Miami Florida

Although favored by climate and geography, Miami remained a remote tropical village of frame houses until Henry Flagler installed his East Coast Railway there in 1896 and turned his hand to community development. In fact, the fabulous city of Miami Beach was created out of a mangrove swamp!

Sprawling across 2,054 square miles of land, Miami is a huge and cosmopolitan city. Attracted by year-round warmth and sunshine, thousands of visitors pour into the area with the hope of capturing a little sun and relaxation. Greater Miami's list of attractions is long and varied, the city really does have something for everyone! Some of the more popular attractions are Viscaya Museum and Gardens, Little Havana, Museum of Science and Space Transit Planetarium, and the Miami Metro Zoo. Biscayne Boulevard is a prime spot for shopping. It features the Bayside Marketplace- a shopping experience in the Tropical style. Shopping is also excellent at the Cocowalk shopping and entertainment complex.

A trip into Everglades National Park is a unique sightseeing experience. Multiple boardwalks lead out over the watery area and signs and displays identify and describe the flora and fauna that you may encounter. At Flamingo there are sightseeing boat trips, and naturalists who conduct nature walks along the shore.

World-famous South Beach, located on the southernmost part of Miami Beach, attracts a colorful mix of visitors to its Art Deco surroundings. Celebrities, artists, and International supermodels have all been found to frequent the trendy boutiques, restaurants and art galleries which make up South Beach.

Miami offers a grand array of activities geared towards enjoyment! Visitors can experience deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, golf,tennis, scuba diving, and of course, swimming and boating. Miami has all the ingredients for one of the best vacations Florida offers.


Miami City Information

Population: 362,470

Elevation: 11 feet above sea level

Land Area: 35.7 miles

Location: Located in the southeastern part of Florida, between Fort Lauderdale and the Florida Keys. Convenient to the Florida Turnpike and Interstate 75 from the west and Interstate 95 from the north.

Time Zone: Eastern Time Zone (when it’s noon in Miami, it’s 11am in Chicago and 9am in Los Angeles. Miami observes Daylight Saving Time from April – October.

Local Seasons:

Miami is a vibrant, energetic city, alive with a Latin beat any day of the year, particularly when the suns sets. Winter tends to be the busiest time of year when people from the north come to experience the beautiful beaches, swaying palm trees and warm ocean breezes. However, at any time of year, the city is alive with tourists from throughout the world. When summer arrives there is an influx of visitors from both South America as well as Europe, making this truly an international destination. Spring and fall tend to be less crowded and are wonderful for enjoying all the city has to offer with a few less people. With temperatures during this time hovering in the 80’s F during the day, and the 70’s at night, visitors can work on the perfect tan during the day, and then enjoy a splendid meal while dancing the night away. Whatever the reason for visiting and whatever the time of year, Miami has the season for it.



Miami Beach - Florida

Miami Beach is a finger of land separating Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, connected by five causeways to the mainland. At its southern tip is South Beach, known as the Art Deco District, or SoBe. This 10-block stretch of Ocean Drive, which fronts South Beach, is one of the most celebrated ocean fronts in America.

The Art Deco District Welcome Center is located there, along with an eclectic mix of chic restaurants, boutiques, delicatessens, produce markets, outdoor cafes and nightclubs. The palm shaded beach side of Ocean Drive in Miami Beach attracts families to its wide, sandy beach and children’s play area. Volleyball, in-line skating on the winding sidewalk, swimming, sunning and water sports are favorite pastimes. Surfside, Bal Harbour and Sunny Isles make up the northern part of “The Beach.”

The heart of Miami Beach and the Art Deco District, Lincoln Road, is an open-air mall of 175 galleries, shops and restaurants along an eight-block pedestrian promenade with shade trees down the middle. At one time, Lincoln Road was a posh shopping strip equal to Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles. The street was closed to traffic, and in the 1960s, it began to decline.

In step with the South Beach renaissance, Lincoln Road has been transformed into a row of successful art galleries, lively performing-arts showcases and trendy cafes. Visitors can stroll through numerous galleries or admire the Lincoln Theater, home of the New World Symphony. There is also a delightful Sunday flea market and farmers market.

Some of the more popular attractions in the greater Miami area are Viscaya Museum and Gardens, Little Havana, Museum of Science and Space Transit Planetarium, and the Miami Metro Zoo. Biscayne Boulevard is a prime spot for shopping. It features the Bayside Marketplace- a shopping experience in the Tropical style. Shopping is also excellent at the Cocowalk shopping and entertainment complex.

The Greater Miami area has over thirty golf courses. Other recreational opportunities include wind surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling and deep-sea fishing. Perfect weather and flat terrain make Miami Beach popular with bicyclists.
The best time to visit is winter, but in the off-season (after Easter and before October) there is still plenty to do and rates are more reasonable. For sun, sand and tropical beauty, Miami Beach is the place to be.

Miami Beach City Information:

Population: 87,933

Elevation: 4 feet above sea level

Land Area: 7.0 square miles

Location: Located in the southeastern section of Florida on the Atlantic Ocean, approximately one hour from Fort Lauderdale

Time Zone: Eastern Time Zone (when it’s noon in Miami Beach, it’s 11am in Chicago and 9am in Los Angeles). Miami Beach observes Daylight Savings Time from April – October.

Local Seasons:

Miami Beach is a vibrant, energetic city, alive with a Latin beat any day of the year, particularly when the sun sets. Winter tends to be the busiest time of year when people from the north come to experience the beautiful beaches with swaying palm trees and warm ocean breezes. However, at any time of year, the city is alive with tourists from throughout the world. When summer arrives there is an influx of visitors from both South America as well as Europe, making this truly an international destination. Spring and fall tend to be less crowded and are wonderful for enjoying all the city has to offer with a few less people.

How to get there:

By Car:

Miami Beach is easily accessible via Interstate 95 from the north (Fort Lauderdale), Interstate 75 from the west (Fort Myers), the Florida Turnpike from the northwest (Orlando), and U.S. Highway 1 from the south (Key West). Signs are clearly posted.

By Air:

Miami International Airport
4200 NW 21st Street
Miami, FL 33142
Located 15 minutes west of the city
305-876-7000
The airport is served my many of the worldwide airlines as well as certain regional Carriers.

Ground Transportation:

Car Rental:

All of the major car rental companies are located at or near the airport.

Taxis:

Available curbside at the airport

Shuttle:

Super Shuttle is available at the airport
305-871-2000

By Train:

Amtrak
8303 NW 37th Ave
Miami, FL 33147
800-USA-RAIL

By Bus:

Greyhound
4111 NW 27TH ST
Miami, FL 33142
305-871-1810
Closest station to Miami Beach

Getting Around Town:

The easiest way to get around is by either personal or rental car. Rental cars are available throughout the city as well as at the airport. Keep an eye out for signs marked with an orange sun on a blue background. They are designed to assist visitors on the most useful routes to the city’s main attractions.

Public Transportation:

Metro-Dade Transit
305-638-6700
Metro trains run on a single line between the northern suburbs and south Miami. Some key stops are Government Center, Coconut Grove, and the University of Miami. Downtown Miami is also circled by the Metromover, a monorail that gives a good view of the city and provides some basic transportation. Metrobuses cover the entire city.
Call for routes, schedules, and additional information

National Holidays:

New Year’s Day, January 1
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the third Monday in January
President’ Day, the third Monday in February
Memorial Day, the last Monday in May
Independence Day, July 4
Labor Day, the first Monday in September
Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, December 24 and 25
New Year’s Eve, December 31