Miami, Florida

The Sunshine State Miami is a popular destination for both Americans and foreigners. It’s breezy, beautiful, and at a crossroads of Latin America and Caribbean cultures.

The barrier island of Miami Beach, connected to Miami Beach by causeways that cross Biscayne Bay, is where Miami got its reputation as a tourist destination. These miles of beaches have seen a lot of changes, from being an elite playground in the 1940s and 1950s to urban decay in the 1970s to becoming the New Riviera in the 1990s.

The area around Flagler Street, Biscayne Boulevard, is bustling with shops, restaurants, and nightclubs in Downtown Miami. The Bayside Marketplace is located in this area of Central Miami. It has the Mediterranean feel but has been transformed into a shopping and nightlife hub.

The South Beach neighborhood is where Miami Beach's most recent revival began. Preservationists began to push for preserving the Art Deco buildings in this area. These buildings were remnants from an earlier heyday. Things started to improve after 1979 saw the establishment of an official historic district.

Top Things to Do

• Visit the iconic South & North Beaches
• Explore Jungle Island
• Wander the Art Deco District
• Bayside Marketplace
• Stroll through The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
• Meet rare animals at Zoo Miami
• Soak up the Cuban flavor at Little Havana

Best Time to Visit

Tourists flock to Miami Beach for its tropical climate year-round and the party atmosphere. The best time to visit Miami is any time between March and May. You'll enjoy daily temperatures in the 70s for non-peak rates. While the rest of the country is still freezing, Miami will be quite pleasant. Special events bring more people to the city and increase hotel rates. You can expect the Atlantic hurricane season and torrid rains from June to October.