Miami shines brightly in the US ‘Sunshine State’ of Florida set amongst some of the country’s most beautiful natural surroundings. Known for its sun, sand, salsa and style, Miami has an exciting beat as both a cultural and financial hub. It’s considered a playground for everyone, young and old. Often known as “the gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America”, its cosmopolitan population and endless entertainment opportunities make it the third most-visited international tourist destination in the US.
Miami and its surrounding cities make up the fifth largest urban areain the US. Originally a small tourist town, Miami became a centre for the Art Deco architectural movement before becoming a military base in World War II. It is now the hub of a vibrant cruise and cargo industry. Its port is constantly jam-packed with passenger liners.
North of the city, miles of beautiful sandy beaches are hemmed in by southeast Florida’s major tourist resorts along the Gold Coast, like Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach and Palm Beach. Miami is also the only major city in the United States bordered by two national parks: the Everglades National Park to the south west, and Biscayne National Park to the east.
Many visitors to Miami also take the opportunity to drive along The Overseas Highway, a 256km (159 mile) road which links Miami with the Florida Keys. The road crosses a series of bridges and causeways before it finally ends at Key West, the last of the nearly 400 island-chain and the southernmost tip of the US. The drive is spectacular and offers great watersports opportunities for snorkeling, diving and fishing.
Situated at the mouth of the Miami River on the lower east coast line of Florida, the city of Miami itself offers a variety of distinctive urban areas due to a confluence of cultures. Each has its own flavour. For example, Little Havana is the vibrant centre of Miami’s Cuban community and South Beach is home to the city’s famous Art Deco district.
For families, Miami also features an excellent Seaquarium and the Parrot Jungle, which is home to 1,100 tropical birds and 2,000 varieties of plants and flowers. The Miami Museum of Science and Space is also recommended. The wider Florida region offers a multitude of other family-oriented activities.
Miami is also known as a festival city. The Calle Ocho Festival in March and the White Party in November especially draw in the crowds.
Climate
Miami benefits from its southerly location and is ideal between December and May when temperatures are in the range 15°C (60°F) and 30°C (85°F) and there is little rainfall. Summers are hot and humid with frequent thunderstorms in the late afternoon. June is the wettest month and August the hottest although ocean breezes can cool the city. Occasional hurricanes blow in from July to September.
Getting There
Miami is served by two airports, Miami International Airport (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Miami International Airport is the closest option, about 19 km (12 miles) from the city centre, and has more connections being one of the busiest airports in the US. Most major North American and European scheduled airlines have services to Miami International Airport. Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is about 48km (30 miles) north of the city but sometimes offers the cheapest option. Flight times to and from the UK are between nine and ten hours. The best deals to Miami within the US are from New York area airports, but the New York-Miami route is also the most crowded. Both airports offer public transport connections to Miami itself.
Miami is home to one of the largest, most influential ports in the US, the Port of Miami. The port is often called the “Cruise Capital of the World” with frequent Caribbean cruise departures. |
