Miami

miamibeach674068_1920Miami is one of the state’s – as well as the world ’s popular vacation spots. The Miami area offers multiple enticements. The trendy nightlife of South Beach, bejeweled by the eye candy of the Art Deco district though destinations frequently are said to offer something for all. The bustle of Little Havana of the highly caffeinated energy and Calle Ocho. The posh resorts of the historic hideaways as well as Miami Beach.. Seemingly endless shopping opportunities in modern, sprawling malls as well as the quiet, personal consideration given by the family-owned stores of Coconut Grove and a number of other corners of the area. The baits of deep-sea fishing and golf and tennis. Major league football, basketball, ice hockey and baseball. Boat shows and auto racing. Art festivals and outside food and wine extravaganzas. An international airport along with the world’s busiest cruise port. The Miami area offers all this – and so much more.

Miami is mainly known for being a popular holiday destination. The town has many wonderful beaches and a booming nightlife. Miami has been described by Time magazine as “The Capital of Latin America,” and it is famous for being a centre for trade, business, entertainment, pop culture and the arts.

Miami is situated in southeastern Florida along the Atlantic coast. Miami is situated on a wide plain lying between Biscayne Bay and the Florida Everglades. The Port of Miami is the biggest cruise ship port in the whole world.

 Of course, Miami is well-known for its Art Deco architecture, and it’s not surprising that the U.S. sponsor city of Art Basel Miami Beach has a lively cultural scene. In between sunbathing, swimming, lounging at the pool and sipping cocktails below are a few things you can certainly do in the Miami area:

Miami Beach, Florida

Visit South Beach

South Beach occupies one of the best, highly sought-after, beach front places on Earth between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay. Because of its excellent nightlife, exceptional hotels and resorts, art galleries, exceptional, bars, boutique shopping & restaurants, it truly is a favorite entertainment destination for locals, national & international tourists. Additionally, the sought after place to keep to attend, only a short cab rde, to the Miami Heat and also other stadium events.

There’s a reason South Beach is constantly mobbed with tourists. It’s really pretty great, even should it bolster Miami stereotypes of young, swimsuit-clad crowds hanging poolside, models and rollerbladers gliding down Ocean Drive. Start your morning with fresh croissants at Café Nikki, or, the killer champagne brunch at parent beach club Nikki Beach if it’s a weekend. Head north on Ocean Drive and stroll past the hyper- tanned reality TV stars and scenesters in the sidewalk cafés, designer boutiques, lounge bars and dusk -till-morning nightclubs. If you’re able to snag a table that is—they’re understood for being two of the toughest reservations in town.

Biscayne Bay
CC BY-NC-ND by Foto Captor

Head to Art Deco on Ocean Drive

The Art Deco District of Miami Beach is the first 20th century area to be recognized by the National Register of Historic Places, with 800 constructions of historical importance, most constructed between 1943 and 1923. The fanciful pastel buildings, with porthole windows, ship-like railings, sleek curves, gleaming terrazzo floors, glossy chrome, and glass blocks are eye candy that is prime.

One of South Florida’s most interesting attractions, located in the heart of the South Beach Art Deco District. WEAM’s 12,000-square-foot display is host to the world’s largest public view collection of erotic art, with thousands of fascinating, one-of-a-kind historical and contemporary pieces. The collection covers all centuries, cultures, art mediums and lifestyles. Open 11 a.m.-midnight daily, including holidays. No one under 18 years of age admitted. Admission is $15.

Fascinating fact: The ostensibly iconic candy colours of some of Miami’s Deco buildings aren’t first but were introduced as a preservationist’s attention-catching tactic—the buildings were initially painted white with pale trim that is subtle.

Blue man sculpture at the design district in Miami midtown

Hang out in the Design District

The Miami Design District is an area focused on progressive design, trend, architecture and dining experiences. The developers of this district have transformed the once-overlooked region of Miami into a lively destination for visitors and residents by presenting the most effective shopping, culinary and cultural experiences within an architecturally important circumstance. The vision to get a rejuvenated Design District — sensitive to the historical, urban and tropical circumstance – was codified within an urban master plan produced by the award winning master planners Duany Plater-Zyberk, using the added involvement of architects including Walter Chatham, Hariri and Hariri, Juan Lezcano, Terence Riley, and Alison Spear. A remarkable devotion is embodied by the Miami Design District to the unity of art, fashion, design and architecture, and a devotion to support an area comprised of creative encounters.

The former Decorators’ Row has grown right into a heart for fashion vanguard architecture and art. One of the many high-end interior showrooms is Holly Hunt, offering furnishings by the likes of Rose Tarlow, Christian Liaigre and Wendell Castle. In addition to the Institute of Contemporary Art, an increasing amount of galleries include not for profit artist space Locust Projects, popular for its artsy fundraisers and site-specific installations, and Palm Court’s Opera showcasing works by Keith Haring, Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol, among other modern masters. Multilevel, open-air shopping complex Palm Court is also the place to look for luxury fashion labels including Emilio Pucci and Giorgio Armani.

Little Havana Miami

Visit Little Havana

Although Cuba is only 90 miles away from Key West, Florida you could get the flavor of Cuba in Little Havana. After Fidel Castro came to power in 1959, thousands of Cubans fled to Miami and, while many went to other parts of town, their heritage survives on Calle Ocho (SW 8th St). Halt by Azucar Ice Cream Company to get a flavor of (imaginary) Cuban flavors, just like the Abuela Maria—vanilla along with crumbled Maria biscuits, hunks of guava and dollops of cream cheese.

SW 8th Street (generally called Calle Ocho), the neighborhood’s main drag, as well as the encompassing region really are a testament to the American vision pursued by the thousands and tens of thousands of Cubans who fled to Miami after Fidel Castro came to power in 1959. Vestiges of the lives they left behind are evident in the different Mediterranean-design coral stone and stucco houses—whole with cane rocking chairs on their light-painted front porches—reminiscent of Havana’s Vedado and Miramar neighborhoods.

lincoln-road-mall

Shop at Lincoln Road Mall

Just a couple blocks from the beach and world-renowned Ocean Drive is Lincoln Road Mall — South Florida’s premier outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment destination. This mile long, pedestrian -only promenade boasts a happening road landscape with throngs of local and out of town visitors, outstanding shopping, and amazing dining options.

Situated between West Avenue and Washington Avenue (Map), Lincoln Road Mall offers unique shopping, pavement cafes, pubs, galleries, and fine dining.

Lincoln Road is often voted as Miami’s best people watching spot. Pubs and most eateries take great advantage of the endless sunshine by offering umbrella-covered outside chairs.

Lincoln Road offers a superb assortment of both casual and chef- .

With its beautiful views groovy lounge tunes that are – – and a wide variety of delicious cocktails – Juvia is the best place to cool after a long day.

Located on the penthouse level of 1111 Lincoln Road, Juvia is an indoor /outdoor restaurant & cocktail lounge. Getting there: take the Juvia lifts up to the penthouse level on the corner of Lenox Avenue and Lincoln Road.

Port of Miami

Take in the Beauty of Vizcaya

Vizcaya is one of the top tourist attractions in the Miam area and definitely worth a trip. Perched right on Biscayne Bay, on Miami’s south side, the rambling Italianate mansion that once belonged to industrialist James Deering (of tractor recognition) will take you back into a time when Miami was full of trees rather than traffic.

The superbly kept up 34-room mansion, constructed in the 1910s, is surrounded by acres of peaceful European-style gardens chockablock with statuary and fountains, a few of which date back to antiquity. The pièce de résistance, nevertheless, is the ornamental breakwater that sits in the bay. Carved from Florida limestone in the form of an oversize Venetian barge, it’s studded with a variety of ornamental sculpture — and makes for among the very sublime sundown photo ops in Miami.

Atlantic Ocean

Escape to Wonderful Key Biscayne

It can be only a 15-minute drive from downtown Miami, but Key Biscayne feels a world away from the bustle and the party vibe of South Beach. The tiny island is home to 2 state parks, as well as quiet, palm-tree-fringed beaches, bike paths, restaurants and high-end lodgings.

The secluded island of Key Biscayne, Florida may be reached through the scenic Rickenbacker Causeway crossing beautiful Biscayne Bay. Located south of north of Coconut Grove and Downtown Miami, Key Biscayne touts miles of golden sand beaches and quaint, quiet neighborhoods.

Key Biscayne is a picturesque mixture of low key local flavor and relaxed tourist destination; it is the right place to unwind, relax and connect with one of the natural beauty in Miami. Little boutiques and fresh seafood restaurants are all over the tiny island of Key Biscayne.

The northernmost island in the Florida Keys offers gorgeous views of Miami, two waterfront parks, a cycling path and pristine beaches. Springtime brings the Miami Open tennis tournament, as popular for celebrity sightings as for the matches that are riveting.

Escape to the Miami Zoo

This video features some of the best things to do at the Miami Zoo

 

Orlando Fort Lauderdale

Miami at Night – Fantastic Video