Miami, Florida

Miami, Florida, has always billed itself as a travel destination. Warm weather, sandy beaches and bright sunshine were selling points more than 100 years ago, just as they are today. But Miami's allure extends beyond its shores. People from all over the Caribbean and Latin America have settled in Miami, giving the city its distinctive, lively international character.

The warm-weather fun is still a big attraction, but the biggest draw is the cosmopolitan flavor coupled with all the great restaurants, sports teams (Dolphins, Heat, Hurricanes and Marlins) and upscale sheen—plus a long list of TV shows that have "Miami" in their titles.

South Beach, with its cheerful, sherbet-colored art-deco buildings and palm-tree-lined avenues, is the center of Miami's trendy dining and nightlife scene. Other corners of Miami, including Coconut Grove and Coral Gables, offer their own versions of fine living and colorful happenings.

And don't overlook the natural world—though you may have to drive to the Everglades to get a good view of it.

Top Things to Do in Miami

Sights

The breathtaking view of the city from the MacArthur Causeway at night; Everglades National Park; the palmy streets and posh estates of Coral Gables; Coconut Grove and CocoWalk; South Beach.

Museums

The Italianate gardens of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens; art-nouveau and art-deco objects at the Wolfsonian-FIU Museum on South Beach; first-rank traveling exhibits at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) in North Miami.

Memorable Meals

Eat stone crabs with the rich and famous at Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant; Euro-hip at The Forge; Cuban favorites in an upscale atmosphere at Versailles Restaurant & Bakery; Chinese at Hakkasan; dry-aged beef and truffled mac-and-cheese at Prime One Twelve.

Late Night

The street scene in South Beach; the sidewalk bars and bistros, shops and nightclubs along Lincoln Road and elsewhere in Miami Beach; Coconut Grove; Southwest Eighth Street.

Walks

Strolling through the Miami Design District to admire the architecture and public art program; bicycling or in-line skating through Coconut Grove or South Beach; a walk on the beaches along the Rickenbacker Causeway.

Especially for Kids

Performing dolphins at the Miami Seaquarium; tigers at Zoo Miami; Monkey Jungle; boat and tram tours in Everglades National Park; hands-on activities at Miami Children's Museum; bananas and exotic fruits growing at the Fruit and Spice Park in Homestead.