From the untamed Everglades to the wild samba of Calle Ocho, nature and the beautiful people party side-by-side in Miami.
With glorious beaches, art deco architecture and hot nightspots, Miami, Florida, is a true “Magic City.” This nickname took hold in the 1920s, after a construction boom seemed to transform Miami overnight. Today the city’s tropical climate and easy access to the glistening waters of Miami Beach and South Beach attract everyone from honeymooners, to families, to celebrities. As well as the beaches, water and warmth, you'll find high-end shops, fine eateries and museums, beautiful gardens and plenty of night life.
Stroll through the 10-acre (four-hectare) Vizcaya Museum and Gardens on Biscayne Bay. Here you'll find a European-inspired estate established in the 1910s that boasts a beautiful collection of rare orchids. The Miami Seaquarium is a great family outing. Spend a day with hundreds of marine creatures and watch the spectacular killer whale and dolphin shows. Jungle Island is another winner for families. Nestled between downtown and South Beach, the zoo houses some of the world’s rarest animals and is home to Pinky, the bicycle-riding cockatoo.
Once you’ve soaked up the sun, explore some of the city’s diverse neighborhoods, such as the Miami Beach Architectural District. Nicknamed the “Art Deco District”, it has the largest collection of 1920s and ’30s resort architecture in the U.S. Get an umbrella drink, relax, and enjoy the ocean view at one of these pastel-colored retro buildings. Take the opportunity to admire them from the inside too, as many have been converted to restaurants, bars and hotels.
Each winter the Little Havana area hosts one of the world’s biggest festivals. The Calle Ocho street festival draws more than one million people annually. If you're in Miami around the beginning of March, don't miss this no holds barred celebration of the music, folklore and food of Miami’s Latin American culture.
After you’ve ticked off the city’s key attractions, do as the locals do. Watch the Miami Heat basketball team play, or eat fresh crab at South Beach’s iconic eatery Joe’s Stone Crab, which has been serving up fresh seafood since 1913. Grab your towel and relax with some sunbathing and swimming at Miami Beach. At days end, watch the sunset from South Beach, or head out and dance until dawn at one of Miami's legendary nightspots.
Head to Miami Beach to enjoy pristine sands and people-watching. Open-air art exhibits, music festivals and dance performances take place here throughout the year. It's the venue for Art Basel, one of the world's premier modern and contemporary art shows, with other venues in Europe and Hong Kong.
A short four-minute drive south is South Beach, also known as SoBe. This is the place for water sports and people-watching. It’s where surfers play it cool, sunbathers top up their tans and Hollywood stars come to party. The area is also very cultural and home to one of the largest collections of art deco architecture in the world.
Bring out your inner explorer on the VIP Safari Tour, or interact with the wildlife during the Lemur Experience and Jungle Encounter. Keep an eye out for the various animal shows throughout the day. Don’t miss Pinky the cockatoo riding a high-wire bicycle, or the cassowary — a long-necked flightless bird — who can swallow apples whole. Interact with cougars and cuddly tiger cubs as part of the endangered animal education program. Meet the special orangutan twins Peanut & Pumpkin and the rest of the primates, and visit the barn to get a photo of Otis the llama.
La Playa, at the far side of the park, is a popular beach area to take children on a hot day, or treat the family to an ice cream at the Lakeside Café near the entrance.
