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| Overlooking
the Beautiful City of Miami1 |
Miles of shoreline stretch
across the warm and sun-kissed city of Miami,
which is located on the southeastern tip of The Sunshine State, Florida.
Its tropical climate is ideal for soaking up the sunshine while strolling on
the soft, sandy beaches. Miami is Florida's largest Spanish-speaking city, and
covers 55.27 sq mi (143.15km) of land that contains a population of over 5.4
million people. The city is referred to as "The Gateway to the Americas"
because of its cultural ties between the Caribbean,
as well as North, South and Central America. Miami retains a strong cultural
foundation, while also acting as a home to various major international financial
centers. The city is known for its breathtaking beaches, sizzling nightlife
and exciting attractions.
1) Accommodation
Directory-This is a complete Miami accommodation directory containing
detailed information about hotels, B&Bs, luxury resorts, campgrounds and more.
With links to accommodation websites and interactive maps, this directory is
designed to help visitors find the right place to stay based on their personal
preferences.
2) Secure
Room Reservations-Check for Miami room availability and then make secure
online room reservations for participating properties with this convenient link.
3) Maps-The
Miami map can assist visitors in choosing where to stay by not only indicating
where accommodations are located, but also where they are in relation to attractions,
restaurants, shops, tours and transportation.
ORIENTATION
Miami and its suburbs are
located between the Florida
Everglades and the beautiful Biscayne
Bay. The city can be accessed using four different Interstate Highways
(I-75, I-95, I-195, 1-395) and a number of U.S. highways including U.S. Route
1, U.S. Route 27, U.S. Route 41, and U.S. Route 441.
Districts
Downtown
Miami's towering skyline—a
magnifcent sight in the late hours of the evening—is hard to miss. The
downtown shopping
district is a definite must-see, prominent for its sophisticated flair, while
the highly commercial area of downtown is scattered full of electronics stores.
Miami's towering skyline is hard to miss and is quite a magnificent sight in
the late hours of the evening. An abundance of attractive dining destinations
are situated in the core. Whether looking for a relaxed and casual lunch, or
a posh and upscale dinner, diverse cuisine is offered at a number of restaurants
in the area.
Midtown
Midtown is located
north of downtown, and south of the Design
District. It is home to the prestigious Miami
City Ballet-one of the largest ballet companies in the world. Enjoy
the elegant performances of famous favorites like George Balanchine's, The Nutcracker.
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Miami's
Skyline Overlooking the Sparkling Ocean.2 |
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South Beach
South
Beach is a world-famous tourist area and is worshipped in the film and
modeling industry. Movies such as the popular "Miami Vice" were filmed
here. In the pedestrian-only, high-class shopping district of Lincoln
Road Mall, visitors can stroll the streets for elegant boutiques,
bookstores,
art galleries
and studios. For those looking for an exciting night out, Washington Avenue
is a hotspot for chic and posh night
clubs.
Key Biscayne
Boardwalks and bike
trails wind around the beaches of the Key
Biscayne district. This tropical paradise is known for its tranquil
waters and spectacular sunsets. A golf
course, numerous facilities for water
sports and fishing
and an international tennis
center are situated in this district. Key Biscayne also hosts the NASDAQ
Tennis tournament.
Little Havana
Little
Havana, Miami's Cuban district, is home to many immigrants from the
small island nation. Calle
Ocho, the annual Cuban street festival (SW 8th St), is held on the last
Friday of each month. With over one million visitors annually, travelers can
enjoy live reggateton, salsa, bachata and meringue as music floods the streets.
Note that SW 8th Street will be closed off to traffic during the festivities.
Little Havana is also home to The
Miami Orange Bowl, which hosts games for The University of Miami Hurricane's
Football Team. Before the opening of
Dolphin Stadium in 1987, The Orange Bowl held Miami
Dolphin's games.
TRANSPORTATION
Getting There
Just 6 mi (9.7km) west of downtown Miami stands Miami's
International Airport (MIA), one of the country's busiest international
airports. To avoid congestion and long lineups, curbside check-in is an excellent
idea when traveling internationally from the city. Public transportation
from the airport is available, but for travelers with luggage and little or
no knowledge of the area the best bet is to take a taxi
or rent a car,
and pick up a map from an info center.Throughout the airport there are 24-hour
multilingual information paging phones as well as a currency converter booth
available for visitors.
Fort
Lauderdale International Airport (FLL), located 21 mi (33.7km) north
of Miami, is smaller and less congested. It does not, however, offer as many
international routes. Low cost carriers flying into FLL, such as JetBlue and
Southwest Airlines, make for a less expensive alternative.
Getting Around
A variety of low cost, convenient and efficient public transportation options
are available in Miami. This includes the Metrobus,
Metrorail
and the Metromover.
The Metro bus and the Metrorail cover Miami-Dade County and the Metromover,
with 21 stations in operation, is free of charge and operates throughout downtown
Miami. The service also makes stops at Brickell
and Government Center Metro Stations. Numerous taxi and limo
services are offered as well. Keep in mind that traveling by cab in Miami's
popular tourist areas such as Southbeach, is more expensive (ranging $30-$60
US) compared to traveling in the residential areas. Be sure to check with hotels
as well, as some may offer complimentary shuttle
services for guests. Having a car in Miami can be a great convenience
for getting to areas located outside of the downtown core. When compared to
other major cities, Miami's rental
car rates are fairly low in price.
WHEN TO VISIT
Due to its tropical climate,
Miami experiences hot,
humid summers and warm, dry winters. Most months of the year are warm and humid
with temperatures rarely dropping below 59°F (15°C). August is the hottest month,
with daily averages of 89.8°F (32.1°C). Visitors should remmeber that the extreme
humidity in summer intensifies the heat so that it feels as hot as 110°F (43.3°C).
January is considered the city's coldest month, with temperatures dropping into
the mid-60s (approximately 15°C). If the goal is to stay away from extreme heat
and the heavy weight of the summer's humidity, visiting during the dry months
of December to May is a good idea. The wet season runs from May to September.
Keep in mind that it coincides with hurricane season, although the storms tend
to only hit Miami every four years on average.
ATTRACTIONS
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A
Day of Fun at the Beach3 |
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Miami offers a range of
attractions
that will appeal to visitors of all ages. The
Metrozoo, located in Southwest Miami, is geared towards children and
is a sanctuary for endangered species including the Komodo Dragon. Parrot
Jungle Island, situated in an extravagant tropical garden off the coast
of Miami, is home to exotic animals and visitors can bird watch and view some
spectacular wildlife.
Visitors can enjoy the
outdoor waterfront shopping, eateries
and attractions along Biscayne
Bay at Miami's Bayside
Marketplace. Whether dining out with friends or looking for family entertainment,
Bayside Marketplace offers a great location next to the beach. Hit up the sandy
shores after a day fun filled entertainment and exploring.
Miami is home to many impressive,
world-class art museums such as The
Miami Art Museum, The
Museum of Contemporary Art and The
Bass Museum of Art. The Miami Design District is the perfect
place to find unique furnishing and creative ideas for interior design. It is
full of art galleries
and antique shops,
and many artists with studios reside here.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Miami offers accommodation
options that are suitable for every traveler's budget. The city is packed full
of resorts,
vacation
homes, hotels,
motels
and inns. When
it comes down to it, Miami has it all. Most hotels are situated in the area
around the airport
as well as in Miami
Beach. In high season (November through February), expect to find fewer
rooms available and higher prices than during the rest of the year.
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Sun
Setting Over a Luxury Resort4 |
High-end
Upscale and prestigious hotels
populate the downtown streets, while motels and resorts can be found in other
city districts. The posh accommodations in the city center come with hefty prices,
but offer luxury not found at less pricey properties.
In the heart of Miami's
downtown district, sprawling along a stretch of beach, the upscale
InterContinental Miami stands with spectacular views of the skyline
and Biscayne Bay. The hotel offers world class dining and close access to some
of Miami's hottest clubs. Minutes away from local beaches, downtown's Hyatt
Regency Miami offers its visitors spacious and luxurious rooms. Enjoy
the extensive guestroom amenities such as The Hyatt Stereo, which docks your
Ipod or Mp3 player and allows visitors to fill the room with music. Stay fit
at Hyatt's workout room, which features the latest equipment for staying in
shape.
The
Crowne Plaza is situated 0.5 mi (0.8 km) from Miami's
International Airport
terminal, and is ideal for business or leisure travelers. Dining and
entertainment, like that offered at Dolphin
Mall, is within walking distance of the hotel. The resort-style Wyndham
Miami Airport Hotel is also minutes from the airport terminal and offers
endless amenities to its guests including sleek and elegant décor, spacious
rooms and the only IACC approved Executive Meeting Center in South Florida.
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Camping
and Kayaking by the Serene and Calm Waters5 |
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Mid-range
Staybridge
Suites is located near the airport and amenities include comfortable
rooms, a basketball court, swimming pool, a fitness room and more. All suites
contain a full kitchen. Situated near the famous Bayside
Marketplace, The
Holiday Inn Marina Park-Port of Miami and the Holday
Inn Airport West has a variety of amenities ranging from a restaurant
and lounge to a swimming pool and fitness facilities. Candlewood
Suites, located by Miami's International Airport, features a whirpool
and outdoor pool. The suites come with a dishwasher, refrigerator, stove and
much more.
Budget
For travelers
on a budget, there are a few hostels such as South
Beach Hostel, located in nearby Miami Beach. There are dorm-beds and
private rooms avaliable. Amenities include a pool table, cable TV, two lounges
and a full kitchen. Low priced motels and campsites are also located throughout
the city. Miami
Everglades Campground offers cabins and an RV and tenting park situated
in a tropical setting. Facilties include 330 large level sites, 263 pull through
sites, and 50 AMP sites.
PHOTOS
COURTESY OF:
- Overlooking the Beautiful
City of Miami; Miami, FL, USA
- Miami's Skyline Overlooking
the Sparkilng Ocean; Miami; FL, USA
- A Day of Fun at the
Beach; Miami, FL, USA
- Sun Setting Over
a Luxury Resort; Miami; FL, USA
- Camping and Kayaking
by the Serene and Calm Waters; Miami, FL, USA
