With sun, sea and style, Miami is the shining star of the east coast's Sunshine State, a true melting pot of cultures and diversity. It is considered one of the true trendsetting cities of modern times, America's favourite holiday destination and a gateway to both Latin America and the Caribbean. With beautiful sandy beaches, a thriving cruise industry and a host of attractions there is something for everyone in this fashionable area. Winter is actually the peak season, thanks in large to the scorching temperatures of the summer that can often prove unbearable, as Miami, Florida, is the one of the most southern of all US resorts. Flights are available direct from the UK and take approximately nine hours.
Amazing beaches, wild nightlife and fabulous food makes Miami the ultimate holiday destination for all ages...
Miami built a reputation as a retirement home for Americans with many old folk spending their latter years by the pool. However, over the last two decades it has become a fashion hotspot with playboy pin-ups and clothes designers regularly gracing the beaches. You can relax on the beach or keep yourself active in the waters - consequently there is something for everyone in Miami: partygoers, families, young and old.
Miami is packed full of resorts including the world famous Miami Beach, which is a true example of the playboy lifestyle with models on the beach, rollerblades on the boardwalk and lifeguards patrolling the action. The beach itself is split into three sections - north, central and south - with the north offering sidewalk cafes and fast food restaurants, the south being a great place to watch the cruise ships sail out, and Miami Beach Central extremely popular for strolling and jogging. The south is also the home of the Art Deco district with hundreds of buildings restored to their early 20th century appearance. Most of the beaches throughout Miami have excellent, family friendly facilities including beach chairs, showering facilities and restrooms.
Among the other resorts to sample is Virginia Key Beach, the north section of which is ideal for windsurfing while the south is much more secluded. Sunny Isles Beach is a two-mile long white sand beach, while Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Beach is very scenic with walking and biking trails throughout.
In addition to the Miami coastline, most tourists are determined to head to Key West, which is the end of the string of 400 islands that make up the Florida Keys. This is a great area to do some diving and snorkelling, and though there aren't too many good beaches the opportunities for watersports are fabulous.
Miami has an Ibiza-like reputation for clubbing and the hottest club scene surrounds the Miami Beach area. Mac's Club Deuce Bar is the oldest bar in the area with a neighbourhood bar atmosphere, while The Marlin has something different each night with dance, hip-hop, karaoke and more. Elsewhere, the South Beach area includes popular hangouts like Buck 15, the Lounge Bar and Twist, a popular gay bar with everything from drag shows to go-go dancers. The biggest clubbing spot is Space in the downtown area of Miami - a giant warehouse has been converted to satisfy the insatiable appetite of tourists for a vibrant club atmosphere. The restaurants meanwhile are diverse, with a number of international cuisine options, bistros and fast food outlets.
To think that Miami is all about partying and clubbing however, would be seriously underestimating the area. For those willing to dig a little deeper there are plenty of rewards including the Miami Museum of Space and Transit, the Miami Museum of Science and the Museum of Contemporary Art. The Metrozoo boasts more than 200 species and the Miami Seaquarium is South Florida's premier attraction with performing killer whales and dolphins.
The vast Everglades National Park boasts many endangered species including leatherback turtles, bald eagles and American crocodiles, and can be explored by canoe. The Spanish Monastery is a hugely popular tourist attraction and is the oldest building in the Western Hemisphere, while the Vizcaya Villa is ideal for fans of antiques. Miami also acts as a gateway to many of the other popular Florida resorts such as the Florida Keys, Clearwater and St Petersburg.
Most of the shopping in Miami revolves around kitsch products, heavily influenced by 50s and 60s America, assuming you can drag yourself away from the extensive shopping malls. Coral Gables is one of the best areas to shop and you can take in a live theatre performance or an art gallery to complete your day.
