Discount Miami Hotels and Travel Guide
Miami is an international city in every sense of the word. Stroll down the streets of the city center and you are just as likely to hear Spanish or Portuguese spoken as you are to hear English. Street vendors fill the air with the scent of Caribbean cooking as you peruse the local storefronts. Order a Cuban-style café con leche at a local restaurant, sit back, and enjoy everything that this amazing metropolitan area has to offer.
One of the most family-friendly places to dine and shop in Miami is the Bayside Marketplace, an outdoor waterfront mall located just off of the MacArthur Causeway (one of four causeways that connect Miami to the city of Miami Beach). Bayside Marketplace features retail shops and craft vendors, sit-down restaurants and an extensive food court, and boat tours are also available.
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Miami Travel Guide
Of course, no trip to Miami-Dade County would be complete without a trip to Miami Beach. The white sandy beaches and the gracefully swaying coconut palm trees are the pride of South Florida. Even if you are not staying at an oceanfront hotel, there are several public parks (most of which provide showers and restrooms) that will give you access to the splendor that is Miami Beach.
For the international jet set—as well as the curious casual tourist—the place to see and be seen is South Beach, also known as SoBe. The beach at Lummus Park, on Ocean Drive between 5th and 15th Streets, has long been a favorite of the rich and famous, and an ideal location for supermodel photo shoots. Even if you don’t feel like soaking up the Florida sun all day, you can jog, walk, skate, or ride along the bike trail in Lummus Park.
South Beach is packed with unique shops, restaurants, and nightclubs, so there’s always a party going on around here. The SoBe bars and restaurants along Ocean Drive stay relatively busy throughout the day, while the nightclubs are hopping from midnight until the break of dawn. Be prepared to wait in line for the more popular clubs, and keep an eye out for celebrity sightings.
One thing that is definitely worth seeing in South Beach is the Art Deco District. You don’t have to be an architect to appreciate this amazing historic district that was nearly razed in the 1970s. About 800 buildings built between 1929 and 1942 have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The pastel colors and the bold, streamlined shapes that are the signatures of Miami Beach Art Deco can be found in private residences and hotels throughout this district.
Just south of Miami Beach is Key Biscayne, home of the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Not only is this beach unspoiled by commercial development, its state park atmosphere is ideal for families with young children who might want to bypass the scantily clad beautiful people on South Beach. Also on Key Biscayne, Crandon Park offers more pristine beaches, a family amusement center, and a municipal golf course.
With an international reputation and a culturally diverse character all its own, Miami and Miami Beach are essential destinations for any Florida vacation. Whether you are here for a family outing or a weekend of club hopping, there is something for everyone in Greater Miami.
