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Miami Information and Miami Tourism
(Miami, FL, USA)



Miami in Florida is often referred to as the epicenter of 'cool' and is located on the south-east tip of Florida. Famous for many things, 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.

Although Miami does not have actual offices devoted to tourism and tourist information, there are numerous useful outlets throughout Miami, providing free tourism and tourist information, tourist magazines, leaflets and general practical advice about Miami.




Accommodation in Miami can be a little expensive, but there are certainly a large number of hotels to choose from. There are also some excellent value hotel deals to be found, even in the heart of Miami, particularly when you book in advance. Miami is small enough that you can stay just about anywhere without feeling isolated, although the largest concentration of Miami hotels and motels are located on Miami Beach, which is an ideal base for nightlife, beach life and touring Miami city.

Miami is full of interesting and appealing tourist attractions and historical landmarks. Some of the top tourist attractions in Miami include Miami's Miracle Mile - one of Miami's major shopping regions, situated in the Coral Gables district of Miami, the Miami Freedom Tower - an important landmark tower built in 1924, Miami Metrozoo - one of the finest wild animal parks in America and the Miami Seaquarium - a 38-acre complex of huge saltwater pools, with a number of majestic killer whales and friendly dolphins, sea lions, porpoises and a group of manatees. Countless other tourist attractions are situated nearby Miami, such as the Miami Everglades National Park, which is one of the largest natural parks in the Miami area, made up of large swamps and marshes. Air boat tours are available to safely negotiate the Everglades National Park and view the numerous alligators in the Miami park. More information on Miami Tourist Attractions and Miami Landmarks.

There are also many excellent museums in Miami, providing interesting information on the history of Miami and many other exhibitions. Some of the major museums in Miami include the Gold Coast Railroad Museum - one of Miami's most popular and impressive museums, home to around 30 large, retired locomotives, including a 1928 Pullman sleeping car redesigned in 1942 for President Franklin Roosevelt, and the Miami Art Museum - recently declared as one of Miami's most important cultural institutions by the state of Florida.

Miami has a range of communities and districts, including Downtown Miami, a vibrant and diverse area of Miami, filled with clothes and jewelry shops, restaurants, cafés and fast-food stands. Miami South Beach Area (SoBe) is one of Miami's most exciting and lively areas, occupying the southernmost three miles, full of up-and-coming art galleries, stylish diners, stylish Art Deco buildings, glorious beaches and many of Miami's top nightclubs. The Miami Art Deco District is at the very center of Miami's reinvention, with more than 800 Art Deco buildings, including many excellent hotels close to the beach. Central Miami is a quieter area than South Beach and one of the most wealthy areas of Miami, full of palatial homes of some of Miami's richest residents and a number of excellent golf courses.

The North Miami Beach District includes Collins Avenue, which runs for seven miles through North Miami Beach and there are also several noteworthy beaches and parks in this area of Miami. North Miami Beach is made up of four small communities, Surfside, Bal Harbor, Haulover Beach and the Sunny Isles and Golden Beach area. Miami's Little Havana District is home to the largest ethnic group in Miami, with a thriving community of Cubans that has been rapidly expanding over the last few decades. The Miami Coral Gables District is located south of Little Havana and is one of the most individual and distinctive areas of Miami, with around 12 square miles of wide boulevards, attractive streets and many stunning buildings with Spanish and Italian architecture.

Miami Coconut Grove District is a fashionable area of Miami and is often full of celebrities and the glitterati. The main areas of Coconut Grove include Villa Vizcaya, Central Coconut Grove, Charles Avenue, Black Coconut Grove and South Coconut Grove. Coral Way is a commercial district, north of Coconut Grove, embracing the neighborhoods of Brickwell, Coral Gate, Douglas, Parkdale-Lydedale, Shenandoah, Silver Bluff and the Roads. The South Miami District is situated to the south of Miami's Coral Gables and Coconut Grove and full of middle-class suburbs and family homes, reaching the edge of the Everglades. Miami's Key Biscayne Area is a compact and well-presented community, located five miles from the Miami coastline, with many upmarket houses and condos - Richard Nixon once had his presidential winter house in this area of Miami.

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.

Miami International Airports Guide - useful Miami International Airport (MIA) information.

More Miami Information / Fast Facts and Orientation

• Country: USA
• Location: Miami-Dade County, Florida (FL)
• Status: city, county seat
• Area: 45 square miles / 117 square kilometers
• Population: 625,000
• Language: American English
• Currency: US Dollar (USD)
• Time zone: GMT - 5 hours Eastern Standard Time (daylight saving time is observed)
• Country dialing code: +1
• Telephone area code: 305
• Religion: various religions
• Electricity: 110 volts AC, 50 Hz - flat two-pin plugs or third round pin are used
• Average daily January temperature: 24ºC / 75ºF
• Average daily July temperature: 32ºC / 90ºF

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