Miami, Florida is a global city that's a popular destination for international and local visitors alike. You have probably been exposed to the glamour of Miami on Television, media, and the movies. Now it's time for you to make a personal Miami visit, and experience the hot action first hand, up close and personal. During you Miami visit, you can bet you'll find great a hot night life scene, entertainment venues, plenty of beaches, tons of shops, recreational areas, and resort areas with great hotels. So plan your visit to Miami, whether by car, bus, airplane, or train, you can easily end up in the beautiful city.

If you are flying for your Miami Visit, you are most likely to arrive at Miami International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world handling more than 33 million annual passengers. You may also arrive at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, located about 20 miles north from central Miami.

If you are using vehicle transportation for your Miami visit, you will ride along several Interstate Highways including I-75, I-95, I-195, I-395.

If you want to come by train for your Miami visit, then you can use Amtrak's Atlantic Coast services, with its final station located in the nearby Miami suburb of Hialeah.

One you arrive in Miami, you can use the city's great public transportation of Metro Bus, Metro Rail and Metro Mover to get around.

Miami is subdivided into dozens of sections of neighborhoods, many of which are unique and offer plenty to explore. Additionally, the nearby island communities of Key Biscayne and Miami Beach offer some of the most famous attractions and places to simply be in the Miami area.

Downtown Miami offers a lot and is probably the first area you want explore during your Miami visit . You'll enjoy the urban environment and beautiful skyline of skyscrapers.
For shopping, the action centers on the Central Business District (CBD), the core of which is bounded by N.E. First Avenue, N.E. Fifth Street, Biscayne Bay and the Miami River . More than 3,000 retailers are located here, from department stores to specialty shops to 300-plus restaurants. Busy Flagler Street is a logical place to start, but don't miss the Jewelry District, on N.E. First Street between N.E. First and Miami Avenues. Bayside Marketplace, a shopping, dining and strolling mecca, takes full advantage of its site on the Biscayne Bay. The waterside ambience and many fine diversions make this the most visited attraction in South Florida . Downtown Miami has plenty of cultural interest, from the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts, to the James L. Knight Center, and the Miami Arena. The Metro-Dade Cultural Center with its inviting central plaza is the setting for the Miami Art Museum , the Historical Museum of Southern Florida and the art-filled Miami-Dade Public Library. Here, also, is the mammoth sculpture "Dropped Bowl with Scattered Slices and Peels", perhaps Miami 's most famous public artwork. South of the Central Business District, across the Miami River , is the Brickell Avenue area sometimes called "the Wall Street of the South" for its concentration of national and international banks.

You can do some major shopping on your Miami visit at the Aventura Mall located on Biscayne Boulevard in the nearby city of Aventura. The Aventura Mall includes more than 280 stores, eight restaurants, and AMC 24 theatre.

Coral Gables is one of the sections of the city you'll want to explore on your Miami visit. One of the grander attractions in Coral Gables section of is the Venetian Pool . Formerly a quarry from which oolitic limestone (coral rock) was taken for architectural uses, the huge municipal pool is a fantasy of caves, waterfalls, arched bridges, and buildings with Mediterranean architecture. On the natural side, there's Matheson Hammock County Park, a mangrove forest fronting Biscayne Bay , edged with beaches and a boat harbor, and just south is Fairchild Tropical Garden a lush hothouse of tropical plantings.

Today, Downtown Coral Gables is a thriving business community, especially along the major shopping thoroughfare known as Miracle Mile ( Coral Way , between S.W. 42nd Avenue and Douglas Road ). Home to more than 130 multinational corporations, plus eleven consulates and foreign trade commissions. Coral Gables also offers some of the top chefs in the city, with more than 120 restaurants the choices are rich and varied.
Be advised, you'll need a map to explore Coral Gables . The curving streets can be confusing and the street signs are small. Drop by City Hall (305-446-6800), which is the imposing Spanish Colonial building complete with a tower and colonnade, for maps and information.

Coconut Grove is a worthy area to explore during your Miami visit. But perhaps what comes to mind most often for Miamians when they think of the Grove is shopping, entertainment, good food, and fun. Locals come from all over to dine at the many restaurants, from sidewalk eateries to candlelit dining rooms - all featuring a culturally diverse selection of food. The Grove is also a favorite haunt for locals when it comes to its art galleries, interesting shops and clubs - all of which you will find at CocoWalk, a one-stop entertainment complex in the heart of the Grove. Visitors will also find a wide selection of street artists and entertainers at Cocowalk.

It's never more obvious that the Grove is among the happening spots in the city than during one of the many festivals. A few include, "A Taste of the Grove" (January), the "Coconut Grove Arts Festival" ( February 14-16, 2004 ), the "Italian Renaissance Festival" ( March 19-21, 2004 ) at Vizcaya, the "Goombay Festival" ( June 5-6, 2004 ), a celebration of Bahamian heritage, and the "King Mango Strut" (December 28), which is a spoof on Miami 's Orange Bowl extravaganza.

Many of these events take place outdoors in Coconut Grove's lovely Peacock Park (305-416-1300), but any day of the year is good for enjoying the views of the bay and the marinas from one of the area's waterfront parks. Bicycling, roller-blading, jogging, picnicking, tennis and more are all here on the water. When you tire of walking the Grove's tree-lined streets, hop in your car and admire the area's architectural points of interest -- from old houses of coral rock and gracious homes with expansive grounds to cottages and historic churches.

During your Miami visit, check out the Adrienne Arsht Center for The Performing Arts, the second largest performing arts complex in the United States. You'll see world class classical music, theater, ballet and dance in this venue.

Incorporate sports events into your Miami visit, and watch Miami Dolphins (Football), Florida Panthers (Ice Hockey), Miami Heat (Basketball), and Florida Marlins (Baseball) at Dolphin Stadium, BankAtlantic Center, and American Airlines Arena.

Key Biscayne is a simply paradise Island for upscale residence and luxurious hotel resorts. If you are looking for a lavish and tranquil getaway, then you want to come to Key Biscayne during your Miami visit. Located just across the Rickenbacker Causeway, 2 miles south of downtown Miami. The 7 mile long and 2 mile wide barrier island is known for its spectacular beaches and many other recreational opportunities, as well as its relaxed, small-town lifestyle.

The Village of Key Biscayne is little more than a square mile of the island, which includes 1,800 acres of natural parkland. On the southern end of Key Biscayne is Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area, home of the 95-foot-tall Cape Florida Lighthouse.

On the east side of the Key is Crandon Park. It's 3.5 mile white sand beach has been rated one of the 10 most beautiful in the United States by CondÈ Nast Traveler magazine.

There are two outstanding sports sites here: Crandon Park Golf Course and the Tennis Center . Crandon Park Golf Course, with its lush tropical setting and great views of the Miami skyline, hosts the annual Royal Caribbean Classic (February), kickoff to the U.S. Senior PGA Tour. Not to be outdone, every March the Tennis Center hosts the annual Sony Ericsson tournament, a Miami Masters Series that's one of the largest tennis events in the world.

Additionally, The Cliff Drysdale Tennis Garden, located on the grounds of the luxurious hotel The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne and part of the Grand Bay community, was designed by Cliff Drysdale and is the largest and most complete tennis venue of any Ritz-Carlton resort worldwide.

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park of Key Biscayne has over a mile of sandy Atlantic beachfront, where snorkeling and swimming is possible. Besides the beach and tours of the lighthouse and keeper's quarters, activities include boating, canoeing, kayaking and fishing from the seawall along Biscayne Bay, bicycling, hiking and wildlife viewing. The park has such amenities as picnicking areas and youth camping. It also has a visitor center, a museum with interpretive exhibits and concessions.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center with a marina, bike paths, concessions and more, round out the many family offerings in Crandon Park .
Key Biscayne is fabulously situated for water sports. Windsurfing is especially popular from Hobie Island , just 200 feet off the mainland. Scuba diving into offshore reefs and wrecks is also possible, along with sport fishing, snorkeling, jet skiing, and sailing.

Nearby Virginia Key is home to the Miami Seaquarium a center for research and conservation, housing some 10,000 creatures of the deep, and the University of Miami 's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, a leader in oceanographic research. After a visit to these hospitable islands, so close to the bustle of urban Miami , you too will find yourself in the swim.

During your Miami visit, Don't miss on some of the hottest action in the nearby island city of Miami Beach.

Both the sun and the moon shine brightly everyday over the playground called Miami Beach. The non-stop excitement is reflected on the covers of national and international glamour and travel magazines where the trendy South Beach area, SoBe, hosts thousands of models and photographers looking to capture the area art deco architecture and stunning beaches.

Encompassing 17 islands in Biscayne Bay, Miami Beach has enchanted visitors with its incomparable beaches and social scene since the early 1920's. It was during the boom time of the ‘20's and ‘30's that the scores of small art deco hotels were built to accommodate pleasure-loving hordes from colder climates. Beginning in the late 1950's these modest tourist digs gave way to grand resort complexes (like the fabulous Fontainebleau). It is in SoBe's Art Deco District where today's action is -- from Ocean Drive's magnetic stretch of restaurants, clubs and lovingly renovated art deco hotels to the trendy shops, restaurants and cafes on Washington Avenue, to the cultural phenomena taking shape on Lincoln Road. Art Deco Weekend is the big beach blowout, but there's almost always something special going on.

Today, the art deco-fueled renewal is certainly packing them in, but it's a diversity of attractions that keeps the crowds happy. Of course there are the fabulous beaches, and all the recreation that goes along with them, but, increasingly, there are also world-class cultural draws, such as the New World Symphony, Miami City Ballet, the Art Center South Florida, and a visible presence of a community of dancers, actors, artists and designers.

This cultural side of South Beach is a prominent part of what Lincoln Road has to offer. Once one of the most elegant shopping streets in the country, Lincoln Road was redesigned in the 1960's by legendary architect Morris Lapidus as America's first pedestrian mall. Now it is envisioned as the center of the new Miami Beach -- a kind of link between South Beach and the mainline attractions, such as the Miami Beach Convention Center, the Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts, and the Bass Museum of Art.

The South Beach district of Miami Beach has the liveliest nightlife scene in the Miami area. Occupying less than two square miles on the southern tip of Miami Beach, South Beach's subtropical sandbar has an identity all its own as the American Riviera. Here, life is celebrated as one chic, 24/7 street party in an art deco playground lined with over 150 night life venues of bars, pubs, and clubs.

South Beach 's beautiful architecture makes it a favored location for films, music and television shows, as well as a backdrop for fashion shoots. The Art Deco District boasts the largest concentration of 1920's and 1930's architecture in the world, earning a listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

South Beach sightseers will want to start out at South Pointe Park for a close-up view of ships heading through the deep-water channel, known as "Government Cut", to the Port of Miami . Across the channel are the Mediterranean-style buildings of the upscale and exclusive Fisher Island , accessible only by ferry.

Next, check out Lummus Park , a public beach park along the Atlantic Ocean. Once there, note how the pastel pinks, bright aquas and canary yellows of Ocean Drive 's hotels fight for space on the South Beach skyline. Flamingo Park is another great public park that offers recreational opportunities. Visitors can join a walking tour or check out South Beach 's other attractions, including the Wolfsonian/FIU collection, the Botanical Gardens and the Holocaust Memorial and a dozen art galleries including Art Center South Florida, Bob Fitzgerald, Espanola Way Art Center, Pierre Marcel.

A Miami visit must include a trip to the historical Casa Casuarina, a lavish Mediterranean style building. Located along Ocean Drive of South Beach, Miami Beach, Casa Casuarina is the former mansion of Gianni Versace, and is one of the premier small hotels and visitor attractions in the Miami area. In fact, the Casa Casuarina/Versace Mansion is one of the most photographed homes in the United States. Tours at the exclusive Versace Mansion are available daily for a price of over $50.

This is also a key stop for shoppers with an eclectic mix of intriguing boutiques, bookstores, art galleries, and home design shops. Don't miss the Spanish-style Espanola Way featuring stores that sell New Age and retro items.

Food is another big draw in South Beach with dozens of restaurants lining the streets creating a culinary Mecca of with a large variety of cuisines. And in a town that never sleeps, the restaurants are always busy until the early hours of the morning.

South Beach also stays alive late into the morning (5 and 6 a.m.) as visitors and locals dress up or down to hit South Beach's trendy night life venues. As the sun rises on South Beach, many people finish an incredible night and are on their way back to hotels and homes. No matter your style, a visit to South Beach will redefine how you look at style and night life.