Sights and Attractions in Miami

Miami is a world-class destination with various attractions such as landmarks, shopping, water sports and nightlife.

Miami Skyline

In the recent years, the vibrant city of Miami has been undergoing an immense building boom which ranks 1st in the US and 2nd worldwide for the most buildings constructed for the height of over 150 meters. The skyline of Miami ranks 18th in the world and 3rd in the US trailing behind Chicago and New York City according to the Almanac of Architecture and Design. At present, Miami and its surrounding neighborhoods and cities have more than 80 high-rise towers under construction. Miami has the five tallest skyscrapers in Florida having the Four Seasons Hotel and Tower as the tallest.

The Miami Beach Architectural District which is popularly known as the Miami Beach Art Deco District is a historic district which contains 960 historic buildings majority of which are done in the Art Deco Style.

South Beach

South Beach is a section of Miami Beach and it takes in 23 of the southernmost blocks of the island. This was the first area of Miami Beach to be developed starting in the 1910s. Over the years it has undergone a lot of changes including increased tourism, and a booming regional economy. It is a major entertainment destination with various restaurants, nightclubs and boutique hotels. One of the unique aesthetic attributes of South Beach is its colorful lifeguard stands still presently used by the lifeguards of the beach. It is a popular shopping and nightlife destination for tourists. Miami has beaches in both the gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, a true paradise. Also because of its location you can find cheap trips to other caribbean spots where you can experience some Latin culture and language. From miami you can make many "viajes al caribe" or trips to the caribbean. For example, you can visit Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and more at a low price.

The Arts

Miami is a multi-cultural city which gives importance on the arts in the city. There are several venues and events that showcase works of art either by locals or foreigners.

Performing Arts

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts is one of the landmarks of Miami. It is the 2nd largest performing arts center in the U.S. and it is the home of the Florida Grand Opera. It has a 1929 Art Deco Tower, 2 state-of-the-art theaters, a plaza for outdoor entertainment, and an education center. The center accommodates the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall, the Peacock Rehearsal Studio, the Carnival Studio Theater, the Parker and Vann Thomson Plaza for the Arts, and the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House. The center attracts various productions of large scale ballets, operas, musical and concerts from around the world. Other important performing arts centers in Miami are the Coconut Grove Playhouse, the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts, the Bayfront Park Ampitheater, and the Fair Expo Center.

Museums, Parks and Cultural Centers

Miami has a host of museums dotted around the city especially in the downtown area. Notable museums in Miami such as the Lowe Art Museum, the Frost Art Museum, the Historical Museum of South Florida, Miami Art Museum, the Miami Science Museum, the Miami Children’s Museum, the Jewish Museum of Florida, the Bass Art Museum, and the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens welcome visitors from locals to international tourists to see its collections and exhibitions of artworks and artifacts.

Aside from the distinguished museums, other cultural destinations in Miami are the Miami Cultural Center which is the home of the Main Miami Library; the Miami Seaquarium, the Miami Metrozoo, and the Jungle Island.

Miami is also home to more than 80 parks. The most popular and larger parks are the Bicentennial Park and the Bayfront Park, as well as Morningside Park, Miami Beach Botanical Garden, Tropical Park and Watson Island.

Food

Miami is heralded by chefs and food aficionados for its distinctive New World cuisine. This type of cuisine in Miami was created in the 1990s and uses different blends of local produce, technical skills and Caribbean and Latin American culinary tradition. It is alternatively known as New World, Floribbean or Nuevo Latino Cuisine. New World is said to be created by 4 chefs who still work in Miami at the restaurants they created yet this type of cuisine is not restricted only in these 4 chef’s menus but is evident on its influence in several other restaurants around the city.

Miami has more than 6,000 restaurants for you to choose from. Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Middle Eastern, Cuban and other cuisines can be savored in Miami’s numerous individual restaurants and cafés. Chain restaurants such as Ben & Jerry’s and TGI Fridays are also available in Miami.

Shopping

Miami has a lot of shops, malls and shopping centers that will surely provide you with what you need—the things you buy and an amazing shopping experience!

The malls in Miami include the vast Aventura Mall; the classy Bal Harbour Shops; the Bayside Marketpalce which has a magnificent view of Biscayne Bay; the busy Dolphin Mall; the open-air Lincoln Road Mall; the Village of Merrick Park which is another very classy mall; the Miami International Mall; and the Dadeland Mall which is one of the first malls of the US.