| Top Attractions | | South Beach | South Beach, or locally Sobe, the name given the south end of Miami Beach including the Art Deco district, is a tribute to what one dedicated citizen can accomplish. The largest concentration of Art Deco buildings in the world - 900 of them - this area had a date with the wrecking ball in the mid-'70s in order to make way for more highrise condos and skyscrapers. That was until Barbara Capitman set up the Miami Design Preservation League, had the area placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and raised the private funds necessary to save these colorful, gracious buildings.
Today, South Beach is an eclectic mixture of high fashion, trendy restaurants, and steaming Latin dance clubs. The playful buildings, a mixture of classic Art Deco curvaceous lines and fun Florida details, like flamingo motifs, porthole windows, and sunny Florida pastels, stand side-by-side along Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue. The beach here, a two-and-a-half-mile long powdery, white, sand stretch, attracts watersports enthusiasts, sun worshipers, and people watchers.
| | Nightclub Crawl | | Biscayne Bay | | Located between downtown Miami and Miami Beach, Biscayne Bay is home to the largest cruise port in the world as well as a couple of very exclusive, private island communities. Take a day cruise and see the beautiful estates that line the coast here. Or, grab a frozen margarita at the Bayside Marketplace downtown and watch the cruise ship ballet as these gentle giants slip slowly out to sea. | | Biscayne Bay Private Boat Charters | | Lincoln Road Mall | | Built in the 1920s to be the "Fifth Avenue of the South," this Art Deco pedestrian mall, like many other buildings in this area, fell on hard times by the 1970s. Today, restored and revitalized, Lincoln Road Mall is a collection of indoor/outdoor cafes, art studios and galleries, a movie theater featuring first run South American independent films, trendy apparel stores, and a variety of restaurants. There's an energy here that's almost tangible. Stores and galleries are open late. Spend the evening here. | | |  See All Miami Tours | | | | The Everglades | | Just east of Miami lies the sprawling Everglades National Park. This 1.4 million acre park is a vast sheet river system that moves slowly across a flat bed of limestone on its way to the sea. Rarely more than three feet deep, it is home to a myriad of wildlife, including alligators, egrets, sea otters, and green tree frogs. In fact, the whole landscape here seems alive. The park's boardwalk trails, about a half-mile of them, make it easy to view this marshy ecosystem. For a more in-depth look, take an airboat tour deep into the swamp. | | | | Everglades Wildlife Outpost: see exotic birds, alligators, crocodiles, and the largest collection of venomous snakes in South Florida. | | | | Bayside Marketplace | | At the end of Biscayne Bay, just across from the Port of Miami, is the fun, mixed-use complex called Bayside Marketplace. A combination international food court, open-air bazaar, white-linen restaurants, mall-type shopping, and unique trendy boutiques, this shopping center has something for everyone. The courtyard here, featuring street performers and live music, adds to the carnival atmosphere. On weekend afternoons, grab a drink and sit upstairs for a spectacular view of the huge cruise liners departing Miami. | | Little Havana | | Little Havana is the center of Cuban culture in south Florida. The thousands of Cubans that sought refuge in Miami after Castro overthrew their homeland in the early 1960s have brought their cuisine, their language, and their culture to this neighborhood. Little Havana is best enjoyed by walking the streets, the liveliest area being Calle Ocho between 11th and 17th Avenues. A salsa rhythm escapes from every other doorway accompanied by the aroma of wonderful things cooking. The energy here is contagious. Sample the cafe cubano (strong Cuban coffee) or try a plate of moros y cristanos (beans and rice). Cuban food is spicy, affordable, and delicious. | | Coral Gables | | Coral Gables, one of America's wealthiest neighborhoods, was designed as a planned community in the 1920s by architect, George Merrick. Its elegant homes, many along private canals, line tree-shaded avenues. The Biltmore Hotel, a grand neoclassical '20s masterpiece, recently restored to its original beauty, holds court in the center of town. Trendy, elegant, and eclectic shops compete with ethnic and fine-dining restaurants for visitors' attentions. Worth a visit if only to look at the spectacular buildings. | | Coconut Grove | | Coconut Grove is Miami 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 the neighborhood's main artery, Grand Avenue. | | Vizcaya | | A monument to the golden age of Florida, Vizcaya, the grand winter residence of millionaire '30s industrialist, James Deering, is Miami's most popular single sight. Completed in 1916, this opulent, neo-classical mansion was built to resemble an Italian villa and furnished with the spoils of Mr. Deering's many tours of Europe. Of particular interest here is the Deering bath with its marble walls, sterling silver wall decorations, and canopied ceiling. The formal gardens, behind the house, are a lovely mixture of traditional, formal English style and Florida's lush tropical vegetation. | | |
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