There is more to Miami than Miami Beach and Joe's Stone Crab. Nicknamed The Magic City, Miami rose up from a murky swamp 120 years ago to become a hub for the Americas, where Spanish is preferred and the cafecitos are strong. When you visit Miami, be sure to take in the light: Miami has a brilliance unlike anywhere else in the world, which makes it a year-round location for fashion shoots, films and commercials. Miami lives up to its reputation as a city of Latin-style fun, glitz and glamour and has transformed from seedy to sensational. The world is taking notice. One final style tip to help you pack: If you have a little flash in your wardrobe, this is the place to wear it. Leave any reservations behind. Think animal prints, Versace, color, heels. When in Miami, go for it!
Mid-beach is the hippest neighborhood beach. It spans roughly 25 blocks between the boardwalks of South Beach and the shopping district of Bal Harbour. Mid-beach is great for swimming, sunbathing and people-watching. Miami’s Art Deco District on Ocean Drive, with over 800 buildings dating from the 1920s to the 1940s, is on the National Register for Historic Places. Stop by the Art Deco District Welcome Center on Ocean Drive north of Fifth street for self-guided audio tours. Lincoln Road is a pedestrian mall with lunch spots, bars, shops, and local characters with small dogs in silly outfits.
The city’s top museums include The Bass Museum of Art and The Wolfsonian. The Design District is one of the most exciting new neighborhoods in Miami. This arts neighborhood has become a go-to dining spot for celebrated chefs from around the world. Graffiti artists have created the Wynwood murals, blocks of urban graffiti that have turned the neighborhood into an outdoor art gallery. (You'll want a selfie in front of these!) The Venetian Pool is a strange and wonderful spring-fed quarry pool with waterfalls and caves.
Little Havana is a center for Miami’s vibrant Cuban community. You’ll find food trucks, the best Cuban sandwiches around and late-night salsa clubs like The Ball & Chain, a Little Havana favorite. Calle Ocho on Southwest Eighth Street is where Miami Carnival takes place each year. Stop by the family-owned Cuban cigar factory El Titan de Bronze and watch skilled craftsmen roll authentic Cuban cigars. Miami is also home to the ever-evolving Little Haiti, which features an authentic flavor of Haiti alongside new, hip businesses.
Credit: Visit The USA
