You are about to see why 14.5 million people a year visit Miami and the surrounding areas of Miami Beach, South Beach, Coconut Grove, Virginia Key and Key Biscayne. You can spend every day sightseeing or just spend them on a beach.
You are about to see why 14.5 million people a year visit Miami and the surrounding areas of Miami Beach, South Beach, Coconut Grove, Virginia Key and Key Biscayne. You can spend every day sightseeing or just spend them on a beach.
Welcome to Miami, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. Florida’s biggest city offers a warm climate, thriving business community, rows of condominium towers, vibrant cultural venues, four professional sports teams, over 80 public parks and pristine beaches along the Atlantic coast. Miami also has the largest cruise ship port in the world.
1 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne, FL 33149
One look at Villa Vizcaya and you would think this was a palazzo built along the Grand Canal in Venice by a wealthy aristocrat. The estate even has colorful striped pali mooring poles. Instead, this was the former winter mansion of James Deering when built in the 1920s. This National Historic Landmark located in Coconut Grove has been called the Hearst Castle of the East. Today, Villa Vizcaya is a fascinating museum managed by Miami-Dade County.
3251 S Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33129
Paul Chalfin, the designer of the Vizcaya estate, spared no expense while creating intricate details such as this 158 foot long stone Italian barge. It sits in Biscayne Bay with the skyline of Miami in the background. The winged female sculptures and mermaids are the work of Alexander Calder. The fifty acre property is also adorned with elaborate gardens and is encircled by the Rockland Hammock natural forest.
3251 S Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33129
Architecture mirrors a city’s character. This photo portrays Miami’s contrasts. In the background is the Four Seasons Hotel and Tower. This was the tallest skyscraper in Florida from 2003 until 2017. Inside the soaring 789 feet of glass are a hotel, commercial space and condos. In the foreground is the St. Jude Melkite Church. The façade of Indiana Bedford limestone was built in 1946. The church’s humble appearance is treasured by the Melkite Greek Catholic congregation. Interestingly, Madonna’s daughter was baptized here in 1997.
126 SE 15th Rd, Miami, FL 33129
As you drive along Brickell Avenue in Miami, the 1450 Brickell tower is one of the first, all-glass skyscrapers to greet you in the Financial District. The 540 foot office complex was built in 2010. The project was one of several that reshaped the city’s skyline during a construction boom of the early 21st century. Miami now has over 300 high-rises. This ranks third among all U.S. cities.
1450 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131
Miami has become a major hub for financial companies. Most have their regional headquarters in the downtown Bickell Financial District. The domestic leader in Southern Florida is Wells Fargo followed by B of A and Citibank. Several international banks are also represented here to serve the area’s growing diversity. Plus, there are about 150 non-traditional banks and investment funds in the city. In addition, approximately 200 “family office” groups manage money for families with a minimum net worth of $50 million.
1200 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131
There are over 1,400 hotels in the Greater Miami Area designed to serve about 14.5 million annual visitors. Together, the hotels have about 50,000 rooms. It is not surprising to learn about one third of these are located in Miami Beach. Tourists looking for a quieter experience often select luxury hotels on Brickell Key. It is a small, manmade island near downtown. Shown here is the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
500 Brickell Key Dr, Miami, FL 33131
From the River Walk Trail you are looking across the channel at a few of the dozen high-rise condominium towers on Brickell Key. The land is a triangular-shaped island created in 1896. Also called the Claughton Island, it is only 44 acres yet has a population of almost 2,200 people. This gated community is just off the coast from downtown Miami and offers spectacular views of Biscayne Bay.
River Walk Trail, Miami, FL 33131
This may sound like a rich person’s problem, but it is probably challenging to find a place to dock your superyacht in Miami. Yet Mark Cuban, the businessman who owns the Dallas Mavericks and is a regular investor on the TV program “Shark Tank,” luckily found an open spot on the Miami River Canal for his 288 foot ship called the Fountainhead. Cuban probably compares notes with Larry Ellison. The billionaire co-founder of Oracle owns the sister ship named Musashi. These yachts rank among the top 50 largest in the world.
River Walk Trail, Miami, FL 33111
Most people think of Miami as being along the Atlantic Coast but are unaware of the Miami River. It originates in the Everglades and flows for about 5.5 miles before emptying into a canal at the Port of Miami. Near the river’s mouth in downtown is the Epic Residences & Hotel. On the opposite bank is the Miami Riverwalk. This delightful pedestrian path stretches for about a mile and is lined with cafes and boutique shops.
200 Biscayne Blvd Way, Miami, FL 33131
This 47 floor building in downtown Miami was built for the CenTrust Savings & Loan in 1987. The skyscraper has had several names since. In 2010, it was renamed the Miami Tower. The unique, three-tier design has a $1.5 million LED lighting system. This allows the exterior to be bathed in different color schemes. For another optical treat, try staring at the horizontal lines in this photo. After a while, they can create dizziness that borders on vertigo.
100 SE 2nd St, Miami, FL 33131
There are 100 global murals in Robert Wyland’s Whaling Walls series. In Miami, this Florida’s Marine Life painting is located on the side of Marcy’s department store on East Flagler Street. Unfortunately, #78 is obstructed by a light train rail. The best view of these humpback whales is from the third floor of the Colonnade Parking garage.
22 E Flagler St, Miami, FL 33131
Flagler Street is the main road dividing other streets in Miami-Dade County as either north or south. Part of its 12 mile path runs through the Downtown Miami Historic District. Locals call this area old downtown Miami. Much of it looks tired. However, architecture buffs will find over 50 buildings from the 1920s and earlier … a sharp contrast to the city’s glass towers. This building – the former 777 International Mall – was built in 1947 and has retained its movie theater marquee.
141 East Flagler St, Miami Beach, FL
This statue of Simón Bolivar pays tribute to his military leadership in liberating first Venezuela and then several other Latin America countries from Spanish rule during the early 19th century. He is still revered by many Hispanic Americans for his patriotism and legacy as a champion for freedom. The eight-foot sculpture of The Liberator, which was a gift from the Venezuela government in 1979, stands in Bayfront Park in Miami.
301 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
Bayside Marketplace is a shopping and entertainment complex located next to the Bayfront Park in downtown Miami. Don’t expect a high-end experience. The stores cater to tourists and lots of them. But consider spending time at an outside restaurant or bar overlooking the Miamarina. There is usually live music playing to accompany your conversation as you watch yachts float to and from Biscayne Bay.
401 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
The Metropolis Building was the home of The Miami News from 1925 through 1957. In 1962, the U.S. government converted the yellow high-rise into the Cuban Assistance Center. The facility provided aid and assistance for those seeking asylum from Fidel Castro’s regime. Freedom Flights flew refugees to Miami five days a week from 1965 until 1973. Over 100,000 Cubans were processed in this landmark called The Freedom Tower. Now it is an art museum on the Miami Dade College campus in downtown Miami.
600 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
Home court for the Miami Heat, a National Basketball Association team, is the AmericanAirlines Arena. This downtown Miami stadium, which opened in 1999, is also a frequent venue for concerts and other entertainment events. Most are conducted within the complex’s Waterfront Theater.
601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
The Miami Science Museum was founded in 1949 and was located near downtown on South Miami Avenue in Coconut Grove. In 2017, this became the new headquarters for the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science in Museum Park. The MiaSci contains 250,000 square feet within its three-story, modern design complex. This includes the 500,000 gallon Gulf Stream Tank exhibiting marine life. Miamian Phillip Frost donated $35 million for the project.
1101 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL 33132
This photo shows a portion of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Miami. The Center’s 570,000 square feet is so large that its two buildings straddle both sides of Biscayne Boulevard. Inside are three theaters: the Ziff Ballet Opera House, The Knight Concert Hall and the Carnival Studio Theater. The white dome on the right is the Frost Planetarium. Their high-technology shows are bedazzling as you are rocketed through the universe.
1300 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
The Center for the Fine Arts was founded in Miami in 1984. The institution later became the Miami Art Museum and was renamed again after this new building opened in 2013. The Pérez Art Museum Miami is located at the growing, 30 acre site of Museum Park along the downtown waterfront. This contemporary art museum was named after one of its major benefactors, Jorge M. Pérez. PAMM has an extensive, permanent collection of international artworks from the 20th and 21st centuries.
1103 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
An estimated six million Jews were killed by the Germans during World War II. Miami has the largest population of survivors from those horrific times. So, it seems appropriate that several of them formed a committee to create this stunning monument to their friends, neighbors and relatives who perished. This Holocaust Memorial, which is in the center of a reflection pond, opened in Miami Beach in 1990. Interestingly, the address spans across 1933 to 1945 Meridian Avenue. These are the same years the Nazis were in power.
1933-1945 Meridian Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
This arm and hand reaching four stories into the sky is covered with anguished people. They are clinging together in hope of survival. The artwork is a sad and moving tribute to the Jews who suffered and perished during World War II. The bronze sculpture was created by Kenneth Treister. It took him five years to research, design and create the Holocaust Memorial.
1933-1945 Meridian Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
This Art Deco building was designed by Russel Pancoast in 1930. The architect made two decisions that gave it a distinctive appearance. The first was the use of fossilized Paleolithic coral for the façade. The second was the bas reliefs by Gustav Boland. The carvings include a depiction of the Spaniard’s conquest of Florida. This was originally the home of the Miami Beach Public Library and Arts Center. It is now the Bass Museum of Art.
2100 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Art in Unexpected Places is a program sponsored by DWNTWN Miami Arts and Culture. They have placed public art in Miami Beach and throughout downtown Miami. An example is this colorful, abstract sculpture by Yinka Shonibare called Wind Sculpture IV. The steel structure was hand painted with fiberglass resin. It is one of several artworks displayed at the Collins Park gardens in front of the Bass Museum.
2100 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
The LED sign “Culture = Capital” by Chilean born artist Alfredo Jaar was installed on top of the Collins Park rotunda as part of the Art Basel exhibit in 2014. The annual fair started in Basel, Switzerland in 1970. Miami Beach began hosting the U.S. version in December 2002. In 2013, the event had grown to exhibit international art from over 250 galleries in 31 countries.
2100 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140
Back in the 1880s, when this old tree in Collins Park was considerably smaller, John A. Collins arrived from New Jersey and invested in a coconut farm on an island called Ocean Beach. After the venture failed, Collins plus his son and son-in-law created the Miami Beach Improvement Company in order to sell waterfront lots. Back then, the 580 acres were mostly mangrove trees and a swamp. Today it is Miami Beach.
2100 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
The stunning façade of the Temple Emanu-El in Miami Beach displays both Byzantine and Moorish architectural elements. When built in 1948, it was patterned after the Great Synagogue in Oran, Algeria. You do not have to be Jewish to visit and appreciate it. In fact, the synagogue has welcomed numerous world leaders such as Presidents Reagan and Clinton, the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu. On the right is a section of a bronze sculpture called “The Dove of Peace” by Ken Treister. The artwork was erected in 2010.
1701 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
South Beach is renowned for its fabulous Art Deco architecture. The Old Miami Beach Historic District contains over 800 of these beautiful buildings. Most were built during the late 1920s and into the 1940s. Among the most striking is St. Moritz Tower on Collins Avenue. This classic, white high-rise built in 1939 has spectacular views of the beach along the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of two buildings that comprises the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.
1601 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139
During the cold months, snowbirds of every shape, size and age flock to South Beach, a popular tourist neighborhood of Miami Beach. These winter refugees exchange their parkas for swimsuits and then lay on the sand to soak up the sun. By the end of the day, it is very easy to tell whose pasty-white skin was not covered with enough sunblock. Many vacationers display various shades of scarlet.
1500 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
One look at the skylines of Miami and South Beach will tell you there are a lot of condominium towers similar to the Il Villaggio on Ocean Drive. But of the nearly 60,000 units, only about 21% are homesteaded. This means the majority are owned by seasonal residents and absentee owners who rent out their unit. And with all of the recent development, there is an eleven year supply of new condos on the market.
1455 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
This colorful lifeguard tower is a common sight along the shores of Miami Beach. There are twenty-five of them. The Ocean Rescue group, operated by the City of Miami Beach Fire Department, calculates they watch nearly 14 million annual visitors to the seven miles of beach. They rescue an average of 300 near-drowning victims a year.
1418 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
The Florida coastline has long been a magnet for college students during spring break. That is especially true at South Beach. By day, crowds of young people sunbathe, frolic in the Atlantic and pose for pictures they can immediately post on social media. At night, they fill the clubs and bars along Ocean Drive. Presumably they return to school in need of rest.
1130 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
In 1930, this elegant mansion on Ocean Drive in South Beach was built for Adlen Freeman. He was a partial heir to the Standard Oil Trust. In 1992, famous Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace purchased this and an adjacent property. He then invested $33 million into the estate before being assassinated on the front steps in 1997. It is now part of The Villa by Barton G, an ultra-luxury hotel. The owners paid $41.5 million for the property. Suites at The Villa Casa Casuarina start at $800 per night and range up to $2,200.
1116 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
When the temperature at the Art Deco Welcome Center in South Beach reads above 90°, it is a safe bet the sand along the Atlantic Ocean is crowded with tourists and locals. But perhaps this gauge is not in Fahrenheit. Maybe this indicator is measuring what percent of the beach is completely covered with people.
1001 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
The outdoor cafes and bars along Ocean Drive in South Beach compete for mixing oversized alcohol concoctions with strange names. An example is the “Famous Bulldog” served at the Ocean’s Ten Bar. It is a giant margarita with two upside-down Bud Lights floating in it. If you survive that, you can also try their Mudslide, Rum Runner or Miami Vice.
960 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Look up nightlife in the dictionary and you will see a picture of South Beach. Rumored to have the most female models per square mile, this famous Florida playground blisters with action day and night. Fancy cars cruise along Ocean Drive. Their drivers ogle the bikinis on the beach and admire the fancy clothes in front of the Art Deco buildings. After sunset, the music and dancing reach a feverish pitch in the bars and clubs. Your nightlife itinerary should include a stop at Mango’s Tropical Café. Munch on some chicken wings while soaking up the dance music and shows.
900 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
South Beach can be very crowded, especially parallel to the famous Art Deco buildings. If you want to enjoy the Atlantic Ocean without sharing the sand with so many people, then head toward the south end of Lummus Park. This 74 acre, oceanside greenspace runs from 15th to 5th Streets. Near 6th Street and Ocean Drive, you will discover your quieter solitude. After too much sun, you can lounge on the grassy areas shaded by swaying palm trees. There is also a long pedestrian walkway that is perfect for a stroll named the Promenade.
101 6th St, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Miami’s coastal high-rises stretching along Brickell Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard are a mix of commercial and residential properties. They comprise the third most populous downtown in the United States. If you want tranquility, drive west on the Rickenbacker Causeway toward Virginia Key and Key Biscayne. The beaches and parks are gorgeous, subdued and family oriented.
3201 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne, FL 33149
In 2013, the Alfred C. Glassell Jr. Sustain Building opened on the campus of the University of Miami’s Marine Technology and Life Sciences complex on Virginia Key, Florida. Inside is a wind-wave surge simulator. This technology can generate the effects of a category 5 hurricane in three dimensions. The center’s benefactor was the founder of the Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company. Alfred C. Glassell Jr. was also an avid sports fisherman. In 1953, he caught a 1,560 pound black marlin off the coast of Peru. This weight still holds the record.
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149-1031
The Miami Seaquarium opened in 1955 and is still delighting over a half million visitors a year with marine life exhibits. The attraction’s most popular show is with Lolita. The killer whale arrived at the park in 1970. But this orca has not always been the most famous resident. That title goes to a bottlenose dolphin. During the 1960s, the TV series “Flipper” was filmed at this entertainment center on Virginia Key.
4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne, FL 33149
Crandon Park Marina is the gateway for boats and yachts to Biscayne Bay and then a day on the Atlantic Ocean. Located on Key Biscayne, which is only minutes from downtown Miami, the area around the island also offers a popular beach, a public golf course, a tennis center, walking paths and all the amenities you will need for a day in the Florida sun.
4000 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne, FL 33149
It is not surprising to learn Florida has the most golf courses of any other state. But did you know there are 1,481 of them? The only links on the island of Key Biscayne is the Crandon Golf Course. It is an 18-hole, par 72 public course offering great views of the Miami skyline. Waterholes include saltwater lakes, a subtropical lagoon and Biscayne Bay.
6700 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne, FL 33149
Cape Florida Light had a rich history before becoming part of the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in 1966. The lighthouse was built in 1825, attacked and burned by Seminole Indians in 1836 and rebuilt in 1847. The beacon for helping ships to navigate the coral reefs was operated by a keeper until 1878. This 95 foot, white brick conical tower is now a popular attraction among tourists at Key Biscayne.
1200 S Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne, FL 33149
Miami’s first zoo began in 1948 and was relocated to a former naval air station in 1980. Zoo Miami exhibits about 3,000 animals within it 325 acres of developed land. In the center of the zoological park and garden is Lake Iguana. This is the perfect setting to rest under a shade tree for a few minutes or soak up some Florida sun. Paddle boats are also available for a self-propelled tour of the lake.
12400 SW 152nd St, Miami, FL 33177
A special treat for kids and their parents at Zoo Miami is the Humpy’s Camel Rides near the Children’s Zoo section. For a small fee, you can climb aboard either Charlie or Fluffy and be lead around a path by the animal’s keeper. You will feel like you are traveling through an Arabian desert, just like when the nomads began using them for transportation over 4,000 years ago. Today all dromedary camels are domestic. None have lived in the wild since the time of Christ.
12400 SW 152nd St, Miami, FL 33177
Most large cats, even domestic ones, prefer living in relative solitude. In contrast, lions are very social as evident by this tender interaction between a lioness and her mate. But don’t mistake affection for submissive. In the wild, the female African lion does most of the hunting and is the core of the pride. This living structure numbers from three up to 30 lions. Only one or two males are part of a typical pride while the rest are nomadic.
12400 SW 152nd St, Miami, FL 33177
A highlight of Zoo Miami is the Samburu Giraffe Feeding Station. While standing on a tall, wooden platform, you can be eye-to-eye with a herd of reticulated giraffes. This interactive attraction allows you to hand out greens and watch as an enormous black tongue measuring 14 to 18 inches removes the snack from your hand. Do not worry if you arrive late in the afternoon. These Somali giraffes will still be hungry. Males have a capacity to eat 75 pounds of food a day.
12400 SW 152nd St, Miami, FL 33177
It takes a minimum of three hours to explore the five sections of Zoo Miami. Most families spend the better part of a day enjoying the 500 species of animals. You will be delighted to see the majority of exhibits are in large, open spaces mimicking natural habitat. This is great for the animals. But walking around can get hot in the Florida sun. This little girl had the perfect solution. Stand under a mister and let it rain refreshing cold water.
12400 SW 152nd St, Miami, FL 33177