Miami, Florida, has always billed itself as a travel destination. Warm weather, sandy beaches and bright sunshine were selling points more than 100 years ago, just as they are today. But Miami’s allure extends beyond its shores. People from all over the Caribbean and Latin America have settled in Miami, giving the city its distinctive, lively international character.
The warm-weather fun is still a big attraction, but the biggest draw is the cosmopolitan flavor coupled with all the great restaurants, sports teams (Dolphins, Heat, Hurricanes and Marlins) and upscale sheen—plus a long list of TV shows that have “Miami” in their titles.
South Beach, with its cheerful, sherbet-colored art-deco buildings and palm-tree-lined avenues, is the center of Miami’s trendy dining and nightlife scene. Other corners of Miami, including Coconut Grove and Coral Gables, offer their own versions of fine living and colorful happenings.
And don’t overlook the natural world—though you may have to drive to the Everglades to get a good view of it.
Sights — The breathtaking view of the city from the MacArthur Causeway at night; Everglades National Park; the palmy streets and posh estates of Coral Gables, Coconut Grove and CocoWalk, South Beach.
Museums — The Italianate gardens of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, artnouveau and artdeco objects at the Wolfsonian-FIU Museum on South Beach, first-rank traveling exhibits at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) in North Miami, extensive collections at Lowe Art Museum on the University of Miami campus in Coral Gables, the Bass Museum of Art in Miami Beach.
Memorable Meals — Eat stone crabs with the rich and famous at Joe’s Stone Crab Restaurant, Eurohip at The Forge; Cuban favorites in an upscale atmosphere at Versailles Restaurant & Bakery; fusion fare at Azul, dry-aged beef and truffled mac-and-cheese at Prime One Twelve.
Late Night — The street scene in South Beach; the sidewalk bars and bistros, shops and nightclubs along Lincoln Road and elsewhere in Miami Beach, Coconut Grove, Southwest Eighth Street.
Recreation — Golfing at one of Miami’s many courses; betting on a horse race; boating, scuba diving, snorkeling or fishing in the Atlantic or Biscayne Bay, hang gliding, kite boarding and windsurfing on Biscayne Bay along Rickenbacker Causeway, bicycling or in-line skating through Coconut Grove or South Beach.
Especially for Kids — Performing dolphins at the Miami Seaquarium, tigers at Zoo Miami, Monkey Jungle, boat and tram tours in Everglades National Park, hands-on activities at the Miami Science Museum and Miami Children’s Museum, bananas and exotic fruits growing at the Fruit and Spice Park in Homestead.
Last update: October 09, 2015