Miami is really the American version of Rio de Janeiro, equally beachy, even more posh and with similar sunny weather to boot! Florida is a quite spectacular and tropical part of the world, with orange sunsets, picturesque Everglades (do go on an airboat ride the first chance you get and look out for gators) and a very interesting cultural mix, with a large Cuban expat community spicing things up in many ways, especially when it comes to the local cuisine. Your first night out in Miami should involve a mojito and amazing live music and dancing in Little Havana. During the day, you’ll love the neighbourhood’s art galleries and funky souvenir shops.
cc flickr licenced photo by fabiomiami
The other number one Miami thing to do, of course, is to get yourself a pair of rollerblades, and skate away along the beach boulevard: a toned and oiled body in a most minimal state of dress is obligatory. If you are not the type, people watching while indulging in chocolate sorbet is fun too (I know I belong in the latter group myself!).
What I found lovely around Miami as well, is so many people increasingly interested in a healthy lifestyle: there are plenty of eateries serving fresh, organic food, smoothies galore, and even raw food cafés springing up everywhere.
For architecture buffs Miami has some real gems to look at. Make time to stroll around Miami Beach’s Art Deco Historic District, which has almost a thousand listed and well-preserved hotels and residential buildings to ogle! For those with a celebrity bent, you’ll also find Gianni Versace’s mansion here, now revamped as a posh boutique hotel. If you’re on the artsy side, drop by the Wolfsonian-FIU located in the district, which houses a library and an impressive museum dedicated to art and design, with collections of fabulous items spanning between 1885 to 1945.
Another great place to visit is the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, leisurely sprawled on Biscayne Bay in Miami’s Coconut Grove district, one of the city’s oldest and full of fantastic looking homes of the rich and famous. It is lovely to finish off your day here on a sunset dinner cruise around the bay.
While Miami itself has plenty to offer, if your itinerary allows for it time-wise, do explore more of Florida if you can. Key West is a famous daytrip destination, where you can indulge in Caribbean pursuits of coral reef exploration, snorkelling, and parasailing. Another nearby attraction is the Kennedy Space Center, where you can have a look at shuttle launch pads and explore all things space-related.
Author Bio: Patricia Bieszk+ is a freelance writer and globe-trotting adventurer.So consider booking some cheap flights to the USA and visit Miami for your next holiday.