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Greater Miami: Enjoy Caribbean ambiance in the U.S. with a visit to Miami.

It's a word that conjures up images of white sand beaches dotted with tanned, toned bodies; exclusive shops; expensive restaurants and pulsating nightclubs filled with gyrating fun seekers. It's an exciting, glamorous spot where you can shop 'til you drop, dance the night away and live "la vida loca."

With more than its fair share of celebrities, many of whom have a stake in the restaurant or nightclub industry, Miami is Florida's Hollywood - a place so surreal that words barely do it justice. This multicultural Mecca draws visitors from all corners of the world to share in its splendor, gaze at its stars (the human kind) and soak up some of its ambiance.

Located in southeast Florida, Miami-Dade County is home to about two million residents and encompasses 30 municipalities under the umbrella of Greater Miami and The Beaches. Many of its visitors arrive via Miami International Airport, while others drive or enter at the Port of Miami.

Year-round sunshine helps to maintain an average daily temperature of 75 degrees and draws thousands of visitors to its 15 miles of tropical beaches, more than 800 parks and nature areas, and its world-renowned recreational facilities.

Its Neighborhoods

Miami's 30 municipalities reveal the true essence of Miami, forming a dazzling mosaic of sights, sounds and cultures. At the southern end is South Beach, known as "America's Riviera." The epitome of multiculturalism, this is where you'll find New York escapees, European hoteliers, South American investors, Hasidic Jews and Cuban immigrants all mingling in one community. The 10-mile-wide beach comes alive with sunbathers, joggers and kite flyers, while in-line skaters and cafe society watch from the sidewalk.

A few miles north are the cities of Surfside, Bal Harbour and Sunny Isles. This trio of quieter, calmer neighborhoods is popular with families seeking by-the-sea vacations. The city of Miami is a major hub of international business, banking, cultural, sports and entertainment attractions. Ultra-modern condos and skyscrapers line the wide, palm-studded streets, one of which is Brickell Avenue - the main artery of the commercial district.

The Bahamian roots of Coconut Grove are still evident in the Caribbean-style houses, tropical landscaping and street names. Home to the Miami-Bahamas Goombay Festival held each June, Coconut Grove attracts both tourists and locals who enjoy quaint, tropical beauty and artistic ambiance.

Coral Gables, nicknamed "The City Beautiful," is breathtaking with its sprawling, Mediterranean-style homes with red-tiled roofs dotting lushly landscaped streets. This opulent city houses several multinational corporations and is a centre for fine dining.

It's no surprise that Little Havana offers the city's most intensely Cuban atmosphere. The restaurants, nightclubs, theaters and cigar shops are authentically Cuban and the zesty spirit of the island nation rings loud and clear. In Little Haiti, visitors can find a hint of the Afro-Caribbean religion known as voodoo. Bursting with Caribbean colors and Creole charms, this Haitian neighborhood is proud of its Caribbean Marketplace, an open-air replica of the famed Iron Market in Port-au-Prince.
Unusual Moorish architecture reflecting Arabian Nights design makes the city of Opa-Locka unique. Nearby, Hialeah is a predominantly Cuban neighborhood and home of the well-known Hialeah Race Track.

The southern end of Greater Miami is surprisingly rural and very American South in character. Vast fields of strawberries and an annual cowboy-style rodeo are part of Redland's charm. S outh Miami is a mellow community of beautiful homes and a charming commercial district, which is preparing for the opening of Sunset Place, a multi-level shopping and entertainment complex.

Finally, Key Biscayne is a secluded paradise and natural refuge sitting a few miles east of downtown Miami. One of the first islands in the Florida Keys, this peaceful getaway is perfect for golfing, sunbathing, swimming, fishing, boating and more.

Its Entertainment
Many factors contribute to Greater Miami's success as one of the world's most important entertainment centres. Dubbed as the "Latin-American Hollywood" by the New York Times, the area's entertainment industry poured over $1.4 billion into the local economy in 1997.

This is a place where films are made, television shows are produced and music concerts are organized.

Visitors can enjoy opportunities to gape at the constant precessions of runway models posing for fashion magazines. Even better, celebrities are flocking to Miami and you just might catch a glimpse. Imagine seeing Oprah shopping at a gourmet bakery, Whitney Houston walking on the beach, Nicholas Cage breezing through the local airport or Sophia Loren hiding behind big sunglasses.

Each February, the Miami International Film Festival screens over 30 films from more than a dozen countries. But this is only one of many star-studded affairs that take place throughout the year. One of the most glamorous is Ocean Drive Magazine's Anniversary Gala. The glossy, sophisticated Ocean Drive is the darling of the magazine industry and its annual parties attract such celebrities as Sylvester Stallone, Donald Trump, Oliver Stone, Michael Caine and fashion designer Nicole Miller.

Miami's taste in music is just as eclectic as the clubs that play it. Old-fashioned blues bars belt out soulful favorites, flamenco dancers jazz up the dance floor, Afro-Cuban drummers bring down the house and top DJs spin the latest songs.

Just as varied is Miami's night life, offering everything from Broadway shows and ballet to opera and symphonies.

Its Food

It's been described as New World, Floribbean, Tropical Fusion and Nuevo Latino but no matter what you call it, Miami's cuisine is some of the best in the world. A reflection of the city's multicultural identity, this high-flavor, low-fat cooking style combines classic European techniques, the freshest of native ingredients and a dash of Caribbean and Latin gusto.

Fresh seafood - snapper, grouper, lobster, stone crabs, shrimp and conch - play a starring role in many of the restaurants' innovative dishes. The area's exotic fruits, vegetables and spices are also considered staples, including mango, hearts of palm, avocado, ginger, coriander and scotch bonnet peppers. Beef, either raised in Florida or flown in from Argentina, is usually marinated and cooked on a wood-burning grill.

According to the Miami Herald, 10 million visitors ate nearly $3 billion worth of meals in Miami in 1997. Some of the most celebrated chefs behind those fantastic meals include Norman Van Aken of Norman's in Coral Gables, Allen Susser of Chef Allen's in North Miami, JoAnn Bass from Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant and Johnny Vinczencz of Astor Place.

A few more noteworthy places to eat are Jada in South Miami, Stella Blue in Miami Beach, The Oval Room and Norma's on the Beach.

No matter where you decide to dine, expect to find a collection of cuisine native to the Miami area. Some of your choices may include spicy conch fritters, fried yucca chips, coconut shrimp, red beans and rice, Haitian spiced pork, Cuban black beans, chicken Creole or alligator tidbits braised in barbecue sauce. Finish your meal with guava cheesecake, rum flan, tangerine sorbet or the potent Cuban cafe-con-leche.

Along with its New World cuisine, Miami is also home to an array of restaurants specializing in international flavors - Japanese, Chinese, Thai, French, Northern Italian, Greek, German and Irish, just to name a few. Traditional steak houses, sushi bars and New York-style delicatessens are also available.

Its Accommodations

Miami's hospitality industry is booming, so it's no surprise that this area is adept at offering a diverse range of accommodations to its visitors. From inexpensive lodging for budget travelers to the most opulent resorts, Miami can meet the needs of any tourist.

The historic Art Deco District in South Beach is famous for its 800 buildings designed in the distinctive architectural style of the 1930s. The Hotel Astor, Miami Beach Ocean Resort, the Pelican and the Delano are just a few of the starring hotels in the district.

Another option is that home-away-from-home feeling you get by staying at one of the area's many bed and breakfasts. Cozy rooms, comfortable beds and quiet, tropical nights are characteristic of these charming retreats located just a short distance from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Katy's Place and Ten Oaks are two good choices in Redlands. The Coconut Grove Bed & Breakfast just a block away from Biscayne Bay offers private, spacious suites. Miami River Inn lies between Little Havana and the bustling shops in downtown Miami. Built in 1908, the Inn is considered Miami's best-kept secret.

Solitude is sacred at the Hotel Leon and Cadet Hotel. The Hotel Leon is a Mediterranean sanctuary resplendent with hardwood floors, antique fireplaces and candlelit rooms. At the Cadet Hotel, a family-owned and operated bed and breakfast, morning meals are served each day on the beautiful terrace.

Hostels offer friendly, inexpensive overnight lodging and provide a great opportunity to meet travelers from all over the world. At the Banana Bungalow in Miami Beach, choices start at $12 a night and include a dormitory-style room with six bunk beds to a double room with two queen-size beds. Clay Hotel welcomes visitors of all ages for as low as $14 a night.

If you're planning a themed vacation, whether it's a golf getaway or a spa package, Miami offers several options.

The Biltmore Golf Club at the Biltmore Hotel was built in 1925 by Donald Ross. With rooms overlooking the 18-hole, par-71 championship course, this elegant hotel is a favorite among many. Additional considerations for your golf holiday should include the Doral Golf Resort and Spa, home to one of the world's finest golf instruction programs; Don Shula's Hotel & Golf Club, featuring an 18-hole championship course and a lighted par-3 executive course; The Links at the Fisher Island Club; where guests can enjoy a round of golf on the seaside, nine-hole course; or Turnberry Isle Resort & Club, offering two Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed championship courses.

There's no better way to unwind and relax than by indulging in a spa vacation. Whether you spend one hour, one day or one week at one of Miami's various spa resorts, you'll leave feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

The Biltmore Hotel houses the Biltmore Fitness Center & Spa and offers a wide selection of therapeutic body treatments among its varied services. At the Delano Hotel, guests will discover the women-only agua, a bath house located on the penthouse floor overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The Spa at Doral is located inside its own self-contained oasis at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa. Choose from the Spa's 48 suites or the resort's 694 rooms and suites.

The Spa of Eden at the Eden Roc Resort & Spa is the nation's largest oceanfront spa and its glass walls give an unparalleled view of both the ocean and the bay. A tropical paradise is part of the attraction at Spa Internazionale at the Fisher Island Club. The Lido Spa Hotel promotes healthy vacations by customizing every guest's cuisine and exercises, and includes daily massages with each overnight stay.

Of course, this is only a small cross-section of the spa resorts located within Greater Miami and The Beaches. Before you plan that once-in-a-lifetime experience, contact the area's convention and visitors bureau to discover all the choices available.

Because there's so much to see and do, Greater Miami is a wonderful place to bring the whole family. Family-friendly hotels and resorts are located near Miami's varied attractions and many offer special activity-filled programs designed for children.

Camp Doral (ages 5-12) at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa is the perfect blend of sports, creative arts and special events. An Olympic-size pool, sports fields and golf courses provide various ways to burn off some energy.

Kid's Korner (ages 5-12) at the Fontainebleau Hilton Resort and Towers has daily themed activities offered in full-day, half-day or night sessions. Teens can enjoy a video arcade, water sports, workout facilities and ping pong.

The Sonesta Beach Resort Key Biscayne offers three different programs for a range of ages. Just Us Little Kids (ages 3-4) offers crafts and story-time activities; Just Us Kids (ages 5-13) has field trips in the morning, beach and pool activities in the afternoon and special events in the evening; and Teens Only (ages 14-17) features dinner and entertainment three evenings a week.

An ideal resort destination for families is the Sheraton Bal Harbour Beach Resort. The Harbour Kid's Club (ages 5-12) is a cornucopia of crafts, games and activities.

Its Attractions

From shopping to theme parks to entertainment complexes, Miami is a place where the fun begins in the morning and continues well into the night.

South Dade offers a more earthy feeling thanks to the environmental splendor of Everglades and Biscayne National Parks. Everglades National Park offers the largest protected subtropical wilderness in the continental U.S. where alligators and crocodiles exist side by side, flowers bloom year-round and canoes glide through a maze of creeks and ponds. Biscayne National Park is made up of 181,500 acres of water, islands and mainland. In the underwater world visitors can observe intricate coral reefs, textured sponges, multi-hued fish and fascinating sea animals.

Additional attractions include Miami Metrozoo, Parrot Jungle, the Homestead Motorsports Complex and Monkey Jungle, guaranteed to delight adults and children alike. Key Biscayne's Miami Seaquarium added the new Water and Dolphin Exploration, which allows one-to-one interaction with the dolphins.

The Streets of Mayfair in Coconut Grove is a luxury hotel, shopping and entertainment complex that contains big name attractions such as The Improv and Planet Hollywood. Owners Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore have been known to hobnob with the crowds.

CocoWalk is a Mediterranean-style open-air mall that bustles both day and night. Young and old gather here to enjoy live flamenco music, comedy shows and superb dining that ranges from hamburger casual to gourmet elegance. Another must-see is the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, a 70-room Italian Renaissance mansion surrounded by 10 acres of formal gardens and finished with European antiques.

Just across the street, explore the wonders of the universe at the Miami Museum of Science and Space Transit Planetarium.

From the neon lights of its sizzling night life to the inviting stretches of white sand beach, Greater Miami and The Beaches is the epitome of urban chic and tropical magnificence. For more information on this leading travel destination, phone the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau at (305) 539-3000 or visit them on the Internet at: www.miamiandbeaches.com.

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Greater Miami: Enjoy Caribbean ambiance in the U.S. with a visit to Miami.

Its Neighborhoods

Its Food

Its Accommodations