Silver Falls - Miramar, FL

The city of Miramar was incorporated in the 1950s, and its population increased steadily throughout the ensuing decades as the draw of South Florida as a relocation destination combined with the desire for suburban living spurred extensive growth throughout the western reaches of Broward County.

The housing boom that took place in South Florida during the early and mid-2000s gave birth to Silver Falls, which fared pretty well during the subsequent financial meltdown, never experiencing the widespread foreclosure issues that plagued many neighboring communities.

For museums, arts and events, residents must travel outside the neighborhood, although not particularly far. The nearby city of Davie houses the Young At Art Museum, offering exhibits as well as classes for area youth to learn about art and music. The city of Miramar also hosts numerous annual events in conjunction with neighboring Pembroke Pines, including a 5K run each January.

Silver Falls contains no restaurants or nightlife within the neighborhood, but numerous destinations for both are scattered throughout the city of Miramar. Within a short drive of Silver Falls, you can find a diverse mix of culinary fare, including Latin, pizza, and sushi.

Latin Flavor on Miramar Parkway serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the restaurant offers a different special each day. Regulars order items such as the rabo encendido, an exotic ox tail dish with hot sauce and two sides, and the stuffed chicken cordon bleu. Drinks options include an expansive selection of beers, wines, sodas and fresh juices. Patrons recommend the guanabana juice.

For a choice of authentic pizza straight from the Mediterranean or hearty portions of homemade pasta, Silver Falls diners head over to La Famiglia Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria, which maintains an atmosphere more reminiscent of sitting down to dinner an Italian family. Every pizza comes made to order, from the crust to the toppings, and the calzones also rank as a favorite among regular diners.

Also on Miramar Parkway, Nami Sushi serves fresh sushi with dozens of preparation options, a full Japanese menu and an impressive selection of Chinese and Thai entrées. Choices include spicy tuna, avocado and seaweed salad. Crispy Asian chicken and grilled lamb chops rank as two of the favorites from the non-sushi menu. Dessert lovers should be sure to leave room for the tempura banana with ice cream or the Thai donuts.

Residents of Silver Falls can find a few little bars and nightlife destinations scattered throughout the local area, such as the popular Jersey's Wings and Raw Bar. This local dive has been entertaining locals and visitors with sports and entertainment, serving up draft beers and locally-renowned hot wings, and even hosting live bands since 1997. For more extensive nightlife, dance clubs and live music venues within about a 45-minute drive, residents have several options which include South Beach and Brickell in Miami and Los Olas in Fort Lauderdale, delivering a wide selection of exciting or casual entertainment choices.

The streets of Silver Falls feature well-kept sidewalks and very little traffic, but no bike lines, making them very popular among residents for strolls around the neighborhood, visiting neighbors or walking with pets and kids. For trips outside the neighborhood's boundaries, most people drive. The entire city of Miramar has abundant free parking, and Silver Lakes is situated conveniently near numerous highways and secondary roads.

For residents who choose not to drive, Uber maintains a presence in the area, as do traditional taxi companies that you can call for a pickup. A cab cannot be hailed in Silver Falls.

The city of Miramar provides a free community bus that features a stop near Silver Falls. This service transports riders only within the city of Miramar, but it offers a connection with Broward County Transit which operates throughout most of Broward County.

No parks exist within Silver Falls, but the city of Miramar contains several, with the largest being Miramar Regional Park. Covering over 170 acres, this park features exercise facilities, an aquatic center, numerous ball fields and tennis courts, and several playgrounds. There is no cost for parking or general admission, but use of certain amenities within the park requires paying a fee. Miramar Regional Park has plenty of space where both kids and dogs are welcome.

Vizcaya Park, the closest park to Silver Falls, features a regulation-size football field along with basketball facilities and an area for picnicking.

The Miramar Park Service maintains an active calendar of special events which include health fairs and celebrations of national holidays, such as Independence Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Silver Falls residents pay a premium for the comfort, convenience and amenities offered by the neighborhood. The cost of living is higher than South Florida's average. Residents pay an average of $1,455 in monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment, $3 for a beer in a local pub and $1.75 for a ticket on a Broward County Transit bus to downtown Fort Lauderdale. Area gas prices hover at two percent higher than the national average.

The Pembroke Lakes Mall sits a few miles north of Silver Falls, and its mix of big box retailers and high-end stores serves residents for large shopping trips. The surrounding area also features numerous boutiques and specialty shops that are popular with locals. A couple miles south off Flamingo Road, Fashion Instyle has been a popular boutique for finding high-end clothing, shoes and accessories since 2005. Eve's Treasures is another local boutique located in Miramar that offers the top brands in both men's and women's fashion for very low prices.

Relax and let the experts at Magical Moments Party and Events help you make that anniversary celebration, birthday or graduation party, church function, corporate event, school function or fundraiser, or even your wedding the best day ever. As preferred vendors for all Broward and Dade County Parks, Magical Moments provides your bounce houses and other children's entertainment as well as canopies and tents, catering and concession equipment, dance floors and lighting, and of course all of the flatware, glassware, linens and tables you need.

Numerous Publix locations sit within a short drive of Silver Falls and provide residents with convenient options for large grocery trips. Sedano's Supermarket, a popular Latin chain, has a location a few miles south.