Top Ten Attractions
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The Everglades
1.5 million acres of swamp, saw-grass prairies and sub-tropical jungles, best explored by slow-moving canoe or airboat. 35 miles south-west of Miami. http://www.nps.gov/ever/
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Vizcaya
A European-style mansion giving a glimpse of life in early 20th century south Florida. 34 rooms of antiquities and 10 acres of Italian gardens. http://www.vizcayamuseum.org
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South Beach
The quintessential Miami hot-spot. For shopping, partying and people-watching, this is the chic locale. http://www.miamibeachfl.gov
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Seaquarium
Great exhibits and exciting shows in a beautifully landscaped park overlooking Biscayne Bay. http://www.miamiseaquarium.com
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South Pointe Park
At the southern end of South Beach, a great place to view the huge luxury cruise ships leaving the port of Miami.
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Stiltsville
A collection of small houses built on stilts in very shallow water in Biscayne National Park. http://www.stiltsville.org
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Coral Castle
Made of native limestone and created single-handedly in 1923 by Latvian immigrant, Ed Leedskalnin, as a monument to his lost love. http://www.coralcastle.com
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Metrozoo
A 290-acre cageless zoo with a wide variety of animals from Asia, Australia and Africa. http://www.miamimetrozoo.com
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Parrot Jungle Island
Between downtown Miami and South Beach, a chance to get up close to some tropical birds in replicas of their natural habitats. http://www.parrotjungle.com
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News Cafe
Versace helped to make this one of the hippest places on Ocean Drive. One of the best sidewalk spots to observe the wacky, colourful mix of pedestrians who pass by. Try the News Cuban Steak Sandwich!
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** The Go Miami card is valid for 1,2,3,5 or 7 days and offers savings at all the top tourist attractions. **
http://www.gomiamicard.com
Eating and Drinking
With more than 6,000 restaurants to choose from, dining out in Miami has become a passionate pastime for locals and visitors alike. Star chefs have fused Californian-Asian with Caribbean and Latin elements to create a world-class flavour all its own: Floribbean. Think mango chutney splashed over fresh swordfish or a spicy sushi sauce served alongside Peruvian ceviche (a kind of seafood salad). Once synonymous with ‘early-bird specials,’ Miami’s new-wave cuisine now rivals that of San Francisco or even New York. This can be not only high in calories, but also high in price. But if you can manage to splurge at a top restaurant at least once, it’ll be worth it. One that’s often labelled as ‘best restaurant worth the wait for a table’ is the institution known as Joe’s Stone Crab Restaurant in Miami Beach. But as you’ll see on the website, www.joesstonecrab.com, it does not take reservations. It’s first come, first served, so prepare for a long wait for Joe’s Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes and Home Made Key Lime Pie to follow. Elsewhere, you can enjoy a moderately-priced meal and linger for hours without a waiter hovering over you. Seafood is plentiful and don’t be put off by the look of some seafood shacks in places such as Key Biscayne – often these get the best and freshest catches.
Shopping
Miami is one of the world’s premier shopping locations. People come to the city from all over – from Latin America to Hong Kong – in search of products that are all-American (like Levi’s and Nike). Miami offers a choice of megamalls, from the upmarket Village of Merrick Park and the mammoth Aventura to the ritzy Bal Harbour shops and touristy, yet scenic, Bayside Marketplace, to name but a few. There are also more unique shopping spots such as the area downtown known as the Biscayne Corridor (Biscayne Boulevard from 50th to about 79th Street). There are several kitschy, funky and arty boutiques as well as furniture stores with both antique and modern pieces. Slowly but surely South Beach has come into its own as far as shopping is concerned. While the requisite stores - Gap, Banana Republic et al. - have anchored here, several higher-end stores have also opened on the southern blocks of Collins Avenue, which has become the Madison Avenue of Miami. For the hippest clothing boutiques (including Armani Exchange, Ralph Lauren, Versace, Benetton, Levi's, Diesel and Club Monaco among others), stroll along this pretty strip of the Art Deco District. In the area known as Little Havana, you might want to buy hand-rolled cigars or the loose-fitting cotton or gauzy shirts known as guayabera. One idea might be to order the guide ‘Shop Miami,’ published by the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors’ Bureau. Although it’s limited to the Bureau’s paying members, it provides some good advice and discount offers. www.gmcvb.com/visitors/shopping_miami_program
Night Life
Miami’s after-dark scene – in South Beach and downtown – is hotter than ever before. South Beach is certainly the uncontested nightlife nucleus, but more and more diverse areas, such as Coconut Grove, the Design District, South Miami and even Little Havana are increasingly providing fun alternatives. While South Beach dances to a mainly electronic beat, other parts offer a Latin flavour – from salsa and merengue to tango and cha cha. In addition, there are jazz and blues bands in smoky clubs throughout Greater Miami. There are also countless bars and lounges – many of the best are in hotels - and most require proof that you’re over 21 to enter. For up-to-date listing information, check the Miami Herald’s Weekend section, which runs on Fridays, or the more comprehensive listings in New Times, Miami’s free alternative weekly. There’s also a good nightlife guide on www.gmcvb.com/visitors/nightlife.
The scene typically gets going around 11pm and although practically every club has installed closely-guarded velvet ropes to create an air of exclusivity, don’t be intimidated – anyone can go clubbing in the Magic City. One safety tip when you’re out: never put your drink down out of your sight – there have been unfortunate incidents in which drinks have been spiked.
