Introduction to Miami
Welcome to sunny Florida. To the southwestern coast of the state is Miami. Sea-side paradise Miami is the 42ndlargest city in the United States.
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Miami Fast Facts
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City |
Miami |
|
Country |
United States Of America |
|
Area |
55 sq miles |
|
Population |
5.5 million (metro area) |
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Districts |
20 |
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Average Summer Temperature |
80°F |
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Average Winter Temperature |
65°F |
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Currency |
US Dollar (USD) |
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Dialing Code |
Country 1 City 305 |
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Major Airports |
Miami International Airport (MA); Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport (FLL) |
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Geographic Coordinates |
25°79′ N, 80°29’W |
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Time Zone |
Eastern Standard Time |
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Official Website |
www.ci.miami.fl.us/ |
A Historic Overview of Miami
In about the 14th century, the area which makes up modern day Miami was inhabited by a native tribe called Tequestes. In 1566, the Spanish, led by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, staked claim to the land and a Spanish mission was set up in 1567, heralding an era of long Spanish colonization. In 1836, Fort Dallas was constructed and the Miami area subsequently became a site of war during the Second Seminole War. History credits a woman named Julia Tuttle as the founder of this city. She was a local citrus grower and a wealthy Cleveland farmer and trader. It became known as the Biscayne Bay County and later demarked as the state of Florida. Miami was officially incorporated as a city in 1896 and at that time the population was only 300. During the Second World War, Miami due to its strategic location served as base to thwart off any German U boat attacks and thus started to prosper as a city. After Fidel Castro’s rise to power, many Cuban refugees found refuge in Miami, thus making the population grow in multitudes. The real burst of growth happened during the second half of the 20th century. From being wrecked by racial riots to thunderous typhoons, Miami has faced it all and survived with pomp and grandeur. Being the last frontier of the United States in the south eastern corner, Miami has always been an important naval base and thus facilitated a lot of growth. Today it is one of the most important metropolitan areas of the United States and is graded as an Alpha One city.
Planning a Miami Vacation
Miami makes an excellent getaway almost any time of the year. The warm climate, however, makes Miami more popular in the winter months, since Florida remains warm and sunny when the other northern states get really cold. The peak tourist season, January to April, is also the driest. Miami is best avoided June through November – the hurricane season. May and December – the shoulder season – are the best months to avail of any off season discounts on hotel accommodation and flights tickets.
Miami Attractions
Once you are in Florida, sun, sand and fun has to be the top priority. In Miami the most visited attraction is the South Beach. The amazingly blue Atlantic with the decor perfect landscape is almost like a tropical paradise and the South Beach is famous all over the world. Your trip to Miami must have South Beach at the top of your list. For surfers this is heaven. If you are a surfer, pack your surfing kit and set out to the South Beach. Remember to include the sun tan oils and sun shades. The Mini Seaquarium was set up in 1956 and is the next place to visit. This facility is a one of its kind in the whole of United States. With a vast variety of marine life including sharks, killer whales, and turtles, the live shows at the Seaquarium should not be missed. Feed the dolphins. Lolita – the Killer Whale Show is a popular show here. Next on your list should be the Miami Metro Zoo, which is fast becoming one of the best zoos in the country. The climate of Miami allows it to keep a wide variety of animals from the sub tropical zones of Asia, Australia, and Africa. One of the first free-roaming zoos in the country, Miami Zoo exhibits are entirely free of cages. Animals are grouped and allowed to roam freely in a demarcated areas separated by moats. Even the landscape is prepared to resemble the natural habitats of the animals exhibited. Miami Metro Zoo is home to the rare baby addax, abacus and black rhino. You can also see white tigers, gibbons, Cuban crocodiles, komodo dragons and other regular animals like the tigers, lions, pumas. A visit to the Everglades National Park cannot be ruled out. Spanning over 1.5 million acres the national park is full of marshy swamps and saw-grass prairies. Everglades National Park is a sub-tropical jungle and a unique national park in the United States. It is home to 14 endangered animal species, including the the West Indian Manatee, the Florida Panther, and American Crocodile . The National Park was commissioned by the Congress in 1934, it was 460,000 acres large then, but over the years, land acquisitions for the natural habitat have made it grow into the 3rd largest National Park in the world. Built in 1914, south of downtown Miami is the famous Coral Gables or simply called “The Gables”. This is a planned section of town and is an oasis of quiet stately homes, villas and upmarket shopping, and restaurants in the heart of Miami. If you have had enough of South Beach and downtown of Miami and are looking for some classy fun, take a trip down to the Gables. A trip to the Coral Castle will leave you awestruck. It is an engineering marvel of more than 1100 tons of coral rock. Located south of Miami in Homestead, this site is registered in the National Register as a historic site.
Things to do in Miami
Fun never ceases in Miami. As a seaside destination, Miami has a number of night spots on the beach and away from the beach. If you are looking for some beach side fun there are many pubs and clubs on the beach. Stop over for some live music and dances. The nightlife is vibrant and buzzing all through the year. The latino experience of music and dance is unparalleled. Miami has pubs, bars, strip clubs, dance clubs, music amphitheatres and more. A few of the famous night clubs are – Club Space, Liv, Mansion, Set, Mynt, and Sekai Lounge. Most of these night clubs stay open till the early hours of the morning. Life never stops in Miami. Some of the famous bars and pubs are El Bohemio, Tiki Bar, Corbett’s Sports Bar & Pub, Champions Sports Bar and Pub, Red Brick, CuCu Bar. You have a huge range to choose from. Miami is a fashionable city and for the serious shopper this is an ideal destination. Miami has almost all the famous designer label stores and many other fashion accessories signature stores. For the shopper the choice is almost unlimited. Some of the famous shopping malls in Miami are Dolphin Mall, The Falls, Sawgrass Mills, Lincoln Road, CoCo Walk, Bal Harbour Store, Bayside Marketplace, Miracle Mile, Dadeland Mall and Aventura Mall. Besides these swanky malls, there are a few hundred designer stores to choose from. Miami offers every shopper a choice to experience the ‘shop till you drop’ syndrome. If you are searching for some exquisite sea food fare or a culinary treat do not miss Bayside’s Lombardi Ristorante, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. There are many options of on the beach options of cocktail, coffee, or live music. Don’t miss the Hard Rock Cafe – it has some unique southern rock memorabilia. Get ready, sunny Florida is calling you.
Restaurants to Try in Miami
The Capital Grille Miami 444 Brickell Avenue Miami Florida 33131 Tel: 1-305-374-4500 Sra. Martinez 4000 Northeast 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33137 Tel: 1-305-573-5474 El Mago De Las Fritas 5828 SW 8th St West, Miami, FL 33144 Tel: 1-305-266-8486 Azul Restaurant 500 Brickell Key Drive, Miami, Florida 33131 Tel: 1-305-913-8358 Brosia Restaurant 163 NE 39th Street, Miami Florida 33137 Tel: 1-305-572-1400
Miami Hotels
Luxury Hotels Four Seasons Hotel Miami 1435 Brickell Avenue, Miami, Florida 33131 Tel: 1-305-358-3535 www.fourseasons.com/miami/ JW Marriott Marquis Miami 255 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Miami, Florida 33131 Tel: 1-305-421-8600 www.jwmarriottmarquismiami.com/ Economy Hotels Midtown Inn Miami 3400 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami Tel: 1-305-573-7700 www.midtownmiami.com Regency Hotel Miami 1000 NW Le Jeune Rd, Miami, FL 33126 Tel: 1-305-441-1600 www.regencyhotelmiami.com/ Budget Hotels Continental Bayside Hotel 146 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida 33132 Tel: 1-305-358-4555 www.continentalmiamihotel.com/ Leamington Hotel 307 Northeast 1st Street, Miami, FL 33132 Tel: 1-305-373-7783 www.leamingtonhotel.com/
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