Attractions
This lively city has more to it than Miami Vice or Horatio's
crime scenes in CSI. With stunning white sand beaches, trendy
shopping malls and a variety of both cultural and historic sites,
Miami offers a wealth of things to see and do; save money and avoid
queues with the Go Miami Card, available throughout the city.
Antique lovers should visit the Vizcaya Villa, built in the
Italian Renaissance style in 1916. The Monastery of St. Bernard de
Clairvaux is the oldest building in the Western Hemisphere;
definitely a 'must see' for history buffs. A romantic, cultural
attraction is Coral Castle, which was apparently hand-carved by a
man experiencing unrequited love. Famous for its marine life,
Miami's Seaquarium is the place to spend time indulging aquatic
curiosity. Also worth exploring, Jungle Island has an exciting
array of wildlife, from parrots and macaws to crocodiles and
penguins.
At the Miami Science Museum, visitors could run into a few
aliens! And collections of rare natural history specimens…
Don't be put off by the exterior of Miami-Dade Cultural Centre; it
houses a plethora of interesting artistic and historic exhibits,
and the Miami Art Museum. Another collection of art and design,
depicting popular culture from 1885 to 1945, is on display at the
Wolfsonian Museum.
This is all made possible by sunny skies and ample public
transport, but avoid hurricane season (June to November) and the
crowds of spring break in March. While in vibrant Miami, with so
many great sightseeing and cultural attractions, there won't
actually be time to catch those TV shows!
Miami Science Museum
Nothing is staid or boring in Miami, least of all its museums.
The Miami Science Museum, north of Coconut Grove, contains more
than 140 exhibits, all designed to be hands-on and interactive,
coupled with live demonstrations and collections of rare natural
history specimens that...
see full detailsMiami Seaquarium
At least a half a day is required to fully enjoy south Florida's
premier attraction. The Seaquarium is world-renowned for its marine
life shows and attractions, including performing killer whales and
television aquatic star and dolphin, Flipper. Another favourite
star is the sea lion...
see full detailsMiami-Dade Cultural Centre
The outwardly unattractive complex of the Miami-Dade Cultural
Centre, in the rather unsavoury area of West Flagler Street, is
worth a visit because it houses a plethora of interesting artistic
and historic exhibits. The Centre contains the Miami Art Museum
(
www.miamiartmuseum.org),
featuring a collection...
see full detailsVizcaya Villa
Lovers of antiques revel in visiting the magnificent 34-room
Vizcaya bayfront villa, built in the Italian Renaissance style in
1916 as a winter retreat for wealthy industrialist, James Deering.
The grand mansion took hundreds of artisans five years to complete,
and the formal gardens,...
see full detailsSpanish Monastery
Miami boasts the oldest building in the Western Hemisphere - but
there is a catch. Dating from 1133 the Monastery of St. Bernard de
Clairvaux in North Miami Beach is a hugely popular tourist
attraction, although not quite indigenous to the area. The
monastery...
see full detailsCoral Castle
Legend has it that unrequited love led a Latvian immigrant to
spend 25 years single-handedly carving a castle out of rock between
the Florida Keys and Miami, on the South Dixie Highway. The amazing
monument to the man's determination has been called America's
Stonehenge...
see full detailsLincoln Road Mall
A pedestrian promenade lined with palm trees and colourful art
deco buildings, Lincoln Road Mall is a great haunt for locals and
foreigners. Once called the 'Fifth Avenue of the South', this
lively seven-block shopping district serves up big name labels like
G.A.P. and...
see full detailsWolfsonian Museum
A vivacious collection of art and design pieces depicting
popular culture from 1885 to 1945, the Wolfsonian is the
amalgamation of a long-term pursuit by eccentric heir and
collector, Mitchell Wolfson Jr. Housed in the original warehouse
used as a storage facility for the...
see full detailsJungle Island
An offshoot of Parrot Jungle, which was established in 1936,
Jungle Island is a new complex offering an exciting array of
wildlife from parrots and macaws to crocodiles and penguins. You
can witness over 200 parrots at the Manu Encounter, the world's
only aviary...
see full details
