If only America followed the European model for vacation time and allotted seemingly 11 months to go on holiday, the decision-making process for choosing a destination would be much easier. There’d be time enough to go everywhere. As it is, we either have to plan around one idea and put the runner-up on the back burner, or else we try to cram everything into a short window. For the next vacation, don’t compromise—spend time convening with nature in a National Park that’s close enough to a beer town.
Despite the domination of corporate beer, Miami-Dade and Broward counties support a burgeoning craft beer culture.
There are 58 National Parks in 27 states. Granted, when Congress sets aside a huge chunk of land to preserve Mother Nature’s wonders, it rarely takes into account that there’s a nearby wellspring of craft brewing. Having said that, America’s first and arguably greatest such park, Yellowstone, is flanked north and south with good beer towns (see issue 32.41‘s column for a spotlight on Bozeman, MT, and 31.52 for a look at Jackson, WY, respectively). Here are three scenic adventure-lands with exotic beer-lands that, while not conveniently located inside the parks, are near enough.
An airboat ride is one of the few ways to explore Biscayne Bay. (Visit Florida)
Miami, FL, and Biscayne Bay National Park
Southeast Florida is known for contrasts such as collegiate spring break and a disproportionate elderly population, for some of the country’s warmest weather and the most cold-blooded animal attacks (gators, leaping rays, flesh-eating bacteria, etc.). So don’t be surprised that despite the domination of corporate beer, Miami-Dade and Broward counties support a burgeoning culture. One of the people leading the charge is Chris Montelius, district sales manager for craft-centric distributor Fresh Beer and a Certified Cicerone.
Another contrast is that while people tend to picture National Parks replete with tree-covered mountains or endless rock formations, Miami-adjacent Biscayne National Park is revered for its subaquatic wonders, explored not by hiking but scuba diving or snorkeling.
Beginning with the idea that visitors are driving south down I-95, Montelius notes that The Tequesta Brewing Co. (287 S. U.S. Highway 1 in Tequesta) is the only production brewery and finally has a tasting room online. He dubs Funky Buddha Lounge & Brewery (thefunkybuddha.com; 2621 N. Federal Highway in Boca Raton) “South Florida’s must-see brewery,” in part for their hookah bar ambience but also because they put some new beer up every week and “know how to make a beer geek drool in only four words: Maple Bacon Coffee Porter.” It’s made with real maple syrup, real coffee and real bacon, so you know it’s good.
