Miami Florida - Florida's Vacation and Beach Guide

Miami is an exciting, vibrant city set within a lush, tropical landscape. This is a remarkable contrast to its origins of a remote fishing village barely over a century ago when the area was mostly mosquito-infested swamp. Today, Miami and Miami Beach are top destinations for business and travelers. People flock to Miami for business, sun, sand, beaches, and entertainment - this place really rocks!

Miami has a strong Hispanic flavor with many of its residents from Cuba, Haiti and various Caribbean and Latin American countries. The result is an American city with great ethnic and cultural diversity.

Downtown Miami is accented with an array of glistening high-rise buildings.The area is a bustling business center. A great way to get a quick tour of this area is on the Metromover - a fully automated rail car that runs on an elevated loop through the heart of Miami's business district. The area is rich in cultural offerings including the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts and several museums such as the Miami Art Museum and the Historical Museum of Southern Florida.

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The Bayside Marketplace is a very popular open-air, festive shopping mall with over a hundred shops, several restaurants and general entertainment. Its waterside front overlooking Biscayne Bay is a good place to engage in boat tours and trips throughout the area.

The greater Miami area also includes the upscale community Coral Gables with its impressive Mediterranean architecture, and trendy Coconut Grove as well as the distinctive neighborhoods of Little Havana and Little Haiti.

Just outside Miami to the southwest is Metrozoo, one of Florida's finest zoos. This zoo provides its 'residents' with a natural and largely cage-free environment.

Two miles offshore from Miami is the barrier island Miami Beach. Ocean Drive, along the southern end of Miami Beach, is a lively stretch of roadway.This strip is a favorite among residents and visitors with its fascinating architecture, stunning beaches, many restaurants, sidewalk cafes, hotels, bars and its nice walkway along the beach. South Pointe Park on the southern most end of this barrier island is a great family beach of fine golden sand, overlooking the Port of Miami cruise and cargo ship traffic.

Miami Beach is also famous for its Art Deco district - perhaps the largest collection of art deco architecture in the world.This mile square district in the southern portion of Miami Beach is known for its 1920-1940s era Art Deco architecture. Many beautiful buildings are bathed in tropical pastel colors and decorated inside and out with various Art Deco styles.

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