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Miami Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Miami Travel & Tourism, Free Miami Travel Guide Online

Miami Travel Guide: Discount & Cheap Miami Travel & Tourism, Free Miami Travel Guide Online

lthough favored by climate and geography, Miami remained a remote tropical village of frame houses until Henry Flagler installed his East Coast Railway there in 1896 and turned his hand to community development. In fact, the fabulous city of Miami Beach was created out of a mangrove swamp!

Sprawling across 2,054 square miles of land, Miami is a huge and cosmopolitan city. Attracted by year-round warmth and sunshine, thousands of visitors pour into the area with the hope of capturing a little sun and relaxation.

Greater Miami's list of attractions is long and varied, the city really does have something for everyone! Some of the more popular attractions are Viscaya Museum and Gardens, Little Havana, Museum of Science and Space Transit Planetarium, and the Miami Metro Zoo. Biscayne Boulevard is a prime spot for shopping. It features the Bayside Marketplace- a shopping experience in the Tropical style. Shopping is also excellent at the Cocowalk shopping and entertainment complex.

A trip into Everglades National Park is a unique sightseeing experience. Multiple boardwalks lead out over the watery area and signs and displays identify and describe the flora and fauna that you may encounter. At Flamingo there are sightseeing boat trips, and naturalists who conduct nature walks along the shore.

World-famous South Beach, located on the southernmost part of Miami Beach, attracts a colorful mix of visitors to its Art Deco surroundings. Celebrities, artists, and International supermodels have all been found to frequent the trendy boutiques, restaurants and art galleries which make up South Beach.

Miami offers a grand array of activities geared towards enjoyment! Visitors can experience deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, golf,tennis, scuba diving, and of course, swimming and boating. Miami has all the ingredients for one of the best vacations Florida offers.

Miami Attractions: Miami Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Miami Travel & Tourism, Free Miami Travel Guide Online

Parrot Jungle and Gardens
11000 SW 57 Avenue, Miami.
305-666-7834
Admission Charged.
An exotic bird sanctuary, wildlife habitat and botantical garden. Here you will find 100's of varieties of birds and plants. Also, ape exhibits, wildlife shows, and alligators.

Metrozoo
12400 SW 152 Street, Miami.
305-638-6700
Admission Charged.
A giant zoo with more than 250 species and 60 major animal exhibits. The zoo also has a wildlife amphitheater with three shows daily.

Miccosukee Indian Village
US 41 ( Tamiami Trail) West
305-223-8380
Attractions include alligator wrestling, crafts, demonstartions, a small museum highlighting the history of the tribe, and airboats rides. Music and arts festivals are held in July and December.

Museum of Science and Space Transit Planetarium
3280 S. Miami Ave
305-854-4247
The exhibits describing coral reefs and the Everglades are especially enlightening. There is also a participatory science arcade, a wildlife center housing more than 150 live animals, and a natural history collection with cases of fossils and butterflies. Kids love the hands on exhibits and mini-shows. The Planetarium has several daily shows, explaining what's new in the heavens.

Fairchild Tropical Garden
10901 Old Cutler Road, Miami.
305-667-1651
Admission Charged.
An extensive botanical garden with a vast collection of rare tropical plants, a rain forest display, and sunken garden.

Monkey Jungle
4805 SW 216 Street, Miami.
Admission Charged.
See a colony of monkeys living in a topical jungle. Shows are held throughout the day. Shows include Wild Monkey Swimming Pool, Ape Encounter, and Hangin' Wild Orangs.

Historical Museum of South Florida
305-375-1492
The excellent exhibits here chronicle the histories of the various groups that have settled in the region. Numerous displays including a chickee hut, depict Native American Life, while the Spanish exploration period comes alive through the 17th-century maps and a mock fort that kids can climb.

Coral Castle
28655 South Dixie Highway, Homestead.
305-248-6344
Admission Charged.
A coral wonder built by a single man over 30 years. Open daily from 9am to 6pm.

Miami Seaquarium
4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne.
305-361-3705
Admission Charged.
Home to more than 10,000 sea creatures, a killer whale, and dolphin superstar Flipper. South Florida's largest marine aquarium.

Bass Museum of Art
2121 Park Ave.
305-673-7533
Classic Art Deco design, and constructed of Key stone, the exterior of this building is adorned with carved nautical figures and features whimsical touches inspired by traditional Maya architecture. The gems displayed within the museum include works by Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, and Ruebens.

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
3251 South Miami Avenue, Miami.
305-250-9133
An Italian Renaissance style villa built in 1916 by James Deering. Over 10 acres of formal gardens and fountains. The house contains 34 rooms with period furnishings.

Everglades National Park
25 miles west of Miami on the Tamiami Trail.
305-242-7700.
Admission Charged.
A 1.4 million acre park complete with endangered species and many birds and animals. Boats tours are available.

Jungle Queen
Bahia Mar Yacht Basin in Fort Lauderdale on A1A, north of 17th Street Causeway.
Sails to a tropical island for an all-you-can-eat dinner of ribs, shrimp and chicken. The dinner is followed by a variety show and sing-along. Daily sightseeing cruises are also available.

Art Deco District
New and restored buildings, cafes, hotels, carry the facades of bright pink, turquois, and peach gleam in the sun. Take a walk through the Revival-style buildings, many containing eclectic boutiques and art galleries.

Miami Events: Miami Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Miami Travel & Tourism, Free Miami Travel Guide Online

Events

January

FedEx Orange Bowl Classic

Held in early-January

Pro Player Stadium

305-371-4600

Annual college bowl game featuring an entire weekend of fun and excitement culminating in a classic holiday bowl game.

Indian Arts Festival

Held in early-January

305-223-8380

This Miccosukee Indian festival features arts and crafts plus traditional foods.

Art Deco Weekend

Held in mid-January

Hosted along Ocean Drive in South Beach

305-672-2014

A street festival featuring Art Deco displays and tours of the historic district.

Taste of the Grove

Held in m

id-January

Hosted in Coconut Grove

305-284-3603

Each January, area restaurants put on this popular festival with a variety of concerts, children's activities, games, contests & demonstrations by area chefs ensure that everyone is entertained & enlightened.

February

Coconut Grove Art Festival

Held in mid-February

305-447-0401

Showcases artists from all over the country, also food and music.

Miami International Boat Show and Sailboat Show

Held in mid

-February

Find the watercraft of your dreams at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Miami Film Festival

Hosted each year at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts

305-377-3456

The Film Society of Miami shows independent foreign and American films.

Home Design and Remodeling Show

Held in e

arly February

Located in the Coconut Grove Convention Center.

One of Florida's largest collections of the finest in home furniture, accessories, decorating, remodeling, interior design, architecture and many home improvement services.

Doral Open

Doral Golf Resort

305-477-4653

Many say this is the most exciting and fun outing on the PGA Tour. The Doral Ryder Open started in 1962 and continues to draw crowds.

March

Miami Grand Prix

Held in e

arly-March

Hosted at the Homestead Motorsports Complex, approximately one hour from Miami

World famous car race.

Carnival Miami Festival

Held in ea

rly March

305-644-8888

A week of Latin celebrations with food, music, dance, parades and fireworks.

Calle Ocho Open House

Held in e

arly March

Culmination of the festival with a big street party on SW 8th Street, in the heart of the Cuban district.

Ericsson Open

Hosted at

Crandon Park, Key Biscayne.

A top flight tennis championship with all the top names on the professional tour. It's a well-organized event and a favorite among tennis fans.

April

South Beach Film Festival

Held in early-April

Hosted at the Colony Theatre

Eclectic films from around the world are presented each year.

Italian Renaissance Festival

Held at Vizcaya

305-579-2708

Relive the Renaissance period at the beautiful Vizcaya.

May

Great Sunrise Balloon Race

Held the second weekend in May

Hosted at the Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport

305-596-9040

A delightful assortment of hot-air balloons graces the sky each year.

Arabian Nights Festival

Held in e

arly May

Hosted in Opa Locka

305-688-4611

A unique festival hosted each year in the Opa-Locka community.

Coconut Grove Bed Race

Held in m

id-May

Runs from Peacock Park through the streets of Coconut Grove

A hilarious and quite silly race that is a wonderful fund raiser for charities.

Miami International Home & Garden Show

Held in l

ate May

Located in Miami Beach Convention Center

305-666-5944

June

Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival

Held in e

arly June

305-372-9966

Celebration of Bahamian heritage in Coconut Grove.

South Florida Boat Show

Held in mid June

Find the perfect watercraft at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

July

America's Birthday Bash

Held on July 4

Hosted at Bayfront Park

Concert and fireworks display celebrating American independence.

International Mango Festival

Held in early July

Presented by Fairchild Tropical Gardens

305-667-1651

Everglades Music and Crafts Festival

Held in late July

305-223-8380

Native American bands perform, plus crafts and food.

August

Annual Miami Reggae Festival

Held in early

August

Hosted at Bayfront Park.

Top bands come from all over for this annual festival.

September

Miami Home Design & Remodeling Show

Held

Labor Day weekend

305-667-9299

Hosted at the Miami Beach Convention Center

A plethora of products for the home; furniture, accessories, home improvement products, landscaping and services.

Festival Miami

Held in mid September

Hosted at

the University of Miami School of Music

305-284-4940

An annual series of concerts

October

West Indian American Day Carnival Extravaganza

Held in early October

305-435-4845

A Caribbean Mardi Gras.

Caribbean Carnival

Held in early October

305-653-1877

Street Festival complete with costumes, steel bands and parades celebrating the Caribbean. Presented by the Consulate of Trinidad and Tobago.

Hispanic Heritage Festival

Hosted

in different locations throughout Miami-Dade County

305-541-5023

This celebration lasts the whole month and commemorates the discovery of the Americas, and the role Hispanics have played development of the U.S.

Columbus Day Regatta

Held Columbus day weekend

305-573-9592

Hundreds of sailboats from over 15 classes sail from the north end of Biscayne Bay to the southern end and back the following day.

Ramble - A Garden Festival

Hosted at Fairchild Tropical Garden, Miami

305-667-1651

A festival of plants, garden accessories, exhibits, shopping, food, music, & activities for children & adults.

November

Ramble-A Garden Festival

Held in e

arly November

Hosted at Fairchild Tropical Garden

305-667-1651
Annual gardening festival with plants, garden accessories and activities for the whole family.

South Florida Auto Show

Held in early

November

305-947-5950

Hosted at the Miami Beach Convention Center

The latest car models on display for auto enthusiasts at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

South Miami Art Festival

Held in early

November

Hosted along Sunset Drive in South Miami

305-661-1621

Jiffy Lube Miami

Held in mid November

Hosted at the Homestead Motorsports Complex, approximately one hour from Miami

The season-ending NASCAR race.

November Home Show

Held in mid

November

Located in Miami

305-666-5944

Harvest Festival

Held in late November

Hosted at the Fair Expo Center

Craft booths, historical re-enactments, musical entertainment, antique automobiles and more.

Puerto Rican Festival

Held in late November

Hosted at Bayfront Park

Celebrates Puerto Rican cultural heritage.

Miami Lakes Country Holiday and Crafts Show

Held in late November

305-817-4006

Craftsmen from throughout Florida exhibit their work. There's also country and western entertainment.

Annual Winter National Thanksgiving Day Parade

Held on

Thanksgiving Day

Traveling down 125th Street from NE 6th Avenue to NE 12th Avenue

305-893-6511

Participants include walkers, riders, bikers, clowns, beauty queens, bands & floats.

Decembe

Indoor Flea Market

Held in mid December

Hosted at the Miami Beach Convention Center

Claiming to be the world's largest, this event features over 1,000 booths filled with merchandise at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

King Mango Strut

Held in late December

Hosted in Coconut Grove

A light-hearted parody of the Orange Bowl parade down the streets Coconut Grove.

The Nutcracker

Held in late December

Hosted at the Jackie Gleason Theater and other South Florida venues

Performed annually by the Miami City Ballet.

Junior Orange Bowl Festival

305-662-1210

The children's version of the Orange Bowl celebrations. It features arts and crafts shows and sports competitions.

Santa's Enchanted Forest

Held most of December through early

January

Held at Tropical Park

Tropical Park becomes a brightly-lit winter wonderland each season.

Orange Bowl Parade

Held on

December 31

Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami each year.
A Miami tradition since 1939, this themed parade marches down Biscayne Boulevard in downtown Miami.

Big Orange New Year's Eve Celebration

Held on December 31.

Hosted at Bayfront Park

Just like the Times Square Ball Drop, but using a really big orange and with much warmer weather.

Arts and Entertainment

Miami City Ballet

Ophelia & Juan Js Roca Center
2200 Liberty Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139

305-929-7010

The Miami City Ballet has been recognized as among the largest ballet companies in the United States.

Miami Symphony

10300 SW 72nd Street

Miami, FL 33173

305-275-4363

Founded in 1989, The Miami Symphony Orchestra is Dade County's flagship orchestra. Under the leadership of renowned conductors, the orchestra has come to represent the excitement and cultural vitality of the Miami community.

Florida Opera

Arturo di Filippi Educational Center
1200 Coral Way
Miami, FL 33145
800-741-1010

Hours: Monday through Friday 10am-4pm
Summer hours often exclude Fridays

Ensemble consists of the Young Artist Studio and Resident Artists.

Jackie Gleason Theatre

1700 Washington Drive

Miami Beach, FL 33139

305-673-7300

Located adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center

Venue for the Miami Ballet, Broadway Series as well as national recognized performers.

Sports

Florida Marlins

Professional Baseball

Games played at Pro Player Stadium

2267 Dan Marino Blvd.

Miami, Florida 33056

305-623-6100

Call for ticket information

Season runs from April � October

Miami Heat

Professional Basketball

Games played at the American Airlines Arena

601 Biscayne Blvd.

Miami, FL 33132

786-777-1000

Call for ticket information

Season runs October � April

Florida Panthers

Professional Hockey

Games played at the Office Depot Center, located in Sunrise, FL, approximately 45 minutes from Miami.

Office Depot Center

One Panther Parkway

Sunrise, FL 33323

954-835-PUCK

Season runs October � April

Miami Dolphins

Professional Football

Games played at Pro Player Stadium

2267 Dan Marino Blvd.

Miami, Florida 33056

305-623-6100

Call for ticket information

Season runs September � January

Miami Facts: Miami Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Miami Travel & Tourism, Free Miami Travel Guide Online

Population:

362,470

Elevation:

11 feet above sea level

Land Area:

35.7 miles

Location:

Located in the southeastern part of Florida, between Fort Lauderdale and the Florida Keys. Convenient to the Florida Turnpike and Interstate 75 from the west and Interstate 95 from the north.

Time Zone:

Eastern Time Zone (when it's noon in Miami, it's 11am in Chicago and 9am in Los Angeles. Miami observes Daylight Saving Time from April � October.

Weather:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Averagetemp.(�F)

68.9

69.8

73.1

76.1

80.0

82.8

84.3

84.3

83.1

79.6

75.3

70.8

Hightemperature(�F)

76.5

77.2

80.0

83.1

86.6

89.1

90.8

90.8

89.3

85.8

81.5

77.7

Lowtemperature(�F)

61.3

62.4

66.1

69.1

73.3

76.5

77.8

77.7

76.9

73.3

68.9

63.8

Precipitation(in)

2.2

2.2

2.8

3.5

5.7

9.1

6.0

8.4

8.3

6.1

3.6

2.3

Climate:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Dayswithprecip.

7

6

6

6

10

15

16

18

17

14

8

7

Windspeed(mph)

9.5

10.0

10.5

10.5

9.5

8.3

7.9

7.9

8.2

9.2

9.7

9.1

Morninghumidity(%)

84

84

82

79

80

84

83

85

87

86

85

84

Afternoonhumidity(%)

60

58

56

54

58

65

63

65

67

63

62

60

Sunshine(%)

66

68

74

76

72

68

72

71

70

70

67

63

Daysclearofclouds

9

8

9

8

6

3

3

2

2

7

8

9

Partlycloudydays

13

12

14

15

15

14

17

18

15

14

14

13

Cloudydays

9

8

8

7

9

13

11

11

12

10

9

9

Snowfall(in)

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

Local Seasons

Miami is a vibrant, energetic city, alive with a Latin beat any day of the year, particularly when the suns sets. Winter tends to be the busiest time of year when people from the north come to experience the beautiful beaches, swaying palm trees and warm ocean breezes. However, at any time of year, the city is alive with tourists from throughout the world. When summer arrives there is an influx of visitors from both South America as well as Europe, making this truly an international destination. Spring and fall tend to be less crowded and are wonderful for enjoying all the city has to offer with a few less people. With temperatures during this time hovering in the 80's F during the day, and the 70's at night, visitors can work on the perfect tan during the day, and then enjoy a splendid meal while dancing the night away. Whatever the reason for visiting and whatever the time of year, Miami has the season for it.

How to get there:

By Car:

Miami is easily accessible via Interstate 95 from the north (Fort Lauderdale), Interstate 75 from the west (Fort Myers), the Florida Turnpike from the northwest (Orlando), and U.S. Highway 1 from the south (Key West)

By Air:

Miami International Airport

4200 NW 21^st Street

Miami, FL 33142

Located 6 miles west of the city

305-876-7000

The airport is served my many of the worldwide airlines as well as certain regional carriers.

Ground Transportation:

Car Rental:

All of the major car rental companies are located at or near the airport.

Taxis:

Available curbside at the airport

Shuttle:

Super Shuttle is available at the airport

305-871-2000

By Train:

Amtrak

8303 NW 37th Ave
Miami, FL 33147

800-USA-RAIL

By Bus:

Greyhound

4111 NW 27TH ST
Miami, FL 33142

305-871-1810

Getting Around Town:

The easiest way to get around is by either personal or rental car. Rental cars are available throughout the city as well as at the airport. Keep an eye out for signs marked with an orange sun on a blue background. They are designed to assist visitors on the most useful routes to the city's main attractions.

Public Transportation:

Metro-Dade Transit

305-638-6700

Metro trains run on a single line between the northern suburbs and south Miami. Some key stops are Government Center, Coconut Grove, and the University of Miami. Downtown Miami is also circled by the Metromover, a monorail that gives a good view of the city and provides some basic transportation. Metrobuses cover the entire city.

Call for routes, schedules, and additional information

National Holidays:

New Year's Day, January 1

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the third Monday in January

President' Day, the third Monday in February

Memorial Day, the last Monday in May

Independence Day, July 4

Labor Day, the first Monday in September

Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, December 24 and 25

New Year's Eve, December 31

Miami Kids Activities: Miami Travel Guide, Discount & Cheap Miami Travel & Tourism, Free Miami Travel Guide Online

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