Fun things to do in Miami Beach

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The Miami metropolitan area is the 7th largest in the U.S. with over 5.5 million people. The city of Miami has about 400,000 residents, good for 42nd largest in the U.S. Miami is known for its good air quality, vast green spaces, clean drinking water, clean streets, and is one of the richest cities in America. The cruise ship port has been the busiest in the world for decades.

Miami's European influence began with the arrival of the Spanish in 1566 and the mission, completed in 1567. Fort Dallas was constructed in 1836, and it was played a key role in the Seminole Wars. When Henry Flagler extended his Florida Railroad to Miami in 1896, and the city was soon incorporated and began to witness rapid growth.

If you're visiting Miami with children and have rented a car, I recommend a visit to the Miami Metrozoo. Rated in the top 10 in the country, it is huge, has a wide variety of animals and many options to visit it. You can walk, but get ready to walk a lot, so unless it's winter and fresh I would not recommend it. You can take their train and see the animals from above, hearing explanations along the way. Or, you can rent a bike for two, four or six, which I personally find best. The key is to get there, as it is quite far down south. Take the turnpike, it will save you a good 30 minutes!

Oh and the gates close at 4pm, although the zoo closes at 6pm, so be sure to arrive before 4pm!

A must when visiting Miami is going to the Everglades for an airboat ride. Yes, it is a touristy activity, but I insist, a must. If you're traveling with kids, by all means bring them there. They'll love it too!

The change in vegetation, culture, panorama in general is worth the trip. It is only a short ride from Miami, but you feel as if you were thousands of miles away from civilization, surrounded by alligators, birds, and who knows what else...

Head to Buffalo Tiger's airboat rides for a more off the beaten path experience. You'll learn about the local indians, the Micosuki tribe, and see lots of alligators. But you need to ask questions, as they don't do the show thing like the others. If you're looking for the all american show type experience, head to Coppertown.

www.buffalotigersairboattours.com
www.coopertownairboats.com/

The view of the bay and downtown from South Beach is simply beautiful... the crispy blue water, the luxurious islands and million dollar mansions of Star Island, the intense light, and, in the background the downtown skyrise.

However, this view becomes even better when the sun sets. It becomes breathtaking. And staying there for hours, watching as the colors change is very much worth it!

I'd recommend to either drive from South Beach to Downtown Miami and back as the sun sets, or simply head to the new South Pointe Park, take a stroll in the park and consider having a cocktail at the terrace of Smith and Wollenski. If you're lucky you'll get to see one of the cruise boats pass by when you're there, and that is really impressive...

And if you can afford it, have dinner on their terrace. The food and the location are great, but be prepared to pay for it!

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Within the Miami area you have two key cities bearing the same name: Miami and Miami Beach. The most famous neighborhood in the City of Miami Beach is called South Beach. South Beach is fairly large, and it has its own unique neighborhoods and shopping areas such as Ocean Drive, Washington Ave, Lincoln Road, Espanola Way, Flamingo Park, and Flamingo West, not to mention the beach itself. Each area has a very distinct character and you can walk from one block to the next and feel like you have changed continents.

Ocean Drive is the center of trendy. Here are many of the biggest clubs, most expensive restaurants, and oddest collection of people around.

Washington Ave is a little more traditional American city, with neighborhood bars, cool little restaurants, and lots of locals.

Espanola Way is a historic district that resembles parts of Spain. It attracts a lot of tourists to its restaurants and small shops.

Lincoln Road is a big outdoor shopping mall, and it attracts all types from northern tourists to well-dressed locals.



South beach was first developed as farm land for coconuts. The first houses on the beach were constructed in 1886 by the Lum family. In 1913 the first bridge to Miami connected this sleepy little community to the mainland, and the town of Miami Beach was incorporated in 1915. Development of the area exploded in the 1920s, when much of the art deco style was established. The area suffered decline in the 1970s and 80s, but has recovered to become one of the wealthiest and trendiest areas of the US.

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Miami is the heart of the five million person strong South Florida metropolitan area and the seat of Miami-Dade County. Miami is home to a variety or corporations, including the largest number of international banks in the US, and it's port is the busiest cruise ship terminal in America.

Miami had long been home to Tequesta Indians before being explored by Juan Ponce de León in 1513. The area was conquered by Spain in 1566, and they built a mission here in 1567. The mission was abandoned just three years later and the area returned to the natives. The Spanish returned to build a fort and a permanent settlement here in 1743. The British began granting land in the Miami area to its citizen in the late 1700s, and the first permanent British settlers arrived in the early 1800s. the area saw little growth until the 1890s when northerners began buying citrus plantations, then Henry Flagler expanded his Florida East Coast Railroad down the coast from St. Augustine. The early 1900s saw huge expansion including the start of the draining and destruction of the Everglades. Miami Beach's art deco areas were developed in the 1930s, and Cuban immigrants began arriving in huge numbers in the 1950s and 1960s, giving the area its modern cultural flair.

Some key attractions in Miami include Little Havana, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Spanish Monastery Cloisters, Venetian Pool, the Biltmore Hotel, and of course, the Everglades.

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Ocean Ave is way too trendy, upscale, Hollywood for me. For a place not quite so ... South Beach, you might try Espanola Way. Is this "Historic Spanish Village" touristy? Sure, but not crawling with high heels, skimpy dresses, and pseudo gangstas.

We passed through Espanola Way during the morning on our first day in Miami Beach while exploring the neighborhood. After exploring the neighborhood we couldn't wait to get back to this area to try one of the unique bars or restaurants for lunch. We ended up eating at "Oh Mexico!" restaurant, which was a nice meal out on the sidewalk where we watched the people pass by. That was so nice, we decided to come back here to one of the bars for a few hours until just before midnight when we walked back out to the beach to see the fireworks.

Unlike the rest of South Beach's art deco (whatever that means) architecture, Espanola Way is straight out of Spain. The Clay Hotel will probably be your first sight here;it was built in 1925 and shown in the TV show Miami Vice's first and last episodes.

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The NFL's Dolphins play in Sun Life Stadium (formerly Land Shark Stadium, Dolphins Stadium, Pro Player Stadium, Pro Player Park and Joe Robbie Stadium. The team was founded in 1966 by the late Joe Robbie, whose name adorned the new stadium when first constructed in 1987. The Dolphins are famous as being the only NFL team to complete a "perfect season," going unbeaten in the regular season, then winning the championship.

We saw the Dolphins play the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2009 regular season finale. Before the game, some of the great Miami Dolphins personalities were on hand for Don Shula's birthday. Coach Shula himself was in attendance as everyone in the stadium wished him a happy 80th. Numerous former Dolphins players were in attendance for the pregame coin toss.

Pittsburgh jumped ahead to a 7-0 early lead on a Santonio Holmes TD catch, but the Dolphins tied up the game just minutes later when Lex Hilliard caught an 11 yard TD pass from Chad Henne. At the end of the 1st quarter, the Steelers pulled back out in front on a nice 54-yard pass from Big Ben to Mike Wallace. The second quarter was quiet with both teams exchanging field goals, to go into the half with a 17-10 score. The only score of the 3rd quarter was a 3 yard Heath Miller TD catch to give the Steelers a commanding 24-10 lead. The Steelers pulled ahead by 17 early in the third with a FG, but then the Dolphins made it exciting with back-to-back TDs only 3 minutes apart. With 2 minutes to go in the game, the Dolphins learned they had been eliminated from the playoffs, no matter the result of this game, then the Steelers kicked one last field goal to win by 6.

For the Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger threw for 220 yards with 3 TDs, and Hines Ward led the team with 8 catches, but the difference in the game was Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall rushing for just under 100 years each. The Dolphins used three different QBs as Pat White when down with a concussion, then Chad Henne left the game with an eye injury.