Worth getting out of bed for
Highlights the best Miami has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.
- Viewpoint
- Miami’s location between the Everglades and the Atlantic mean there are few vantage points in the predominantly flat landscape. Azul restaurant at the waterfront Mandarin Oriental at 500 Brickell Key Drive (+1 305 913 8254) has great views of Biscayne Bay and Downtown (as well as great food).
- Arts and culture
- The Spanish Monastery on West Dixie Highway typifies Miami’s cultural life; built in Spain in 1141 it was bought by William Randolph Hearst in 1925 and shipped over to North Miami Beach, stone by stone. Much of this young city’s culture is imported from elsewhere, but it is no less fascinating for that. Little Havana is the centre of the city’s Cuban exile community, particularly around Calle Ocho (Southwest 8th Street) between 11th and 17th Avenues. In South Beach, head to the Bass Art Museum on Park Avenue (www.bassmuseum.org); it’s the centre of the neighbourhood’s art scene.
- Something for nothing
- The Art Center (www.artcentersf.org) on Lincoln Road in South Beach is free and provides space for promising young artists; it’s definitely worth a visit – you might even be tempted to buy something.
- Shopping
- Lincoln Road in South Beach is pedestrian area with various high street names as well as smaller independent boutiques, such as Base (www.baseworld.com), which sells music, clothes and accessories, and En Avance, which has an edgy pick of designers like Wyeth, Dsquared, Juicy Couture and Zooey. Collins Avenue offers more upmarket merchandise (think Ralph Lauren, Armani Exchange, Urban Outfitters and Kenneth Cole), while Washington Ave is grittier, with tattoo parlours and kitsch novelty shops. For an all-inclusive mall that includes a branch of Saks Fifth Avenue as well as brands ranging from Banana Republic to Bottega Veneta, try Bal Harbour Shops (www.balharbourshops.com) at the north end of Collins Avenue. C.Madeleine’s on Biscayne Boulevard in North Miami Beach is a vast treasure trove of vintage haute couture and designer pieces (www.cmadeleines.com): a must-see for any woman who knows her Halston from her Hermès. Elsewhere in Miami, the Miracle Mile in Coral Gables (www.shopcoralgables.com) is great for boutique browsing. You’ll also find the excellent Village of Merrick Park (www.villageofmerrickpark.com) in this area, too.
- Daytripper
- Rent a Harley from Peterson’s (+1 305 651 4811; www.miamiharley.com), from $70 a day, and cruise the 50 miles down to the Florida Keys (www.fla-keys.com), a beautiful 130-mile-long chain of coral islands connected by the Overseas Highway; check out Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville in Key West (www.margaritaville.com), a truly American institution. Less than one hour west of Miami is the Everglades, a vast area of swamps; go on an alligator safari by air boat, swamp buggy or helicopter, with Air Boat USA (www.airboatusa.com).
- Best beach
- South Beach (or SoBe as it’s also called) is the beach in Miami. The Lummus Park Beach section between Sixth and 14th Street is one of the most popular spots.
- Activities
- For some all-American sporting entertainment, go and see the Miami Dolphins American football team (www.miamidolphins.com), or watch Shaquille O’Neal play basketball for his team, Miami Heat (www.nba.com/heat). The 18-hole Biltmore Golf Course (+1 305 445 8066) – a par 71 beauty with a devilishly tricky sixth – is a favourite with professionals and presidents. Barring the odd hurricane, Miami is the perfect place for water sports; charter a yacht or learn to sail, with Florida Yacht (www.floridayacht.com); or go scuba diving (Tarpoon Diving Center – www.tarpoondivecenter.com). There’s also deep-sea sport fishing if you want to satisfy your inner Hemingway; try Blue Waters (+1 305 373 5016, www.fishingmiami.net) at Bayside Marketplace.
Diary
- January Art Miami (www.art-miami.com) is a major exposition of modern and contemporary art from more than 100 international galleries, held at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Early March The Miami International Film Festival is one of the biggest in the US, attracting international DJs and artists (www.miamifilmfestival.com). The lively Carnaval Miami (www.carnavalmiami.com) is centred on Calle Ocho in Little Havana and includes pageants, parades and concerts. Late March The Miami Music Conference is a major dance music event (www.wintermusicconference.com). June Goombay Festival (www.goombayfestivalcoconutgrove.com) in Coconut Grove is a Bahamian festival of music, parades (junkanoos) and Caribbean food. Late September–Early October The Miami Carnival is one of America’s biggest street festivals, the highlight of which is the carnival parade in early October. There are lots of events in the run-up to the parade, including the International Caribbean Music Festival in Bicentennial Park, which brings a fiesta atmosphere to Downtown Miami (www.crfest.com). December Art Basel Miami Beach is one of the world’s foremost annual art festivals and is centred on South Beach, bringing with it special exhibitions, events and parties. Visit www.artbaselmiamibeach.com for details of the next event.
