North Miami Beach

When you see the Sunshine State Arch, you know you're getting close to Uleta. This symbol of midcentury modern style is a good representation of this neighborhood of homes that are “just the right size for growing families,” says Rafael Gonzalez, a Realtor and business broker with Real Estate Sales Force. In Uleta, you’ll find well-maintained ranch-style homes built in the 1950s that list for between $400,000 and $650,000. These houses feature neatly fenced yards, mature palms and unique architectural details. Many offer carports with Tesla chargers, wide paved drives with plenty of room for extra vehicles, and lush front lawns fed by irrigation systems. Spacious backyards for entertaining, some with lap or swimming pools, beautiful patios and fruit trees for shade, are also important to homeowners here. Commercial and industrial buildings dominate the western part of the neighborhood, on the other side of Interstate 95, where you’ll find office buildings and warehouses mixed in with storage and retail spaces. The schools that serve Uleta include Gertrude K. Edelman/Sabal Palm Elementary School, which received a B from Niche. The elementary offers free homework help online in English and Spanish and after-school programs designed to boost social skills and help students develop healthy habits. Andover Middle offers the Cambridge Secondary 1 Program, an accelerated method of academic study from Cambridge International Examinations that allows students to pursue coursework in technology, health science, business education and the arts. At North Miami Beach Senior High, magnet programs have a distinctly college-preparatory focus. Students learn to enhance their leadership and communication skills and respond to the demands of a highly technical and educated workforce. At the Miami-area campus of Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology, high school graduates, too, can work toward degrees and diplomas in nursing, radiology and other medical professions. To beat the heat, residents head to the Uleta Park swimming pool in the summer. In cooler weather, the pool is heated, and the baseball diamond, basketball courts and playground are usually full. The Uleta Community Center, also on park grounds, offers a Best Loved After School Time (or BLAST) Program for K-8 students and features a computer lab, meeting rooms, a teen lounge and teen programs. At Top Golf Miami Gardens, no one worries about the weather. This climate-controlled entertainment destination features hitting bays with HDTVs, complimentary clubs (or you can bring your own), and high-tech balls that keep score when you hit any of the giant outfield targets. Top Golf also serves food and cocktails and is one of the best places to socialize in the Miami Gardens area. For groceries or most anything, you’ll find a Walmart Supercenter on Northwest Second Avenue, just around the corner from Top Golf. When it's time to make your house into your home, décor and furniture retailers such as Ashley are also nearby. To the east, dozens of restaurants line Northeast 167th Street, offering a wealth of international cuisine — “Lebanese, Russian, Chinese and Spanish food are just a few examples,” Gonzalez says. One restaurant to try is Dumpling King. Known for its bundles of goodness, which can be sweet or served in broth to enrich their flavor, this eatery serves food that is authentic and reasonably priced. Getting to the beach or shopping centers such as Aventura Mall, with its renowned luxury brands and cutting-edge architecture, is easy with the Golden Glades Interchange. Six major highways, including I-95, Florida’s Turnpike and the Palmetto Expressway, meet at the interchange, which forms the base of the neighborhood. The nearby Golden Glades Station, too, gives commuters easy access to the Tri-Rail line, the train system that links Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. If midcentury modern is your thing, or if you’re looking for a beautiful home that’s a quick drive to Sunny Isles Beach, Haulover Beach, and several prime shopping and entertainment centers, check out Uleta. Here, you’re minutes from the main arteries that keep South Florida moving.