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Overview
A spectrum of dazzle and activity, Miami is a place where the
jazzy colors of luxurious living meld with the cool pastels of one
of Florida's original vacation hot spots. With its auspicious
beginnings as a small tourist town at the turn of the century,
Miami boomed in the 1920s and has grown and added to its diversity
ever since. With its own "Little Broadway" in the 1920s,
Miami was a center for the Art Deco movement in the '30s and '40s,
thrived as a military base in World War II, and has since grown to
be both a Latin American center and a sleek metropolitan
community.
There are hundreds
of ways to spend your time in this bustling urban metropolis. Each
area has its own distinct flavor and style. Miami Beach is
where people bronze themselves on miles of sun-bleached sands by
day and partake in the legendary club scene by night. If you are
inclined to sightsee, South Beach's Art Deco District
contains over 800 buildings in this distinct architectural style,
and Ocean Drive is known for its bustling activity and sidewalk
cafés. Gleaming skyscrapers and the spirit of progress that has
made Miami one of the most dynamic cities in the country
characterize downtown, a vibrant business district. Coconut
Grove is known for its artsy flavor with Renaissance-style
castles, popular festivals and endless nightlife. Miami also
boasts unique attractions, such as the Miami Metrozoo, Vizcaya
Museum and Gardens, Miami Seaquarium, Ichimura Miami-Japan Gardens
and the Parrot Jungle and Gardens. Fairchild Tropical Garden in Coral
Gables includes 83-acres of tropical plants from around the
world, conservatory, museum, rainforest, garden shop, cafe and
narrated tram tours.
When the sun goes
down, Miami nightlife heats up with hundreds of nightspots,
including cozy taverns, hip jazz bars, and trendy dance clubs.
Definitely a place to "see and be seen," Miami has long
enjoyed a reputation as a playground for the rich and famous, and
celebrities can often be found reveling in one of the many
fashionable nightspots.
Often
referred to as the "Gateway to Latin America," Miami's
flavor is heavily influenced by the confluence of cultures that
meet in this diverse urban area. Ethnic food, artwork and crafts
abound in the area, as well as many colorful festivals and events.
Little Havana, Miami's most concentrated Cuban community, is
centered around Calle Ocho (S.W. 8th Street), where
visitors can enjoy steaming cups of café con leche or shop for
exquisitely embroidered guayabera shirts and cigars made in the
finest Cuban tradition. The city's Caribbean community is centered
around Little Haiti, where Caribbean culture melds with American
spirit. Be sure to stop by the Marketplace, an unusual shopping
area noted for its unique architecture.
Miami is also
gaining a well-deserved reputation for a sophisticated cultural
arts calendar. With the fastest growing cultural community in the
United Sates, the Metro-Dade Performing Arts Center, the Bass
Museum, Miami City Ballet, Miami Beach Cultural Arts Center, and
the Florida Philharmonic present an invigorating season of music,
dance, theater and art.
From the chic and
cultured to the diverse and outrageous, the colors of this city
are varied and bright. Visitors are sure to find something for
their vacation experience in Miami.
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