Lodging in a Nutshell |
by Lena Katz, Contributing Writer |
 What image comes to mind when visualizing a "dream vacation?" No matter what your definition is - or if you want a bit of everything - the sprawling metropolis of Miami can provide it for you.
A spring break that feels like something out of a Hollywood movie? A week in a gleaming highrise hotel, where every imaginable service, amenity and luxury is on hand? Or a relaxing retreat in a serene tropical paradise?
Nearly a dozen districts - which are divided into a myriad of neighborhoods - coexist, each possessed of their own distinct lifestyle and flavor. Between the high-energy, high-profile, model-crowded streets of South Beach and the secluded luxury of Key Biscayne, nearly every imaginable kind of vacationer's paradise awaits.
The beaches are world famous: miles of warm aquamarine water, clean white beaches and gorgeous tanned bodies. All kinds of aquatic activities, including sport fishing, scuba-diving and waverunning, can be enjoyed for a price. At night, dozens of bars and clubs offer every kind of indulgence. Relaxed outdoor cocktail bars, authentic live salsa dancebands, and celebrity-packed, high-profile megaclubs are all within blocks of each other.
People who want to don a new outfit for each night out - or travelers who just like to spend money - are invariably pleased with the shopping options in Miami. Twenty malls or major shopping centers exist in the area, including the Bal Harbour Shops, Cocowalk and the Miami International Mall. In addition, dozens of other shopping areas, including Lincoln Road and Collins Avenue, tempt visitors with everything from designer ready-to-wear to funky secondhand furniture.
Dining options are plentiful and diverse. The warm weather tends to whither even the heartiest appetites, so most restaurants offer a large selection of salads, frozen drinks and light grilled dishes. Fresh seafood finds its way onto most menus. Regional restaurants vary from traditional Cuban eateries to trendy establishments that feature nouveau “Floribbean” cuisine.
The high season here is October through January, when tens of thousands of people flee cold winters and take up residence for the season in Miami Beach. Spring break is also a wild time. College kids (and kids at heart) flock to the beaches, ready to find the best party - or if need be, to create it. The beaches are quieter during the stiflingly hot summer months; the best hotel bargains can be found at this time.
One of most remarkable features of this port city is its cultural mix. Although US officials might say that English is still the official first language, more than half the population speaks Spanish. It is extremely common to hear someone rattle off an entire litany in Spanish - only to have them switch to perfect, lyrically accented English a moment later. South Florida is an extremely popular international vacation destination; in addition to Spanish and English, the beaches and bars are abuzz with Italian, French, German and various other languages.
Everyone has a different opinion of Miami. The city first became a famous vacation spot in the 1940s, when entire families came to enjoy the sun, sand and exotic Latin culture. Since then, it has been described as a retirement community, a beach town, a fashion center, Old Cuba West and much more. Remarkably, the city lives up to all of its reputations, consistently shifting to show another side of itself, offer another experience. Top
|
