South Beach

This mythical beach is a meeting point for the rich and famous and a place to see and be seen. In spite of being very busy, the waters are intensely blue and very shallow, ideal for children. The small details, such as the art deco style of the lifeguards’ towers, make this a very special place indeed. The Hotel Riu Florida Beach, set on the beach front, is located in a privileged position for enjoying this fantastic beach.

Haulover Beach Park

The transparent waters of this beach form part of a protected area containing dunes and a great deal of vegetation, all of which helps disguise the buildings that rise up nearby. The beach is also remarkable for having nudist sectors, which is very unusual in the United States.

South Beach

The area hides many treasures. Here you will find interesting avenues and museums in a glamorous, sophisticated setting:

Art Deco District: Not to be missed. This district is a kind of architectural reserve of buildings in Art Deco style, from the 1920s and ‘30s. Many treasures lie between Ocean Drive and Collins Street, in particular Park Central Hotel, Miami Beach Main Post Office, Astor Hotel and The Hotel, although there are over 800 Art Deco buildings in the area.

Española Way: This picturesque Mediterranean-style district is a labyrinth of narrow streets, private patios and porticoes. The houses, which are no higher than two storeys, contain an abundance of artists’ studios and art galleries. There is no lack of the bars and restaurants so characteristic of South Beach, either.

The Wolfsonian Museum: This unusual, original museum is dedicated to popular culture and the decorative arts. It contains furniture, posters, architectural models or collectors’ items, and its mission is to explore the cultural and technological changes that took place in the Unites States and Europe after the Second World War. An interesting cultural stop.

Little Habana

An immense district of over 30 blocks that groups together most of the Cuban exiles from the communist regime in Cuba. The inhabitants have preserved their traditions and way of life, giving the city centre of Miami a lively atmosphere. Little Havana contains several interesting places:

La Calle Ocho: Here Spanish is the most popular language. The bars, restaurants and shops that line this long avenue stand out for their markedly Latin feel. The walls are decorated with murals representing the Cuba of before Castro’s regime, a reflection of the nostalgia of the inhabitants of this district.

Máximo Gómez Park: A meeting point for many Cubans who sit down here to play dominoes and take part in discussions for hours on end. A little chunk of Cuba in Miami.

Miami River: Over recent years the river has seen a proliferation of floating houses belonging to numerous Bohemians and artists drawn by its great atmosphere. All along the river there are parks and green areas bubbling over with activity. Without doubt this is one of the most agreeable places in Miami.

Lowe Art Museum

This is the best museum in the south of Florida and one of the best in the country. Here you will be able to contemplate works by Monet, Gauguin and Picasso, amongst others. The museum is also remarkable for its Renaissance and Baroque, American modern art and pre-Columbian art collections. It lies in the pleasant district of Coral Gables, which is also worth a visit.

Miami Metrozoo

Don’t worry, this is no sad prison for depressed animals. You will see no cages or bars here. It is what as known as a wild zoo. You will be able to see faithful reproductions of different habitats and the animals that populate them from a panoramic train or specially-prepared pathways: White Bengal tigers, black panthers and gorillas in the tropical jungle; Black rhinoceroses and African elephants on the African savannah; Kangaroos and koalas in a mini Australian desert. Its an enjoyable educational experience for the whole family, especially children.

Biscayne National Park

Glass-bottom boats leave from several places in the city, and are an ideal way of discovering this protected maritime area. Its waters contain beautiful reefs, tropical fish, turtles and manatees amongst other species. There are also colonies of herons and cormorants that feed in the deep waters of Biscayne Bay.

Fairchild Tropical Gardens

The largest tropical gardens in the USA apart from those of Hawaii. Their eleven lakes and flourishing pools are an explosion of colour and a pleasure for the eyes and nose. The park is divided into several thematic zones, ranging from tropical to African habitats. The visit can be made on foot or on a tourist train, which takes you on a guided tour of the most interesting gardens in the park.

Everglades National Park

A unique wonder. The over 600,000 hectares of unspoilt wetlands house a privileged biodiversity. There is no other place in the world where caimans and crocodiles live side by side. The park also houses an infinity of birds (over 300 species), as well as panthers, manatees and fish. The Everglades is an example of what the whole of Florida was like before the arrival of the Europeans.

A panoramic train leaves from Shark valley, in the north of the park, covering a 15-mile circuit that enables one to see the fauna and flora that inhabits it. You can also hire bicycles or walk along the perfectly-signposted paths.

Cycling

South Beach: A bike ride along the asphalted paths that run beside the beach is a pleasant way of discovering the exceptional Art Deco buildings in Ocean Drive, on the seafront.

Oleta River State Recreation Park: This park has kilometres and kilometres of itineraries amongst lush vegetation. Many of the routes run alongside the river, through the swampland and the lagoons. If you look closely you will spot the odd curious Galapagos turtle poking its nose out of the water.

Canoeing

Oleta River State Recreation Park: In the heart of Miami you can travel along beautiful itineraries on the river Oleta, through the mangrove swamps that still exist here. This is an oasis of tranquillity in the midst of civilisation, where nature is the authentic star. The river flows into the sea at Haulover Beach, which is also ideal for canoeing with its calm waters.

Golf

As in the rest of the USA, golf here is a way of life. Around South Beach you will find courses for all tastes and levels. All of them coincide in the quality of their greens and installations, as is only to be expected in this country:

Miami Beach Golf Club: An oasis in the midst of the hustle and bustle of South Beach. Surprising for the quality of its greens and grass.

Crandon Park Golf Club: This club has seven saltwater lakes and holes beside the sea. It is one of the best public courses in Florida and regularly hosts professional tournaments.

Haulover Beach Golf Club: A small 9-hole course in the middle of a protected area with dunes and swamps. Perfect for beginners.

Specialities

New World Cuisine: This style is inspired by the mixture of races and cultures that come together in Miami. It is characterised by the use of fruit in all its dishes, and is based on two premises: “healthy” and “fresh”.
Tropical fruits are used in hot dishes, salads, sauces and desserts, and mixed with bread, ice cream and mousses.

Going out

South Beach: This is the centre of Florida’s nightlife. Movie stars, musicians, writers and celebrities meet up in its glamorous discotheques and bars. At the weekend over 30,000 people cross the bay to enjoy the South Beach night and it is practically impossible to drive around in a car, particularly on Ocean Drive. Don’t miss the unbeatable atmosphere in this district.

Shopping

South Beach: The streets of Ocean Drive and Española Way are full of all kinds of stores, from fashion boutiques to art galleries, and including curiosity shops. If you are looking for something in particular, quite probably you will find it in South Beach. If not, it is also quite probable that something will draw your attention and you will end up buying it anyway, as there is something for all tastes here.

Bayside Marketplace: Large shopping centre in big-American-mall style. It covers over 6 hectares and contains nearly 150 shops and restaurants. Its safe, lively streets are a perfect place for strolling with children. In the afternoons, the complex organises concerts and at night, there are fireworks and laser shows. It is located opposite the port of Miami, where you can embark on trips around Biscayne Bay.