Whether
it's riding high over downtown Miami on the MetroMover
or
cruising the canals of Miami Beach, there’s plenty
to see and do in Greater Miami and almost as many ways to see
it all. From
swamp buggies, to the Heat Wave bus, to personal watercraft,
MetroRail, parasail or tap-tap jitney, tours
and transportation
here abundant and extremely useful when one is
attraction-hopping.
First
and foremost, what makes Miami such a popular
tourist destination are its beautiful beaches.
The fine white sand and clear blue waters at and
surrounding Miami Beach are
among the loveliest and least expensive attractions
in town.
Miami Beach’s Ocean Drive is as good a place (
day or night) for people-watching as anywhere else
in the world. And watch those crowds carefully, for you
just might locate some celebrities!
Aside
from the fantastic beaches,
Miami is also known for its astounding nightlife,
world-renowned cuisine, and
prolific art scene, making this city an
extremely well-rounded tourist destination. Other attractions range from historical landmarks
such as the Gold Coast
Railroad Museum and the Holocaust
Museum, to lush tropical parks such as Fairchild
Tropical Garden and Bayfront
Park.
On
a grander scale, Miami is also famous for its multicultural and
tropical neighborhoods.
For instance, there's the majestic and beautiful Biscayne
Bay and Key
Biscayne; the unique Stiltsville, where a
handful of residents built their bay-side homes on stilts;
and the impeccable Virginia Key
district, where you can lie back on the sand and watch the influx of planes and
ships while you catch some rays.
Miami
features world-class shopping
as well,
with a wide array of commercial and personalized
locations fit to match any preference or budget. From the big-name retail
outlets at Miami
Beach, to the outdoor shopping at
Coco
Walk and Mayfair,
to the upscale Bal Harbour Shops,
to the eclectic Lincoln Road Mall,
to the famed Miracle Mile,
to the huge selection of conventional
enclosed malls; Miami
has everything you're looking for and more when it
comes to shopping.
Naturally,
a city so big on tourism must have plenty of chic hotels.
Examples include the historic Biltmore,
a gem in luxurious
Coral Gables, and the colorful Art Deco hotels
at Miami Beach.
If
sports are your thing,
then hopefully you are well aware of the fact that Miami is home to the NFL's Miami Dolphins,
the NBA's Miami Heat, the 1997 World Series champion Florida
Marlins, the Ericsson Open tennis tournament, the
University of Miami Hurricanes and much more. Also,
the NHL's Florida Panthers are just a
short ride north in Broward County at the National
Car Rental Center.
Bringing
the kiddies along? Well not to worry because Miami
has a multitude of family attractions that appeal to
all ages. Be sure to check out some fun and
educational attractions such as the Miami
Seaquarium, the Monkey
Jungle, the Parrot Jungle, and the excellent MetroZoo.
These places are perfect for bringing a date,
especially when it's
raining.
For
you heavy culture seekers, there are other attractions unique only to Miami,
such as the puzzling Coral
Castle, t
he funky Art Deco District
and the
beautiful Venetian Pool, which is as
much a recreational
spot as it is an attraction. Then
there is Little Havana, where you can
visit the El Credito Cigar
Factory and watch workers
turn out stogies with old-school Cuban mastery. And
don't forget Calle Ocho, the main street of Miami’s
bustling Cuban community.
(Head north
from Little Havana to Little Haiti, where you’ll
see brightly painted homes and shops and have an
opportunity to take a ride in a tap-tap jitney.)
Life in Miami
could not thrive as it does -- in full swing with an international charm -- without its
musical might. A magical
combination of salsa, meringue, tejano, disco,
rock, blues and cool jazz makes people here want to
get down and Live
La Vita Loca, baby!
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