Explore Miami – Things To Do
Miami’s sunny weather, golden beaches and fascinating attractions make it a popular destination for tourists worldwide. This south Florida city has a subtropical climate. The summers are hot and humid and the winters are short and warm. Miami welcomes snowbirds, spring breakers, celebrities and millions of other tourists each year.
The Gateway of the Americas is world-renowned for it year-round good weather, white sandy beaches and turquoise-blue waters. The Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is ranked as one of the top ten beaches in America. It has 1.25 miles of natural beach, gentle waves and a bike path that takes you beneath a canopy of trees and near the beautiful Biscayne Bay. Canoeing, kayaking and hiking are popular activities. There is a seawall for some of the best fishing in the region. Visitors to the beach can tour the Cape Florida Lighthouse, the oldest standing building in south Florida. The park is also recognized as part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.
The Virginia Key Beach, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was originally established as a Colored Only beach during the era of segregation. It has concession stands, a carousel and a playground. Snorkeling, biking, fishing and windsurfing are popular pastimes at this historic beach. Beachcombers can discover some of south Florida’s unique plants and endangered wildlife.
Bordered by two national parks, Miami is a haven for the outdoor enthusiast. The Everglades National Park is an important habitat for the American crocodile, the West Indian manatee and dozens of other rare and endangered species. There are many ways to enjoy this river of grass and its abundant wildlife. Park visitors can hike, camp, boat, snorkel or take a backcountry trek.
The Biscayne National Park is one of the largest marine parks in the United States. Its waters are a nursery and habitat for the region’s shellfish, crustaceans and fish. The park has a mangrove forest ecosystem and is home to many threatened or endangered wildlife species. This is an incredible destination for those who want to canoe, windsurf, kayak or fish. Snorkelers and divers can explore the park’s living tropical coral reef system.
Miami’s zoo and aquarium also provide exciting opportunities to experience wildlife. Zoo Miami is widely-regarded as one of the best zoos in the United States. It has thousands of animals and more than three miles of walkways. There are hundreds of interesting and educational exhibits. The Amazon and Beyond Exhibit is a 27-acres display of jaguars, anacondas, river otters and other inhabitants of the Amazon, Atlantic and Cloud Forests. Families with young children will enjoy the petting zoo with its kid-friendly goats, Shetland horses, alpaca and sheep. Those 18 years and older can be zoo keeper for a day working alongside zookeepers. Children of all ages can feed reticulated giraffes and ride dromedary camels.
The Seaquarium is a 38-acres marine-life theme park with stunning views of Miami’s skyline and the Biscayne Bay. Guest can watch a diver hand-feed tropical fish, moray eels, groupers and loggerhead turtles in the aquarium’s 750,000 gallon tank. Their aquatic shows and presentations feature dolphins, sharks, sea lions and crocodiles. The Dolphin Odyssey is an educational and interactive program for those who want an up-close and personal experience with dolphins. Participants are invited to touch, rub or climb aboard a dolphin for a ride across the pool.
Miami has several world-famous neighborhoods. South Beach is Miami Beach’s quintessential tourist destination. This trendy neighborhood is also known as SoBe and the American Riviera. Its Art Deco District neighborhood is the first 20th Century community to be recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. There are more than 800 pastel-colored buildings with sleek curves, glass blocks and glistening chrome. You can explore this rich architectural treasure by walking along Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road. If you stop by Lummus Park at night, you can enjoy live music under the stars. South Beach is a top international tourist destination with a vibrant nightlife. Its cuisine is a fusion of Latin and Mediterranean food and spices.
Coral Gables is another famous Miami neighborhood. It personifies its nickname, The City Beautiful. The abundant green spaces, tree-lined streets and Mediterranean Revivalist architecture are the backdrop for your shopping trip on Miracle Mile. This landmark shopping destination has almost 200 specialty stores and numerous chic eateries and restaurants. It is a relaxing and pedestrian-friendly city. The Merrick House and the Biltmore Hotel are two of Coral Gables’ historic landmarks and architectural gems.
Miami is also home to some unusual architecture. The Coral Castle is a monumental testament of a man’s undying love. Jilted by the fiancée, Ed Leedskalnin mysteriously carved over 1,100 tons of coral rock. He spent the next 28 years constructing his castle under the cover of night. The structure has a heart-shaped table, a sundial and a throne. Most of the pieces weigh nearly 15 tons. Mr. Leedskalnin died in 1951 and no one knows how he singled-handedly built his castle. Coral Castle’s visitors can try their hand at unraveling the mysteries of Miami’s Taj Mahal.
The curators of Miami’s museums make science more accessible for their visitors. Miami’s Children’s Museum has two floors and over 14 galleries of exhibits. The museum invites visitors to learn, imagine and create with their hands-on activities. Children can climb inside a two-story sandcastle, ride on a police motorcycle and harvest Florida fruits.
The Miami Science Museum has a planetarium, observatory and a wildlife center. Current exhibits explore subjects ranging from heart disease to the view of earth from space. The Moving Things Exhibit invites guests to use their brain and brawn to move objects. You can touch stingrays in the museum’s 3,000 gallon touch tank. The planetarium show uses the latest technology to project celestial bodies on a four-story projection screen during their music and laser show. The observatory offers a free star show in the planetarium and telescopic observing in the observatory. Visitors can view nebulas, galaxies, the rings of Saturn and the planets.
There is a rich blend of cultures in Miami. From Little Havana to Little Haiti, the Caribbean influences leave an indelible mark on all it touches. Miami is a dynamic tourist destination with unlimited potential for excitement and fun.