If you ever visit Fort Lauderdale and drive along A1A, you might believe that the so-called “Venice of America” is nothing more than a sea of ugly towering condos. And you would, for the most part, be right. However, the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens is a welcome oasis from all the urban sprawl. Built in 1920, the Bonnet House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. We toured the scenic grounds and saw numerous iguanas, along with a raccoon pilfering a mango! The Bonnet House is located just off Sunrise Boulevard and A1A, directly across the street from the entrance to Birch State Park.