SoBe, as its residents call it, or South Beach Miami to the rest of us, sits between Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean and includes all of the Miami Beach islands south of Indian Creek. South Beach Miami’s transformation from farmland to vacation paradise began in the 1910s with the construction of the Collins Bridge, which made the first land link between mainland Miami and the beaches. In 1926, a hurricane destroyed most of the new area, but now there are about 40,000 residents living in South Beach, and many more residences are second vacation homes.
Before Miami Vice hit television screens in the 1970s, South Beach was actually a very poor and undesirable area with a shocking crime rate which is no doubt what inspired the Miami Vice theme. Today, however, South Beach Miami is a world away from that den of iniquity and is one of the richest, most desired and prosperous commercial areas favored by celebrities, fashion designers, business magnates, sports enthusiasts and tourists. Miami offers vacation weather year-round, and even if it rains, there are countless activity options to keep you and your family busy on vacation.
South Beach Miami is a major entertainment destination with more than 150 nightclubs, countless restaurants, fashion boutiques, and hotels that make the area popular with both American and international tourists. Here you can choose from luxury boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts, or budget hostels, making the resort available to everyone, including students on a budget, and budget-conscious families can now enjoy a fun and safe South Beach vacation as well.
Fashion lovers and shopping enthusiasts can choose from glorious and unique selections at the Lincoln Road Malls, which stretch along the beach between 16th and 17th streets in an east-west direction. South Beach Miami is a place where new fashions are showcased and where you can be the first to try, buy and wear them. The shopping centers are packed with fashion boutiques, galleries and small, intimate restaurants that succumb to all tastes.
Club fans can head to Washington Park and Washington Avenue, one of the best known and most cosmopolitan areas of South Beach. Washington has some of the biggest and most popular nightclubs in the world, including Cameo and Mansion, as well as fine shops and boutique hotels. There can be an art to gaining admission to the best Miami nightclubs – you need to practice flattering the somewhat enthusiastic bouncers and always have a plan B ready for action! You’ll soon perfect your technique, but be prepared for a rejection or two. Admission is anywhere from $20 to over $100 and can include a line that requires several hours of patience to get into the hottest nightspots frequented by celebrities.
Spring break and Easter are very popular times to visit Miami for everyone. Celebrities of all genres come to the International Film Festival, Winter Music Conference and Fashion Week, which take place in March. This is perhaps where the new trends for the upcoming summer season are set and being here to witness these annual events is a very special and unique experience. The weather in spring is very pleasant for beach activities, golf, tennis and water sports with temperatures between twenty and thirty degrees so that families with children can enjoy the beaches without overdosing on the sun on their pale winter skin.
Ocean Drive is a popular spring break and tourist area that includes Lummus Drive and the famous Pearl and Nikki Beach nightclubs. Gianni Versace lived here, can’t be bad! Popular Ocean Drive restaurants include News Cafe, Mango’s, and Clevelander, which was featured and became the cool place to be seen on MTV.
A handpicked tour to the Florida Everglades National Park is a must for all tourists visiting Miami, especially one-time visitors. This internationally renowned park of 10,000 islands is one of the few places in the world where you can safely come face to face with incredible wild animals in their original natural habitat.
Beautiful rare birds, American alligators, mangroves, rare orchids and the naturally diverse landscapes of this park create a unique opportunity for families and anyone interested in experiencing something educational, real and totally in contrast to the white sand beaches of Miami. Anglers and anglers can take guided fishing tours to catch bass and tarpon, and visitors can choose to visit and experience the Everglades from a kayak, canoe, raft, or motorboat. You can arrange an overflight of the Everglades by helicopter or small plane, and guided hiking tours that are of particular interest to ornithologists are easily arranged.
There are family adventures in the wilderness at Babcock Ranch, with swamp rides and cowboy dinners. Babcock Ranch hosts safaris with wild alligators, bison, panthers, and birds, and there’s also a Naples-area zoo—all Miami features that make for an interesting and contrasting change of scenery.
Catamaran and pontoon boat cruises are popular in Naples and the Marco Islands with their pristine beaches or you can rent your own boat and take your group on a private cruise. Sunset cruises sail daily to tranquil spots where you can watch stunning sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico while sipping on a fruity cocktail and nibbling on delicacies. You can see dolphins playing, manatees grazing, birds nesting like herons and egrets – this is nature at its best.
The fast descents and perfect greens of the Miami Golf Club ensure that golf enthusiasts are not left unchallenged or disappointed, and there are many more sporting activities available for visitors to enjoy in Miami South Beach. The tree-lined boardwalk is always popular with walkers out for walks, rollerblading, jogging, and biking.
The enticing white sand beaches and turquoise waters of Miami South Beach offer endless opportunities for surfing, sunbathing, jet skiing, snorkeling, swimming, sailing and all other water sports, and you can always catch a game of beach volleyball. In the evenings, a session at one of the many world-class spas is a must, a great place to unwind after a day in the sun with a body treatment that will leave you relaxed, rejuvenated and ready for the excitement that the night out in Miami South Beach has to offer.