First Parish Old Ship Church welcomes all, regardless of background, race, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation and political beliefs. It has two buildings, the parish house and the meeting house. The church hosts coffee get-togethers to unite its members outside the Sunday services, and all proceeds go to benefit the church. Services are held at 10:25am from September through June and at 9:30am in July and August. It also offers Sunday school during services for children.
South Florida was once home to one of the largest grouping of Holocaust survivors -- 20,000-25,000 -- in the United States. The proposed address for the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach, 1933-1945 Meridian Avenue, matches exactly the years of the Nazi Regime. These are two of the reasons the Miami Beach Planning Board and the City Commission both approved plans for the Memorial. Architect Kenneth Treister's design of an arm, four stories high, thrusting skyward with emaciated figures clinging to it and each other, was controversial. It took three years for the design to be approved and another four years for the sculpture to be cast in bronze. The Memorial, with additional elements including pink Jerusalem stone that late advocate Abe Resnick would personally guard against thieves at night, was finally dedicated in February, 1990, with Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel as keynote speaker.
How to get to Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach
Coin-metered parking is available. Across 17th Street, at Lincoln Road, large lots with municipal parking, with modern credit card-reading machines, are also available. If you prefer public transportation, take the Metrobus Route 123- South Beach Local.
Best and worst times to go to Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach
The best times to go to the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach are in the morning around 10 or 11 a.m. before it gets too hot, or in late afternoon when the sun is on its way toward the horizon. The sun can really beat down in the early afternoon, making the journey around the site physically unpleasant. Plus, food and drink are not allowed (with the exception of babies), so you can easily become dehydrated. Some of the space is enclosed and other parts are open, but either way, cooler is better. Also, if you hope to encounter a Holocaust survivor, your chances are better in the morning hours before these elderly men and women who volunteer their time need to rest.
Admission to Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach
Admission to the Memorial is free and the site is open every single day of the year. Hours range according to the sun: It opens around 9:30 a.m. and closes at sunset, so plan to leave around dusk. Make sure to figure Daylight Savings times into your calculations. The last time of admission on the website says 10 p.m., but daylight never really lasts that long in Miami even in the summer. If you wait that long, chances are the site will be closed.
Must see/do at Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach
Don't just take a glance at the main sculpture, as arresting as it is, and call it a day. There are dozens of smaller sculptures, just as intense, that can't be seen from the road. You need to circulate through the Garden of Meditation, dedicated to the six million lives lost, to see them and feel the enormous emotional affect. Continue on to The Dome of Contemplation, where an eternal light burns and a patch of yellow light shines through from the "Jude" star. The tour continues on what is called the "Lonely Path" with a series of powerful sculpture vignettes, and ends with the black granite Memorial Wall, which like the Vietnam Memorial is engraved with lists of names of those who were lost, and is constantly updated with submissions. A self-guided tour -– a brochure is available for a $2 donation –- generally takes about 60-90 minutes.
Other places to visit near Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach
Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach is located next to the Miami Beach Convention Center, where there are often antique, car or boat shows, and the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, where visitors are free to explore the grounds during daylight hours. Just a few blocks away, the The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater hosts a concert nearly every evening, and the renowned walking mall Lincoln Road Mall, filled with shops and outdoor cafes, is across 17th Street. At the far eastern end of Lincoln Road, the beach beckons, along with the famous Ocean Drive, where the restored Art Deco hotels await.
Insider tips for visitors at Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach
The Holocaust Memorial isn't a religious site to the point where visitors need to wear yarmulkes or other head coverings, but respect is in order. Leave Segways, skateboards, scooters and bicycles outside the memorial, and wear clothing over bathing suits. As often as possible, Holocaust survivors circulate among guests, telling their stories. These survivors are by now extremely elderly, and should also be treated with the utmost courtesy, as all their work is volunteer and in the name of education. Keep cells phones on mute and try not to use them unless you're taking pictures with them, which is allowed. Don't bring pets unless they are service animals. Don't use profanity.
Author's bio: Jen Karetnick has been writing about Miami since she moved there in 1992. The author of 12 books, most recently the poetry book Brie Season (White Violet Press), she formerly lived in Miami Beach only three blocks away from the Holocaust Memorial.
Welcome to Ryman Auditorium, alternatively named, "The Mother Church of Country Music." It's bold, beautiful, and holds entertainment history inside its Late Victorian Gothic style walls. The auditorium has been home to bands, operas, public rallies, circuses, symphonies, and more since 1904. It's a tourist destination for both concerts and tours.
Parking and public transportation to Ryman Auditorium
There are many parking lots surrounding the Ryman, ranging in price from $5 to $25 depending on the day and event. Street parking is also available and free after 6 p.m., but limited. The public bus line makes multiple stops near the auditorium and rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft consistently locate themselves near the venue.
Getting tickets at Ryman Auditorium
It's highly recommended to purchase your tickets as far in advance as possible. Shows sell out fast, due to the popularity of the acts and auditorium. You can secure tickets to the concerts via phone, online, or at the box office. A handling fee is charged on all ticket sales purchased over the phone and online.
Types of concerts at Ryman Auditorium
You can see almost any genre performed at Ryman Auditorium, from bluegrass to jazz to rock and roll, to pop icons like the American Idol Tour. Each one is bound to be captivating and entrancing, due in part to the room's impeccable audio.
Other places to visit near Ryman Auditorium
Because of it's downtown location, you are just a short walk away from countless honky tonk bars like the famous Tootsie's, fine dining, Country Music Hall of Fame, renowned coffee shop Crema, and the delicious and family-friendly Mike's Ice Cream.
Where to say near Ryman Auditorium
Book a night at a hotel downtown if you want to be able to walk to the auditorium. But if you're looking to save money and see other sights too, head just a few miles down Broadway to one of the many hotels on West End Avenue.
Insider tips for visitors to Ryman Auditorium
If you can't stay for a show, sign up for a tour of the historic venue. It's well worth the price of a self-guided ($20 or less) or guided (under $30) tour.
Author's bio: Rebecca Cicione has lived in Nashville for four years. She works in the nonprofit and music industries and her favorite place to be is anywhere outdoors.
