What can I say, I love Miami! You can’t help but get cheered up here with its colorful and carefree atmosphere. From the vibrant art deco architecture near the turquoise beaches to the psychedelic Wynwood walls, Miami will color your world. I spent a week in this city in January and love sharing my adventures. So, read on to discover the 20 best Miami Florida attractions and why you should visit!
About Miami
Miami is called the “Gateway to Latin America,” and the majority of its population is Hispanic and Latino. It is the second largest international tourism hub after New York City in the U.S. Miami Port is the busiest cruise terminal in the world. Named after the Miami River, the city and suburbs spread between the Everglades on the west and Biscayne Bay to the east. Also, Biscayne Bay contains hundreds of barrier islands.
Miami Beach is on the largest barrier Island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay. It stretches for about 11 miles and is located about 15 minutes from downtown Miami. It encompasses North, Mid and the popular South Beaches. The South Beach area offers the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the U. S. The Gulf Stream flows just off the coast, keeping the climate warm all year round. The 2 seasons are hot and wet summers from May to October and warm and dry in winter. Hurricane season is June 1 to November 30.
Miami’s cuisine is a fusion of Caribbean, Latin American and American cuisines offering a unique style of cooking known as Floribbean cuisine. In the 1960’s a large population of Cuban immigrants came to Miami. The neighborhood, Little Havana arose from this and became the Cuban Capital of the U.S.
My Weeklong Vacation in Miami and Travel Planning Tips
Spending a week in Miami, I found this not enough time to see all 20 of these attractions. Overall, I saw 15 of the ones mentioned in this article and plan to do the other 5 next visit. To really see all of these attractions, in my opinion you need about 10 days. I had an absolute blast here and was so inspired from the fun beach culture and colorful art everywhere. I discovered a new word that perfectly explains the Miami experience: “artventurous.” Vibrant art is everywhere as a photographer’s dream.
I listed these attractions according to their neighborhood in the Miami metropolitan areas: South Beach, North, Downtown, West, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. My best travel planning tip is to organize your itinerary by neighborhood. Everything is reasonably close in Miami. Even the Everglades (half) day trip is just 40 minutes away. Also, keep in mind the winters can be cool requiring a jacket and the summers can be very hot.
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20 Best Miami Florida Attractions & Things to Do
South Beach Neighborhood
If you only do one thing in Miami, go to the South Beach neighborhood. I stayed there for a week and constantly found something new to explore. The beach offers a beautiful stretch of white, sandy beaches with a walkway tracing its edges all the way to South Point. The Lummus Park greenspace lies between the beach and city streets. Here is an overview of must-see sites at South Beach.
Art Deco Walking Tour
At the Art Deco Welcome Center on Ocean Drive visitors can sign up for the 90-minute walking tour. However, expect to do the tour with about 25 other people. I arranged my tour through Viator and enjoyed my 2-hour Art Deco Walking Tour with just me and the guide. Also, at the welcome center is a small museum explaining the history of Miami’s pastel colored Art Deco architecture.
The South Beach area offers the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the U. S. built in the 1920’s and 30’s. Within one square mile stand more than 800 significant buildings. Overall, the 4 main architectural styles in the neighborhood include Art Deco, Streamline Moderne, Miami Modern and Mediterranean Revival. Most of the iconic building stand on Ocean Drive and the next 2 streets over, Collins and Washington Avenues.
My favorite buildings on Ocean Drive include the sea-green The Carlyle (film setting for movie, “Bird Cage,” Gloria Estefan’s orange Cardoza Hotel and The Breakwater. Also, the Versace Mansion, the home of the famous designer, stands on Ocean Drive. For fun, don’t miss the famous Drag Queen Restaurant/Bar called The Palace. This iconic venue offers free Drag Queen performances outside that you can watch outside on the sidewalk.
South Beach
This seemingly endless stretch of white, sandy beaches has room for everyone. It is the southern end of the 11-mile Miami Beach. A pedestrian walkway stretches between the beach and city streets along the entire Miami Beach. Don’t miss a photo op of the fun and colorful lifeguard towers at the southernmost end of the beach at the South Pointe Park.
Espanola Way
Just north of 14th Street between Pennsylvania and Washington Avenues is Espanola Way. This charming Mediterranean revival 2-block pedestrian street is flanked by al fresco restaurants and bars. These offer mostly traditional Italian, Spanish and French style cafes and restaurants. If this street could talk, you would hear spicy stories. Built in 1925 as a traditional Spanish village, it later became the backdrop for the TV series, “Miami Vice” and Al Capone’s crime.
This wonderful outdoor mall offers 8 blocks of national and boutique stores and restaurants. In the heart of the mall is the well-preserved and iconic Colony Theater, an art deco performing arts venue.
Holocaust Memorial
Miami Florida Attractions
A couple blocks north of Lincoln Road Mall is the Holocaust Memorial. I found this to be the most moving Holocaust Memorial that I have ever observed. When Holocaust survivors first aimed to create this memorial in 1984, many opposed the idea because Miami is a more fun and carefree city. Thankfully, the memorial was completed a year later. I find it a wise balance in to never forget the dark clouds of history in the sunny skies of Miami.
Following a circular historical wall visitors learn about the Holocaust. Then, a long walkway leads to the sculpture of an arm and hand reaching from the ground to the sky. The arm is covered with caricatures of tragic figures entangled and climbing upward toward hope. The circular Memorial Wall around the sculpture reminds us of the millions of Jewish men, women and children who perished during this horrific chapter in history.
South Pointe Park
At the southernmost point of South Beach is the 17-acre South Point Park. There is a nice walking platform and fishing pier for views of Miami Beach, downtown Miami skyline and Fisher Island. There are wonderful walking trails, benches and picnic tables.
Two restaurant options are Lobster Shack and Smith & Wollensky steakhouse. Also, after the pier, walk toward the downtown and see the funky South Pointe Lighthouse.
Northern Neighborhoods
Wynwood
Miami Florida Attractions
Located between downtown and Design District, Wynwood is truly a story of metamorphosis. It has one of the highest concentrations of street art in the world with more than 200 murals in a 50-city block area. In the mid to late 90’s, this was the Garment District. After a decade of economic decline, vacant dilapidated warehouses, and crime, the Wynwood Walls were established in 2009. Today, it’s one of the most visited art venues in the world with 5 million visitors a year.
Wynwood Walls is an outdoor museum located at 2520 NW Second Ave. Outside the walls, this colorful neighborhood includes art galleries, murals galore, eateries, bars and a Museum of Graffiti. Also, a foodie suggestion is the artisanal doughnuts from the Salty Doughnut flagship shop.
Design District
Compared to LA’s Rodeo Drive, Miami’s Design District is the ultimate area for designer brands and shopping. The Design District and Upper East side are where many of the uber rich folks of Miami live. So, be ready for some name-dropping, expensive pretension and luxury brands. Even if you can’t afford a $1,000 pair of jeans, it can be fun to window shop and explore this culture and lifestyle. Also, on the gorgeous sidelines are photogenic murals and public artwork.
Zoo Miami/Crandon Park
Miami Florida Attractions
This park is more than 800 acres with 2 miles of beach. At one time, it was the largest coconut plantation in the U.S. Located at Crandon Park, Zoo Miami is the fifth largest zoo in the U.S. As the only sub-tropical zoo in continental U.S., it is able to care for a wide variety of more than 2,500 animals from 5 continents. Overall, the zoo houses 400 species of animals, 750 species of trees and other plants. Plus, it has more than 4 miles of walking trails.
Downtown Miami
Jungle Island
On Watson Island, the ecoadventure at Jungle Island offers family-friendly activities to enjoy animals and nature. It’s conveniently located between South Beach and Downtown. Visitors can enjoy the tropical setting by Treetop Trekking. Also, it offers many animal encounters, such as, lemurs, parrots, monkeys, sloths and flamingos. Joia Beach Restaurant is a wonderful place to eat with music and views.
Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
Frost Museum of Science
This museum is a fun way to learn science for all ages. The Frost Museum of Science is noted for having both a planetarium and aquarium. The planetarium offers 3-D high-definition films taking you on epic virtual space explorations with laser shows at night. The 3-leveled aquarium displays the water ecosystems of southern Florida, such as, mangroves, Gulf Stream and coral reefs.
Exhibits rotate on various subjects. For example, my favorite exhibit was the deep dive exploration of various shark species. Outside the museum is a walking trail exhibiting colorful animal sculptures with a backdrop of downtown skyscrapers. The museum is open 10 am to 6 pm daily. Be sure to plan half to full day for the museum.
Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)
Next door to the Frost Museum of Science is the Perez Art Museum. Its modern and contemporary art collections include almost 3,000 works of art. A main theme of its art highlights Miami’s diversity, prominently focused on the Latin American experience. The museum building is lovely with hanging gardens and views of Biscayne Bay. Also, it has a restaurant onsite called Verde.
Freedom Tower
In downtown, the Freedom Tower, is referred to as the Cuban “Ellis Island of the South.” This Spanish Renaissance-style building was designed as the Cuban Assistance Center. From 1962 – 1974, it offered relief for Cubans exiling the Castro Regime. Later, it served as the Miami Daily News headquarters. Inside are exhibits that educate and highlight Cuban stories and history.
Biscayne Bay Boat Tour
From Bayside Market Place, catch one of the Boat Tours from companies like Island Queen Cruises. 90-minute cruises show you the spectacular bay scenery, such as, Miami skyline, Fisher Island, Miami Beach and “Millionaire’s Row.”
Western Neighborhoods
Little Havana
This was one of my favorite experiences in Miami! West of downtown, I took the Little Havana Food and Walking Tour with Viator. Little Havana on Calle Oche (8th Street) is the Cuban Capital of the U.S., where you can experience the ultimate taste of Cuba. Even more, Little Havana is home to the largest Cuban immigrants population in the world.
My food and walking tour started at the iconic Tower Theater, a remnant from the Art Deco Era in the 20’s. Across the street from the theater, we heard the Cuban music playing from the famous venue, Ball & Chain. Next door to it is another landmark, Azucar Ice Cream. I went there for my final dessert, tasting the scrumptious Cuban guava and cream cheese flavor.
Our walking tour went to the Maximo Gomez Park or “Domino Park.” Dominos is a popular game in Cuba. However, there is one caveat, in that you must be at least 50 years old to play at this park. Other foodie specials that I indulged in was the Cuban Medianoche Sandwich, Croquetas, Cuban Espresso, empanadas, churros and Cuban pastries, all washed down with a Mojito. However, we did not go to the most famous Cuban restaurant in Little Havana: Versailles Restaurant.
Allapattah
Just west of Wynwood, this is the most culturally diverse neighborhood in Miami. Here, at every turn is a multi-cultural kaleidoscope of restaurants, bars, shops and art exhibits. Rubell Museum is a renowned venue for contemporary art. Across from the Rubell Museum is Superblue, an immersion experience into the psychedelic world of digital art.
Coconut Grove
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
In Coconut Grove, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is one of the most popular museums in Miami. The main house is Mediterranean-style architecture built between 1914 to 22 by the businessman, James Deering. Inside is a collection of art from the 15th to the 19th centuries with vintage furniture. The formal gardens are designed in classic Italian and French styles. The landscapes include a Maze Garden, Fountain Garden, Secret Garden and Theater Garden. Mr. Deering preserved the native forests surrounding the estate.
Coral Gables
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
About 10 miles south of downtown, this botanical garden offers one of the most prolific collections of plant species in the U.S. Its 83-acres of gardens display more than 23,000 plants with 3,400 species among scenic walking trails. The garden is named after the famous plant explorer, Dr. David Fairchild, who established the gardens in 1935. A tram provides a narrated tour throughout the gardens. Also, it offers the Glasshouse Café and a shop at the visitor center.
Plant lovers can easily spend a whole day here. The various gardens include palms, cyads, bamboo, rainforest, tropical plants, orchids and eucalyptus. Also, there’s a butterfly garden with 2 pieces of vibrant Chihuly Glass artwork. My favorite plant collections include the Spiny Forest of Madagascar and Rainbow Eucalyptus trees.
Venetian Pool
Miami Florida Attractions
Located in Coral Gables, the Venetian Pool has been enjoyed by the public since 1923. Occupied by a quarry, spring water fills it from an underground aquifer. The pool features 2 waterfalls and a grotto. As the largest freshwater pool in the U.S., it raised environmental concerns, because it emptied and refilled the water daily. Thankfully, in 1998 they restored the pool and improved sustainability. Now, they drain the water back into the aquifer, using natural ground filters and recycling the water.
Everglades National Park
Just 40 miles west of Miami is the Everglades National Park. It’s the largest subtropical wetland in the U.S. Called the “River of Grass,” the Everglades is a very slow-moving river from the Lake Okeechobee into the Atlantic Ocean. I did a very fun and organized airboat tour at Everglades Safari Park through the sawgrass marsh. These tours are available in the northern area of the park.
The highlight was seeing an alligator fully in the open among the sawgrass near the shore. Afterwards, we watched an interactive alligator show. The dry season from December to April is the best time to see wildlife, such as, the alligators, Florida panther and 375 species of birds.
Enjoy Miami!
Miami is so much more than just being the busiest cruise port in the world. And if you have a cruise booked out of Miami, come a week early to explore all this city has to offer. Miami is a melting pot that is very rich with culture. Plus, it has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world with the Everglades National Park nearby. Overall, there is something for everyone in Miami. Please leave comments below if you have any suggestions on how best to enjoy Miami.
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