Miami Top Ten
If you have any spare time in Miami check out this top ten list of things to do and see:
1/ South Beach
Nicknamed SoBe, this neighborhood was the first section of Miami Beach to be developed and it remains the hub of beach life. Perfect spot for getting right into the Miami vibe.
2/ Art Deco on Ocean Drive
Don’t miss the stunning art deco buildings along Ocean Drive in South Beach. Ocean Drive is the centre of the Miami Art Deco District and home to over 800 stunning buildings from the 1930s and 1940s.
3/ In need of serious shopping?
Head to Lincoln Road Mall. Whilst this pedestrian mall is today dominated by chain stores and higher end retail stores it remains a very pleasant shopping mall and has plenty of great outdoor restaurants and offers a great place to relax, shop or simply people-watch. www.lincolnroad.org
4/ Key Biscayne
For a moment of calm away from the heat of Miami head over the Rickenbacker Causeway to Key Biscayne, an island town south of Miami Beach. With beautiful beaches and a nearby coastal barrier reef, Key Biscayne boasts the only federally recognized underwater archaeological trail in the USA.
5/ The Florida Keys
If you have longer, head south to the Keys. The gateway to the keys lies some 15 miles south of Miami and this magical tropical archipelago arcs down to the legendary Key West.
6/ Hit the Clubs
Miami has a well earned reputation for its night life. For an overview of some of Miami’s best nightlife visit http://miami.nightguide.com
7/ Bringing Children?
Miami Children’s Museum (www.miamichildrensmuseum.org) is a great place to visit if you’re bringing the kids and if you want to see endangered, rare and threatened animals then head to Zoo Miami (http://www.zoomiami.org/)
8/ Everglades Adventure
Take an airboat adventure around the amazing Everglades. This national park is only one hour drive from the hustle & bustle of Miami but covers an astounding 1.5 million hectares of tropical and sub-tropical habitat.
9/ A Taste of Cuba
To experience the Cuban lifestyle, take a trip to Little Havana, this neighbourhood is one of the main centres of social, cultural and political activity in Miami and undoubtably one of the best known neighbourhoods for Cuban exiles in the world. Packed with fruit stands, art galleries, Cuban eateries and cigar shops this is one of the most vibrant and exciting corners of Miami.
10/ Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens is a National Historic Landmark and one of the most magnificent museums in the USA. Built as a sub-tropical interpretation of an 18th Century Italian villa, the house preserves the Miami estate of agricultural industrialist James Deering. The house features over 2,500 art objects and there are some ten acres of beautiful formal gardens to explore. http://vizcaya.org