The Falls is a stunning shopping venue with more than 100 stores in an outdoor setting with gardens,

Dubbed the “Cruise Ship Capital of the World,” there are many cruises that depart from Miami. Hotels in Miami are equally delightful with a range of options from luxury resorts to intimate bed and breakfasts.  If you re taking a cruise, it s worthwhile to book a few extra days and spend time sightseeing too. If you re not going on a cruise, Miami is one of the hottest destinations in the U.S. thanks to the warm year-round weather, gorgeous beaches, and vibrant culture.
The Airport is on the western side of the city, minutes north of Coral Gables . Doral borders Airport on the west. If you head northeast from Coral Gables, you ll be in Coconut Grove . Above that is West Little Havana. Key Biscayne is an island across from Coconut Grove that s reached by taking the 913 across the water.
Downtown Miami is east of West Little Havana and across the bay from the southern portion of Miami Beach. Sunny Isles Beach and North Miami Beach are across from each other, both north of Miami Beach and Downtown boston car rental Miami. Bal Harbour is at the top of the island containing Miami Beach, just south of Haulover Beach Park and Oleta River State Park.  Hotels and motels are common in the city and cheap hotels in Miami can be found most anywhere.
Getting to Miami isn t difficult. There s the Miami International Airport for incoming and outgoing flights. Before or after your flight, the airport has a shopping boston car rental mall attached, so you ll find it easy to kill time. PortMiami is the destination for cruise ships. If you re driving, the I-95 is the best bet. You will need a SunPass for the tolls.
Take a taxi from the airport boston car rental to the city or to the different destinations within the city. Note that not every taxi is equipped with a credit/debit card reader, so have cash available. There are water taxis that travel between Downtown Miami and Miami Beach.
Trolley service is a fun way to get around Miami and Coral Gables. boston car rental Trolleys are free and have bicycle storage racks. There s also public transportation ( Metrobus boston car rental , Metromover, and Metrorail) that s affordable. Metrobus has over 90 routes, including a trip from the airport to South Beach. Metromover is a free tram service that travels on a 4.4-mile loop in Downtown Miami. Metrorail covers 22 miles from the downtown to Dadeland. The unlimited daily, weekly, or monthly passes are discounted and offer the best flexibility in getting around Miami.
There really isn t a bad time to go to Miami. You will see rain, especially from June to October, boston car rental but the rain simply offers a buffer against the summer s heat. The ocean breezes also offer a bit of respite. In the summer, the temperatures regularly climb past 90 with nights dropping back into the upper-70s. Winter boston car rental months are also warm and sunny. Average highs from November to March are in the upper-70s/low-80s and lows dip back into the 60s. December through March are the driest months with about two inches rain per month.
Miami has dozens of festivals throughout the year. They range from film festivals to celebrations of local cuisine, sports championships to arts and crafts shows. With so many festivals, it s hard to pick the best of the best, but here is a sampling.
Art Basel Miami Beach occurs every December. It s a giant art festival that brings art galleries from around the world together for three days. Event highlights include showcase works of art, architectural presentations, boston car rental films, and music.
Since 1978, Miami has celebrated the Art Deco Historic District boston car rental by hosting an Art Deco Weekend in January. Residents and visitors flock to the historic district to view the art deco buildings, enjoy live music, or view film presentations, parades, outdoor theater, antique car shows, or art shows. Food vendors boston car rental and merchants also set up along the streets.
International Mango Festival celebrates the mango. Culinary boston car rental offerings focus on the use of mango. There are mango trees for sale, mango tastings, boston car rental culinary demonstrations, and plenty of activities for children. The Mango Festival occurs every July.
La Gran Naranja is the biggest featuring during a New Year s Eve celebration in Miami. A giant orange climbs to the top of a hotel ringing in the New Year once it reaches the 400 foot mark. Festivities also take place in Bayfront Park with live music and fireworks.
South Beach Wine Food Festival is a Food Network event that takes place in February. The four-day event focuses on foods and wines from the area, and venues are set up throughout South Beach. In addition, March s Deering Seafood boston car rental Festival is a must if you enjoy seafood.
For families with children, try the family-friendly beaches Crandon Park or Matheson boston car rental Hammock. Crandon Park s beach stretches three miles and is great for children because of the playground area. Matheson Hammock is best because it s in a cove where riptides do not occur. Miami Beach at South Pointe Park has walking paths, boston car rental grassy boston car rental areas for activities, and a small water park.
Haulover Beach Park is the one beach in Miami that the LGBT crowd flocks to. It s a pet-friendly, clothing-optional beach north of South Beach. It spans 1.5 miles with a golf course and areas for kite flying.
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park and Sunny Isles Beach are less crowded. Bill Baggs has both a beach and a historic lighthouse. There are two restaurants at Bill Baggs, so you don t have to bring a picnic with you if you don t want to. In addition, there are bike rentals available. Sunny Isles is best known for its fishing pier.
Miami Beach /North Shore Open Space Park is worth a closer look. There s a bandstand on the beach with free concerts periodically. It s also a dog-friendly beach, so if you brought your pet on your vacation, he can enjoy the ocean too.
Surfers and windsurfers flock to Hobie Beach, also known as Windsurfer Beach, and South Beach. South Beach is the best known beach in Miami. There are cafes, restaurants, and bars nearby, as well as a number of shops. South Beach is usually the beach you ll see on magazines and postcards. If you want a beach that s close to the boardwalk where you can jog, skate, boston car rental or walk, Miami Beach-Central boston car rental is another option.
boston car rental For animal lovers, Monkey Jungle spans 30 acres and has more than 400 monkeys from Africa, Asian, and South America living in replicas of their natural habitats. Zoo Miami is another popular attraction for anyone who want to view wild animals in their natural habitats. Jungle boston car rental Island opened in 1936. It s home to many rare animals, including a liger (lion/tiger cross).
Art Deco Historic District has hundreds of buildings from the 1920s to 1940s that showcase art deco. There are walking tours available through boston car rental the Art Deco Welcome Center, or you can take a self-guided tour.
In 1952, William Randolph Hearst, a newspaper mogul, purchased an 1100s monastery  in Segovia, Spain, and had it brought to Miami and rebuilt. Tours are offered throughout the week, but it s best to call first to make sure they re open.
Vizcaya boston car rental Museum and Gardens is the former winter home of James Deering, a wealthy business man known best for the International Harvester. Today, the home is a museum with antique furnishings and works of art. Also visit the Deering boston car rental Estate, a 444-acre estate boston car rental that s now a preserve that has butterfly hikes, nature tours, and waterways for canoe trips.
Miami s nightlife is noted for being world-class. South Beach is lined with clubs and bars where you can drink, dance, and socialize. Coconut Grove and the CocoWalk are also noted for drawing in all ages. If you re into something different, boston car rental check out some of the area s rooftop bars that host dance parties throughout the day and night. Head to Little Havana for Latin music. Downtown Miami has both indoor and outdoor music venues. There are jazz clubs in Coral Gables.
Bayside Marketplace overlooks Biscayne Bay. There are more than 150 shops that range from big-name retailers to local artisans selling their crafts and handmade jewelry. If you re looking for designer furnishings, antiques, and art galleries, head to the Design District in northern Miami.
Cauley Square Historic Village houses a number of historic cottages that have been resorted and turned into cafes, restaurants, boutiques, and art galleries. The different cottages are connected by garden paths, so you enjoy gorgeous gardens boston car rental while wandering from store to store. It s located off Old Dixie Highway.
The Falls is a stunning shopping venue with more than 100 stores in an outdoor setting with gardens, waterfalls, and covered boston car rental walking paths. There are chain restaurants and stores, as well as kiosk vendors.
Lincoln boston car rental Road runs from Lenox Avenue to Washington Avenue. It s a pedestrian-only area with art galleries, cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating, fashion stores, and excellent places to purchase gifts. Mary Brickell Village is another great choice, especially if you re looking for stores with Latin American flair.
Cuban cuisine is just one of Miami s highlights. Cuban coffee is found in many cafes. When it comes to Cuban foods, there are some you shouldn t miss. Arroz con Pollo is a stew-like dish consisting of chicken and seasonings that s served over rice. The Cuban Sandwich is a popular option that layers ham, pork, Swiss cheese, dill pickles, and yellow mustard in Cuban bread that is then pressed and grilled. Croquetas filled with beef, cheese, chicken, fish, or ham that s breaded and fried. Pastelitos are fried pastries filled with fruits like coconut, guava, or pineapple. Finally, don t overlook fried plantains.
Food trucks are found throughout the city and offer a variety boston car rental of cuisines. There are food trucks that sell hamburgers with a Latin American spin, seafood dishes, and ice creams. On Friday, Tamiami Park becomes home to Food Truck Friday. During boston car rental this event, food trucks line up in one specific spot allowing you to sample a number of foods in one shot. There are other truck rallies throughout the week, and they re always announced through social media.
Miami has four professional sports team