Miami Vacations

Overview

When Miami was officially constituted as a city on July 28, 1896, it had a population of just over 300. Today, there are around 2.2 million inhabitants in the city, and another 1.6 million and 1.1 million in the nearby areas of Broward County and the Palm Beach Country respectively. This makes the coastal city, the largest urban area in the Southeastern state of Florida. The city has been elevated to the status of a global city for the prime role it plays in the field of art and entertainment, media, finance and international trade. Miami is also the seat of the Port of Miami, which puts up the highest number of cruise ships in the world.

Immigration has played a chief role in the population growth of Miami, and the greater Miami area has turned out to be a cultural melting pot. Immigrants pour into the city from various places, especially Latin America and the Caribbean.

Activities & Attractions

Tourism serves as the backbone of this cosmopolitan metropolis and hence there are many activities and attractions in and around the area of Miami, ranging from the Art Deco hotels of South Beach to the Okefenokee Swamp further afield. Places in Miami that draw the attention of a visitor include the Bayside Marketplace, Little Havana, Coconut Grove, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Hibiscus Island, Palm Island, the Lowe Art Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCa), the Miami Art Museum, the Historical Museum of South Florida, the Fairchild Tropical Gardens, the Metrozoo, the Miami Seaquarium, the Parrot Jungle Island, and the Deering Estate. There are also excellent recreational areas such as the skate park and the water slide. Miles of dazzling shoreline oozing with water sports, pulsating streets boasting of a unique shopping experience coupled with a vibrant nightlife adds to what Miami has to offer.

Lodging

The city of Miami is well-known for its boutique hotels. South Beach, in particular, is renowned for the fine examples of the Art Deco style of architecture it showcases. There are also many other contemporary hotels in South Beach designed by noted designers, including Ian Schrager (the Delano, Shore Club), André Balazs (Raleigh, Standard on Belle Isle), and Todd Oldham (the Hotel).

However, if you prefer having a lot of space, you may not want to stay in a boutique hotel. In this case, you can opt for the many other upscale high-rise hotels present both in the South Beach as well as downtown area. There are also cheap chain hotels strewn throughout the entire city that you can choose if your business carries you to the not very popular tourist areas.

Transportation

The Miami International Airport is one of the busiest international airports in the world. It caters to over 35 million passengers every year. Served by many of the significant international carriers, the American Airlines use the airport as a hub as well. Thus, not only is Miami immensely popular as a vacation destination, but it is also a popular hub for air travelers journeying elsewhere.

Miami also has a bustling seaport, the Port of Miami. It is the largest cruise ship port in the world and serves about 18 million passengers annually. The port also helps move massive amounts of cargo.

There are many options for local public transportation such as the Metrobus and Metrorail, both of which are operated by the Miami-Dade Transit. There is also a commuter rail system that connects to the airport and greater Miami metro area.