USA
REGION
MIAMI
Location
Miami is a major city located in the southeast corner of the U.S. state of Florida. Miami and the surrounding metropolitan area sits between the Miami River, Biscayne Bay, the Everglades and the Atlantic Ocean. It is the second largest city in Florida.
Miami has a humid subtropical climate, very close to being a true tropical climate. The major impacting force on the weather of the Miami area is the Gulf Stream, a warm flow just off the Atlantic coast of southeast Florida which moderates the climate year round. Ideal conditions on Miami Beach exist between December and May, when temperatures average between 15°C (60°F) and 30°C (85°F), and rainfall is scant. Summer is very hot and humid, with thunderstorms rolling in during the late afternoon. June is the rainiest month, August the hottest.
There is a large population of Hispanic, giving the city an international outlook. For the casual visitor this means a city peppered with the flavors of Latin American food, language, music, politics and spirit.
Miami is best known for its extremely sunny weather, golden beaches and lively Miami nightlife. Also known as the ‘Gateway to the Americas’, the 15 miles of glorious beaches make Miami a little different to other large cities and it is understandably popular with all ages, attracting a broad spectrum of tourists.
Warm days and nights throughout the year are what make South Miami Beach the closest thing to a 24-hour city in America. Biscayne Bay, which separates Miami from Miami Beach’s barrier island, is a sailor’s delight and there are numerous small islands waiting to be explored. Miami’s is home to an enormous cruise port and the Port of Miami is considered the cruise capital of the world. Miami also has a number of large public parks, preserving thousands of forested acres and grass beaches.
Over the years, Miami’s reputation has changed from being the celebrity hangout in the fifties to the vice capital of America in the eighties. More recently, the last few years has seen Miami undergo a major personality change, known as the ‘second wave’. Basically, Miami is booming and has never been more popular. Miami is currently one of the ‘in places’ in America, attracting all kinds of people, all ages and all persuasions.
Attractions
Miami is full of interesting and appealing tourist attractions and historical landmarks see below a list of attractions.
Some of the best beaches in Miami and Miami area are; South Beach, Sunny Isles/Golden Beach, Haulover beach, Crandon Park Beach, Bill Baggs Cap Florida, Matheson Hammock Park Beach, Oleta River State Park, North Shore Park Beach.
How to get there
BY AIR; Miami has two airports, Miami International Airport (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL). MIA is closer to town and has more connections; Miami International Airport is one of the busiest international airports in the world.
BY ROAD; Miami is at or near the terminus of several major roads, making it easy to arrive or depart by car. One particularly rewarding way to get there from west of Florida is to take I-10, which passes through the gorgeous beaches of Pensacola and across the Florida Panhandle, connecting with I-95, Florida’s Turnpike, down the coast to Miami. I-75 and the Tamiami Trail (Hwy 41) also pass through.
BY RAIL; Amtrak trains connect Miami with cities all over continental US and Canada. Miami also has a monorail system,
BY SEA; The Port of Miami, is the largest cruise ship port in the world,
BY BUS/COACH; Greyhound Bus has three main terminals in Miami, which send off and welcome buses to and from Orlando, New Orleans, Atlanta, Washington DC, and New York City. If you’re arriving by Greyhound, the station is just north of downtown Miami, on the waterfront.
Festivals There are special events all the time in Miami, a city known for its partying. The biggest event of them all is the Carnival Miami, a nine-day festival at the beginning of March, which includes a Miss Carnival contest, Carnival Night concerts at the Orange Bowl, an inline skating contest, jazz concerts, a Latin drag show, and a Calle Ocho cooking contest. The Calle Ocho Festival is the culmination of Carnaval Miami and a great time to be in Little Havana, since there are lots of concerts, giveaways and Cuban food. The International Hispanic Theater Festival – from late May to mid-June is one of the largest Hispanic theatre events in the US, featuring US, Latin American, Caribbean and European theatre companies at the El Carrusel Theater in Coral Gables. The Annual Miami Reggae Festival – in early August is a huge celebration of the music, held at Bayfront park. The Miami Book Fair, – held during the second week of November. This international book fair is among the most well attended in the US, with hundreds of nationally known writers joining similar numbers of publishers and hundreds of thousands of visitors.
Eating Dining Shopping The city’s cooking is directly influenced by Latin America and the Caribbean. Downtown Miami is a vibrant and diverse area of Miami, filled with clothes and jewelry shops, restaurants, cafes and fast-food stands.
Shoppping Miami’s Miracle Mile – one of Miami’s major shopping regions, situated in the Coral Gables district of Miami.
History It is difficult to believe that only 100 years ago, swampland vegetation and mosquitoes dominated the area of Miami. In such a short period of time, the city has emerged as a major cosmopolitan center for international business, tourism, fashion and nightlife. Long before the trendy street cafes of the Grove or the pastel buildings of the Art Deco district existed, the Tequesta Indians lived here for an estimated 2,000 years. The Spanish built a mission here in 1567, when the area was known as “Mayaimi,” but it remained secluded and generally inactive until the American acquisition of Florida in 1821. Hundreds of pioneers settled in the region around the Miami River. Motivated either by a vision of the region’s potential or simply by a desire for civilization, settler Julia Tuttle convinced magnate Henry Flagler to extend the route of the railroad he was building. In 1896, the completion of the Florida East Coast Railroad opened Miami to the rest of the United States, and marked the birth of a new city. Useful telephone numbers Emergency Number Tel; 911 Airport Information Tel; (MIA) (305)876-7000 Train station: Tourist Office: Holiday rents online: National Transport Line 24 hour medical service
|