Paris1972-Versailles2003

Well in these days of pandemic and little travel, I have been looking back updating some older posts. This has brought lots of memories and thrills to relook these family trips that by then were buried in my blog. To my surprise, there were some new opportunities for posts with pictures that I had overlook posting, and this is the time as good as any to do so. Therefore, here is my take on this is Pembroke Pines !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The closest town to my last days in Florida was Pembroke Pines ,of course in Broward County, and only 22 miles (35 km) north of Miami. The surrounding towns to Pembroke Pines are Southwest Ranches, Davie, Cooper City, Hollywood ,Miramar,(see post my last home ) and the Everglades natural reserve.

Pembroke Pines was officially incorporated on January 16, 1960. The city’s name, Pembroke Pines, is traced back to Sir Edward J. Reed, a member of Britain’s Parliament for the County of Pembroke from 1874 to 1880, who in 1882 formed the Florida Land and Mortgage Company (still the basis of land plots in this part of FL) to purchase from Hamilton Disston a total of 2 million acres of mostly swampland located throughout the southern half of Florida. A road put through one of the tracts came to be known as Pembroke Road. When incorporating the city, Walter Smith Kipnis, who became the city’s first mayor, suggested the name Pembroke Pines because of the pine trees growing near Pembroke Road. (and this road was the diving line in my house between Pembroke Pines and Miramar !).

In 1980, property from Flamingo Road to U.S. 27 was incorporated into Pembroke Pines, doubling the size of the city. This expansion included the property that is currently C.B. Smith Park as well as what was once the Hollywood Sportatorium and the Miami-Hollywood Motorsports Park. Also in 1980, construction began to extend Interstate 75 from U.S. 27 towards Miami, passing through the new western part of the city. By 1984 the expressway reached Pines Boulevard, the main east-west arterial road in the city.

Right at the junction of Pembroke Pines and Miramar my twin boys left the USA to France from Silver Lakes Elementary School , and my oldest left from Silver Trail Middle School.

The city’s rapid population growth in the mid-to late 1990s was part of the effect of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Thousands of southern Miami-Dade County residents moved northward to Broward County, many to Pembroke Pines Yes we did but for schooling of my kids reasons after Andrew, it was like the neighborhood had moved !!

Pembroke Pines is primarily served by nearby Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, and Miami International Airport (used both more MIA). The city itself is home to North Perry Airport, a general aviation airport owned by the Broward County Aviation Department. Broward County Transit (also known as BCT) these never use! However, the roads plenty all of them !!  Interstate 75 (lived west of it),  Florida’s Turnpike (SR 91), US 27 (aka Okeechobee rd) ,University Drive (SR 817), Pines Boulevard (SR 820), Sheridan Street (SR 822), Flamingo Road (SR 823) and Pembroke Road (SR 824) ; the closest to my house !

The shopping other than some specific stores were done in Pembroke Pines Mall with some familiar stores such as Dillard’s (my parents favorite and gave me all their gifts from there!) Webpage: https://www.pembrokelakesmall.com/en.html

I am sad to see some of our favorite places have closed, so pictures are just for the memories. These were Quiznos sandwiches , Toys R Us, and Blockbuster Videos! However, glad to see WalMart Supercenter still there.

The city of Pembroke Pines:  https://www.ppines.com/

The local Fort Lauderdale tourist office on Pembroke Pines: https://www.visitlauderdale.com/beaches-and-beyond/cities-towns/pembroke-pines/

There you go folks, a dandy on memory lane. Wonderful times never to be forgotten, Florida is big for us! We must move on and found places just as good or better as now in my belle France; however, the memories of these places will remain in our hearts forever. Again, hope you enjoy the post on this is Pembroke Pines as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!