Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Miami Florida

A bit of Venice, on Miami's Key Biscayne?

Well, suppose you loved Italy so much you longed to recreate its beauty in your own home. And suppose you also happened to be the vice-president of the International Harvester company, back in 1914-- and had the means to pursue your dream.

In that case, you might have built Vizcaya too.

Vizcaya was James Deering's tribute to what he loved: the ancient country homes of the Italian Veneto. Vizcaya was built to appear hundreds of years old on the day of its completion in 1916.

Vizcaya is right across the street from the Museum of Sciences: combine the two for an afternoon of family sightseeing.

For grownups, Vizcaya--a National Historic Landmark--- is a feast for the eyes, an architectural curiosity amid Miami's modern sprawl, and a fascinating piece of history.

Meanwhile, kids will enjoy running around the beautiful seawall area, including a gazebo, and exploring the elaborate gardens. There's even a Maze Garden.

They'll also like exploring Vizcaya's interior and peering into the villa's ornately-decorated rooms, which contain tapestries, antiques, and other rarities collected on James Deering's trips to Europe.

Vizcaya is a lovely evocation of two different eras: Renaissance Italy, as rendered by an impassioned admirer nearly a century ago.