably in Matheson Hammock Park, Coral Gables, one of Miami-Dade\u2019s most beautiful and diverse public spaces.<\/p>\n

\"One<\/a>

One of the highlights of Matheson Hammock’s beach area is the man-made atoll pool (Photo by Alyxa Walker).<\/p><\/div>\n

Tucked away between pompous mansions to the north, Fairchild to the south, and Pinecrest\u2019s upscale neighborhoods to the west, Matheson Hammock Park has been serving sunbathers, bicyclists, and outdoorsmen and women for more than 80 years.<\/p>\n

Originally a gift to the county by industrialist William J. Matheson from Wisconsin, the park grew from only 80 acres in 1930 to its current size of 630 acres.<\/p>\n

But other than the size, not much has changed since then.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere [are] not many natural areas left in Miami-Dade County,\u201d said Park Manager Chris Trogner. \u201cAnd the park, it\u2019s featured I\u2019d say a very well-maintained, natural area that\u2019s been left pristine. [\u2026] I mean we got a lot of high-end communities around here, but it\u2019s left untouched the way it is since [the] 1920s.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"One<\/a>

One of the main features of Matheson Hammock Park is the spectacular view of downtown Miami (Photo by Patrick Riley).<\/p><\/div>\n

Large portions of the park are made up of untamed swamp where mangroves and all sorts of wildlife still reign supreme. Thus, one should not be surprised to catch a raccoon leisurely crossing the park\u2019s roads or little blue crabs scurrying back and forth from one mud hole to the next.<\/p>\n

But the park\u2019s main attraction as far as fauna goes may very well be the giant banana spiders and their over-sized webs (up to 15 feet wide) that span from one tree to the next.<\/p>\n

These insects, some of which are up to four inches in diameter, adorn the treetops and branches in large numbers and can certainly make one a bit queasy when walking beneath them, even though they are in fact harmless.<\/p>\n

\"Banana<\/a>

Banana spiders, also called golden silk orb-weavers, can grow bodies up to 2 inches long, not counting the legs (Photo by Patrick Riley).<\/p><\/div>\n

Far less frightening, though, is the magnificent beach strip at the northeast tip of Matheson Hammock Park. After passing the marina on the right, the first thing that catches any visitor\u2019s eye is the circular, man-made atoll pool at the center of the beach area.<\/p>\n

Through openings at the east side of the basin, the pool is naturally replenished with fresh seawater from Biscayne Bay and affords a perfect playing area for children and adults with its tranquil, shallow waters.<\/p>\n

Majestic palm trees are scattered throughout the beach to provide plenty of shade as picnickers and families enjoy the combination of fantastic view and relaxing beach setting.<\/p>\n

Trogner, too, would often come to the park when he was younger.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy grandparents would take me over to the beach and then my father would launch the boat here [at the marina] and we\u2019d go fishing out of this park and we would have picnics occasionally, barbecues,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n

Trogner thinks that besides the natural beauty of the park, this atoll beach is one of the biggest draws to Matheson Hammock Park. On an average weekend, he said, depending on the weather conditions and not including boaters, there are anywhere from 500 to 2,500 visitors at the beach.<\/p>\n

One of Matheson Hammock\u2019s most loyal local visitors is Anne Perry.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been coming here since I was a child and I brought our kids and now we are bringing our grandson,\u201d Perry said.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The numerous canals that run through Matheson Hammock Park are popular among fishermen and kayakers (Photo by Patrick Riley).<\/p><\/div>\n

She likes the cooling breeze and the spectacular view most, and she and her husband, Ralph, even sometimes come at night.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can get a good moonrise, incredible, it\u2019s usually somewhere right out there,\u201d Perry said, while pointing towards the sea. \u201cIf you look at it with the time, when it\u2019s full moon, it\u2019s going to rise, you come out here [and] you can see it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adds Ralph Perry: \u201cWe come here about every day, ride our bikes in the morning and sometimes at night we just walk over.\u201d<\/p>\n

But while there is no doubt that the grand view of nearby downtown Miami and the family-friendly atmosphere are reason enough to visit Matheson Hammock Park, visitors can also engage in a number of outdoor-related activities.<\/p>\n

While the park\u2019s water channels and more secluded beach strips are perfect for fishing, the aforementioned main beach area is a prime spot for kayaking and kite-surfing.<\/p>\n

The calm, shallow waters make Matheson Hammock an ideal learning spot for beginners and visitors can rent kayaks ranging from $15 to $75 an hour, depending on the makeup of the kayak, and kite-surfing equipment for $100 an hour.<\/p>\n

But no matter whether one prefers an action-packed day strapped to a board or a relaxing afternoon at the atoll pool, a visit to Matheson Hammock is not complete without dinner at a little restaurant that affords its guest a tremendous view in a historic setting.<\/p>\n

Red Fish Grill is a seafood restaurant housed in what was originally the Matheson Hammock beach pavilion. Its ivy-covered, coral rock gives the restaurant a warm and exotic feel that is perfectly complemented by oil lanterns dispersed throughout the outside area and the sound of guitars radiating through the hot summer night. Strings of lights wrapped around the omnipresent palm trees further add to the casual atmosphere.<\/p>\n

Appetizers at Red Fish Grill range from $7 for the soup of the day to $18 for jumbo lump<\/p>\n

\"Red<\/a>

Red Fish Grill offers visitors gourmet dining with a phenomenal view (Photo by Patrick Riley).<\/p><\/div>\n

crab cakes while entrees are priced anywhere from $23 (grilled salmon) to $38 (Chilean sea bass).<\/p>\n

Interestingly enough, the restaurant has been featured in movies such as \u201cThere\u2019s something about Mary\u201d <\/i>and \u201cRandom Hearts.\u201d \u00a0<\/i>So why not sit at Cameron Diaz\u2019s table or re-enact the tango scene from Sydney Pollock\u2019s film. Just remember to bring proper attire, because beach clothes will not be allowed.<\/p>\n

First and foremost, though, visitors enjoy the park\u2019s low-key ambiance and family-friendly atmosphere.<\/p>\n

Resident Josi Gems often comes here with her imposing white Doberman to take pictures against the ocean backdrop and enjoy the park\u2019s idyllic feel.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very nice and quiet, serene, peaceful,\u201d Gems said.<\/p>\n

If You Go
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