Things To Do In Miami: 2011

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

In all likelihood, one of the first things you will consider after deciding to spend the rest of your life with someone else is what might be the perfect location to make this promise official. While choosing the best location can prove to be a difficult decision, those who seriously consider a Miami wedding rarely look back. A wedding in Miami is something both your spouse, your respective families, and your guests will all remember in years to come as being an extraordinary and wonderful experience. You would be giving your guests and families a huge treat by choosing a South Beach wedding, and moreover, you and your partner will forever cherish the fact that you said your vows to each other in such a gorgeous place.

A wedding in Miami provides that happy medium between quality and affordability. The many lovely hotels to be found here, such as the Mandarin Oriental, the Delano and the Fontainebleau, all offer packages that might suit your needs. The Miami Beach weddings they provide are inevitably delightful affairs, what with the amazing scenery and near-perfect weather they all but guarantee.

The location of the wedding helps determine many other things as well: if you are the sort who doesn’t want your guests to worry, for example, then a relaxed Miami wedding is a great idea, as these are often amiable, relaxed affairs. The dress code does not have to be strict and, due to the number of companies available to help in the planning, the choosing of various details such as invitations and decorations will be less stressful than an ordinary wedding.

More than anything, your Miami wedding will enable you to begin your new life together on an extremely high note. It is impossible not to rekindle that very first flush of love in such an idyllic setting, and there’s always the possibility that your partner will appreciate you all the more for your suggestion to have the wedding—and honeymoon—in Miami as well!

Miami’s upscale shopping locales and spas are also provide a big bonus to prospective wedding vacationers. The spa treatments are wonderful when it comes to making people look their best for Miami Beach weddings; they also help you relax as those nerves start to tingle in anticipation of the big day. Miami’s shopping districts, meanwhile, will help provide beautiful clothes for the ceremony, reception, and parties, as well as pretty much any other thing you need, such as a fantastic camera to capture one of the most important days of your life, or even a last-minute replacement ring.

A wedding planner and photographer are just some of the professionals you may want to hire to help you organize the perfect Miami wedding. Before you hire anyone, make sure you see as many portfolios as possible and therefore make the best choice in deciding who can handle Miami beach weddings. The same goes for hotel wedding packages—the right choice will lead to a wedding every one will remember with fondness and joy for years.

Miami Vacations

When it comes to vacations, there are few destinations that offer as much as Miami does. Miami has established itself on the travel map as a city that thrives on its vibrancy. There are numerous things to do in Miami, which means that, no matter what your preferences are, running out of entertainment is never really in the cards. To put it simply, Miami vacations have emerged as some of the best to be found anywhere in the world, and it’s easy to see why.

If you're considering which things to do during a vacation to Miami Florida, the options are pretty much endless. Just in terms of sports, for example, you could opt for a peaceful sailing experience in the waters off the coast of the city, or you could get the adrenaline pumping by diving into the famous wrecks and reefs to be found here. Or you could pause for a round of two of golf, as the area’s many excellent courses are basically a tourist attraction in their own right. Miami vacations are also renowned because of the city’s memorably nightlife, and the numerous places it boasts that are worth visiting after the sun goes down. Be it the cuisine of the city or the culture, there are few things as good as a vacation in Miami Florida.

Of course, not everyone wants to go adventuring when on vacation, as different individuals enjoy different kinds of holidays. But the great thing about Miami as a holiday destination is the fact that it has something to offer every personality. This is a city that’s immensely rich in culture—a characteristic you can view, every year, when the colorful Calle Ocho Festival parades through the streets of Little Havana. Miami is a varied and fascinating place, and the lively Cuban flavor to the Calle Ocho area is simply a taste of the many different influences to be found around the city.

It almost goes without saying that a vacation in Miami Florida would be incomplete without sufficient exposure to the beaches of Miami. South Beach is a stretch of sand to visit again and again during your Miami beach vacation. Massive and hip, it’s dotted with fancy restaurants and famous bars, proving the ideal place for lounging in the Miami sun. The beach restaurants have also emerged as a very popular hunt for food connoisseurs, thanks to the delectable cuisines Miami increasingly offers.

The sea aquarium, Coconut Grove, and Key Biscayne are other must-see destinations in Miami (they should be included in any standard tour of the city). Miami vacations often come in the form of vacation packages, which may well include a week-long pass to some or all of these tourist attractions. These packages make a cheap Miami vacation more than just a pipe-dream, as they help you get more for your dollar. There is also a wide range of hotels available in Miami that are there to cater to your specific needs while on vacation in Miami Florida, and many offer Miami Beach vacation packages as well. From luxury hotels located close to golf courses to budget hotels for the backpacker, Miami offers everything.

Quite simply, there are options galore in Miami. It’s worth stressing, however, that if there’s one thing that rules life here over everything else, it’s the beach, and as such almost any trip to Miami will come under the umbrella of a Miami beach vacation. With it’s awesome combination of sun, sea, and sand, a vacation that centers around Miami Beach really can’t go wrong.

Miami Vacation Rentals

More and more tourists are opting for Miami vacation rentals, especially when they are traveling with the whole family. Miami has no lack of luxury hotels, which come with every kind of amenity and often cater to many budgets. However, renting a hotel for a week is much more expensive than renting a vacation home for the same period of time. The increasing popularity of vacation rentals in Miami Beach testifies to this, and there are now real estate agencies that manage Miami vacation rentals and who cater to all tastes. One can opt for a South Beach vacation rental as well a furnished condo in some other residential neighborhood of the city.

Any Miami beach rental will be different from a hotel suite in that it provides all the comforts of living in your own home. Not only does it work out cheaper in terms of actual fees, but hiring a vacation home also means being able to cook your own meals in the kitchen instead of going out for meals every evening—an excellent way to keep within your vacation budget.

Vacation rentals in Miami Beach come in all shapes and sizes—from luxurious furnished condos to spacious homes in apartment buildings. A Miami beach rental is really like a home away from home with everything provided for to the smallest detail. In fact, many vacation rentals in Miami Beach provide the same amenities that a luxury hotel offers, from gyms and swimming pools to easy access to nearby sunny beaches, restaurants, and shopping centers.

In truth, there are many advantages to using a vacation rental. For example, Miami vacation rental agencies can find the perfect vacation home for you according to your specific needs. And then there’s the fact that as compared to the hotels, (where you tend to get a single room for yourself, unless you've booked a suite, there’s plenty of space to lounge around and relax. Amenities such as televisions and music systems furnish the majority of these social spaces, making for a relaxed and friendly space within which to relax alongside the rest of your family. Most travelers who have used a Miami Beach rental will testify that it’s much easier to fully enjoy your vacation once everything, as far as the living arrangements are concerned, is taken care of—especially when traveling with the whole family.

From a beach rental, one can easily access the beaches, the most popular among these being, of course, Miami’s famous South Beach. One of the hippest places in the world, South Beach is lined with famous clubs and restaurants. Another popular tourist destination is the Little Havana district of Miami, which is home to many of the city’s Cuban immigrants. The vibrant cultural diversity of this area is especially evident in and around the Calle Ocho neighborhood, which is known worldwide for its Calle Ocho Festival, a street celebration that’s held every year in March.

If you’re considering a Miami beach rental, it may be worth checking out the Miami vacation packages that are on offer at numerous times during the year. These often cover flights, airport shuttles, accommodation, and other integral parts of a vacation, such as admission to major attractions, aiding you even further in enjoying a carefree and fun time in Miami.

Miami Vacation Packages

Miami vacation packages come in many different shapes and sizes, meaning that there will easily be something to suit every traveler, but before you look into which Miami travel deals best suit your needs, it’s important you identify exactly what you want from your trip to Miami Florida.

In vacation terms, Miami offers just about everything under the sun—which is a fitting remark, really, as everything is under a blazing, radiant sun here. You could decide to do things in style by making the most of Miami’s luxurious resorts and sun-kissed, celeb-packed beaches. Or you could decide to go the city-slicking route, making the most of Miami’s many urban attractions, sporting activities, and budget-minded hotels.

Let’s say you choose the first option: a week or more spent in the lap of luxury, enjoying the delightful mixture of picture-perfect beaches and first-class accommodation. In this case, vacation packages to Miami Beach—specifically South Beach—are often a good bet. The Miami beachfront, and especially its southern part, is renowned for being the playground of the rich and famous. Vacation packages to Miami Beach will probably include a stay at a beachside hotel, where the visitor can enjoy a range of treats, from spa treatment to fine dining.

You could also take the second option, a more hands-on exploration of Miami and its various attractions, such as the Seaquarium, the Science Museum, and the city’s Art Deco District. In this case, you’ll probably want to look for Miami vacation packages and Miami travel deals that include a pass to such cultural attractions. As such a vacation would require you traveling around town, Miami vacation deals that offer a car rental in the one-time fee would also prove a bonus, as it would save you the trouble of using public transportation, or the expense of hiring a driver.

Another important aspect to consider about Miami vacation packages is whether they include transportation to and from the airport. Many will include flights, but not all of these will include airport shuttle services. While airport shuttle services are rarely extravagantly expensive, the peace of mind of knowing your onward transportation is arranged following landing could well be a factor in deciding which of the Miami vacation packages to choose.

Other Miami travel deals revolve around a theme. For example, avid fishers may want to look at certain vacation packages to Miami Beach that offer chartered fishing trips out into the ocean. Surfers, meanwhile, may also be able to find a vacation package or deal that offers accommodation near the best surfing spots, equipment hire, and even lessons.

Finally, a large family may want to consider Miami vacation packages that offer condos as accommodation. Condos allow the family to stay close together, and thereby provide a quality bonding experience; they also tend to come with an impressive list of communal facilities, such as swimming pools, tennis courts, and gyms, which means you’re assured of fun and relaxation as soon as you step out of your front door.

Miami Walking Tour

Generally speaking, walking tours are a great idea—they allow you to get to know a place intimately; to experience it as its locals do daily, and to exercise while you learn on vacation. Miami tours are a wonderful way to get to know the city during a vacation to this part of Florida, and a walking tour is a particularly interesting and unique way to do so.

Miami is particularly well-suited to walking tours. A Miami walking tour may focus on one of many areas of the city, or it might focus on sites that are all tied together by a theme, such as in an Art Deco walking tour. Furthermore, they’re all blessed with perfect conditions, as Miami is an agreeably warm and sunny place, especially during the summer months; it’s all very well to extol the virtues of walking, but few people will be willing to hike around a city in pouring rain.

If you want to do a walking tour arranged by a company, an Art Deco Walking Tour is an excellent option. These walking tours in Miami are arranged by the Miami Design Preservation League, which aims to raise international awareness concerning the level of excellent architecture in the city. For a small fee, you get a 90-minute guided walk around Miami’s Art Deco Historic District, with informative anecdotes provided on the various Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival, and Miami Modern building styles to be seen.

If you'd rather take a self-guided Miami walking tour, the Miami Beach waterfront is probably the place to go. There are many things to do here, though it's particularly recommended that tourists on walking tours in Miami visit the Bayside Marketplace, gaze at the massive yachts and general high-life of the port, and take in a concert at the AT&T Amphitheatre, though the last option likely requires a bit of advance preparation.

Miami Everglades Tour

At once delicate and brutal, the Everglades region of Florida is a must-see for visitors to the Sunshine State. This is the largest remaining swamp in the world, and it’s home to a plethora of flora and fauna. For the vacationer who wants to dip his or her toes into the waters here—metaphorically speaking, of course—booking a Miami Everglades tour is probably the best way to go about things.

There are many available Everglades tours from Miami, with companies offering everything from day trips to weeklong sojourns. If you do book one of these Everglades tours from Miami, chances are all aspects of your trip will be organized, even down to a hotel pick-up service which will shuttle you directly from the front door of various Miami hotels to the Everglades.

The best Miami Everglades tours will whisk you around this fascinating mangrove swamp on an airboat. Informative guides will tell you all you need to know about anything and everything you see from the safety of this boat. The best Miami Everglades tours also often include a short Jungle Trek, which gives you the opportunity of getting up close and personal with some of the creatures that inhabit the area.

Make sure you take a day pack on your Miami Everglades tour that includes mosquito repellant and sun block. The tour company normally organizes lunch, so you probably don't need to worry about packing food, though it's best to check before leaving.

Miami Eco Tours

Eco tourism and eco tours can mean one of a few things. In its most ardent manifestation, an eco tour is a self-sustaining trip around a certain ecosystem of your destination. Most eco tours are not so extreme, however; they consist of a guided route around a certain ecosystem or ecologically interesting environment, whereby the visitor gets to see and learn about all things related to Mother Nature in the area.

Miami eco tours are, unsurprisingly, up there with the best in America. Eco tours in Miami inevitably make the most of the area’s superb and fascinating environments, from its deep ocean waters to its marshy swamps. What’s more, these Miami eco tours are expertly and efficiently run, making them a great option for a family trip out while on a Miami vacation.

The most popular of the available eco tours in Miami is probably the Miami Everglades eco tour. The Everglades is the largest remaining swamp in the world, and it’s home to a vast array of memorable flora and fauna, including alligators, crocodiles, dolphins, hogs, hawks, and eagles. An added bonus of booking a Miami Everglades eco tour is that the tours are normally conducted from the iconic airboats.

There are also eco tours available that are themed around certain animals. For example, you can take a tour that looks at the dolphins residing in Key West, where there’s a specific area called the Dolphin Playground that is basically guaranteed to offer dolphin-spotting opportunities every day of the year. Or you could do a Parrott Jungle tour, which offers visitors the chance to see 1,000 talkative birds in their natural habitat.

Miami Boat Tours

Miami boat tours provide an ever-popular way of seeing Miami while having a great time. A boat tour in Miami effectively checks off two boxes on your itinerary: You can enjoy the splendid experience of being out on the ocean, drenched in radiant sun, that so comes to define Miami, while still learning about the city and seeing its many sights.

A popular boat tour in Miami is a trip around the Biscayne Bay area. The bay, which is normally separated into three parts (North, Central, and South), exhibits Miami life in its full vigor. Gaze in awe at the towering skyline, before taking a close look at the lives of the rich and famous, as South Bay and its many artificial islands are famed as celeb hangouts.

Miami boat tours also include Miami cruises. These often run along Miami Beach boat tour routes, placing their emphasis less on having an informed time and more on enjoying a lazy day sunbathing or dining on the ocean. Such cruises are particularly popular with those on a honeymoon or other romancing couples who want to enjoy a Miami Beach boat tour without necessarily leaving Miami for longer than a day.

Miami boat tours also include trips around the Everglades swamp. The Everglades is the largest remaining swamp in the world, and the opportunity to whiz around its incredible fauna and flora on an iconic airboat is not to be sniffed at. Just watch out for those crocodiles!

Miami Tours

Miami tours provide an excellent way to get to know this vibrant city in Florida, otherwise known as the Sunshine State. One of the great benefits of a Miami sightseeing tour is that it takes the onus off you, the vacationer. Instead of having to organize your day of sightseeing—which may include arranging for a car rental, figuring out how to get places, and deciding where to eat—the company that runs your tour in Miami will basically do everything for you. The best tours in Miami are thus the ones that truly allow their clients to kick back and soak up this magnificent city, without having to worry about the logistics at all.

Miami tours come in many shapes and sizes, which means that vacationers of all tastes should find something to keep them happy. Generally speaking, most people opt for a one-day Miami sightseeing tour, though longer options are available. Typically, a one-day tour in Miami will begin early, with many arranging hotel pick-ups, stop for lunch, and finish in time for dinner.

A popular Miami sightseeing tour is a cruise of the Biscayne Bay area. This is where Miami’s upper class lives, and it’s an eminently scenic—and fascinating—place to gaze upon. From a boat you’ll see the mansions, tennis courts, and yachts of the rich and famous. In addition, many of the Miami tours that offer a glance at Biscayne Bay combine a boat ride with a shorter bus trip, so that the enchanting area of Little Havana, and particularly its ever-lively Calle Ocho neighborhood, can be explored properly.

A city tour in Miami is also a favorite among sightseeing vacationers. These tours pick up from where the Biscayne Bay tour left off; with a ride around Miami’s best on-land attractions. Little Havana and Calle Ocho will inevitably be on the list somewhere, as will the history-laden Coconut Grove neighborhood. What the rest of the tour comprises largely depends on the company you decide to go with. Some tours will hit big-name Miami attractions such as the Seaquarium, the MetroZoo, and the Vizcaya Museum. Other tours will cater to the shopaholics, whisking you around the best shopping areas and malls in the city.

There is also a healthy sea-bound tour scene to be found in Miami, so budding sailors can enjoy a tour of the city while indulging their sea legs. For those who like to shun motorized transportation in favor of their own two feet, meanwhile, a Miami walking tour will probably prove a good bet. There are a few of these on offer in the city, especially around the beach and waterfront area; they offer relaxed and interesting guided tours of the area that benefit from being in the great outdoors, which effectively means you can work on your tan while learning about the city of Miami!

Miami tours can often be arranged through the reception desk at your Miami hotel. The hotels will be able to suggest the best tours for you, taking into account your specific needs and desires. In addition, tours may be part of some Miami vacation packages, so when researching your trip, these are worth considering as well.

Surfing in Miami

Miami Beach surfing is one of the most enjoyable and exciting things to do while staying in Miami Florida. As it is, Miami is one of the highest rated tourist cities in the United States, with its pulsating nightlife, excellent restaurants serving cuisine from around the world, and shopping districts to wow any buyer. Although there is no lack of things to do in Miami, South Beach surfing understandably draws hordes of enthusiastic people who are interested in the famous Miami surf to be found here. If you don't want to surf in Miami yourself, plenty of visitors simply spent time relaxing on the beach and getting a killer tan here, or going fishing, boating, and snorkeling.

Miami surfing equipment is easily available to locals and tourists alike, and you can pick from among many attractive and colorful surfboards in order to surf in Miami. One of the great things about surfing here is those occasional breaks you take from pummeling the waves in order to lie back and relax in the shifting sands of the gorgeous Miami beaches. There are plenty of spots to unwind after some fast Miami Beach surfing, so make good use of that suntan lotion and come back from your beach vacation looking bronzed and healthy.

Miami surfing gets especially busy during the weekends, but of course, this means there are more people to surf alongside and the opportunity to be a part of a vibrant surfing community. If you don't know how to surf, lessons are a great idea. These are easily arranged, with an array of professional instructors at hand to guide you, whatever your level. The waters are clear and amazing here, so you'll easily have an unforgettable experience if you want to surf in Miami. A word to the wise: There are several topless beaches around, so it’s a good idea to check beforehand if you plan to bring kids along.

Of course, Miami Beach surfing is not the only thing you can do. If you'd prefer to simply watch the surfers, you can also spend time swimming in the beautiful waters off the Miami coast. Some people also enjoy jet-skiing, sailing, diving, and splashing. Many enjoy the lovely scenery with their spouses or families, or simply by themselves. Whether you want to do everything or nothing at all, Miami is a wonderfully welcoming place for to vacation in.

After all that Miami surfing, your body will appreciate a relaxing spa massage in any one of the spas that dot Miami. A spa treatment and some yoga or meditation will leave you re-energized, and thus able to pick up your board the next day and return to the waves, or to spend some time shopping, drinking, eating, or dancing. Given the array of fun things to do, it's easy to see that a Miami vacation will leave you wanting to come back again and again. It’s no wonder, all in all, that boarders the world over have Miami beach surfing among their favorite destinations.

Suggested Itineraries for Miami

Suggested itineraries Miami all include directions to the beach, and for good reason. Florida beaches are warm and sunny year round and among some of the nicest in North America. Although there are many beaches, there's more to Miami itineraries than that. South of Dade Avenue you'll find runway models and great Miami nightclubs. Suggested Itineraries Miami all vary from day to day and how long your vacation is but rest assured that Miami aims to please. Enjoy the mix of cultures that make Miami great.

Suggested Miami itineraries:

1-3 Days

Your suggested itineraries Miami should certainly include Miami itineraries filled with fun in the sun. On your Miami itineraries, you'll want to include some time spent at the beach. Key West is worth the three hour drive if you want to experience what all the fuss is about. Beautiful beaches and margaritas galore await you. South Beach is of course the other famous beach in Miami and closer to the city.

4-7 Days

With more time, head to one of the many Florida golf courses for some activity, or drive to West Palm Beach. In downtown Miami, you will find there is almost always a party happening somewhere. Schedule some time to check out the many clubs and classy bars that line the beaches and the city of Miami. The influence of Cuba is prevalent throughout, and some of the country's best Cuban cuisine can be found in Miami.

7+ Days

Your Miami suggested itineraries with a week or more can also include a side trip to the Everglades or the Florida Keys for an extended period of time. While Key Largo may be most widely known due to its mention in a well known Beach Boys song, you can travel there yourself and see why they loved it.

What ever you decide to include on your Florida vacation, you'll never have trouble filling your Miami itineraries. Be sure to plan your vacation accordingly, you don't want to cut your Miami itineraries short. If, however, you've got time and want to see more of Florida, check out the Orlando suggested itineraries.

Miami Spas

The Miami spa experience is not to be missed. With more and more new spas in Miami, many tourists are coming to this coastal city for spa vacations, in addition to more traditional pastimes such as fishing and golf. A Miami Beach spa offers the opportunity to enjoy the vibrant beach life of Miami while spending a truly relaxing time rejuvenating the mind and body through various massages and treatments offered by these spas. With the numerous spas in Miami one has the option of choosing from a wide range of facilities available. Some spas exclusively offer massage therapy while others specialize in beauty treatments or alternative therapy, such as acupuncture and homeopathy.

There are many types of spas to choose from: day spas and resort/hotel spas, as well as medical spas that are committed to providing customers with complete medical and wellness treatments under the guidance of qualified doctors. Choosing which one is right for you is, of course, a matter of personal preference, though it will take only a look at any one of the Miami Beach spas to realize you can’t really go wrong, whatever place and therapy you select.

Among the most popular spas in Miami are those aboard a cruiser. Cruise ship spas are catching on fast all over the world, and Miami, which boasts one of the largest ports in the world, is a leading destination for those tourists who want to combine the pleasures of cruising with the luxury of relaxing spa treatments. Day cruises are possible here, as are longer, leisurely cruises that explore the nearby Caribbean.

A Miami Beach spa caters well to beach-goers who want to show off the latest swimwear, offering waxing, tanning, and toning facilities. Following close behind the Miami Beach spa in popularity is the resort/hotel spa. There are many luxury hotels around Miami, especially in the South Beach area, and the vast majority have spa facilities. The five-star ambience of these spas in Miami attracts hordes of locals and tourists alike—you’ll be happy to know you don’t have to be staying at an individual hotel to use its spa, though the entrance fee can, at times, be a little on the astronomical side.

A good Miami spa catering to one’s special needs is not hard to find. The spas here offer everything from electrolyzing therapy and detoxification programs to pain management, yoga meditation, and Thai massages. There are also spas that cater to a holistic wellness program over a period of stay at the resort; this means you can basically enjoy a program tailor-made to fit your stay in the city. The best Miami spas include the spa at the Ritz-Carlton, which is the largest spa in the city, as well as other popular destinations such as Aquagene Spa, Willow Stream Spa, Lyons Day spa, Uhma Spa, and Meduhr Spa.

Many of these spas have treatments that, thankfully, keep in mind the hectic partying scene common to South Beach. In any Miami Spa there are treatments that prepare customers for lively nightlife and sun-drenched beach activities, as well as treatments that detoxify the system after a wild day or night spent on South Beach.

Shopping in Miami

Miami is a favorite shopping destination for travelers from across the world due to the variety of Miami stores on offer here. Miami shopping includes exciting indoor and outdoor malls as well as small and exclusive boutiques. A mall in Miami will typically have many upscale restaurants and shops for tourists and locals to indulge in as well, which means that a trip to one of Florida's great shopping centers can easily be worth a day of your vacation.

Lincoln Road is a wonderful Miami shopping district as it has some of the best retail shops you could dream of. One of the great things about shopping here is the fact that it’s closed to traffic; you can stop at every corner and enjoy a quiet cup of coffee without trouble. The Miami stores and cafes here are open until late for enthusiastic, nonstop shoppers as well. All in all, with its palm trees and art deco buildings, Lincoln Road offers a very unique shopping experience.

Another great mall in Miami is the ever-popular Dolphin Mall. Sawgrass Mills, CocoWalk, Aventura Mall, Bayside Marketplace and Dadeland Mall are all also major shopping malls in the city. Collins and Washington Avenue between themselves make up the upmarket designer shopping district and constitute some of the best shopping in Miami, while Espanola Way is a great alternative if you tire of the other places.

The Falls offers a fantastic view of a waterfall along with some really great shopping. Whether you’re looking for souvenirs from the beach or the latest Armani or Chanel, you can buy it all at this mall in Miami. Miami stores in general offer other products of all kinds, so if you want a nice new collar for your pet or a pearl necklace for your mother, it’s all there waiting for you to pick it up. What’s more, if you’re watching the budget, there are several outlet malls that allow you to do some Miami shopping without leaving a large crater where your bank balance should be.

Everyone wants a good deal in Miami, and with some searching, you are likely to get one, due in large part to the plentiful outlet malls in Miami. Local handicrafts and artisan products such as guayabera, bustelo coffee and handmade cigars, Patron Saint candles, and Mariquita Perez dolls are among many such indigenous products you will be able to buy at Miami stores. Art collectors and people who love buying furniture will also love shopping in Miami. All in all, your purchases are things to treasure and keep as mementos of your lovely Miami vacation.

After your busy day of shopping in Miami, relaxing in one of the city’s great spas is a great way to unwind. These offer a range of treatments, from yoga to massages and water aerobics. You can also explore the array of amazing restaurants and cafes that comprise Miami’s dining options. Or you can simply head back to your luxury Miami hotel and go through all your new purchases.

Sailing in Miami

A holiday in Miami would be incomplete without a great sailing experience in the ocean. Tourists swear by the spectacular sailing facilities available in Miami and the fantastic locations you can visit. When it comes to Miami sailing, you can rest assured that it is going to be the experience of a lifetime, wherever you choose to go.

There are many ways to take part in Miami sailing. The first thing you need to do in order to enjoy sailing in Miami is get in touch with a company that organizes sailing trips in and around the city. The cost of the boats that you rent will depend on the level of luxury that you choose. For those on a honeymoon or the otherwise romantically inclined, going for the luxury yachts when looking at Miami Yacht Rental options is a good idea. For those with an adventurous nature, meanwhile, a handful of companies operate boisterous, action-packed routes.

One of the great things about sailing in Miami is that you needn’t be a seasoned sailor. The Miami sailing options on offer include many trips especially designed for beginners, where you’ll be assisted by sailing professionals who will introduce you to the fundamentals of sailing and help you enjoy this awesome water sport.

The Miami yacht rental services are also equipped to serve all kinds of tourists. There are some who swear by a quiet sail across the ocean drenched in moonlight while some prefer to go for a wild trip in slightly more dangerous waters. In addition, the amount you’re willing to pay is also a major determinant in yacht rentals. The Miami yacht rental services work wonders and provide a suitable sailing option for all kinds of tourists and all kinds of budgets.

For those who have had their fill of sailing, there are other water sports to try as well, including surfing and diving. For divers, there are great wrecks and reefs in Miami that you can explore, whether you’re just learning or are a seasoned pro. The Key Biscayne reef site is one where a beginner will be able to dive safely and also enjoy the experience of visiting wrecks that are at a depth of only about 35 feet.

For the more experienced diver, there is the immensely challenging Fish and Game Reef, which has famous wrecks such the Berry Patch. Located at a depth of 155 feet, the Berry Patch is a diving destination suited only for professionals. As with anywhere in the world, you should only try water sports in Miami when under the supervision of experts and with adequate safety precautions, especially if you’re learning the sport from scratch. Remember: Having fun safely is the best way to enjoy a holiday.

Another extremely popular water sport in Miami is deep sea fishing. The waters off the coast of Miami are home to a veritable treasure trove of large saltwater fish; budding anglers who want to see if they bite are well served by the Miami sailboat rentals found along the city's coast. In fact, these sailboat rentals prove a great way to enjoy the waters here whether you're looking to fish, dive, snorkel, or, of course, indulge in some sailing in Miami.

Resorts in Miami

Miami resorts will truly make your stay in the Magic City spectacular. Miami is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States and has much to offer in terms of nightlife, shopping, beautiful beaches, and accommodations to suit every budget. For those who can afford the luxury, a Miami Beach resort is definitely a worthwhile indulgence.

There are plenty of companies that arrange vacation packages to the area, and they can often help you to choose a spa resort in Miami that is to your liking. You can choose from among the best resorts in Miami and decide which ones are most convenient in terms of location, cost, and proximity to the beach and the dining and shopping districts. Some Miami resorts cater especially to business travelers and busy professionals who need their services on the go. There are all sorts of Miami beach resorts, both large five-star hotels and smaller boutique options, and as a result even the most discerning of tourists should find satisfaction here.

A spa resort in Miami will offer services to detoxify, rejuvenate, and refresh you. Miami resorts are really well known for the first-class quality of their services; what better way to spend a vacation than being pampered in a luxury Miami beach resort only minutes away from the sea? For those who crave being near the waters, it’s even possible to opt for beachside massages.

Miami beach resorts offer a truly holistic range of therapies. You’ll find everything here, from yoga and meditation to hair and skin treatments and mud baths. It’s even possible to find a spa resort in Miami that also offers more physical activities, such as rock climbing and aerobics. However, if you stay in such a Miami beach resort, leaving the confines of the hotel can become quite difficult, what with the excellent range of things to do at the resort.

The dozens of excellent day spas in Miami give you more options to choose from, so if you do feel like stepping out of your resort, you can choose one of these. For a completely organic experience, try the Uhma Spa, which has been voted as the most environment friendly spa in the United States. For five-star luxury, meanwhile, check in at the Four Seasons or the Ritz Carlton. The Mandarin Oriental is also a great option.

A spa vacation to Miami also offers other exciting things to do while you’re in town. Dining out and shopping are world-class here, and you can add great food and some satisfying shopping to the list of things that make you feel good about your Miami spa resort vacation. The best shopping districts in Miami are probably those at Collins Avenue and Lincoln Road, where there are plenty of shopping malls to keep the entire family entertained.

There are also many different restaurants to try all over Miami, serving a variety of delectable cuisines. August to September in Miami brings the city’s annual food extravaganza: the Miami Spice, which is an event to remember if you're considering when to go. Accompanying the memorable shopping and restaurant scene here are seemingly thousands of standout bars, cocktail joints, and clubs. Lose yourself to Miami, then, and you may never come out the other side!

Miami Skyline

The Miami skyline is one of the largest in the United States. It is also one of the most picturesque because of its choice position on the Atlantic coast of southeastern Florida. Miami has one of the largest urbanized areas in the US, along with Chicago, and restaurants, a shopping mall, and even an amusement park. It would be located on Watson Island, which also happens to be an excellent location to get brilliant Miami skyline photos.

The tallest building in the Miami skyline is the Four Seasons Hotel and Tower. It is a 70-story skyscraper that reaches 789 feet. It is the tallest building in the state of Florida and ranks in the top 200 buildings in the world with respect to height. The second-tallest building on the list is the 764-foot Wachovia Financial Center. Some of the other most notable skyscrapers in Miami include the Marquis Miami, 900 Biscayne Bay, the Wells Fargo Center, and Mint at Riverfront.

There are a good number of places to take awesome photos of the city and skyline, and generally, just appreciate the beauty of this vibrant coastal area. One thing you may consider is taking a cruise through the Port of Miami, where you will see the Miami skyline, Miami Beach, South Pointe, and more. A cruise through Biscayne Bay at sunset will also afford wonderful opportunities for Miami skyline photos, as well as gorgeous photos of the sunset and the glowing city in the distance.

Another great way to enjoy the vast expanse of the skyline as well as Miami Beach, South Beach, and all of the breathtaking surrounding areas is on a tethered balloon ride in Bayfront Park. The balloon rises as much as 500 feet. The Miami City Club is located on the 55th floor of the Wachovia Tower, another place from which you can enjoy excellent views of the city. There are also a wide variety of restaurants, bars, hotels, and clubs that have great views.

Miami Scuba Diving

For some of the best Florida scuba diving, head to Miami where artificial reef construction, natural rocks and the coral reefs off Miami Beach offer divers a wide selection of dive sites. Miami scuba diving in deep waters can be enjoyed at artificial reefs created by planned wrecks where divers will find an abundance of marine life. Miles of shallow water scuba diving in Miami can be found around the natural reefs closer inland. In Miami, you'll also find well-established dive shops, top scuba charters and highly qualified dive instructors.

Whereas many seasoned divers sometimes like to go it alone, for most, scuba diving in Miami usually involves a day-trip out to sea with one of the city's scuba charters. If you are already licensed to dive, then you can book a trip through a number of Miami scuba diving operations. If you are not licensed, many of the companies that specialize in scuba diving Miami will offer instruction and certification courses, normally taking a couple of days. Most of these instruction sessions can fit your schedule with morning, afternoon and evening classes, and some dive shops offer an online section to the course. Among the recommended dive shops in Miami, are Diver's Paradise and South Beach Divers.

Miami is a popular place to dive for those seeking a good amount of wreck sites, whereas over 75 current wrecks can be found off the Miami coast. As scuba diving in Miami becomes ever more popular, the Dade County Environmental Resource Management division actually arranges for ships to be sunk to make more sites for Miami scuba diving trips. Once boats are selected to be sunk, they are cleaned and environmentally prepared to become artificial reefs, where marine life eventually thrives. As these artificial reefs develop and become a part of the ocean environment, they eventually develop into popular sites for fishing and scuba diving in Miami. They also provide relief to the area's natural coral reefs. What makes scuba diving in Miami so excellent is the balance between the natural reefs and the artificial ones. Wreck sites generating artificial reefs include ships, tanks, tug boats, old pipes, a water tower and even a Jose Cuervo concrete bar.

Many of the reef sites along the Miami coast are found in calm and relatively shallow waters, and beginners scuba diving Miami can easily access them. Graceland Reef is a good place for beginners looking to develop confidence and skills while scuba diving in Miami. Graceland Reef is extremely shallow, sitting only 18-22 feet below the surface, and among its ledges divers will find plenty of crags to explore. Graceland Reef is several hundred yards long, which makes for lengths of sites for exploration. Another reef well worth visiting during your scuba diving Miami adventure is Emerald Reef, which is gaining in popularity as a quality Miami dive site. Emerald Reef is just 30 feet below the surface, and its size places it among the larger natural reefs found off the Miami coast. Some Miami dive shops will even arrange day trips to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, found near Key Largo. Great coral reef diving can be found at Pennekamp and the adjacent Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary.

Among the most popular wreck sites to dive in Miami, is the Sheri-Lyn. Found within a few miles off Key Biscayne, the Sheri-Lyn is a 230-foot freighter made of steel that has split into two pieces. Divers to this site can explore the ship's hull and perimeter, where they will encounter a wide array of marine life, including barracuda, arrow crabs and other ocean creatures. Visibility at the Sheri-Lyn is usually very good, making it ideal for marine photographers. The Tenneco Towers are among the most unique Miami scuba diving wrecks, and they dually serve as the understood northern boundary for Miami-based dive operators. The "Tenneco Towers" are actually old Tenneco Oil Platforms, and in their past lives they served in the Gulf of Mexico. In 1985, Tenneco Oil Company moved the platforms to the Miami coast, with the sole purpose of sinking them to create artificial reefs. This is a dive to be made by intermediate and advanced divers, as the depth of the three separate towers ranges from 110-190 feet. The platforms, having been submerged for 22 years, offer a novel diving experience among their coral-covered rungs, and they harbor a variety of sea life such as barracuda and bull sharks, as well as hundreds of species of fish.

Miami offers so much when it comes to Miami scuba diving. Generous gulfstream currents often make for good visibility, and beneath Miami waters a number of scuba diving Miami adventures await both the novice and the experienced. Scuba diving Miami involves a little bit of the best of everything you could want when diving. Natural and artificial coral reefs, numerous wrecks, warm waters and a multitude of marine life characterize Miami scuba diving. From West Palm Beach, to Miami and down to the Florida Keys, some of the best scuba diving on the planet awaits visitors to southeastern Florida.

Cruises in Miami

Miami cruise ports are consistently humming with the movement of giant ships. The hulls pointed forward, displacing the salty water as they head towards their myriad destinations. Whether you are venturing into the Caribbean, taking a casino cruise or just a simple trip along the scenic Florida coast, Miami cruises are the most popular in America, servicing over three million travelers a year.

Many visitors to the city ignore Miami’s boundless nightlife and picturesque beaches to move straight to the high seas. After all, every major cruise line operates here. Carnival Lines takes advantage of Miami’s geographically convenient launching point for a Caribbean cruise, while Costa cruise lines would prefer to take you past Cuba, towards the Mexican coast and upper Central America. Like most of the lines that originate in Tampa, Miami cruises spend a lot of time traversing the western regions of the Caribbean – from Jamaica and the Dominican Republic to Latin American ports in Belize, Mexico and Costa Rica.

But Miami cruise ports are the leader in trips disembarking to the more exotic eastern end of the Caribbean. Celebrity, Carnival, Norwegian and (obviously) Royal Caribbean all base their operations out of Miami’s port. Though Norwegian specializes in trips across the Panama canal, they also offer Miami cruises to the Bahamas, Cayman Islands and both the U.S. and British Virgin Islands (islands that perfectly mix the familiarity of American culture with a tropical setting) – while more adventurous travelers can take on trips offered by both Carnival and Oceania lines that head further south, stopping in the luxurious French West Indies before visiting the jungle wonderlands on St. Lucia and Dominica. While these are certainly not the most common or cheapest cruises from Miami, they offer the most diverse experiences, giving those on board a glimpse into how different each Caribbean isle is from its neighbor. You can also catch a ship down to the islands of the Dutch West Indies - including the ever-popular isle of Aruba - but since they are located over 1200 miles from Miami cruise ports, most prefer to fly to these Caribbean isles.

Other popular cruises from Miami include those that offer casinos on board. Whether you are taking a short jaunt into the ocean and back or are taking advantage of one of the few casino cruises that spend the night in a Caribbean dock (usually the Bahamas), these trips are big with both high rollers and the common gambler alike. They offer all the food, entertainment and excitement you would expect from any casino – and if you want a short break from the gaming tables, there is the warm Floridian air and soothing waves to amuse and placate you. As long as you can survive the interminable wait as the ship heads out of U.S. waters.

The wide berth of cruises from Miami allows you to designate exactly what you desire from a boat trip. From a luxury liner that caters primarily to honeymooners to adventure cruises that stress time spent on land over that in the water, this is the number one port of call in the entire nation.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Bed And Breakfasts in Miami, Florida

Miami is a wonderful gleaming city with a lot going on. Visitors to Miami can expect a busy feel and a hip atmosphere. No spot in Miami is more hip than the trendy Miami Beach-South Beach area and staying in a Miami Beach bed and breakfast will make you feel at home while enjoying the excitement around you. Head out to the beach and see and be seen, grab dinner at a nearby restaurant and head back to your bed and breakfast Miami Beach Florida for a relaxing night in a charming setting. Visitors may also look to stay on the picturesque Biscayne Bay, where proximity to Key Biscayne and the Biscayne National Park gives nature lovers the ideal spot to head out and explore. Here are some ideas for a bed and breakfast Miami Beach Florida and a Bayside Miami bed and breakfast for consideration the next time you are visiting beautiful Miami.

The European Guesthouse makes its bid as the premier bed and breakfast Miami Beach Florida with its elegant and sophisticated guestrooms, all outfitted with the modern amenities you should expect to find. Located at 721 Michigan Avenue in South Beach, you are in the heart of hip, situated in the Art Deco District. Within a couple minutes walk, you will find bars, shops, beaches and restaurants, and you'll feel exceptionally elite returning to this European style home away from home. Everything that makes South Beach such a hotspot is right outside your door and the laid-back atmosphere of The European Guesthouse will make you feel more than welcome. Enjoy the all you can eat breakfast buffet and indulge all day long in the complimentary tea, coffee, fruits and pastries.

Your second option for a trendy Miami Beach bed and breakfast can be found at the SoBeYou Tropical Bed " Breakfast Inn. Found at 1018 Jefferson Avenue in South Beach, SoBeYou has been recently remodeled by the present owners to retain the Art Deco character of the area. An extra treat at SoBeYou comes with their gourmet breakfast created within their modern kitchen. Multigrain walnut pancakes are accompanied by shirred eggs with a tarragon mornay sauce or broccoli, cheddar and arrugula omelets. You can eat poolside, where the staff will bring you this wonderful dish. SoBeYou promises to give you "the service and pampering of a five star hotel without the five star prices". This Miami Beach bed and breakfast features 10 newly renovated poolside rooms that are luxurious and well-decorated.

The Pearson House offers a good option for a Bayside Miami bed and breakfast that will have you within walking distance from beautiful Biscayne Bay and within a short drive from Key Biscayne. This is a small Bayside Miami bed and breakfast in a private home where all the focus is on you, as there is only one guestroom. Accommodations include a separate entrance, refrigerator, microwave, and a coffee maker. A light breakfast of cereal, fruit and muffins is provided in your room when you desire, and you can eat in the lovely tropical garden if you wish. Downtown Coconut Grove is within walking distance where you'll find wonderful dining options and antique shopping. Coconut Grove is worth exploring, and you'll also be within walking distance of the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, and just across the Rickenbocker Causeway you are on beautiful Key Biscayne where you'll enjoy some notable Miami beaches and great views back on the Miami skyline.

Honeymoon in Miami, Florida

A Miami honeymoon is like a dream come true for many couples. Not only is the state of Florida packed with once-in-a-lifetime attractions, but Miami itself also has a certain something about it. Quite simply, a honeymoon in Miami is unforgettable. Not only are the numerous beaches of Miami among the most beautiful in the world, but there is also a wide array of hotels that offer vacation packages for newlyweds. Couples who opt for one of these Miami honeymoon packages get pampered in every possible way; from trips in limousines to complimentary champagne, chocolates, and relaxing massages, the hotels that arrange Miami beach honeymoon packages offer an unparalleled experience.

Not only do many couples spend their honeymoon in Miami, many also choose to get married on the tropical beaches of this coastal city—which is hardly surprising, when you consider the natural beauty of the beaches on offer. There are numerous beaches that dot the Miami coast, such as the Virginia Key Beach, Sunny Isles Beach, Bal Harbor Beach, and Windsurf Beach. These beaches with their pristine blue waters, shady palm trees, and warm white sands are a great setting in which to tie the knot, of course, but they’re also great to lounge on afterward as you enjoy your Miami beach honeymoon to the fullest. If the idea of a beach wedding isn’t quite your thing, you can always look into the beautiful Ancient Spanish Monastery located near the Sunny Isles as an excellent alternative site for the ceremony.

However, it must be said that a honeymoon in Miami is not limited to relaxing in the calm oasis that is the area's tropical splendor. Miami has many things to do for couples who want to do more than spend their time enjoying the famous Miami beach sunsets. For example, couples can plan their Miami honeymoon so that it coincides with one of the many festivals held in the fifth-largest urban area in the United States of America. One of the most popular among these is the South Beach Food and Wine Festival, held in the South Beach district of the city; another is the Calle Ocho festival held every March in the cosmopolitan area of Little Havana.

Boat excursions on the Bayside harbor can also be a very unique and romantic experience for couples who spend their honeymoon in Miami. Another romantic getaway for couples is the Venetian Pool, which is an artificial pool and waterfall located, somewhat improbably, in a limestone quarry. There are also many popular parks and museums such as Bayfront Park, the Miami Seaquarium, the resplendent Miami Beach Botanical Gardens, and Jungle Island.

It’s worth reiterating the wonderful ease of arranging a Miami honeymoon, given the all-encompassing nature of the vacation packages on offer. There are many hotels and travel agents that will intricately plan everything for you, ensuring you enjoy a mixture of beach-dwelling and visits to the above attractions while on your Miami beach honeymoon. Thus, newly married couples can combine the relaxing pleasures of a beach holiday with the romance of a perfectly planned honeymoon.

Miami Golf

One of the greatest tourist attractions in the sunny state of Miami is golfing. Miami offers its visitors a variety of golf courses, each capitalizing on the city’s beautiful natural characteristics to offer a first-class golfing experience. As a result, any trip to Miami would be incomplete without a visit to one of its celebrated golf courses.

In fact, many consider Miami to be a great place for learning golf. There is something magical about the golfing ambience in Miami that instills in you a love for the game that is hard to let go. Miami golf is a particularly popular attraction because of the great weather that prevails here throughout the year. Warm temperatures and sunny skies in South Florida make it just perfect for enthusiastic golfers to test their skills.

One of the most popular and beautiful Miami golf courses is the Crandon Golf Course. Located in Key Biscayne, this course continues to entice golfers with its exquisite natural beauty. Crandon Golf Course offers the very best of Miami golf; while teeing off here, you'll experience the beauty of tropical mangrove forests that surround the greens. Apart from the scenery, golfers also swear by the challenges that the Crandon Course poses—even to professional golfers. This is undoubtedly one of the most unique and best golf courses in Miami.

The Crandon Golf Course has emerged as a luxury destination in the recent past, mainly due to the opening of the Ritz Carlton in the year 2001. The Ritz Carlton, a luxury beach resort, is a stone’s throw away from the golf course. Consequently, many golfers head to Miami simply for this great golf-and-hospitality combination.

Another famous Miami golf destination is the Bayshore Golf Course. An established and attractive course, it’s a favorite among locals and golfing visitors alike, proving to be one of the most popular Miami golf courses out there. Golf fees for a game at this Miami Beach golf club vary from season to season. The peak season (from the end of December to the end of April) is the costliest; try golfing in Miami here between May and October, however, and you can end up paying 50 percent less. While golfing in Miami at this course, you can stay at the convenient nearby hotels such as the Marriot or The Alexander.

One of the most famous Miami golf courses is the Biltmore Golf Club, which is famously the favorite golf course of President Bill Clinton. This masterfully built golf course is extremely well-maintained and can delight any golf aficionado. The setting of the course is also a beautiful one and has a calming effect on even the most anxious of nerves—not a bad thing, especially on those days when the ball isn’t quite coming off the club correctly.

Golfing in Miami has emerged as one of the most exquisite forms of vacationing here. In fact, thousands flock to Miami every year simply for a few days of undiluted golfing enjoyment. The presence of so many world-class golf courses, coupled with the availability of luxury resorts and hotels close by, makes Miami the ultimate golfing destination.

Gay travel in Miami

Gay Miami is an increasingly popular destination for LGBT travelers. A truly incomparable city that combines modern and cosmopolitan travel with the relaxed calm of a tropical beach paradise, Miami is full of gay hangouts. You’ll find bars and clubs aplenty, along with gay-friendly hotels and beaches. Consequently, more and more people are flocking here every year, with Miami gay travel now presenting a great alternative to destinations such as San Francisco and Key West. But it’s important to remember that, in addition to the nightclubs, Miami is an interesting and varied place, and it has much to offer any tourist by way of famous sites to see during the day.

Gay Miami is very different from other famous gay travel destinations. Whereas the usual gay resorts are often low-key and away from the center of town, Miami gay travel is marked by its overt flamboyance. The South Beach area is especially famous: known as the Gay Rivera, it’s home to many local celebs and an abundance of gay clubs in Miami Beach. The most famous among these is Twist, which consists of seven themed bars, a lot of pumping music, and—on any night of the week—more happy tourists and partying locals than you could imagine. Generally speaking, Twist sets the tone for the rest of Miami’s nightlife; among other popular gay nightclubs are Club Boi, Boy Bar, Club Azucar, Discotekka, Crème Lounge, and Score.

For those who want a respite from the hustle and bustle of the teeming sand strips and gay clubs in Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale offers a welcome break. Known as the Venice of America, Fort Lauderdale has over a hundred establishments, including many gay bars and hotels, that offer access to the area’s beautiful, palm tree-lined beaches. As a result, Fort Lauderdale has long been another popular gay tourist resort, and its high standing shows no sign of waning.

Miami is home to many famous tourist attractions that are just as worth a visis as the gay clubs in Miami beach, and the incoming visitor is assured an interesting time regardless of their sexuality. Home to museums that are famous the world over, Miami gay travel really should include a trip to some of these attractions. The Holocaust Memorial, the Ancient Spanish Monastery, the Frost Art Museum, and the Vizcaya Museum with its adjoining gardens are probably the most notable sites. Gay Miami also has many botanical parks such as the excellent Jungle Island and the ever-popular (and simply named) Miami Beach Botanical Gardens. Furthermore, for those really looking to take it easy, there are some great recreation parks, such as the Venetian Pool with its artificial waterfalls and the Oleta River State Recreation Park.

For couples heading to Miami, there is one thing above all else that you simply must do: go out for a walk along the beach at sunset. Sunsets over the blue waters of Miami are especially beautiful and certainly romantic; for that picture-perfect moment, hire a boat and or take a dinner cruise and experience the splendor while floating along with the city of Miami still in view.

Fishing in Miami, Florida

Miami fishing is rightly famous the world over. Fishing in Miami covers the full spectrum, from inland fly-fishing to big sea game, and there are facilities in place to provide visitors with ample equipment, regardless of which variety they choose. Consequently, there is a large tourist industry just for people looking to spend their vacations fishing, and arranging a Miami deep sea fishing trip is no problem at all. Indeed, there are many vacation packages that provide for such trips, arranging transportation, accommodation, and of course the fishing itself for an all-in-one inclusive fee.

Before you go fishing in Miami, it’s important to acquaint yourself with the state of Florida's fishing rules, and in particular to make sure you have the correct license. Regulations change from state to state in America, so don’t think you’re in the know just because you’ve fished elsewhere in the country before!

While residents of the state of Florida can fish in saltwater as long as they’re standing on land, anyone between the ages of 16 and 65 from elsewhere needs a license to legally fish in Miami. Licenses can be purchased either online or in Miami, and they cover either seven-day or twelve-month periods, though the difference in price between the two is surprisingly little.

Once you have your Miami fishing license, the full wonder of Miami deep sea fishing awaits. From silver king to sea trout, snapper, and cobia, the wealth of large fish living in the waters in and around Miami is simply astounding. Arranging a fishing charter in Miami is probably the best way to get at these monsters of the deep; there are many companies that run trips, providing state-of-the-art boats and fishing equipment for a reasonable price. They also do all the boring paperwork associated with taking a boat out to sea, which makes these Miami deep sea fishing excursions even more fun for the carefree fishing vacationer.

Some of these companies combine Miami fishing with day cruises, allowing the whole family to enjoy themselves regardless of whether they’re interested in fishing. For example, you can book a boat that provides a gourmet dinner out on the seas, a great way to round off a fishing/cruising trip. Other specialty trips include party boats and custom-designed wedding cruises.

The adrenalin junky who loves fishing can also enjoy an array of other sporting activities while in Miami. With the ever-energetic surf of the Atlantic lapping at Miami’s beaches, sailing and surfing are both possibilities here. Diving, meanwhile, is a favorite among visitors who want to get close to the sea’s fish without necessarily having them for dinner.

Once a day’s fun draws to an end, Miami offers a wealth of dining out opportunities, especially around the South Beach area, which is a famous hangout for the rich and famous. After all, what better way could there be to end a day spent fishing in Miami than in a restaurant, eating a fresh catch with the sound of the sea in the background.

Day Cruises in Miami

Miami day cruises launch off from the port of Miami. This port is not only the largest in America, but also one of the largest in the world, with ships belonging to scores of cruise companies launching from here every day. A cruise in Miami may consist of a daylong sightseeing tour or a romantic Miami dinner cruise. Or it may be the first leg of a leisurely and luxurious cruise to the Caribbean or the distant shores of Europe.

Miami day cruises take you around the shores of this magnificent city, before invariably heading out to Biscayne Bay. Going on a cruise in Miami is synonymous with traveling through Biscayne Bay, which is the lagoon that tapers into the port of Miami. The bay is about 40 miles long, and a cruise along its length affords an absolutely magnificent view of downtown Miami’s eye-popping skyline.

Located along the shores of the Bay are beautiful beaches, several artificial islands, and the mansions of the rich and famous. In particular, the so-called Millionaires Row is a famous celebrity hangout, and a glimpse from afar of how the moneyed live is part of almost any cruise in Miami. Millionaires Row includes, among others, the homes of singers Julio Iglesias and Gloria Estefan, locations where the movies Scarface and The Addams Family were shot, and the former living quarters of that infamous gangster of yesteryear, Al Capone.

Other popular destinations for Miami day cruises include the island of Brickell Key and the district of Little Havana, with Calle Ocho and its vibrant community of Cuban expatriates a perennial favorite among cruisers.

Apart from the Miami day cruises, cruise ships also offer themed cruises: You can go on a day-long party-boat cruise, a speedboat cruise, or a gondola ride on the calm waters of the Bay. However, the most popular of these themed cruises are far and away the dinner cruises. The exclusive Miami dinner cruise has a lot to offer to those who want to float by the brilliant lights of the city by night while enjoying sumptuous dinner. A typical Miami dinner cruise aboard a luxury yacht includes everything from kebabs and salmon to expensive wines. One can enjoy the view from with air-conditioned dining salons or choose to eat out in the open deck under starlight, while gentle balmy breezes blowing from the Atlantic.

In addition, there are tour packages around Miami that combine transportation on land and water; these are particularly great if you want to experience large parts of this interesting and varied city, as opposed to just seeing its attractions from afar on the ocean. A word of warning though: Such cruises get booked up quickly, so it’s worth either booking in advance, possibly through your Miami hotel, or checking to see if a cruise is included in your Miami vacation packages.

For visitors to Miami, a cruise offers a great opportunity to get away from the bustle of the city. As such, cruises here have become extremely popular, and you don’t just have to be in the city to enjoy one. There are also cruises to and from Miami from nearby Fort Lauderdale, which means it’s possible to take advantage of accommodations away from the city and yet still enjoy a memorable cruise in Miami.

Condos in Miami, Florida

Miami condos provide an excellent way of making the most of a stay in America’s famed Sunshine State. Reasonably priced, wonderfully equipped, and frequently well situated, Miami Beach condos are particularly popular, especially among large families, as condo rentals in Miami allow parents and children alike to live in a relaxed family atmosphere while on vacation. Miami condos aren’t just for families looking to get away, however—they’re also a great way for couples on a honeymoon or with another romantic getaway in mind relax in privacy, away from the hordes of strangers found at Miami hotels.

Miami condos and Miami Beach condos come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s definitely worth looking around when researching and booking your trip here. From luxury one-bed bungalows to superbly outfitted five- or six-bed apartments, you’ll find just about everything here. Furthermore, many of the Miami condos come with an impressive array of communal facilities, such as swimming pools, jacuzzis, and tennis courts. Some even come with access to a nearby golf course, which means those who love to play golf can make the most of the excellent conditions in Miami and enjoy a round—or three. Such facilities can genuinely make a difference during a Miami vacation, especially as they are so close that you literally just need to step out of your condo to start having fun.

Unsurprisingly, Miami Beach condos are an ever-popular variety of accommodation here, with the supreme sand and surf of Miami proving an enticing pull. South Beach is the headlining, glitzy stretch of sand in Miami, and renting a South Beach condo ensures you spend time living the high life. Beach condo rentals in Miami cover much more than South Beach, however, and you’ll find plenty in the way of condo accommodations further away from the bustle of the South Beach strip. Sunny Isles Beach, Surfside, and Virginia Key Beach (north and south) are all great alternatives.

Miami is a dreamy place, comprising incredible beaches, great nightlife, and a mass of things to do and attractions to be visited by day. Consequently, spending longer than the normal one- or two-week vacation here is tempting in the extreme, and many travelers decide to spend a month or more enjoying Miami to the max. Condo rentals in Miami are a good option for such prolonged stays; it’s easy to find condos that are available for long stretches of time, and they make for an economically efficient way of passing time here.

Not only does the nightly rate tend to work out cheaper than staying in hotels of a similar caliber, but assuming the condo comes with a fully equipped kitchen—and most do—you’ll also be able to save on restaurant bills, as cooking for yourself in your condo will always be a possibility. Finding a Miami vacation package that includes a stay in a condo can also help cut costs. Frequently, these packages include airport shuttle services and tickets to local attractions on top of accommodation; they make for a care-free and enjoyable vacation.

Airport Shuttle in Miami

The various Miami Airport shuttle services on offer provide an excellent and crucial aid for the arriving visitor. It’s often said that the most stressful thing about flying is not the flight itself, but getting to your final destination once landed. Especially on those fatigue-inducing long-haul flights, landing tends to feel like arriving, and yet there’s inevitably more journeying to be done—from the airport to your accommodation. For passengers landing at one of the Miami airports, the Miami Airport shuttle may well make the difference between a definably good journey, and a bad one.

Miami Airport shuttle services can be split into two categories: public shuttles and hotel shuttles. The public shuttles prove a cheaper mode of public transport than the other option, a taxi. Public shuttles run to all areas in Miami, with an increased quantity of vehicles serving those districts that have a high density of Miami hotels and budget accommodations. The charge for taking one of these Miami Airport shuttle services depends on which area you travel to. Prices are published outside the shuttle rank at the airport.

A Miami hotel shuttle, meanwhile, is a little more personalized. These are services run by separate hotels; on arrival at the airport, you find the service that belongs to your hotel, hop in, and are whisked away directly to your accommodation. As a result, Miami hotel shuttle services are predictably popular, though some hotels do charge a fee, so it’s worth checking your booking or Miami vacation package to see whether or not you’ll be paying for the privilege.

Of course, Miami hotel shuttle services run in both directions; not only will you need a shuttle from Miami Airport to the hotel, you’ll also need a shuttle to Miami Airport from the hotel. Again, the same rules apply: some hotels will include the Miami hotel shuttle service in the room rate or offer it as a gratuity; others will levy a charge. A sample of some of the hotels that offer a shuttle to Miami Airport includes the famous Miami Delano Hotel, the Fontainebleau Hotel, and the Miami Intercontinental.

If you really can’t face the shuttle to Miami Airport, or the shuttle from the airport to a hotel in town, booking a stay at one of the city’s airport hotels is a good way to go about things. These hotels are within a stone’s throw of the airport, and while you may still have to hop in a bus for five or so minutes, the journey hardly amounts to a noticeable haul. Such hotels are especially handy for people arriving late at night or flying out early in the morning: The former can get to bed as quickly as possible after their plane has landed, while the latter can get that all important extra hour of sleep before waking to catch a flight.

Airport in Miami, Florida

When you are planning to travel, one of the first things that you need to find out about is how to get to and from your destination. Increasingly, this means researching airports: The world has truly emerged as a smaller space in the recent past, especially as there’s been a huge increase in the number of destinations connected by flights. So if you want to travel to Miami, you must have a certain idea about the airports, particularly the Miami International Airport, and the destinations that they are connected to.

The most important Miami airport, especially when it comes to travelers arriving in South Florida from outside the US, is the Miami International Airport. So if you are preparing for a vacation in the area, make sure that you check for vacation packages and other deals, learn all you need to about the flights and airlines at the Miami airport, and then book your tickets

The Miami International Airport, also referred to as Wilcox Field, connects Miami to the whole of Europe and Latin America, along with a vast selection of domestic airports. Consequently, it’s the destination for most vacation-goers heading here, and the airport is thus extremely well-equipped, from its many eating options to the airport hotels that serve many of its travelers. These hotels are particularly convenient if you happen to be arriving late in the day or flying out early in the morning, as they allow you to enjoy that all-important extra hour of sleep.

Another airport in Miami Florida that may well serve as your destination is the Ford Lauderdale Airport. Currently listed as one of the fastest-growing air hubs of the nation, it’s a sleek and efficient place that should see you either board your plane, or disembark and collect your luggage, with a minimum of fuss. While it’s not quite as well-situated as Miami International Airport for those heading toward the city center, this airport in Miami Florida is still conveniently located, near enough both the business town of Ford Lauderdale and Miami itself to make it a viable destination for incoming visitors to either city.

One thing that a traveler must consider when deciding on a Miami airport is the availability of airport shuttle services. It is a very strenuous thing to try and hunt for a cab when you’re suffering from a jet lag! There are two options here: Either you book the airport shuttle service, which will drop you at your Miami hotel for a fixed fee, or you use the shuttle service provided by your hotel if available.

When researching your trip to an airport in Miami Florida, it may be worth hunting around for a Miami vacation package. These vary in type and price, though they do, generally speaking, tend to include airfare and accommodation. Check to see whether an airport shuttle service is included in the single price you pay for such vacation packages; if it does, you’ll be cutting down both on the cost and stress of arriving in a new city and giving yourself more time to relax and decide which Miami attractions you plan to visit.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami

The history of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens began in 1916 when industrialist James Deering chose this site in Miami to have a winter home built. Deering hired Paul Chalfin, a New York painter, to supervise the Vizcaya Villa project. Deering and Chalfin traveled extensively throughout Europe gleaning architectural ideas and acquiring fixtures for the home including wall panels, mantles, and doors.

Deering also engaged architect F. Burrall Hoffman and a landscape specialist named Diego Suarez to work on the overall design and gardens. Vizcaya Villa was to have the distressed look of a 400-year old Italian home that had weathered the centuries, while being fitted with the modern features and fixtures. The 34-room mansion consists of two main floors and a middle level containing twelve rooms that were used as servant's quarters. Plans to renovate and open these rooms to the public are underway.

The original design of Miami Vizcaya Museum was to promote an open-air feeling with breezes blowing through the house, courtyard, and gardens. However, because of the Florida climate, humidity, and salt air, the house requires constant upkeep and renovation to avoid damage from the elements. To help maintain the home's structural integrity and its contents, the open courtyard was enclosed in glass and a climate-control system was installed.

The furnishings at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens represent many periods and include antiques, furniture, and other objects from the fifteenth through the nineteenth centuries that were collected around the world. Each room denotes a specific period and style, such as Renaissance, baroque, neoclassic, and rococo.

Decorative elements and furnishings include Italian wood paneling, French silk walls and marbled walls, massive furniture pieces from the Napoleonic French empire period, Sheffield silver, and a French Savonnerie rug from the nineteenth century. The main house and its contents are listed as a National Historic Landmark, making it one of the best museums in Miami for history buffs, as well as those interested in the architectural history of the area and looking for attractions in addition to the Art Deco district.

The design of the gardens at Miami Vizcaya Museum is based on French and Italian influences. The gardens provide an array of subtropical trees, native plants and flowers, and a variety of orchids on display in the A. Klein Orchidarium. The gardens include a central pool, multiple fountains, and statuary, and they provide visitors with excellent views of Biscayne Bay.

Vizcaya remained in the family until 1952, when the Deering heirs sold the main house and gardens to Dade County. In 1955, the Deering heirs, with the provision that Vizcaya remain a public museum, donated the estate's furnishings and art collections. A visit to the museum is a must for any visitors interested in Miami history, highlighted by unique events at the house. One of the ongoing events at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is the music played from noon until 12:30 pm, Monday through Friday, on the vintage 1917 pipe organ.

The Miami Vizcaya Museum is open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm every day except Christmas, with general guided tours of the gardens and main house available throughout the week by appointment and lasting approximately 45 minutes. Self-guided tours of this popular attraction that include all levels of the house and garden will take approximately two hours. Guidebooks to the Vizcaya Villa are available for purchase at the gift shop and the café serves breakfast and lunch.

Seaquarium in Miami

Visitors to the Miami Seaquarium will find plenty of fun in the sun with shows, presentations, exhibits, and other activities designed to both thrill and amaze you. The 38-acre aquarium in Miami is home to dolphins, sea turtles, killer whales, sea lions, and manatees, and visiting is one of the best things to do on a Miami vacation if you're interested in the local wildlife.

The shows at the Seaquarium in Miami are spectacular and include two shows featuring dolphins. The Top Deck Dolphin Show highlights the aerial antics of bottlenose dolphins, which delight visitors with their acrobatic leaps and rolls. If you'd like to see them outside of the show, the dolphins are visible throughout the day above and below water through the viewing windows.

The Flipper Dolphin Show features Atlantic bottlenose dolphins performing in the lagoon on the original TV set for the show Flipper. This show at the Seaquarium in Miami spotlights the agility and intelligence of these mammals as they jump, spin, flip, and do their famous tail walks choreographed to musical tunes.

Miami Seaquarium also features Lolita the killer whale and Pacific dolphins putting on their own show. Visitors will see Lolita walk on water as she responds to her trainers instructions. At the Golden Dome Sea Lion Show, Salty the Sea Lion and his seal friends entertain visitors with their hilarious antics and comedy skits.

The Seaquarium in Miami provides several outstanding attractions that include the Shark Channel Presentation, where specialists feed the massive 200-pound sharks and educate visitors about various species of sharks in the wild. The Manatee Presentation allows visitors poolside to get close to one of the most popular marine mammals that reside in Florida waters.

Several feeding presentations take place at the Seaquarium in Miami, including the Tropical Reef Presentation, where divers inside a 750,000-gallon saltwater tank hand-feed a variety of aquatic species including large groupers, moray eels, loggerhead turtles, cobia, and assorted tropical reef fishes. At the Seal and Sea Lion Feeder Pool, visitors can observe the frolicking California sea lions and harbor seals and have an opportunity to feed them.

Visitors can also view alligators, native Florida birds, sea turtles, wildlife, and fish in a natural mangrove setting at Discovery Bay Presentation. This aquarium in Miami also features exhibits including Tropical Wings with birds and reptiles, Atlantic and Caribbean Fish Aquariums with a variety of marine life, and Crocodile Flats featuring 25 Nile crocodiles that average 16 feet and 1,000 pounds when fully grown.

Visitors interested in getting even closer to the wildlife are likely to enjoy the interactive activities at the aquarium in Miami, including the Dolphin Encounter and Dolphin Odyssey. Both programs provide hands-on interaction with the dolphins at Dolphin Harbor. The Encounter program allows guests to participate in up-close activities that include feeding, touching, and learning how to train the dolphins in the shallow water portion of the harbor, while the Odyssey program takes place in deeper waters, where participants interact with the dolphins one-on-one with even more activities, including a dolphin ride from one side of the pool to the other.

Miami Seaquarium is open from 9:30 am until 6:00 pm daily, with the last shows starting at 2:30 pm. Tickets for admission to the aquarium can be purchased up until 4:30 pm. Visitors to the aquarium in Miami should allow a minimum of four hours for their trip, and if they're interested in other animal-related activities in the city, they should also consider visiting the Miami Metrozoo. A combined ticket is available for admission to both of these attractions, and travelers of all ages are sure to find that learning about the local wildlife is an excellent addition to time spent shopping or on the beaches during a Miami vacation.

The Miami Museum of Art

The Miami Museum of Art features a permanent collection of items called the Dream Collection, which began in 1996 with fourteen pieces provided by artists or on loan from private collectors. In 1997, an additional eleven acquisitions became a part of the Miami Art Museum collection. From 1998 to 2004, the collection continued to grow with works of art from private collectors, and the Art Museum in Miami currently exhibits nearly 500 original pieces along with scheduled exhibits on display throughout the year.

The permanent collection at the Miami Art Museum is diverse, with examples of different media including ink, oil, acrylic, metal, wood, and paper, and rotating exhibits throughout the year spotlight work created by both upcoming and established artists; whenever you choose to take your Miami vacation, you're certain to find excellent artwork here.

The Art Museum in Miami is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 am until 5 pm; Thursday from 5 pm until 9 pm; and Saturday and Sunday from noon until 5 pm. The Miami Museum of Art is closed on Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. For families with small children, strollers are permitted inside the gallery. Families on vacation might also enjoy visiting the Miami Children's Museum or the Science Museum while on their trip.

During June, July, August, visitors can visit the museum in the evening from 6:30 pm until 9:00 pm every second Thursday of the month. Every third Thursday of each month, drinks, and gourmet treats are served while live music is played at the Art Museum in Miami from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm. This unusual nightspot is well worth adding to the list of things to do during a trip to South Florida if you find yourself here in the summer months.

Children's Museum in Miami, Florida

The Miami Children's Museum is an exciting place to visit with something of interest for children of all ages. The museum consists of fourteen galleries featuring hands-on interactive and bilingual exhibits designed to encourage participants to play, communicate, and learn in a positive environment. If you're on a Miami vacation with the family, your younger members are sure to find the Miami Children's Museum exhibits to be a memorable part of the trip.

Within the galleries, visitors will find the Castle of Dreams, Pet Central, Safety Zone, Ocean Odyssey, and Everglades Park. Perfect for children under five years of age, the Sea and Me is all about water and bubbles. Miami Children's Museum exhibits for older children include All About Art and the World Music Studio, and for the adventurous, the Mt. MiChiMu rock wall provides a challenging climb.

Facilities at the Children's Museum in Miami include the Kid Smart gift shop, a 200-seat auditorium, an outside studio, and a Subway restaurant. The museum offers easy access for all visitors by providing ramps and elevators, Braille and large-print signage for the visually impaired, and captioned exhibit videos in both Spanish and English for the hearing impaired.

The Miami Children's Museum is open daily from 10 am until 6 pm, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Parking is available on the south side of Watson Island every day for a fee of $1 per hour, if you choose to bring your rental car. Admission to the Children's Museum in Miami is free for children 1 and under, but other guests must pay a fee. In addition, vacationers with children interested in other educational exhibits might also enjoy a day at the Science Museum or the Miami Art Museum.

Science Museum in Miami , Florida

The Miami Science Museum is an interesting stop for vacationers, especially those interested in the flora and fauna of this part of South Florida. The museum features interactive shows such as the Wildlife Encounter, where snakes, lizards, and alligators participate in the hands-on program in the museum's Wildlife Center.

In the theater at the Miami Museum of Science, visitors will see the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History short film Matters of Life and Death, a ten-minute story exploring microscopic food found in the soil.

Throughout the year, the Miami Science Museum features scheduled exhibits, activities, lectures, workshops, and events. In the Wildlife Center, the Falcon Batchelor Bird of Prey Center is dedicated to rehabilitation and release of injured birds of prey.

The Miami Planetarium features the SPITZ star projector that can reproduce the planets and stars on the domed projection screen. Laser shows bring the stars alive with surround-sound music and multimedia imagery. Shows are scheduled daily, and children's ticket prices are reduced. In addition, Each laser show ticket includes a pair of laser glasses.

Within the Weintraub Observatory, two telescopes provide a free star show the first Friday of each month from 8 pm until 10 pm. The Fabulous First Friday program begins with the laser star show at 7:30 pm, followed by actual star observation at the Miami Planetarium from 8 pm until 10 pm. Hours for the observatory other than the first Friday of the month are 8:30 pm until 10 pm.

The Miami Museum of Science is open daily, except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, from 10 am until 6 pm. It's one of the best museums for travelers on a Miami vacation with their families, along with the Children's Museum, the Seaquarium, and the Metrozoo.

Museums in Miami, Florida

Visitors will not be disappointed in the number of Miami museums available with exhibits providing interesting historical, cultural, scientific, intriguing, and educational information. Many of the best museums in Miami are open year-round, with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas, providing visitors with the opportunity of seeing exceptional permanent collections of artwork, no matter when they visit.

Miami museums are a perfect place to spend the day learning about the history and culture of the city. Through pictures, paintings, photographs, decorative and industrial objects, and artifacts, you can piece together the fabric that created Miami into the metropolitan city it is today. Along with historical memorabilia, Miami museums also feature work by budding artists using a variety of styles and media to express their visions of the local landscape, culture, and atmosphere.

The Latin American Art Museum houses an impressive contemporary collection of 300 pieces of art, with examples of painting, ceramics, and sculptures created by artists of Latin and Hispanic descent. Established in 1991, this free Miami museum has scheduled exhibits throughout the year and is an excellent option to include on the list of attractions to visit during a Miami vacation.

Along with being one of the best museums in Miami, the Holocaust Memorial is both inspirational and educational. This unforgettable site provides a glimpse into the not-so-distant past, as visitors take a self-guided walk through gardens, architecture, statues, and sculptures created specifically to emphasize the experience of the Jewish people and others killed during the Holocaust.

A stellar museum in Miami is the Bass Museum of Art, which exhibits a fine arts collection and is housed in the public library building from the 1930s. The library was the first public building in Miami and placed on the National Register in 1978. Visitors interested in art should consider the Miami Museum of Art, which showcases a permanent collection of work in oil, acrylic, ink, paper, wood, and metal pieces and features artwork by upcoming artists in scheduled exhibits. Another excellent museum in Miami is the Lowe Art Museum, located on the University of Miami campus. Their permanent exhibits include an impressive collection of works of art from America, Europe, Africa, and Asia displayed throughout the year.

One of the best museums in Miami for young visitors is the Children's Museum, which is an exciting place for visitors of any age to explore. The museum has multiple galleries, interactive activities for all ages and a rock wall for older kids to climb. Facilities include a gift shop and restaurant. Another of the best museums in Miami for families to visit is the Science Museum, featuring interactive wildlife shows, hands-on programs where visitors can touch lizards and snakes, the Falcon Batchelor Bird of Prey Center for bird rehabilitation, a planetarium, and an observatory for stargazing and laser shows.

Another museum in Miami located in the heart of the city and within walking distance of the Art Deco district and other major attractions is the Wolfsonian Museum, part of the Florida International University. The museum's large inventory includes books, paintings, prints, industrial art, furniture, and decorative art covering the years 1885 to 1945. The Wolfsonian offers free admission from 6 pm until 9 pm each Friday.

Metro zoo in Miami

The Miami Metrozoo is one of the best places to visit for a wildlife adventure without going on an actual African safari. This extensive 740-acre zoo in Miami houses a variety of wildlife species on 300 developed acres, and it features three miles of walkways throughout the zoo from which you can observe wildlife, plants, and trees. The zoo has a $350 million dollar plan in place for future improvements and expansion to the park.

More than 1,000 animals representing 400 species and specifically 48 endangered species make their home at Miami Metrozoo. Visitors to the zoo can expect to see orangutans, lions, tigers, Asian and African elephants, meerkats, otters, pygmy hippo, Indian rhino, chimpanzee, gorillas, hyenas, Asian bears, giraffes, Harpe eagles, and pelicans, in addition to the nearly 100 species of birds in the World of Asia aviary and more than 10,000 Italian honeybees in Dr. Wilde's World, one of the more than 80 exhibits at the zoo.

Throughout the zoo, you will also see more than 900 species of native and exotic plants, trees, and palms along with hundreds of orchids nestled in the trees. One of the best ways to see all that this outstanding zoo in Miami has to offer is by taking a tour. The Asia or Africa Safari Tram tour takes you through the zoo on a narrated tour lasting approximately one hour; the tram leaves hourly and there is a per-person fee.

Two educational tours that families at the Miami Metro Zoo might enjoy are the Behind-the-Scenes Keeper Tours and Behind-the-Scenes Evening Tours. The keeper tour is an hour-and-a-half visit that lets you come face-to-face with select wildlife in private visiting areas, while zookeepers provide interesting facts about the animals. Visitors can select a tour of birds, mammals, or a general tour. The Behind-the-Scenes Evening Tours allow visitors to see select inhabitants in their nocturnal setting during a two- to three-hour guided walking tour. Pizza is served prior to the beginning the tour. Fees apply, per person, for both tours.

Walking tours are also available, providing visitors with the option of the 30-minute Pineland walking tour through the pine rockland habitat or the self-guided two-hour audio walking tour. For the adventurous vacationer visiting the zoo in Miami, the guided Segway tour provides the whole family with the opportunity to navigate these safe, battery-operated vehicles on an African or Asian safari. Fees apply for the audio and Segway tours.

Other entertainment and activities at the Miami Metrozoo include the Children's Zoo, where the kids can pet small animals and ask questions of the zookeeper, as well as Become a Zookeeper for the day, Humpy's Camel rides, the Wildlife Show, Quetzal's World Show, Wildlife Carousel, and Meet the Zookeeper, which is held at select exhibits where zookeepers narrate while feeding the animals their favorite treats.

The Miami Metro Zoo is open year-round from 9:30 to 5:30, but keep in mind that the ticket booth closes at 4:30 pm. Children receive discounted admission, and to receive Miami Metrozoo coupons for an additional discount on regular prices, you can access the zoo's web site, place an order for tickets online, and then print out tickets to receive a discounted price. Ordering Miami Metrozoo coupons online through the zoo is quick and easy and best of all, there's no waiting in line. Discounts for military personnel, seniors 65 and over, travel agents, and AAA members are available. Identification is required when purchasing tickets using any of the discount options.

If you don't want to bring a picnic lunch, dining is available at several cafes and grills located inside the Miami Metrozoo along with concession stands and gift shop. Visitors on a Miami vacation who are interested in local animal life can also consider visiting the Miami Seaquarium, and joint passes are available for combining this attraction with the zoo. Boat tours and Everglades tours are also options, as they offer the possibility of seeing wildlife in their native habitat.