Discover USA

The tans will fade

but the memories will last FOREVER.

Been feeling under the weather lately? Those dark grey, cloudy and endless rainy days have drained your energy and you need some vitamin sea and sun rays pronto? Then start packing and head to the sunshine state, Florida.

Located only a few hours away by plane from major cities in North America, the UK and Europe, Miami abounds with history, culture, architecture, legendary night life and of course, numerous white sand, turquoise beaches that attract for visitors nationally and internationally like a magnet.

So where to start your holidays under the Florida Sun?

Here are some suggestions on What to See and Do in Miami, Florida

Miami Beach

Locals and visitors flock to Miami Beach which is accessible via causeways from the mainland.

Bordered by the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean, beachfront hotels line up the coastline.

Lincoln Road Mall

Love window-shopping and people watching? Then Lincoln Road Mall, a pedestrian only shopping street, is the place to go.

Miami Beach Boardwalk

Take a walk to remember along the Miami Beach Boardwalk that runs from 21^st street to 46^th alongside Collins Avenue on the west and the Ocean to the east.

South Beach

Stroll down trendy Ocean Drive in South Beach and admire pastel-hued buildings in the Art Deco district.

There is a great variety of restaurants, cafés, hotels and Lummus Park where you can sit down, kick back, relax and simply enjoy the view.

The best attraction is at night when all the neon signs of buildings are lit and draws large crowds which cause traffic on the streets; therefore it is best to go by foot or get there by public transportation.

Downtown Miami

Downtown Miami is great and easily accessible by foot.

Among its attractions are the

Bank of America

One of the most symbolic architectural works in the city, the 48 story high building towers over the Downtown area and is lit at night which makes it very easily recognizable from any viewpoint.

Freedom Tower

During the 1960’s, Freedom Tower welcomed hundreds of thousands of Cuban refugees who fled the island and arrived in Miami. Their documents were processed here until the mid 1970’s to later close and remained empty until this day.

Design District

Design lovers will want to visit this area packed with boutiques, galleries, exhibition spaces and work spaces where artists let their creativity fly.

Little Havana

The Cuban community in Miami, the largest outside of the Island, established themselves in Little Havana. A large number of exiled and new generations gathered or conducting business there.

An emblematic and historic institution that serves fresh, warm, soul and comfort food is Versailles Restaurant.

Want to see artisans hand-roll cigars just like they do in Cuba? Walk along Calle 8 (8^th street) and go to El Crédito Cigar Factory to see them in action and perhaps purchase a few to bring back home as souvenirs

Bayside Marketplace

Facing Biscayne Bay, Bayside Marketplace boasts over 150 stores, restaurants, cafés, bars making it a very busy area.

At night it comes alive as music fills the atmosphere thanks to its amphitheater.

Brickell Avenue

Hub of the Financial District, Brickell Avenue is lined with sky-high condominiums and office buildings.

One that distinguishes itself is the Atlantis Apartments Building which has a very special feature. Right in the middle, there is a square space from the front to the back, a palm tree, red staircase, Jacuzzi and open gym is available to its residents. Quite an architectural feat and unique in the city.

Greater Miami

Coconut Grove

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Inspired by the Italian Renaissance, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens not only is architecturally stunning, it is a magnificent and authentic 34-room villa filled with art treasures.

Its beautiful manicured gardens span over 10 acres which is an adventure in itself.

Crandon Beach Park

A golden sand beach that stretches for 5 km and not overcrowded like other beaches, then take some time to soak in natural vitamin D surrounded by palm trees at Crandon Beach Park.

Coral Gables

Photo Credit: cc-by-3.0 Photo taken by Luis Villa

Built in the 1920’s, The Biltmore Hotel was the epitome of luxury and grandeur of Miami. Affluent guests from all over the country and the world came to stay over during the winter months. An 18-hole golf course surrounds the hotel and keeps golf fans busy, happy and entertained.

Another of the major attractions in Coral Gables is the Venetian Pool.

Photo credit: cc-by-3.0. Photo taken by Jesper Rautell Balle.

This impressive pool was built on a site where quarry rock was extracted from and created a large hole in the ground.

Surrounded by palm trees, cobble-stone bridges, venetian-style lamp posts and coral-rock waterfall, it is a great place to cool off and relax and enjoy the benefits of water therapy.

Day trips from Miami

Biscayne National Park

Located south of Miami, Biscayne National Park is a heaven for nature and water sport lovers.

Admire the area’s beauty, flora or fauna during a glass-bottom boat trip, go canoeing or sea kayaking, dive or snorkel.

Everglades National Park

Take a walk on the wild side or go wild in this large “river of grass”. The Everglades National Park is a wetland where a great and unique variety of animals live and native plants grow.

Florida Keys

Go on an epic road trip and ride along this chain of islands known as the Florida Keys.

Start in Florida City and end your trip at the southernmost point in the continental U.S.A, Key West.

Visit Ernest Hemingway’s house where he wrote some of his finest work, have lunch or dinner at a restaurant on Duval Street and to end your day? Watch the sunset at Mallory Square, a priceless moment.

As you can see, Miami, Florida has so much to offer that you need a few days, a week at best to enjoy all of this.

You can simply soak up the sun right by the beach