Visit Miami
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625. The 42nd largest city proper in the United States, with a population of 408,568, it is the principal, central, and most populous city of the Miami metropolitan area, and the most populous metropolis in the Southeastern United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Miami's metro area is the seventh most populous and fifth-largest urban area in the United States, with a population of around 5.5 million.
Miami is a major center and a leader in finance, commerce, culture, media, entertainment, the arts, and international trade. In 2010, Miami was classified as a Alpha- World City in the World Cities Study Group's inventory. In 2010, Miami ranked seventh in the United States in terms of finance, commerce, culture, entertainment, fashion, education, and other sectors. It ranked thirty-third among global cities. In 2008, Forbes magazine ranked Miami "America's Cleanest City", for its year-round good air quality, vast green spaces, clean drinking water, clean streets and city-wide recycling programs. According to a 2009 UBS study of 73 world cities, Miami was ranked as the richest city in the United States, and the world's fifth-richest city in terms of purchasing power. Miami is nicknamed the "Capital of Latin America", is the second-largest U.S. city (after El Paso) with a Spanish-speaking majority, and the largest city with a Cuban-American plurality.
Downtown Miami and South Florida are home to the largest concentration of international banks in the United States, and is home to many large companies both nationally and internationally. The Civic Center is a major center for hospitals, research institutes, medical centers, and biotechnology industries. For more than two decades, the Port of Miami, known as the "Cruise Capital of the World," has been the number one cruise passenger port in the world, accommodating some of the world's largest cruise ships and operations, and is currently the busiest in both passenger traffic and cruise lines.
Beaches Of course, if you're in Miami, you'll want to spend some time on the beach. Miami Beach in on a barrier reef across the Biscayne Bay, and it's sandy, sunny beaches from party-hearty South Beach that continues all the way up north along the coast of Florida. As Miami has pretty temperate weather, the beaches will be active all year round, but the water will usually be too cold to swim in the winter. Topless sunbathing is allowed in Miami Beach, and if you want to take it all off, go to Haulover Beach Park in North Beach.
Star Island, Biscayne Bay, Miami. Star Island is an artificial island within Miami Beach. The houses are colossal and the architecture is worth taking a look at. Most of the houses are gated. The island looks exclusive because there is a guard house, however, it is a public neighborhood and you are able to go on the island and check out the houses. The houses on Star Island are homes to and have been homes to celebrities such as Will Smith, Shaquille O'Neal, Lenny Kravitz, Gloria Estefan, Rosie O'Donnell, Madonna, P. Diddy and many more. If you are planning a trip to Miami this is a good bit of free sightseeing for you.
Zoo Miami, 12400 SW 152nd St Miami, tel (305) 251-0400. Open daily 9:30AM-5:30PM. Largest and oldest zoological garden in Florida. It houses over 1,200 wild animals and is a free range zoo. Its climate allows it to keep a wide variety of animals from Asia, Australia and Africa like no other zoo in the country.
Jungle Island, 1111 Jungle Island Trail, Miami, tel 305) 258-6453. Lush tropical garden that features animal shows and exhibits. Great outing for the family to enjoy.
Miami Seaquarium, 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, +1 305 361 5705 . This 38 acre tropical island paradise features marine shows and marine life exhibits. Expect to stay around two to three hours touring the large aquarium. Just ten minutes from downtown Miami.
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, 3251 South Miami Ave, +1 305 250-9133, (fax: + 1 305 285-2004) . European-inspired estate. Includes a main house filled with art and furnishings and ten acres of gardens on Biscayne Bay. $12 adults, $9 Miami-Dade residents with ID, patrons using wheelchairs, seniors 62 years of age or older with ID and students with ID, $5 children 6-12. Admission is free for children 5 years of age or younger.
United States Tours
Shortcut Function
-
Hotels
-
Miami Map
-
Gift Certificate
-
Group Services
