Miami: Florida's Cultural Hotspot
by Chris Tourigny



Miami, Florida's cultural hotspot, has been characterized by constant change over the last century. The city, which brings to mind lavish nightclubs, South Beach and Gloria Estefan, is moving forward into the next millennium faster than you can say Y2K.

Downtown Miami has seen the most development. It's become quite the place for skyscrapers, including The Atlantis, a high-rise designed with an open-air courtyard and palm trees. The NationsBank building is striking by day, but at night an impressive mixture of lights transforms it into a colorful canvas. Fortunately, the growth and development achieved hasn't been at the expense of the area's famed beaches.

Miami is a Mecca for die-hard shoppers. The Adventura Mall houses Macy's; The Falls boasts Bloomingdales. For shoppers who want a taste of the local flavor, Bayside Marketplace and Biscayne Bay have a number of boutiques and specialty shops that sell everything from plastic fruit to high-tech electronics. And that's not all. The Mayfair Shops in the Grove is a convoluted complex made up of boutiques and nightclubs, and Sawgrass Mills, with more than 300 shops and kiosks in a 2.4-million-square-foot facility is a vision to behold.

Miami's most famous neighborhood is South Beach. What most tourists don't know is that the peninsular southern tip is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The district encompasses one square mile of 1930's- to 1950's-style Art Deco hotels that have been restored to their original styles, ranging from Streamline to Modern and Spanish to Mediterranean. The hotels are situated just steps away from all the action.

There are a number of landmarks within the district. The Holocaust Memorial pays tribute to the unceasing spirit of the Jewish community. The Wolfsonian Museum is home to a fascinating collection of late 19th and early 20th century artwork, cultured surroundings and ephemera. The Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts is the preferred venue of the arts, where Broadway musicals, ballets and symphonies are hosted. Lincoln Road Mall, once the winter playground for Hollywood celebrities, has been called the "Fifth Avenue of the South."

Ocean Drive is the main artery for the Art Deco District and the beaches. From 5th to 15th Streets, the historic hotels, open-air cafés and face the Atlantic Ocean. There is a constant processional along the sidewalks, not unlike that of New Orleans' Mardi Gras.

The beaches continue from 21st to 35th Streets. Lifeguard stands are scattered every mile or so, and a wooden boardwalk divides the ocean from the resorts along Collins Avenue. The northern beaches run from 71st to 163rd Streets and offer a variety of family-oriented activities. Visitors can try their hand at deep-sea fishing, kite flying or fitness routines.

Miami's subtropical weather inspires year-round outside activities, especially water sports, including windsurfing, sailing or scuba diving around the waters of Key Biscayne or Biscayne Bay. Take a kayak or canoe down the Oleta River. There is an over abundance of aquatic activities ready to be experienced and new ones being created all the time.

There are just as many fun things to do on land. Activities range from in-line skating around the beaches and the Grove to playing a few holes of golf or practicing that backhand swing on the tennis courts.

Visitors looking for less flash and more natural surroundings should visit the Biscayne Bay islands, just south of Miami Beach. The islands give tourists a chance to see the more natural wonders of South Florida. The Miami Seaquarium, situated on Key Biscayne, is a terrific place for the entire family to learn about the native sea life. Visitors will get to see Flipper the dolphin and Lolita the killer whale perform high-flying stunts. Just a short trip away is Crandon Park. There is also Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area, with beaches, nature trails and a historic lighthouse.

Nearby Coconut Grove is a quirky yet eccentric place to experience Miami's more eclectic side. It's just a short drive from downtown. The main streets are inhabited with numerous restaurants, nightclubs and shops that offer the most recent fashion trends to haute cuisine. Visitors should be sure to stop by The Barnacle, Dade County's oldest home. It still sits on its original site and is now a museum for South Florida's history.

Another must-see for visitors is the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. This palatial estate-turned-museum was constructed by James Deering in 1916. It is a superb example of Italian Renaissance architecture with a touch of South Florida. Tour the mansion, along with the splendidly kept grounds. It is the perfect blend of Old World style and Old Florida charm.

One of Dade County's oldest attractions is Monkey Jungle. An unusual, but not uncomfortable, experience where visitors are the ones "caged" in an observation tunnel while the primates are permitted to roam free. Another family fun activity attraction is the Metrozoo, one of the country's foremost zoos, with more than 900 animals residing on a 290-acre habitat.

Accommodations are as varied as Miami's culture. Prices vary from inexpensive, $30 to $100 a night, to very expensive, over $1,500 a night. The larger hotels and chains include the Fontainebleau Hilton, the Casa Grande Suite Hotel, The Delano, the Alexander All-Suite Hotel and the Eden Roc Hotel and Marina. The smaller and more historic motels, most of which are located on Miami Beach in the Art Deco district, include the Essex House, the Avalon Hotel, the Cavalier and the Kent. These where built between the 1930s and 1950s and have been completely remodeled.

Before making reservations at any hotel or motel, make sure of a few simple things. First, find out when the hotel/motel was last remodeled because the sea air and previous hotel guests can and will wreak havoc on a room. Second, make sure the hotel isn't remodeling during your stay. Nothing is worse than trying to read the morning paper with a jackhammer blaring in the background.

Miami is a tropical, metropolitan city whose neon lights burn 24 hours a day, seven days a week. With a little bit of history, a splash of culture and some international influence, Miami has created a milieu to attract visitors well into the next century.