If you’re thinking about heading to Miami, let me tell you, it’s more than just a hot spot with gorgeous beaches.
This city is off the charts, with a nightlife that’s on fire, infused with Latin vibes and a sizzling salsa rhythm.
Picture this: dancing the night away in a club or indulging in a mind-blowing dinner at one of those super cool themed restaurants, and guess what?
Some of them are even owned by famous Hollywood celebs.
How awesome is that?
During the day, get your beach mode on and soak up the sun at those crystal-clear beaches.
But that’s not all, my friend.
Miami’s got a whole lot more to offer.
You can hit up local festivals and immerse yourself in the city’s culture, have epic picnics and barbecues, catch a movie, or scream your lungs out at an amusement park.
And hey, don’t forget to take a walking tour to check out the mind-blowing, colorful art-deco architecture that Miami is famous for.
Oh, and when your tummy starts rumbling, you’ve got to try a legit Cuban sandwich in Little Havana.
It’s a taste sensation you won’t wanna miss.
And once you’re fueled up, head over to Virginia Key Beach Park and hop on the vintage merry-go-round for a wild ride.
Trust me, it’s gonna be a blast!
Zoological Wildlife Foundation
A visit to the Zoological Wildlife Foundation will truly enrich your holiday in Miami.
The facility is very nice, neat, and well maintained — and you can tell the staff really interacts with the animals in the park.
Getting there without a guide would have been impossible, since the park is located outside of Miami and you have to take a dirt road to enter.
All residents of the park seem very happy and sociable, but the ones who really steal the show are the baby tigers.
For twenty minutes, you can have the chance to play, caress and hold these cute creatures.
Bonding with the animals in this zoo can be one of the most exhilarating experiences of your life.
With a knowledgeable guide, you can get very close to all of the animals and learn about each of them;
before long you will really understand their behaviors and natural habitat.
The admission price is high, but the experience is all worth it.
If you love animals, or want to have a rare experience similar to ours with a Bengal tiger cub, visit the ZWF.
American Airlines Arena
One of the best things to do in Miami is to visit the American Airlines Arena .
Purchase an e-ticket online via Ticketmaster for a chance to see the Miami Heat play against the other competitive professional basketball teams of the NBA.
Even if you are not fond of basketball, this place is highly recommended, as you can witness heart-pounding entertainment from the start to the end of the match.
The arena is beautiful, and the acoustics are optimal.
You can find and access everything from food to rest rooms and souvenir shops easily, and the location is right at the city center.
The Arena is a place of exceptional architecture and to watch an NBA game is a unique and superb experience.
What is truly extraordinary is the fantastic atmosphere with an audience that is supportive and at the same time well-behaved and enthusiastic.
To enjoy the spectacle of an NBA Game in a gorgeous and relaxing atmosphere is definitely one of the mandatory things to do when in Miami.
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Study the various styles present in the Vizcaya Museum Gardens and you will find an eclectic mixture of the Renaissance, Romantic, Neoclassic and other styles in vogue in Europe after the end of the Middle Ages.
It is especially fascinating, however, because the villa was built around 1916 and then the furniture, ceilings and panels were purchased in Europe and positioned by the artistic director of the house during the following years.
The latest space-age technology even makes an appearance!
You might open a door with a neoclassical phone;
then open a wardrobe in a baroque elevator, and so on to include finding the intercom, refrigerator and other examples of more modern technology.
The owner of the villa was a lover of the “good things of antiquity” without making distinctions among them, so furniture from different periods is grouped in a sumptuous confusion that is slightly reflective of modern American opulence.
A rare collector, in his own way, he sought objects that were mainly European and belonged to important people because in addition to the elegance of the villa, he also wanted to convey the story of its furnishings.
The garden is reminiscent of many Italianate European palaces, although small in size.
In front of the yard, at the water, there is a stone reproduction of a sailing ship, a sort of island that separates the shore from the sea.
Check this place out and satisfy your curiosity about the story behind these peculiar collections.
Wynwood Walls
This place is a must if you enjoy art and having a variety of artistic experiences.
There are blocks and more blocks of art galleries with the most amazing graffiti on the Wynwood Walls , certainly a fantastic environment that you cannot miss.
It is a wonderful district that contrasts the art of graffiti with the more traditional art galleries to browse through.
Beyond the art exhibits, cafes, and restaurants, it provides some great options for both leisure and snacks.
It is a very nice place to walk and see the excellent murals done throughout the area, and this is the way to promote art and culture that is most closely identified with the people of Miami.
You can draw inspiration from the art galleries of the promenade enlivened by the use of a thousand colors.
The entire attraction is safe, secure, and great guides are available if you need to have questions answered about a particular piece of art featured on its walls.
What else to do in Miami, FL?
Perez Art Museum Miami
The Perez Art Museum Miami is an incredible museum on the coast that is situated in a newly-finished building with lovely surroundings.
The museum is nestled in a huge building facing the sea.
The design of the building is also interesting.
It is also very central.
On weekends they feature works of modern artists like a composite sample of the artworks of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.
It is a museum with world-class art pieces and paintings, and its rooms are designed expertly with excellent lighting and climate control.
This is a beautiful museum with its terraces, view, columns of hanging plants, and the installation of the video art.
With regards to the exhibition space, it is easy to move around in proportion to the overall size.
There are great cafes and shops and you can have a leisurely walk to enjoy the fresh breeze of the sea on the promenade.
Lummus Park Beach
The Lummus Park Beach is a Miami beach with clean white sand and blue ocean magic that will leave you with the most pleasant memories for a long time.
As you approach this beautiful Caribbean basin you already find many other souvenirs from the ocean.
On the beach, especially when it is filled with visitors, there is an atmosphere of fun and lightheartedness.
Follow along, they will soon lead you to a bar and a place where you can eat and enjoy fine cuisine.
The beach is also equipped with chairs, loungers, and umbrellas.
It always leaves a very good impression.
It is not very much like the Caribbean, although in fact it is very close geographically.
Toward evening the people spontaneously arrange parties right on the beach –where the fun and carefree atmosphere is very relaxing.
Sometimes in the morning on the beach, you can see washed-up poisonous jellyfish, so you should be careful with bathing.
To locate good parking, drive all the way up to the Ocean Drive.
Zoo Miami
Located in the downtown area, you will still need to walk to the Zoo Miami.
Even after two transfers, public transportation will not get you very close.
The park itself is huge and has many animals;
it is possible to approach them closely, for example at the artificially-constructed caves, where the habitat of a gorilla is separated only by a shockproof glass.
The habitat is also equipped with a glass that examines the overall health of the animal caretaker.
In general, it is a park with two zones;
Indian and African savanna.
Some cages have caretakers right there to tell you fun facts about a particular inhabitant.
Keep this in mind once you buy a ticket.
When buying tickets at the cashier you will be given a card.
Upon entering, you can rent mini-cars for 2-3 or 4-5 people to expedite the exploration process.
The choice of food in the restaurant is limited to burgers, hot dogs, potatoes, and pizza.
At the dining area, there are birds that pick up everything edible from the floor.
Florida Grand Opera
In Miami, you not only enjoy the ocean, good restaurants, and bars and shopping — in the evening you can also visit the Florida Grand Opera.
The building is evidence of grand and powerful productions with a modern concept.
If you buy a ticket on-line look carefully at what kind of seating location you will have.
For passionate lovers of the classical music and concerts, this site has a great company with high quality artists and it is a great option for live operas.
Even those who do not know the libretto can enjoy the performance because the text is projected overhead in English and Spanish.
It is a very beautiful theater with a nice view from most seats.
It is undoubtedly a recommended center if you want to have the full opera experience.
It is the seventh oldest opera company in the U.
S.
, founded in 1941.
Besides excellent performances to watch, it has a shop where you can buy from a nice selection of music and music-related objects.
The theater has four exquisite floors with impressive design and architecture.
Miami Seaquarium
The Miami Seaquarium is one of the best attractions to visit in Miami — you can see dolphins, manatees, stingrays and the main star, Lolita the killer whale!
The ideal time to visit is early in the morning, when you can enjoy the shows that are presented one after the other ending with the orca.
This attraction offers a really great program for children and adults.
It is an interesting park to visit.
At times it may look half empty and old, but the hard-working staff does keep the place properly maintained and the lawns well manicured.
The entire park provides a very fun day, filled with great performances by the whales and dolphins.
The chance to see the seals performing their dance act and the opportunity to swim with the dolphins makes this water park a truly unique experience when in Miami.
Downtown Miami
If you have a half-day to spend, discover Downtown Miami , then take a bus city tour and spend all 3.
5 hours visiting everything located within the city center.
To make it more interesting, hire a taxi and then get off and explore.
Wander through the downtown area, admire the skyscrapers and the largest estate in the world, and get to know the nice people that live there.
Explore the designated stations of the metro rail ride (Metromover), get lost in the traffic, dine at the street cafes with live music all around, and party all night in an atmosphere of celebration at the hip lounge bars.
Take an excursion by boat along the mile of millionaires, sailing along the waters while you see the villas of Hollywood stars and other famous celebrities.
Miami skyscrapers, huge cruise ships, luxury cars, green parks, the downtown area that has no beaches is an exception of course, but you should visit it at least once in order to understand Miami’s spirit away from the beach life area.
South Beach
If you really want to see Miami, then you need to go here because it’s the perfect place to stay.
The beach is clean and wide, equipped with lifeguards, fine white sand, and the clear warm ocean.
Sun chairs and umbrellas come with a fee collected at the end of the day.
There are numerous water sports activities such as parasailing, beach volleyball, jet skis, plus the other amenities (parks, recreational spaces for kids and the elderly) to ensure a relaxing holiday.
If you get tired of lying on the beach you can go shopping and sit in cafes that are all within walking distance from the beach.
When you exit from the beach you are on the famous Ocean Drive – a street with many cafes, restaurants, nightclubs, and hotels — the party heart of South Beach.
If you go north on Washington Avenue and Collins Avenue, then check out the biggest shopping paradise [replace semicolon with colon] there are clothing stores, perfume, shoes, bags, etc.
It has everything you need for that perfect beach holiday.
South Beach – This is the heart of Miami!
Best time to visit Miami?
The perfect time to visit Miami is during the season of Spring.
From March until May the sun sparkles, with temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s throughout the day.
This Florida city exists in a subtropical climate so it is generally warm year-round and a bit blustery.
Bring an umbrella if you plan to visit in summer or fall;
at those times, you can expect some evening showers.
In the most regrettable situation, you could encounter torrential storms since hurricane season runs from about June to November.
In case you’re attempting to save money while travelling, hotel rates and plane fares have a tendency to get lower in Summer as the temperature and precipitation levels both rise.
