arch creek memorial park + "museum"

i'm trying to think of things that are sold by promising more than they actually are, but are still kind of worth it - all that comes to mind are infomercial stain removers. Arch Creek Memorial Park is the infomercial stain remover of parks; it's not all it's cracked up to be, but it still kind of works and was worth giving a shot. Is that a reach? Yes. Am I still going to leave it? Yes.

Arch Creek Memorial Park is sold as an Indian Burial Ground and site of Tequesta and Seminole-goings-ons - I should clarify that by "sold" I mean described on the rinky-dink .gov parks website - but when you get there it's just a park off Biscayne and NE 135th. I'll admit, my expectations were probably too high (INDIAN BURIAL GROUND!), but I thought maybe something would be marked besides the species of trees and some plants.

The park is a winding trail with tall trees and overgrown greenery. It's nothing too special but it's simultaneously everything special about Miami - it's an overgrown jungle in the middle of Miami where Miami's first residents lived but isn't really marked or overdone. It's just kind of something you can find, if you're looking, if not, you wouldn't know what it is.

The park grew on me. By the time we went into the little museum, I was totally into it. The path was beautiful, albeit not too groomed or marked or anything really, but it was beautiful. The museum was pretty thorough and was a real throwback to the best of third grade field trips. It was nice to be sucked into this simple room that was totally full of information - it was just a few cases of artifacts but it's really worth the trip. I recently went to HistoryMiami and I found this a better look at native Miami history.

Oh, and after, or before, your Arch Creek exploration you can, and should, stop by Alaska Coffee Roasters. Just down the street (remember that time I spend an afternoon learning how coffee is roasted with their very eccentric owner?).

CulturePatricia GuarchJanuary 5, 2015biscayne boulevard, nature, only in miami, parks, trees