Miami

Miami Beach, Miami is energetic and fresh. The nightlife in this city has a sparkle all its own, much of which is influenced by Latin American music and culture. The landscape is filled with the heartfelt tropical feel of swaying palm trees and, the warmth of the beautiful white sand beaches. This is the place where people come to see and be seen. With a heavy Cuban influence, visitors will delight in the marvelous colors and cultural exhibition in its architecture along with the essence of the Cuban heritage in the many chic restaurants and bars.

Top 10 Miami things to do

1. Start your tour of Miami at the south of Miami Beach to marvel at the some of the more than 800 brightly coloured Art Deco buildings. This area is the only one in all of America to be declared a National Historic District. Spend some time enjoying its nightlife as well.

2. While in the area, you should not miss going to the rest of the South Beach district for its trendy shopping, restaurants, bars and night spots. This is the place to spot the celebrities, both on land and on the beautiful beach.

3. Also in the southern section of the city is Coral Gables, a very upmarket and quiet residential area with top of the line shopping and excellent dining. This is the place to escape to for a bit of peace and quiet away from the beat of the city.

4. Another place to get away from the hype of the city is Calle Ocho, located over the Miami River. Known as Little Havana, this cheerful and relaxed district has mostly Spanish-speaking residents who run markets, restaurants, bars and cafes and allows one to see the impact of immigration on the city.

5. Lincoln Road is more an outdoor mall than a road, as most of it is closed to traffic. It is another of Miami’s trendy areas which draws crowds to its museums, art galleries, boutiques and shops. It also has many fine restaurants, so is a good spot to people watch.

6. Just a few miles south of the city you will find Coral Castle, a mansion completely built by hand, using more than 1,000 tons of coral, over a period of thirty years. Coral Castle is registered on the National Register of Historic Places.

7. Adults and children alike will enjoy spending time at the fun and educational Miami Museum of Science. This multifaceted attraction also has the Weintraub Observatory and the Bird of Prey Research Center.

8. Another attraction which both adults and children will be happy to spend time at is the Monkey Jungle Park where humans wander along specially constructed paths with primates of all types cavorting and swinging around above and around you in their natural habitat.

9. The Miami Seaquarium, in the heart of the tourist area of the city, is both educational and entertaining. It features performing killer whale and dolphin shows; and many species of marine life are on view outdoors because of the favourable climate.

10. Zoo Miami is another great place to spend some time. Again, because of the tropical climate of the city, many animals comfortable roam around freely, as there are no cages. Animals which live together in harmony are placed together, as are those from specific geographical areas of the world.