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1. Of course you could do all of the following or just register to our cultural scavenger hunt!
2. Take a look at this map of the city to have a real idea on how it is built and organized.
3. Miami Beach
Miami Beach is actually a separate municipality from Miami. It is located on an island, connected to the mainland by a series of bridges. The area is known for its popular beaches and the Art Deco District, with pastel buildings from the 1930s sporting classic neon signs. An expensive tourist district, this area features numerous beachfront restaurants, shops, hotels, and plenty of sunbathing opportunities. The most popular street in the area is Ocean Drive, a section of road located along the oceanfront and home to some beautiful Art Deco buildings. One block inland and paralleling Ocean Drive is Collins Avenue. Collins Avenue is actually State Road A1A, and is the main oceanfront street in Miami Beach, joining numerous neighborhoods. Here visitors will find trendy and upper end restaurants, shopping, and hotels. Get Google maps directions>
4. Art Deco District
The Art Deco District in Miami Beach brings back memories of an earlier time in Florida with its wonderfully restored 1930s Art Deco buildings. These pastel colored historic structures display neon signs and awnings that cover outdoor dining areas. Many of them front Ocean Drive, overlooking the beach and ocean. Get Google maps directions>
5. South Beach
Located at the southern end of Miami Beach where the Art Deco buildings line the waterfront road, this is the most famous and popular section of Miami Beach. In summer the beach is a popular draw for locals and tourists and in winter the area is simply a popular place to stroll around.
Get Google maps directions>
6. Ocean Drive
Ocean Drive runs along the oceanfront in Miami Beach, passing the historic Art Deco buildings and the famous strip of sand known as South Beach. It is a popular place both day and night for a slow cruise and some drive by sightseeing.
For those with a special interest in these lovely pastel colored, 1920s and 1930s Art Deco buildings, some of the most notable structures are the Beacon (732 Ocean Drive; by Henry O. Nelson, 1926), the Colony Hotel (736 Ocean Drive; by Henry Hohauser, 1936), Waldorf Towers (860 Ocean Drive; by Albert Anis, 1937), the Breakwater (940 Ocean Drive; by Anton Skislewicz, 1939), the Cardozo (1300 Ocean Drive; by Henry Hohauser, 1939), which is busy night and day, and the Cavalier (1320 Ocean Drive; by Roy F. France, 1936).Get Google maps directions>
7. Bayside Marketplace
Bayside Marketplace is a large outdoor style mall with more than 150 specialty and tourist shops, numerous cafes and restaurants, and daily live entertainment. Visitors will find some well known chain stores as well as many unique, one of a kind places. The marketplace draws locals as well as tourists.
As may be evident in the name, the mall is located along Miami's waterfront, looking out over docks and boats. Many people come here simply to soak up the atmosphere. Tour boats leave from here, visiting locations around Biscayne Bay. As well, there is a water taxi service to Miami Beach and downtown hotels located in the area. Get Google maps directions>
8. Bayfront Park
Bayfront Park, on the east side of Biscayne Boulevard, was redesigned in the 1980s. An attractive feature is the electronically controlled Pepper Fountain. Other highlights include an amphitheatre used for musical performances of all kinds, a tower for laser illuminations, and three important monuments: the Torch of Friendship, symbolising Miami's relationships with the countries of Central and South America; the World War II Memorial; and the Challenger Memorial, commemorating the crew of the Challenger spacecraft which exploded in 1986. Get Google maps directions>
9. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is one of Miami's greatest treasures. The architecture, the grounds, and the artwork it contains are all worth the trip to visit this beautiful place. This estate was the former winter home of early 20th century industrialist, James Deering. Built in 1916, the mansion features 34 rooms arranged around a central courtyard. This 28-acre estate and Italian Renaissance-style villa is filled with European furniture and decorative arts from the 15th to 19th century. It took more than 1,100 workers and craftsmen to complete the Vizcaya project, many of whom were brought over from Europe to ensure authenticity in design.
The gardens contain a number of Italian and French fountains, pools and sculptures. A breakwater at the base of the steps leading into Biscayne Bay is carved into the form of female figures. The name "Vizcaya" is a Basque word meaning "an elevated place."
The estate has hosted a number of world leaders and important historical events including the meeting between Pope John Paul II and the former president Reagan in 1987 as well as Queen Elizabeth II during her 1991 tour of America. Get Google maps directions>
10. Little Havana and Calle Ocho
For people watching, the area offers a great deal of entertainment. There are many open air areas where people gather to socialize. Murals on the sides of walls show important Cuban figures and scenes of daily life. And of course, this is the place in Miami to come for Cuban cuisine.
Get Google maps directions>
11. Jungle Island
Jungle Island is a bird sanctuary, wildlife habitat, and botanical garden. There are over 1,100 birds presented in a tropical forest setting, some of which take part in daily shows. The gardens contain around 2,000 varieties of exotic plants including Heliconias, bananas, orchids and bromeliads. The site is also home to a variety of other animals including tigers, baboons, alligators, tortoises, monkeys, orangutans and flamingoes. Some of the other shows presented at the Parrot Jungle include a nocturnal creature presentation and the reptile encounter that highlights a rare white alligator.
Get Google maps directions>
12. Freedom Tower
One of the most striking buildings on Biscayne Boulevard, Freedom Tower displays a "wedding-cake" style. Built in 1925, it is one of the oldest skyscrapers in the southeastern United States, and served for many years as the headquarters of the Miami Daily News.
Its name comes from its role as the immigration-processing center for hundreds of thousands of Cuban refugees who arrived in the 1960's. Today it stands as a tribute to Cuban immigration
Get Google maps directions>
13. Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park, just a short drive from Miami, protects to
one of Florida's most unique natural features. These swamp lands,
covering about 1.5 million acres, are home to alligators, crocodiles,
snakes, and all kinds of birds. This whole area is essentially a shallow
river flowing out to the ocean. Within the park is an informative
Visitors Center as well as walking trails and boardwalks for wildlife
viewing. One of the most enjoyable ways for tourists to experience the
Everglades is on an airboat tour. These high speed boat trips take
visitors out into the marshes and streams to see alligators and other
wildlife. There are several operators in the area, but outside the park,
that offer tours of the Everglades. Get Google maps directions>
14. Everglades Alligator Farm
The Everglades Alligator Farm, in operation since the early 1980s,
offers a sure fire way to see alligators up close. This farm has more
than 2,000 alligators, along with snakes and other wildlife. The
facility offers airboat tours, wildlife shows, and all kinds of viewing
opportunities. The alligator show are the main attraction, along with a
chance to have your photo taken with a baby alligator.
Get Google maps directions>
Get Google maps directions>
15. Key Biscayne and Crandon Park
South, beyond Miami Beach and over the Rickenbacker Causeway, is Key
Biscayne, a small community with lovely beaches and beautiful parks. Of
particular note is Crandon Park with an offshore reef that leaves the
shoreline protected from big waves and perfect for swimming. The park
has a Family Amusement Center, making it particularly popular with
families, and a Nature Center. There is generally ample parking, good
facilities, chair rentals available, and lifeguards on duty.
Get Google maps directions>
16. Deering Estate at Cutler
Get Google maps directions>
16. Deering Estate at Cutler
The 440 acre Deering Estate at Cutler property encompasses globally
endangered pine rockland habitat, as well as coastal tropical hardwood
rockland hammocks, mangrove forests, salt marshes, and a coastal dune
island. The Deering Estate is home to the c1900 Richmond Cottage, which
served as a hotel. Other historical buildings date from 1896 to 1922 and
an American Indian burial ground dating from 1500.
The estate is named for Charles Deering, who owned the home. He,
along with his brother James, was an art collector and accumulated a
great number of works by the Old Masters. Deering himself also painted.
On site at the estate is the Artist Village which has become an
important cultural center, featuring art and artists programs.
Visitors can stroll through the beautiful grounds, tour the houses, or simply enjoy the view.
Get Google maps directions>
Visitors can stroll through the beautiful grounds, tour the houses, or simply enjoy the view.
Get Google maps directions>
17. Miami Children's Museum
The Miami Children's Museum was founded in 1983 and moved to its latest location in 2003. It later built on an addition. Educational and entertaining exhibits are designed to appeal to children's curiosity and creativity. Interactive displays at the Miami Children's Museum include a variety of themed galleries that revolve around arts, culture, community, and communication.
The museum is located in a 56,500 square-foot facility with galleries, a 200 seat auditorium, restaurant, and gift shop. Get Google maps directions>
Carla is our Miami local representative, we asked her what an ideal day of leisure in Miami could look like, what she'd suggest doing from early morning to late at night
Here is what she suggests. Don't hesitate to contact Carla on Twitter @bigcitychase #Miami #questionforCarla if you have questions for her, we may publish your conversation in this blog if she thinks it might be useful to other Miami visitors.
Carla from Miami for Big City Chase Miami :
"Hi guys a leisure day in Miami!! of course it :
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