Miami is a major city located along the Atlantic Ocean in the southern part of Florida. Nicknamed The Gateway to the Americas, Miami has become an international cultural center for entertainment, music, art, fashion and education. The city is home to more than 5.2 million people, making it the fourth largest urbanized area in America. Because of the diversity of Miami and its surrounding areas, visitors can enjoy a wide variety of fun and exciting activities.
Hit the Beach
Miami is home to South Beach, one of the most renowned beaches in the world. South Beach offers golden sand, cool waters, oceanfront restaurants and nightclubs that will leave you dazzled until 4 in the morning. If you are looking for something a little more low-key, Miami has that, too. Virginia Keys Beach and Haulover Beach are another two beach options. They both offer a nice place to swim and sunbathe without the crowds and attention of South Beach. Be advised that Haulover Beach is "clothing optional."
See the Marine Life
The Miami Seaquarium is a great place to visit if you want an educational and entertaining experience. Miami's warm climate allows the Seaquarium to operate year-round, although the show schedules and aquarium themes change from day to day.
The Seaquarium offers all kinds of daily exhibits including a trained dolphin show, a killer whale show and more. Go check out the daily living habits of several of Miami's native marine animals, such as the Florida manatee and the sea turtles. Depending on how well you plan your trip, you might be able to catch one of the feeding presentations.
Go Scuba Diving/Snorkeling
Miami is one of the best places in America to go scuba diving or snorkeling. There are 10 artificial coral reefs located within 20 miles of Miami. Just 3 miles off the coast of Key Biscayne is the Neptune Memorial Reef, the largest man-made reef designed. In addition to these coral reefs, Miami also offers a few shipwrecks located just off the shores of the Miami Beach, Sunny Isles and Key Biscayne shorelines. A local favorite shipwreck for scuba divers is the Tortuga, which was sunk in 1995 for the movie "Fair Game."
Pamper Yourself Shopping
As one of the largest fashion centers in America, Miami is home to more than two dozen shopping malls and outlets. Sawgrass Mills is in Sunrise, Florida, about a 20-minute drive from Miami, and it is the largest outlet mall in world and the fourth largest mall in America. It covers 2.5 million square feet of retail area and features more than 350 brand-name stores.
In contrast, CoCo Walk is smaller with just 38 shops, though it is a favorite choice for visitors who want to experience the upscale side of Miami. Bal Harbour Shops, Bayside Market and Aventura Mall are a few more malls situated in or around the Miami area.
Everglades
Whether you enjoy the outdoors or not, the Florida Everglades is must-see for anyone visiting the Miami area. Everglades National Park contains more than 1.5 million acres of swamps, sawgrass prairies and sub-tropical jungles. It is home to hundreds of animal species, including over a dozen rare and endangered species such as the Florida Panther and the West Indian Manatee. Enjoy the day exploring either by land or water. Real outdoor enthusiasts might be interested in camping out in the primitive parks of the Everglades.
Member Comments