Greater Miami

Whether it's the Art Deco delights of America's Riviera – South Beach – or the calmer family-oriented Surfside to the north, Greater Miami and the Beaches is a unique mosaic of cultures, sights and sounds with a unique sense of place – now known as Tropicool™. As one of the world's favorite playgrounds, it offers visitors the cutting edge of urban chic combined with the beauty and splendor of a tropical paradise within a sprawling territory of 30 municipalities with a population of more than two million, nearly half of whom speak Spanish as their native language.

It is perhaps the unparalleled combination of ethnic heritages that mirrors the diversity of peoples that creates this powerful cultural kaleidoscope. No other Florida destination offers a crossroads of arts and culture that has become an attraction for travelers that love world-class theater, music, art and big-name entertainment – not to mention a year-round calendar of fun festivals and events.

The area's laid-back and live-and-let-live attitude makes everyone feel comfortable and capable of finding a slice of this lush, sub-tropical pie that suits their personalities and their pocketbooks.

There is lodging for everyone – from historic Art Deco hotels in the heart of popular South Beach to bed and breakfast inns snuggled amid neighborhoods throughout the area, and even inexpensive lodging for budget or youth travelers. Also, Greater Miami and the Beaches is one of the nation's most popular golfing destinations with some of the best golf resorts including spas guaranteed to pamper even the fussiest guest.

Miami's downtown is booming with growth and activity from the bustling Bayside Marketplace to the Gusman Cultural Center which is home-base for the Miami Film Festival.

Older neighborhoods and ethnic enclaves offer off-the-beaten-path excursions. Coconut Grove has long been a bohemian hang-out which has attracted artists, writers and non-conformists. It remains today an important player in Miami's cultural renaissance. Little Havana and Little Haiti are brimming with immigrant optimism and saturated with Cuban culture, music, and food. The Moorish architecture of Opa-Locka is a stunning inner-city collection of minarets, domes, and horseshoe arches. The waterfront city of Key Biscayne can only be described as an island paradise, and South Dade features must-see spots such as the Everglades, Biscayne National Park, Miami MetroZoo, Parrot Jungle, Monkey Jungle, and more.