Paris1972-Versailles2003

I am on a nostalgic run and will tell you of my last home in the U S A ! This of course was in the Sunshine State of  Florida, of which I have several posts but not on my house per se. Thanks again for reading me since November 2010!! Let me tell you about my dear community of Silver Lakes homeowners association subdivision of Sapphire Bay of Miramar in Broward county, Florida !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

My last town was Miramar, Broward county, before leaping forward to France . After, all after convincing my girlfriend  to live with me in Florida for 13 years,  My then wife convince me in 2003 to come to France where we are already 19+ years. I came already as French ,since 2000.  Miramar was name after the city of Miramar in Havana, Cuba (also near where I was born). The city has adjacent towns such as Pembroke Pines,(for shopping) ;Hollywood (for the beach), West Park ,and  Miami Gardens. To the extreme west you find the Everglades! The division of Silver Lakes includes part of the towns of Miramar, and Pembroke Pines. We lived at Silver Lakes division or HOA,  west of I-75 interstate road on Sapphire Bay sub division.

A bit of history on Broward County tell us that It’s county seat is Fort Lauderdale. It was founded on April 30, 1915. It was intended to be named Everglades County, but then-Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Ion Farris amended the bill that established the county to be named in honor of Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, Governor of Florida from 1905 to 1909. In 1915, Palm Beach County and Dade County (now Miami-Dade county) contributed nearly equal portions of land to create Broward County.  Adjacent counties are to the north Palm Beach, south Miami Dade, west Collier, and northwest Hendry. Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport serves as the primary airport of the Broward County area. The airport is bounded by the cities Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Dania Beach;  three miles (5 km) southwest of downtown Fort Lauderdale  and 21 miles (34 km) north of Miami. The airport is near cruise line terminals at Port Everglades and is popular among tourists bound for the Caribbean. Public transportation available are the Broward County Transit, Tri-Rail, Sun Trolley, and the major roads passing by it are the Interstate 95, I-75 ,I-595 (Port Everglades Expressway), Florida’s Turnpike (SR 91) Florida’s Turnpike Homestead Extension (SR 821) ,and Toll State Road 869 (Sawgrass Expressway).

The Silver Lakes Community Association was established in 1990. From the opening of Brittany Bay sub division in 1991 to the opening of Pelican Isle sub division in 1998, SilverLakes has been one of the premier communities in Broward County.  My sons went to school here at Silver Lakes Elementary School,  2300 SW 173rd Ave, Miramar, memorable last school in the USA and they fondly remember it as well as their teachers! As well as briefly my oldest at Silver Trail Middle School 18300 Sheridan St, Pembroke Pines. Sapphire Bay (our subdivision) mostly features midsize homes that are competitively priced. This is a well-established community that continues to attract interest from buyers looking in the Miramar area

The Silver Lakes Community Park is a private park for Silver Lakes residents only. The community pool is only for the use of property owners, tenants, and their guests. The Pavilion at the SilverLakes Community Park can be reserved by SilverLakes residents for outdoor parties. This is at 925 NW 178 Avenue, Pembroke Pines.  Boater’s Parks are private and for SilverLakes residents only, they are in Pembroke Pine city limits. North Boater’s Park ,1001 NW 182 Way Amenities: Boat Ramp, Large Picnic Area. West Boater’s Park SW 182 Ave Amenities: Playground, 2 Small Picnic Pavilions, Exercise Equipment. South Boater’s Park 1401 SW 178 Avenue ​ Amenities: 3 Small Picnic Pavilions, Barbeque Station, Basketball Court, Volleyball Area.  West Broward Lodge no 253 is a privately owned facility located at the south end of the SilverLakes Community Park. Webpage : http://www.westbrowardhall.com/

There are several parks and facilities all over the Silver Lakes division, some of our memorable favorites were:

These are in Pembroke Pines city limits : SilverLakes North Park 2300 NW 172nd Avenue. SilverLakes South Park 17601 SW 2nd Street and SilverLakes Tennis Center 3302 SW 176th Terrace (close to home). These are in Miramar city limits : SilverLakes Sports Complex 17540 SW 23rd Street (I played softball here ! )​. Island Park  2925 SW 178th Avenue (very close to my home!) ​. Miramar Regional Park 16801 Miramar Parkway. Silver Lakes Tennis Complex, 3202 SW 176 Terrace,(close to home we taught my boys to play soccer and baseball here!!). 

Other memorable parks in Miramar were:  Forzano Field ,2001 Douglas Road. (where I played beach volleyball), and SoccerZone Indoor, 12216 Miramar Pkwy (where I played indoor soccer).  Elsewhere in the area we enjoyed going to C.B. Smith Park  900 N. Flamingo Rd., Pembroke Pines, and Hollywood North Beach Park at 3601 N. Ocean Dr., Hollywood by the beachfront. 

Some of the businesses we enjoyed and still there are:

We did our groceries exclusively at Publix Supermarket in the Shoppes of Silver Lakes, 18341 Pines Boulevard Pembroke Pines, and our bank was Bank of America in same shopping plaza at 18291 Pines Blvd. Well sometimes we did shop at Walmart Supercenter 151 SW 184th Ave, Pembroke Pines. Also, we love the bakery of Vicky Bakery ,15955 Pines Blvd. The good chicken of Pollo Tropical ,17539 Pines Blvd, the sandwiches of Quiznos Sub,18257 Pines Blvd. And more of Subway ,17724 Pines Blvd. We really like the human size shopping center of Pembroke Lakes Mall , 11401 Pines Blvd, Pembroke Pines. Dillard’s was my late dear Mom Gladys favorite store and all my gifts were purchase there ! The Home Depot ,for home supplies,11001 Pines Blvd, Best Buy for electronics/music etc at 11450 Pines Blvd, and our favorite book store, Barnes & Noble at 11820 Pines Blvd. Of course, there you once at home no pictures will need to visit to remind me to take some lol!

A bit of history I like tell us that my last city in the USA.  Miramar  is in Broward county, my last town in the USA, and it was name after the city of Miramar in Havana, Cuba (also near where I was born). The city has adjacent towns such as Pembroke Pines,(for shopping) ;Hollywood (for the beach), West Park ,and  Miami Gardens. To the extreme west you find the Everglades.  Miramar (English is seaview) was founded by A.L. Mailman to serve as a “bedroom community” for nearby Miami and Fort Lauderdale. He bought the original property he was to develop from H.D. Perry, Sr. in 1953.  The city was incorporated on May 26, 1955 bordered by the following cities,Pembroke Pines to the northwest and north,Hollywood to the  northeast, east West Park, and south Hialeah, Hialeah Gardens, and a bit of Miami Lakes. My sons went to school here at Silver Lakes Elementary School, memorable last school in the USA and they fondly remember it as well as their teachers! We lived at Silver Lakes Division west of I-75 interstate road on Sapphire Bay sub division our last spot in the USA and very fondly remembered it.

A bit of history on Florida tell us that it is located in the southeast of the United States, on the so-called Gulf Coast. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. it is the third most populous state in the country. With an area of 151,940 km2, Florida ranks 22nd among the United States. Florida’s coastline stretches some 1,930 km. Considering the bays and headlands, the cumulative length reaches around 13,600 km. No other US state, except Alaska, has a longer coastline. Florida is made up in the east of a peninsula of approximately 630 km long and in the west of a narrow coastal strip of approximately 330 km long in the shape of panhandle. It is subdivided into 67 counties which exercise various local prerogatives. The political capital is Tallahassee, but the most populated agglomeration is Miami. Since its discovery in 1513 by the Spanish Juan Ponce de León who baptized it “la Pascua Florida” (“Easter flowers” in reference to Palm Sunday). He landed on the eastern coast of the peninsula between April 2 and 8, 1513, probably near the site of the current city of Saint Augustine which in turn is founded in 1565 by Pedro Menendez de Aviles. The Pánfilo de Narváez expedition recognized the west coast of Florida, but the Spaniard died in a Native American attack in 1528. On May 30, 1539, Hernando de Soto landed near the current Bradenton south of Tampa Bay and explore the interior. Florida has been an issue for the European colonial powers before integrate the United States in 1845. In May 1865, the northern general Edward M. McCook was charged with regaining control of Florida. He challenged Colonel George Washington Scott, hoisted the flag of the United States on the state capitol in Tallahassee and read the proclamation of slave emancipation on May 12. The Civil War is over in Florida, which is officially reinstated in the Union on July 25, 1868.  Florida is becoming a major issue because of its proximity to the communist island of Cuba. It welcomes thousands of Cuban refugees. Miami gradually became one of the main economic centers of Latin America.

The official Silver Lakes HOA : https://www.silverlakes.net/

The city of Miramar on parks and recreation (search silver lakes): https://www.miramarfl.gov/Facilities

The city of Pembroke Pines on parks and recreation (search silver lakes): https://www.ppines.com/facilities

The Greater Ft Lauderdale tourist office on Miramar: https://www.visitlauderdale.com/beaches-and-beyond/cities-towns/miramar/

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

The official Florida tourist office: https://www.visitflorida.com/

We made a decision to move to France and we do not regretted as it has been a roller coaster of fun and memories. Now ,the French reason (my dear late wife Martine) is gone, but we still very much attach to France thanks to her courage and determination. Never to be forgotten. Silver Lakes, Sapphire Bay, Miramar, Broward county ,and Florida will always be in our hearts. There you go folks, a dandy on memory lane. Wonderful times never to be forgotten, Florida is big for us! After all our boys were born there ! The memories of these places will remain in our hearts forever. Again, hope you enjoy the post on my Silver Lakes home as I

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