| Miami
Beach
Most people come to Miami Beach for its beaches, clubs and bars, and
to witness one of the most spectacular redesigns in modern architectural
history. The Art Deco Historic District, a collection of bright pink,
lavender and turquoise buildings dating from the 1920s, is one of the
largest areas on the US National Register of Historic Places. Its protection
and renovation has been one of the major reasons for the rebirth of
Miami as a top notch tourist destination. The Deco district is in the
heart of funky South Beach (SoBe), the southwestern section of Miami
Beach.
For a city beach, Miami Beach is one of the best around. The water is
clear and warm, the sand relatively white and, best of all, it's wide
enough and long enough to accommodate the throngs. The Promenade is
a Deco-ish, wavy ribbon of concrete at the Beach's westernmost edge.
If you've ever looked at a fashion magazine, you've seen it: it's the
photo shoot site. If you show up early in the morning, you're likely
to see shoots in progress. This is also the hot spot for in-line skaters,
bicyclists, skateboarders, dog walkers and people watchers to mill about
bumping into each other.
Miami Beach has a strong Jewish culture mixed with a dash of Latin flair:
there's even a Cuban-Jewish Congregation. The city's Holocaust Memorial,
in the middle of Miami Beach, was created through the efforts of Miami
Beach Holocaust survivors. It's an elaborate, exquisitely detailed and
moving memorial. Like the Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead that
does not once mention death but rather speaks only of life, the Memorial
is a testament to humankind's perseverance and the hope for a better
world.
Miami Beach is 12 miles (19km) long and attached to the city of Miami,
4 miles (6km) to its west, by a series of causeways.
Little Havana
After the Mariel Boatlift, the section of town to which Cuban exiles
had been gravitating for years blossomed into a distinctly Cuban neighborhood,
now known as Little Havana. Spanish is the predominant language here,
and you'll run into plenty of people who speak no English. The heart
of Little Havana is Calle Ocho (KAH-yeh AW-cho), Spanish for SW 8th
St (actually it's Spanish just for 8th St, but what the hell). The entire
length of Calle Ocho is lined with Cuban shops, cafes, record stores,
pharmacies, and clothing and (most amusing) bridal shops.
But while the wall-of-sound-style speakers set up outside places such
as Power Records are blasting salsa and other Latin music into the street,
Little Havana as a tourist attraction is elusive. It's not concentrated
like a Chinatown; it's actually not really a tourist attraction at all.
It's just a Cuban neighborhood, so except during the occasional street
fair or celebration, you shouldn't expect Tito Puente and Celia Cruz
to be leading colorfully attired, tight-trousered men and scantily-clad
women in a Carnaval parade. You're more likely to see old men playing
dominoes in M?ximo G?mez Park.
Little Havana occupies 10 square blocks, centered on Calle Ocho, southwest
of downtown Miami.
Key Biscayne
South of downtown Miami, along Biscayne Bay's shore, lie a number of
the city's best attractions. They're spread out, but if science and
animals intrigue you, it's definitely worth heading this way.
The Miami Museum of Science & Space Transit Planetarium share a
building at Miami's southern city limit, near the entrance to the Rickenbacker
Causeway, the bridge that connects Miami with Key Biscayne. The Science
Museum has excellent displays on the Everglades and Florida's coral
reef, and its hands-on exhibits are a hit with kids.
Further east, the causeway travels along Virginia Key, home to the excellent
Miami Seaquarium. While the star of the show is Lolita, the 7000-pound
(3150-kg) killer whale, far more impressive is the genuine effort these
folks are making to preserve, protect and explain aquatic life. Case
in point, their Manatee Presentation & Exhibit, where West Indian
manatees are brought after being injured by boat propellers. The manatees
are nursed back to health and some are released. More crowd-pleasing
highlights include the Flipper Dolphin Show and Salty's Sea Scoundrels,
starring Salty the Sea Lion.
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area, at the southern end of
Key Biscayne, offers acres of exotic plants and nature trails bordered
by white-sand beaches. At the park's southern tip is the Cape Florida
Lighthouse, built in 1845. Key Biscayne is 5 miles (8km) southeast of
mainland Miami. |
