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Miami is without a doubt the most foreign of U.S. cities. The home of a large Hispanic population and the Latin American headquarters of some 120 multinational corporations, Miami has become more than just America's playground. It's a city whose cultural diversity has given it a vibrant edge and unique sense of place.

Throughout its one hundred-year history, Miami has been marked by constant change. Periods of prosperity have been punctuated by times of depression and uncertainty. But the overall result has been phenomenal growth, resulting in an ever-evolving skyline that mesmerizes, delights, and most of all attracts visitors from around the world. This fascinating metropolis, known as the Magic City, continues to transform itself, moving forward to even greater development in trade, real estate, tourism and the entertainment industry, and making a name for itself as a worldwide mecca for sun, fun and commerce.

Greater Miami Map Greater Orlando Map

One of the areas to benefit most from past and present development is downtown. Architecturally, the skyscrapers are among the most interesting in the country. By day, view the Atlantis, a building with a high-rise open-air courtyard (complete with palm tree) that was highlighted in the opening credits of the TV series Miami Vice. At night, the NationsBank Building becomes a towering beacon of colored light. The area is also a shopping mecca for visitors. Bayside Marketplace, a colorful shopping, dining and entertainment plaza, fronts Biscayne Bay, and often presents live music waterside. The Miami Art Museum of Dade County, located in the Metro-Dade Cultural Center, exhibits important collections from museums around the world. Next door, the Historical Museum of Southern Florida is a terrific atmosphere in which to learn about this subtropical state.

South Beach, the peninsular southern tip of Miami Beach, has become greater Miami’s most famous neighborhood. The Art Deco District refers to the one-square mile of 1930s’ buildings that have been restored to their original Art Deco, Streamline Moderne and Spanish Mediterranean Revival styles. The entire district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Within the district itself are a number of landmarks that are well worth a visit. The Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts, with its distinctive outdoor sculpture, is a favorite venue of the arts, where Broadway, ballet and Beethoven come to life under swaying palms. The Miami Beach Convention Center hosts a variety of events year-round, from flea markets to home and auto shows. The Holocaust Memorial is a moving tribute to the undying spirit of the city’s Jewish community.

The Wolfsonian museum displays a fascinating collection of late-19th and early-20th-century artwork, decorative elements, furnishings and ephemera. Even the Miami Beach post office, a classic example of Depression Moderne architecture, features a must-see mural in its lobby depicting part of South Florida’s colorful history. Lincoln Road Mall, once heralded as the Fifth Avenue of the South, has enjoyed a resurgence as the premier promenade of South Beach, with an array of galleries, shops, restaurants and bars that cater to a variety of tastes, styles and budgets.

Ocean Drive remains the riveting pulse of the Art Deco District. From 5th to 15th streets, the candy-colored hotels, cafés and clubs face the ocean. The constant sidewalk parade, a boisterous throng of celebrities, models, tourists and South Florida natives, has been compared to Rio’s world-famous Carnaval and New Orleans’ Mardi Gras. Here you can also catch a walking tour of the district for an even more in-depth look at its stunning architecture.

BLUE DOOR AT THE DELANO - Acclaimed chef Claude Troisgros combines the flavors of classic French cuisine with South American influences. 685 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL, USA Phone: 305/674-6400 (Near 16th Street in the Delano Hotel)

ASTOR PLACE - The Hotel Astor has a reputation for exceptional service, so it's only natural that its chic and airy restaurant, as light and ambient as a greenhouse, follow suit. -956 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, FL, USA Phone: 305/672-7217

The Biscayne Bay islands south of Miami Beach offer visitors a chance to see some of the natural wonders of South Florida. The Miami Seaquarium on Key Biscayne is fun way for the whole family to learn about the local sea life, as well as watch Flipper the dolphin and Lolita the killer whale perform high-flying tricks that amaze. Nearby is the natural splendor of Crandon Park and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area, complete with lovely beaches, nature trails and even a historic lighthouse.

Coconut Grove is a quirky, intriguing and fun place to encounter Miami’s more eclectic side, and it’s conveniently located just a short distance away from the downtown area. Its main streets are lined with hundreds of shops and restaurants offering the everything from the latest in high fashion and haute cuisine to the oddest in funky gift ideas and familiar burgers and fries. In addition, you can check out the sights that have made the Grove famous, including the Barnacle, Dade County’s oldest home still standing on its original site, now a museum showcasing the South Florida lifestyles of days gone by.

Located just outside of Coconut Grove, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a must-see for the visitor to Miami. Constructed by James Deering in 1916, this palatial estate-turned-museum is a beautiful example of Italian Renaissance architecture--with a South Florida twist. You can tour the rooms of the mansion, along with the beautifully kept grounds, for a unique blend of Old World style and Old Florida charm. South Miami is a worthwhile trip for the attractions that you’ll find there. Metrozoo is one of the country’s premier zoos, with over 900 animals housed on a 290-acre habitat. Nearby Monkey Jungle, at 62 years old one of Dade County’s oldest attractions, offers a unique experience--visitors are “caged” in an observation tunnel while the park’s primate residents roam free.

Beaches:
From 5th Street to 15th Street on Miami Beach, the sand is well-groomed and somewhat crowded. Stylish Ocean Drive hotels and sidewalk cafés offer a refreshing respite from the tropical sun. South Pointe Park, at One Washington Avenue, is also on the beach, and has picnic areas and places where you can watch the cruise ships sail in and out of Government Cut.

The attractive beaches from 21st Street to 35th street, on Miami Beach, are interspersed with snack bars and colorful lifeguard stands. A wooden boardwalk separates the shores from the Collins Avenue resort hotels--perfect for a morning jog or an afternoon stroll. There’s plenty of municipal parking in this area.

The northern beaches from 71st Street to 163rd Street offer a wide range of activities for the whole family to enjoy. You can find excellent fishing and a lively after-hours crowd on the Newport Pier, go kite flying or deep-sea fishing at Haulover Park and Marina, keep up with your fitness routine on the Vita Course on Bal Harbor’s beach, or have some family fun at Northshore Park.

Activities:
Miami’s subtropical weather prompts outdoor activities, especially water sports of all kinds. You can windsurf and scuba dive in the calm waters around Key Biscayne; go sailing from any one of the numerous marinas along Biscayne Bay and the Miami River; swim in style at the unique and beautiful Venetian Pool in Coral Gables; or take a relaxing canoe ride at the Oleta River Recreation Area. There’s no limit to the ways in which you can enjoy Miami’s aquatic offerings.

For those who prefer their fun on the ground, Miami’s list of land-based activities offers just as many choices. Go in-line skating in South Beach or Coconut Grove. Play a round of golf at one of several courses in Greater Miami, including the world-class Blue Monster course at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa, home of the famous Doral-Ryder Open competition. Or work on your backhand at one of the numerous tennis courts available.

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