For the past few months I have been working with Paul and Caleb the founders for XploreGEO and have been building many quests to upload to the database when the XploreGeo game launches in early 2023. My job has been to create quests for cities around America. I have explored and researched 100s of amazing locations, which in XploreGEO we call “Markers”. This opportunity has been amazing and I love telling everyone I meet about th quests and this fun app.
So it was no surprise that in November I had a friend ask me to take them on an adventure quest. Miami sounded like a great place to explore and find some XploreGeo markers. I decided to focus on finding dominos (Miami’s favorite pastime) and roosters. These markers are in the Miami quest in the XploreGEO app. Join the XploreGEO Facebook group to stay informed on all the XploreGEO happenings.
Miami, located in southeastern Florida, is a vibrant city that attracts millions of tourists each year. From its beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters to its exciting nightlife and cultural attractions, Miami has something for everyone.
One of the most popular attractions in Miami is its beaches. The city is home to a number of beautiful beaches, including South Beach, which is known for its white sand, crystal-clear water, and vibrant atmosphere. Other popular beaches in the area include Haulover Beach, which is known for its clothing-optional section, and Crandon Park Beach, which is perfect for families with children.
In addition to its beaches, Miami is also home to a number of cultural attractions, including the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, which is a beautiful estate that features a variety of art and antiques. The Wynwood Walls, a collection of murals and street art, is also a popular destination for art enthusiasts.
For those interested in nightlife, Miami is the place to be. The city is home to a number of clubs, bars, and restaurants that stay open late and offer a variety of entertainment options. From live music and dancing to rooftop bars with stunning views of the city, Miami has something for everyone.
Overall, Miami is a vibrant and exciting city that offers a variety of attractions and activities for tourists. Whether you’re interested in relaxing on the beach, exploring the city’s cultural attractions, or partying the night away, Miami has something for you. My Miami XploreGEO Adventure Quest begins with the famous domino statues.
My friend and I started our Domino and Rooster Adventure Quest in Miami in search of the Giant Dominoes that the artist Bo Droga made on the concrete pillars under the University Station Metro rail tracks in Coral Gables. The art installation is called “Concrete Landscapes Miami,” located off Stanford Drive and Ponce de Leon Boulevard. Droga says there is a message in the pattern of numbers. He is challenging those who visit the installation to figure out the secret domino pattern. We took pictures of all of them to ponder it later!! Here are a few pictures. This was so fun to see.
The Giant red-and-white set of dominoes that overlook the Intra-coastal Waterway, are another XploreGEO marker in the Miami quest. Surprisingly, the “M” does not stand for Miami. It memorializes the late real estate developer, Jose Milton. This was an awesome photo spot with great ocean views. The park is a clean green area and family-friendly.
Next on our Domino and Rooster Adventure Quest was exploring Southwest 8th Street in Calle Ocho in Miami for roosters. This street is a marker in the Miami quest in the XploreGEO app and is definitely a must-see! As soon as we stepped out of the car we heard a real rooster. I turned to my friend and said, “and the adventure begins now…..” There were roosters meandering around and crowing.
Calle Ocho was just named one of the coolest streets in the world – ranked at number 16 on Time Out’s annual list of the 33 Coolest Streets in the World. Very fun, lively, colorful place with music, authentic Cuban restaurants and bakeries, Cuban cigar shops, neat drinks, and fun street festivals. So much to see and do. We listened to music at the jazz-club-turned-Latin-bar Ball & Chain (a Miami staple). They have salsa dancing nights!
It was a hot day and we saw lemonade at a little walk up food place. While in line for lemonade the person in front of us ordered a Cuban mojito that looked like it was smoking because of the dry ice ball they put in it. That was intriguing so I ordered one, too. The mojito was refreshing and delicious!
This city was a blast!! Lots of rooster statues to find and real ones as well as history items. Calle Ocho is the center of Cuban life and culture in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood. It was also declared a “national treasure” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. We were focused on finding the rooster statues and did not make it to the Domino Park (older locals go there to smoke cigars and play games of dominoes) which would have been fun to see as part of our Domino and Rooster Adventure Quest. There is much more to explore and find like the Walk of Fame. We did notice quite a few murals and signs with dominoes and roosters on them.
I would definitely like to go back to take more time to enjoy this little city, try some Cuban food, listen to some music, and chill.
As always I’m ready for my next quest….
