An overview of the fun, varied, and exciting things to do in Miami, Florida.
Miami, called the "Magic City," was little more than a trading outpost just one hundred years ago. Today, it is a vibrant, culturally diverse city with over two million residents. Its sunny weather, pristine beaches, and vibrant rhythm make it a fun city to visit. Make sure you include the following:
Coral Gables
Coral Gables, a separate community within Miami, was planned in the 1920s by architect, George Merrick. Its elegant homes line tree-shaded avenues. The Biltmore Hotel, recently restored to its 1920s grandeur, holds court in the center of town. Coral Gables is home to trendy shops, most located along the area called the "Miracle Mile," and a variety of ethnic and fine-dining restaurants. Worth a trip here just to look at the buildings.
Watch the Cruise Ship Ballet
Every weekend, dozens of 2000-passenger cruise ships depart the Port of Miami for The Bahamas, The Caribbean, and points beyond. These elegant giants leave Dodge Island, just off downtown Miami, in the late afternoon each Friday thru Monday. From the deck of the Bayside shopping plaza, sip a frozen margarita, or other frozen concoction, as you watch the orderly procession, as one after another ship eases out to sea.
Bayside
Just across the harbor from Dodge Island, where the cruise ships depart each weekend, is the Bayside shopping center. This mixed-use complex is home to trendy boutiques, open-air kiosks, outdoor entertainment, nightclubs, and white-linen restaurants. (The Argentine steak restaurant is particularly good.) There's also a Hard Rock Café here. The wares sold at Bayside are a unique mix of Caribbean, Floridian, Cuban, and just plain funky.
Little Havana
Just west of downtown, Little Havana is the center of Cuban culture in south Florida. Thousands of Cubans have sought refuge in Miami since Fidel Castro overthrew their homeland in the early 1960s. They have brought with them their cuisine, their language, and their way of life. The best way to get a feel for Little Havana is to walk the streets, the liveliest being Calle Ocho between 11th and 17th Avenues. A salsa beat comes out of every other doorway and the smell of wonderful things cooking drifts out of the others. The energy of this neighborhood is almost tangible and it is certainly contagious. Sample the café cubano (Cuban coffee) or try a plate of Moros y cristanos (beans and rice). Cuban food is spicy, plentiful, and delicious.
Also on Calle Ocho is a small, authentic Cuban cigar factory where you can watch the tobacco rollers at work and buy a variety of (non-Cuban) cigars.
The Everglades
To the east of Miami lies Everglades National Park. Covering 1.4 million acres, the park still makes up only one-fifth of the entire Everglades area. A vast sheet river system that moves slowly across a flat bed of limestone to the sea, it is rarely more that 3 ft deep. Home to a myriad of wildlife, The Everglades is the place to see alligators, egrets, sea otters, and green tree frogs in their natural habitat. The park's boardwalk trails, about half a mile of them, make it easy to view this swampy ecosystem. Or take an airboat for a more in-depth tour.
Miami Beach's Art Deco District
Now called "American's Riviera", the Art Deco District was just a sand bar a hundred years ago. The construction of a bridge to the mainland encouraged development in the 1920s and 1930s. The result was the world's largest concentration of Art Deco buildings. Their pastel colors, curved moldings, and wrap-around windows glisten along Ocean Drive, South Beach's main drag.
The Art Deco district fell into disrepair after World War II and many buildings were slated for the wrecking ball by the mid-70s. In one of the most successful private venture movements ever, individuals and companies anted up to save the district. One by one these graceful buildings were transformed into showplaces once again. Today, the Art Deco district is a favorite of models and photographers, international "jet-setters", and trendy residents and tourists. Dance clubs, many of them Latin music clubs, and restaurants of all genres line Ocean Drive. The spectacular architecture combined with the Florida sun makes this a "must-see" destination.
South Beach
The beach along the south coast of Miami Beach is one of the best in the world. Stretching the entire length of Miami Beach, this wide expanse of sand is continually replenished to counter coastal erosion. This is a "see and be seen" beach with topless sunbathing tolerated, if not exactly legal. Surfers flock to the south end of the beach, whereas the northern end is popular with older local residents.
Vizcaya
Florida's grandest residence was completed in 1916 as the winter residence of James Deering, millionaire industrialist. This reminder of the golden age of Florida was built to resemble an Italian villa with a center courtyard. The opulent rooms are a combination of neo-classical and renaissance design and furnished with the spoils of Mr. Deering's many trips to Europe. Of particular interest is the Deering bathroom with its marble walls, silver wall motifs, and canopied ceiling. The formal gardens are a beautiful combination of traditional English style and Florida's lush tropical plants.
Coconut Grove
Coconut Grove is Miami's oldest neighborhood. Settled in the early 1800s by "wreckers", people who lived off the salvage from wrecked ships, Coconut Grove was a hangout for hippies and counter-culture types in the 1960s before transforming itself into a mecca for the young, chic, and fashionable set. Today, Coconut Grove is lined with cafes, upscale restaurants, and offbeat one-of-a-kind clothing shops.
The heart of this area is CoCowalk, an outdoor mall with restaurants, a movie theater, shopping, and a nightclub. On Saturday mornings, a farmer's market with vendors selling fresh produce, flowers, and crafts, sets up shop along Grand Avenue.
