13 things to do (and 3 NOT TO DO) in Miami - Florida Travel Guide

Anyone of us, at least once in their life, should visit the fantastic Miami: located in the southern part of Florida, it is one of the most beautiful American seaside destinations, where you can relax along the beautiful, white and tropical South Beach, a beach frequented at any time of the thanks to the mild temperatures that characterize this area of America.

But Miami is also, and above all, the emblem of nightlife, full of clubs of all kinds where you can dance and have fun all night long. Without forgetting the unique natural places in the world such as the famous Everglades National Park, or the unique and original neighborhoods such as Little Havana which perfectly evokes the air of Cuban cities.

1. Ocean Drive

On TV we often see the extensive promenade with its characteristic palm trees: it is Ocean Drive, one of the most popular areas of Miami, full of movement, full of rollerblading kids, convertible cars, bars, restaurants and hotels of all kinds !

It is one of the busiest areas, where you can dine outdoors for example or dance in one of the many clubs. The South Beach promenade is characterized by a very long beach with crystal clear waters and is world famous above all for being the set of many television series and films including, for example, Miami Vice and Scarface.

2. Lincoln Road

At any time of the day or night, there is always something exciting happening on Lincoln Road: the mecca for shoppers. Over ten blocks of shopping, dining and entertainment await you on this street of unmistakable energy, constantly bustling with a mix of tourists and locals. During the day you can relax at a table sipping coffee or a cocktail and immerse yourself in the "real" South Beach lifestyle. In the evenings, the music from restaurants and bars fills up and street performers show off their talents.

But the real attraction of the place is the shopping! You will find national and international shops with unique offers not found in other cities! H&M, Forever 21, Lululemon, Scotch&Soda, Madewell, Ted Bake… and there's even a gigantic Nike Store, where customers can literally try on their potential new shoes, by shooting hoops on a basketball court or running on a treadmill.

3. Everglades National Park

It is the wildest area in all of the United States, the Everglades National Park is part of the largest sub-tropical nature reserve in the American continent.

It is a marshy land that extends for 6,000 square kilometers characterized by large expanses of falaschi, willows, pines, canals, marshes on which there are thousands of mangroves. Here live many exotic animals such as crocodiles, alligators, but also fish, Florida panthers, otters, and various types of birds such as ibises, pelicans and storks.

Furthermore, the Everglades is a veritable paradise for bird watchers. The only way to get to know the Everglades well is to cross them aboard a speedboat.

4. South Pointe Park Beach, Miami Beach

South Pointe Park Beach is located in the southernmost end of Miami Beach, the area to visit and stay if you want to enjoy the sea! It is one of the most beautiful beaches in Miami and here you can relax, swim or stroll through South Pointe Park, an immense park where many people play sports and jogging, also suitable for the little ones and with numerous cafes.

As for the beach itself, it is fully equipped, in fact you will find all the services such as showers, toilets, lifeguard service and an area reserved for our four-legged friends. Therefore, it is also ideal for children, who can take shelter in the shade of the nearby park during the hottest hours.

5. Lummus Park Beach, Miami Beach

It is located on the famous Ocean Drive. It has been the location of many films and TV series, so it is absolutely a must see during your trip. Plus, it's a great place to relax and enjoy the warm Florida sunshine.

The beach is also known as Glitter Beach and is one of the most popular and busiest beaches in all of Miami. It is a place loved by everyone, from young people looking for nightlife and fun, but also families with children, as there are various services dedicated to them, such as a large play area. There is no shortage of beach volleyball courts, kiosks and the beach is well equipped with deck chairs, umbrellas, lifeguard service, public toilets and showers.

6. Little Havana

Neighborhood inhabited by more than 50,000 people, of which 98% are of exclusively Latin origin. Little Havana is a small part of Cuba that arrived in Miami during the Fidel Castro regime. Life is mainly concentrated around Calle Ocho, where you can find many typically Cuban restaurants where you can taste excellent dishes. But you can also come across cigar artisans, walking in an environment where the very strong smell of the typical coffee echoes. You can't leave without trying the famous Cuban coffee served in small glasses.

Among the most interesting places there is also Màximo Gomez Park, famous for being the place where the elderly gather to play chess or dominoes. This picturesque district attracts many tourists also for the spontaneity and liveliness of its inhabitants!

7. Art Deco District

The Art Deco district in Miami is a must, very glamorous and lively, very particular with its numerous buildings erected starting from the distant 1920. Over the course of 100 years they have undergone numerous renovations and have become some of the official and best known symbols of this fantastic metropolis.

These buildings were created to "lift" the mood of Americans during the Great Depression of '29, with their bright colors and geometric shapes of all kinds (straight lines, cubes and spheres), porcelain floors, bas-reliefs, signs with lights in neon. The most interesting route to visit it is the one that crosses streets 6 and 7

8. Perez Art Museum

The Perez Art Museum is one of the premier museums in all of Miami! It is located in the Downtown district, inside a building designed by two Swiss architects, Jacques Herzog and Piere de Meuron. The collections arise from a donation made by Jorge M. Pérez, a private collector who in addition to this also donated an important amount for the birth of this museum pole.

In fact, the Perez Art Museum houses 1,800 international modern art works, which were created from around the mid-20th century to the present day. In addition to the permanent collections, numerous temporary exhibitions are hosted each year.

9. Coconut Grove

It is one of the most famous neighborhoods in the city of Miami, known for its quiet atmosphere and for having been the place where many artists, musicians and writers resided starting from the 1800s for affordable housing prices. It began to be populated when, for the first time in 1884, the first hotel, the "Bay View House", was opened, giving input to the construction of many other tourist establishments. Until 1925 it was an independent city, later it was annexed by Miami.

One of the most interesting points of Coconut Grove is CocoWalk, a three-story complex where there are cinemas, cafes, restaurants and shops for all tastes. Also very interesting is the Vizcaya Museum, a three-story building divided into 34 rooms all decorated with hundreds of objects dating back to the 15th - 19th century; one can also cross Brickell street, full of old houses and large villas.

10. Miami Seaquarium

Seaquarium is a unique place in the world and is known as the largest aquarium in the United States. It hosts numerous species of fish, sharks, reptiles and sea turtles and many marine shows are organized every day.

Among the most interesting performances are the Killer Whale and Dolphin Show, in which Lolita "the killer whale" plays with her instructor, the Flipper Dolphin Show, where the famous dolphin from the TV series plays and jumps on his tail, and the Manatee Presentation, with the very nice manatees. Each year this attraction attracts more than 600,000 people.

11. Bayfront Park

The Bayfront Park is part of the Miami Downtown urban park, where you can relax on one of the large green lawns, or play frisbee or football. It could then be a nice idea to have a good meal at one of the many restaurants and bars open practically at any time of day. In fact, here is also the Bayside Marketplace, ideal for a lunch break!

Bayfront Park is the right place for those who would like to join one of the gym or yoga classes, just like seen in the TV series, or explore the park by renting a bike. All while enjoying a fantastic view of the splendid Miami Bay.

12. Miami Metrozoo

This is an absolutely uncommon park, given that the animals do not live in cramped little places, but in more than 100 hectares of green areas and woods. There are as many as 800 species of animals of all kinds, including African lions, black rhinos, Bengal tigers, gorillas, wild boars, hyenas, camels, koalas and many others. Given its vastness, to visit it you can for example use the pedal car (with which you can also do physical exercise), the Safari Tram Tours (tram to move from one house of an animal to another) or the Monorail (medium which crosses the entire zoo from above).

This place is the ideal place to spend a different day from the others and is extremely suitable also and above all if you are traveling with your family.

13. Phillips and Patricia Frost Museum of Science

If the Art Perez Museum is an important art museum, a few steps away we find the Phillips and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, another very important museum in Miami, dedicated instead to scientific subjects. The new museum, completely renovated, was opened in 2017 and is perfect to visit even with children!

Inside it includes a planetarium and a large aquarium. In addition to several ocean exhibits, you can discover several of South Florida's ecosystems here, including coral reefs and mangroves!

3 Warnings

DON'T BE Caught UNPREPARED BY THE UNEXPECTED RAIN!

Summer in Miami is humid, hot and rainy, so if your vacation is scheduled for August and when you wake up there is not a cloud in the sky, do not think that the weather will remain the same throughout the day. When you are at the beach and feel a few drops of rain, run away because in a few minutes a super tropical downpour will arrive that will soak you from head to toe.

DON'T FORGET THE SWEATSHIRT!

Miami is hot and a very casual city. So, shorts and light T-shirts are fine, but bring at least a sweatshirt, a jacket or a heavier shirt with you, since the air conditioning inside supermarkets, cinemas, buses and anything with 4 walls is very cold… In hotels, the rooms are often freezing and the air conditioning is neither adjustable nor can it be turned off, so equip yourself with warm socks, a cap and a scarf if you don't want to catch a bad bronchitis!

DO NOT DRINK THE TAP WATER

Don't do this, if you are staying in art deco apartments (buildings dating from 1925 to 1940) if the old and rusty 1940s pipes have not been replaced!!! The risk? A nice diarrhea! How do you know if the pipes are still the original ones? You won't know, therefore, the rule "trusting is good, not trusting is better" applies, if you don't want to spend some bad time on the toilet...