Miami
A perfect day in Miami
Travel down the east coast of the United States and eventually you’ ll find yourself in Miami, on a finger of land that pokes between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. You’ re only a few degrees shy of the tropics, and that sultry atmosphere is enhanced by the rich variety of cultural influences.
Head across the bridge from Miami Beach, passing plenty of cruise ships in dock on the way, to the heart of the downtown area. It is in a picturesque setting with the skyscrapers of the city alongside Biscayne Bay. Between the water and the city sits Bayfront Park, overlooking the marina. It’ s a nice park which also has shopping and dining options.
You’ ll definitely want to check out Calle Ocho in Little Havana, the vibrant Cuban neighbourhood. Calle Ocho is the main street in Little Havana where fruit stands, art galleries, Cuban restaurants and cigar shops line the avenue. The famous domino park is an open air area with tables where locals while away the afternoon playing dominoes.
Next, it’ s back to buzzing Miami Beach for a wander along the boardwalk where you can gaze over the white sand and crystal blue waters or to admire the beautiful Art Deco architecture. In 1926 South Beach was flattened by a huge hurricane and the subsequent building boom meant a concentration of Art Deco buildings. They really are gorgeous and if you stroll south between Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue, you will see many of the most impressive examples.
Our favourite places to stay:
• Holiday Inn Miami Beach Oceanfront
• Surfcomber Hotel South Beach
• Royal Palm South Beach
• Loews Miami Beach Hotel
Our favourite things to see and do
Hop on Hop off Tour – This is a great way to get to the different areas of Miami and to learn about the city along the way.
Ocean Drive – Fronting the beach in South Beach there are lots of cafés and bars along here. It is the place to be and be seen.
Art Deco Museum – This small exhibit will teach you all about the major historic design styles in Miami Beach( Mediterranean Revival, Art Deco and Miami Modern). They also take walking tours from here.
Lifeguard Towers – All along the beach are the funky, brightly painted lifeguard towers that the area is famous for, they are dotted along the beach and all are different – great for photo ops.
Española Way – This is a cute little pedestrian street in South Beach that has a good selection of restaurants including a traditional Cuban restaurant.
South Pointe Park – A nice park at the southern end of South Beach with great views up Miami Beach and into the port. You can also see across to Fisher Island which is an exclusive private island community.
Bike Tours – Miami is very flat, so bike tours are a great way to explore. Some of the most popular are the Little Havana Bike Tour, Art Deco Segway Tour and the Miami Beach Bike Tour.
Everglades – This preserved ecological system is just an hour’ s drive and is the third largest National Park in the U. S. These lush subtropical wetlands occupy 1.5 million acres of sawgrass prairies, saltwater marshes and a diverse population of wildlife that includes bald eagles, white-tailed deer, and of course the alligators.
Key West Tour – If you don’ t have time to spend in the Florida Keys this is a great way to get a taste. You will head down to Key West and once there you’ ll have free time to do your own thing.
Museum Park – This park in the central city holds lots of outdoor events and is home to two excellent museums. The Perez Art Museum, housed in an impressive state of the art building, and the Patricia & Phillip Frost Museum of Science that reopened in 2016 after an extensive refurbishment.
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens – This is a very grand European style mansion with lovely gardens that were built in the early 1900s. They retain much of their original character and you’ ll be forgiven for thinking you’ ve just popped to Italy.
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