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Miami Visitors Information
Miami Information and Miami TourismMiami is one of the most visited cities in the US today, and is located on the south-east tip of Florida. It is the place you come to for exceptional weather, sunny golden beaches and extreme night life. The 15 miles of glorious beaches make Miami a little different to other large cities and it is understandably popular with all ages, attracting a broad spectrum of tourists. There are numerous useful outlets throughout Miami, providing free tourism and tourist information, tourist magazines, leaflets and general advice about Miami. Miami Information would indicate that the hotel accommodations are a little expensive, but there are many hotels and motels to choose from that offer comfort, luxurious views and a five minute walk to the beach, without having to exceed your spending limit. There are excellent value hotels and motels to be found in the largest attraction area, South Beach which is most popular for its night life, fabulous beaches, superb dining and endless shopping. South Beach is small enough to surround you with everything you need, and is adventurous enough to keep you busy 24 hours a day. Miami tourism is huge in this area because it is so unique from what other cities have to offer. Miami is full of appealing tourist attractions and historical landmarks. Some of the top tourist attractions in Miami include Miami's Miracle Mile - one of Miami's major shopping regions, located in the Coral Gables district of Miami; The Miami Freedom Tower - an important landmark tower built in 1924; Miami Metro Zoo - one of the finest wild animal parks in America; and the Miami Seaquarium - a 38-acre complex of huge saltwater pools, with a number of majestic killer whales and friendly dolphins, sea lions, porpoises and a group of manatees. Countless other tourist attractions are located nearby Miami, such as the Miami Everglades National Park, which is the largest natural parks in the Miami area, made up of large swamps and marshes. Air boat tours are available to safely explore the Everglades National Park and view the alligators in the Miami Park. There are also many excellent museums in Miami, providing interesting information on the history of Miami and many other exhibitions. Some of the major museums in Miami include the Gold Coast Railroad Museum - one of Miami's most popular and impressive museums, home to around 30 large, retired locomotives, including a 1928 Pullman sleeping car redesigned in 1942 for President Franklin Roosevelt; The Miami Art Museum - recently declared as one of Miami's most important cultural institutions by the state of Florida. With all the Real Estate possibilities in South Florida, Miami has a range of communities and districts, including the exciting place of Brickell, a vibrant and diverse area offering many opportunities for the future of this undiscovered, but fast growing development. Miami South Beach Area (SoBe) is one of Miami's most exciting and lively areas, occupying the southernmost three miles, full of up-and-coming art galleries, stylish diners, stylish Art Deco buildings, glorious beaches and many of Miami's top nightclubs. The Miami Art Deco District is at the very center of Miami's reinvention, with more than 800 Art Deco buildings, including many excellent hotels close to the beach. Central Miami is a quieter area than South Beach and one of the wealthiest areas of Miami, full of palatial homes of some of Miami's richest residents and a number of excellent golf courses. The North Miami Beach District includes Collins Avenue, which runs for seven miles through North Miami Beach and there are also several noteworthy beaches and parks in this area of Miami. North Miami Beach is made up of four small communities, Surfside, Bal Harbor, Haulover Beach and the Sunny Isles and Golden Beach area. Miami tourism is popular in this area because of the diversity you find from one beach to the other. Miami's Little Havana District is home to the largest ethnic group in Miami, with a thriving community of Cubans that has been rapidly expanding over the last few decades. The Miami Coral Gables District is located south of Little Havana and is one of the most individual and distinctive areas of Miami, with around 12 square miles of wide boulevards, attractive streets and many stunning buildings with Spanish and Italian architecture. Miami Information would offer that Miami Coconut Grove District is a fashionable area of Miami and is often full of celebrities and the glitterati. The main areas of Coconut Grove include Villa Vizcaya, Central Coconut Grove, Charles Avenue, Black Coconut Grove and South Coconut Grove. Coral Way is a commercial district, north of Coconut Grove, embracing the neighborhoods of Brickell, Coral Gate, Douglas, Parkdale-Lydedale, Shenandoah, Silver Bluff and the Roads. Miami Nightlife and Miami NightclubsIt is not just the beautiful beaches that draw people to Miami. At night, everyone comes out to play and the Miami nightlife is exceptional. South Beach is where it all happens, although the Miami club world is a fickle one and the most popular Miami night clubs change on a regular basis. Miami's club scene and nightlife has something to suit everyone, from young people who want to dance all night to older couples who prefer to sit at a quiet table with a bottle of wine and relax. Nightlife in Miami is very diverse and offers something for everyone, including plenty of mainstream discos where you can dance the night away. You should always be polite when waiting to enter a Miami nightclub, otherwise you may be refused entry. Friday and Saturday nights are the busiest times for nightlife in Miami, although there is usually a good choice on any night and a number of Miami's nightclubs boost their midweek crowds by offers discounts on drinks, free entrance for women and sideshows. Most nightclubs in Miami open at 22:00 and peak between midnight and 02:00, with many continuing until the early hours of the morning, and some even provide a free breakfast buffet for all-night clubbers. Nikki Beach is currently one of Miami's most popular club areas. During the daytime, Miami's Nikki Beach is an attractive beach spa with sunbeds and parasols. It is an ideal way to spend your Sunday afternoon. Many prefer this instead of sunning at the beach. At Nikkiâ?Ts you can not only lounge in the sun, but you can enjoy the luxury of dining as well. However, at nighttime, everyone moves inside to the nightclubs and begins to party, with DJs and a full-on Miami club experience. It is definitely a place to put on your list of things to see in Miami. Opium Garden is a really good night spot in Miami and is an outdoor ampitheater-style nightclub. With a number of palm trees, this Miami nightclub has a strong Eastern atmosphere. Other top Miami nightclubs include: Amnesia - 136 Collins Avenue, Miami, Florida, USA This open-air nightclub is particularly popular with younger crowds in Miami and is open daily. Bash - 655 Washington Avenue, Miami, Florida, USA Co-owned by Sean Penn and Simply Red's Mick Hucknell, Miami's Bash nightclub includes a garden dance patio, an intimate bar and a large dance floor, playing loud techno music. Mansion - 1235 Washington Avenue, Miami, Florida, USA This Nightclub is best known for the spacious rooms, packed dance floors, and multi-room action. It is the largest indoor nightclub in Miami. Crobar - Cameo Theater, 1445 Washington Avenue, Miami, Florida, USA This is one of the best nightclubs in the in South Beach and is the perfect place to come for a great night out in Miami. The Miami Crobar nightclub features high ceilings, hip-hop and techno music, and is closed on Tuesdays. Level - 1235 Washington Avenue, Miami, Florida, USA Level is the largest nightclub in Miami's South Beach district and features a vast dance floor, with two small dance floors playing hip-hop dance music. This is a very popular nightclub in Miami, often attracting VIPs and celebrities, and is open from Thursday to Saturday. Mango's - 900 Ocean Drive, Miami, Florida, USA This oceanside Miami nightclub is a fun place to spend the night in Miami and often features live music and bar top dancing. Shadow Lounge - 1532 Washington Avenue, Miami, Florida, USA The large and colorful interior of this popular Miami nightclub plays techno music and attracts a more mature crowd. Zanzibar - 615 Washington Avenue, Miami, Florida, USA Miami's Zanzibar is one of the more wild nightclubs in Miami and attracts huge crowds of partygoers. This offers excellent nightlife and features a large, outside dance area, with techno, reggae, hip-hop and Latin dance music.
Miami Restaurants and Miami DiningDining out in Miami is immensely popular and there are literally thousands of Miami restaurants, many with outdoor seating areas and excellent views. Miami restaurants serve a variety of cuisine from all over the world. These Miami eateries range from basic snack bars and coffee shops, to high-class Miami restaurants and gourmet haunts. Miami restaurants and diners that serve breakfast usually open between 06:00 to 07:00. Other Miami restaurants tend to open at midday and stay open until the early hours of the morning, although some do close between lunch and dinner. Almost all of the restaurants in Miami have a happy hour, which is usually on weekdays between 17:00 to 20:00, when drinks are cheap and food is discounted, including chicken dishes and fresh seafood, often with free hors d'oeuvres. Sunday brunch is particularly popular in Miami restaurants and is often a fairly up-market affair, with high-quality buffet food which is laid out in stylish settings, together with cheap drinks and wines, or champagne in the more luxurious, expensive Miami restaurants. Brunch in Miami is served between 11:00 to 15:00 and the price is usually fairly inexpensive, depending on the quality of the food and actual restaurant. Newspapers in Miami often list the latest Miami restaurants offers, including Sunday brunch.
Miami Shopping and Miami Shopping MallsNot only will people from all over the US come to Miami to invest in Real Estate and buy that beautiful winter home, but Miami is without a doubt a major center for shopping in Florida and the numerous districts provide a shopper's paradise. Whether you are looking for fashion, antiques, furniture, jewelry or home accessories, rest assured that Miami will provide you with a huge choice. Most shops in Miami are open seven days a week and public transport is never far away, so shopping in different areas is both quick and easy, although many shops in Miami are within walking distance of each other. Downtown Miami has many boutiques, fashion shops, art galleries and some of America's best department stores. There are also a number of excellent shopping centers, department stores and shopping malls in Miami. Shopping is an integral part of any trip to Miami. There are numerous excellent shopping malls in Miami and these include the Bell Harbor Mall, which is the most successful shopping mall in the whole of America. More money is made per square foot in this Miami shopping mall than any other shopping mall in the country. With many top designer stores and fashion boutiques, including Dior, Dolce and Gabbana, Cartier, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Saks Fifth, some shops at this Miami shopping mall sell items ranging from inexpensive tops to handmade crystal ball gowns costing a staggering USD 200,000. There is even a shop selling clothes for dogs at Miami's Bell Harbor shopping mall. Miami has a relatively low rent and sales tax on retail prices and so shopping in Miami tends to be cheaper than in many of America's large cities, such as New York. In downtown Miami, South Beach, Miami's Coconut Grove and Coral Gables, many of the shops are within easy walking distance of each other and the shopping in these areas of Miami is particularly diverse and interesting. Miami Indoor Shopping Malls Miami International Shopping Mall - 1455 North-West 107th Avenue, Miami, Florida, USA The Miami International Shopping Mall features five large department stores and many popular Miami chain-stores, as well as a number of smaller and interesting shops. This shopping mall is situated close to Miami International Airport (MIA). Omni International Shopping Mall - 1601 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida, USA With a number of specialty shops, a large food hall and a 10-screen AMC cinema theater, Miami's Omni International Shopping Mall is a popular place for shopping. This shopping mall is closed on Sundays. Miami Outdoor Shopping Malls Bal Harbor Shopping Mall - 9700 Collins Avenue, Bal Harbor, Miami, Florida, USA Bal Harbor Shopping Mall is an exclusive shopping mall, which specializes in designer shops, including Bulgari, Chanel, Cartier, Gucci, Hermes, Prada and Tiffany, to name but a few. This large Miami shopping mall is also home to Saks Fifth Avenue and Florida's largest Nieman Marcus store. Bayside Marketplace Shopping Mall - 401 North Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida, USA Miami's Bayside Marketplace Shopping Mall is a large and busy outdoor shopping mall, situated on Miami's waterfront. Highlights include street performers, boat tours, numerous shops, cafes and many restaurants with excellent views. Coco Walk Shopping Mall - 3015 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida, USA The Coco Walk Shopping Mall in Miami is a large, multistory semi-outdoor shopping mall, filled with shops, cafes with terrace seating and a large, 16-screen cinema theater. Downtown Miami Shopping District - Biscayne Boulevard to 3rd Avenue and South-East 1st Street to North-East 3rd Street, Miami, Florida, USA The Downtown Miami Shopping District features over 1,000 shops and is understandably one of the most popular areas for shopping in Miami. Highlights include the second largest jewelry district in America and literally hundreds of electronics, sporting goods, shoe and clothes shops. Prime Outlets at Florida City - 250 East Palm Drive, Florida City, Miami, Florida, USA Prime Outlets at Florida City in Miami is just 30 minutes drive south of central Miami and is situated in a lush tropical village setting. This large shopping village has over 60 factory outlet stores, with many bargains from top brands and labels, including OshKosh, Levi's jeans and Nike sportswear. Streets of Mayfair - 2911 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida, USA This large town square is located in the heart of Miami's Coconut Grove and has a number of excellent outdoor cafes, restaurants, shops, movie theaters and lively Miami nightclubs.
Miami Business TipsMiami's financial Brickell Banking and Commercial district is full of many skyscrapers and large office blocks, with fine examples of early Miami skyscraper architecture. These impressive high-rise steel and glass Miami business structures line Brickell Avenue in Miami's Financial District by Biscayne Bay. With over 150 commerical banks, Miami is an international financial capital and in often referred to as the 'Capital of the Caribbean' and also the 'Gateway to the Americas'. Miami Business Hours / General Etiquette - Miami, FL, USA In both dress and manners, Americans can be less formal than Europeans, although normal business courtesies should still be observed. The degree of formality necessary depends upon the actual nature of the business, with financial and legal professions being more formal than computer and media organizations. Although both men and women may still wear suits, short sleeve shirts are acceptable in the summer.
Miami Attractions for ChildrenSome of the attractions in Miami are very children friendly, including many of Miami's museums, galleries and exhibitions. There are also numerous Family attractions in Miami that are quite varied, ranging from water parks with enormous slides, to zoos and play centers for the younger children. On Sunny days, Miami's parks provide a good place to play and many are particularly suitable for children in Miami, featuring playground areas. The Parrot Jungle is a popular attraction for children in Miami and features numerous friendly parrots and macaws, with colorful rainbow plumage, squawking as visitors wander along shaded pathways past their aviaries. The gardens at Miami's Parrot Jungle are designed to protect both residents and visitors from the hot Miami sun and include hundreds of different varieties of shrubs, trees and flowers. There are many exciting things to do and see in Miami, and once you have visited the golden beaches, the extremely rare night life, and the exceptional dining experience here, you won't be able to wait for next year. |