GUIDES

Miami Guide

Miami - Out and About

Miami is situated in southern Florida on the Atlantic coast of the USA. The city lies in Biscayne Bay, at the mouth of the river Miami.

Miami was founded in 1870, on the original site of Fort Dallas, constructed during the war with the Seminole Indians. The city began to expand rapidly in 1870, following the construction of the rail link, that joined the city with West Palm Beach. Since this period the city has undergone continuous urban growth, becoming a luxurious city and one of America’s most famous bathing and health resorts.

The city comprises Miami Beach, situated on a 13km long island, at the extreme north of Biscayne Bay and the large suburbs of Coral Gables, Miami Spring and Miami Shore.

The largest concentration of Art-Deco buildings from the 1930’s are to be found on the southern part of the island between the coast and 23rd Street. The area, bordered by the four streets: Ocean Drive, Alton Road, Washington Avenue and Lincoln Road, comprises 800 buildings with original trompe-l’oeil from the 30’s together with other architectural styles, including Mediterranean Revival and Tropical Style. Miami Beach forms a small part of the larger and more complex Miami City, an area that contains a heterogeneous population, consisting mainly of black and Latin-American nationalities, especially Cubans, who live in Little Havan, between Southwest 12th and Southwest 27th Avenue.

The heart of this Cuban district is Calle Ocho, where the shops display Spanish jewellery and crafts and where everything is Cuban, even the hot dogs are called “perros calientes”. The area is bustling with open-air markets, restaurants and live music in the squares.

The North Shore Recreation Area, a beautiful lush park, only a few paces away from the beach, is located 5 miles north of the city. Travelling a further 5 miles will bring the visitor to the Old Spanish Monastery. Dedicated to San Bernadino, the monastery was erected in 1100 in Spanish Segovia and brought here brick by brick to be re-constructed on this site.

Bayside, with its many elegant shops and dance clubs, is located along Biscayne Bay in the city centre.

Coral Gables, considered to be the Beverly Hills of Miami, is a district built almost entirely of coral rock. The site of numerous millionaire’s residences and home to the spectacular Hotel Biltmore, Al Capone’s refuge when he escaped from Chicago.

Artists and writers, whose presence has added a Bohemian touch to the city, are grouped on and around Coconut Grove, where many of the older houses have been constructed using salvaged wood from naval wrecks. Notable examples in this area are: Villa Vizcaya, residence during the 1920’s of the collectionist James Deering and now an interesting museum with splendid garden and the Barnacle, home to the pioneer Ralph Middleton Munro, who resided here at the beginning of the last century.

The Miami Seaquarium, at 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, offers dolphin shows and the possibility of observing a “lamantino”, a species of dolphin with a large, bulbous and somewhat comical nose.

The city possesses a university seat and is home to: an institute for oceanic research, interesting museums ( modern art, history and natural science), a snake house and a racecourse in a magnificent park setting.

The island of Miami beach is crossed length-ways by Collins Avenue. The old hotels, located in this area, have undergone extensive refurbishment during the last ten years and a wooden boardwalk has been constructed along the beach, between 21st and 46th Street, allowing visitors to stroll along the water’s edge.

One of the marvels of Florida are the Keys: a chain of coral islands that initially stretches in an orderly, single file for 240 kilometres, from Key Biscayne to Key West and then continues in a more random manner for a further 110 kilometres to Dry Tortugas. 42 bridges and innumerable pillars planted on the ocean floor, link each of the coral islands and forms a spectacular setting for the road that runs for 240 kilometres to Key West.

Having arrived at Key West, it is recommended to visit the beautiful aquarium and the Fort Zachary Taylor State Historic Site. The best way to move around Miami Beach is by bicycle or moped, both of which can be rented from Miami Beach Cycle (601 Fifth Street) Miami Airport is located 11km from the centre. Various bus companies run services that connect the airport to the centre and the centre to its out-lying districts.

Miami - Not to be missed

The Biscayne National Park, situated south of Miami in Biscayne Bay, comprises 30 small islands, that peek out no more than 2.5metres above the surface of the sea. The bay has an average depth of 2 metres and is home to banks of long- leaf seaweed, which attracts shrimps, crabs and sea-horses.

This under-sea world makes up 95% of the park and is home to the northern most coral banks in our hemisphere. 50 different types of coral have been identified. The more interesting banks are to be found 3-5km to the east, at Elliot Key, marked by blue and white buoys. Other varieties can be seen among the reefs of Elkhorn and Coral Star, while the delicate, purple- fanned coral can be found at Dome Reef. Visitors should start their tour from the Convoy Point Visitor Center, which has a pier stretching for almost 1km out to sea. A private tour operator, based in Convoy Point, organizes boat and diving trips together with a taxi service to Elliot Key, one of the largest islands in the park. The island is home to a variety of tropical vegetation, including mahogany, Jamaican cornel, wild coffee, cinnamon, the strangler fig and many others. Visitors to the island, who are advised to wear mosquito-protective clothing, will find a 7km path, which provides an interesting view of this fascinating Jungle.

The Everglades National Park, founded in 1947, covers and area of 5700 km2 at the southern tip of the Florida peninsula. Numerous animals live within the parks confines including: panthers, alligators, otters, sea-cows, snakes and birds. The area has been classified an International Biosphere and Swamp-land Reserve.

A trip along Anhinga Trail, 6 km from the entrance, is an interesting and exciting adventure. The trail runs past the alligator reserve, where it is also possible to observe various species of heron, including the green-back and blue.

The Ranger station, at Everglades City, is the departure point for short cruises around the mangrove estuary, referred to as Ten Thousand Islands. Numerous companies organise excursions along the Tamiami Trail. The Wilderness Waterway is a 100 mile trip by boat, between Flamingo and Everglades City, which allows the visitor to penetrate the heart of the park.

Miami - Walks and tours

Cape Canaveral, America’s famous space station, is located 220 miles north of Miami. It is linked by a bridge to Merritt Island, a natural oasis and at the same time the site of , NASA Air Force Station and rocket launch site. Kennedy Space Station is located a few miles from the entrance. Here it is possible for the visitor to stroll among the rockets., enter the Shuttle and watch three-dimensional documentaries about space. A guided tour of 2 hours leads the visitor through the various testaments to man’s space exploration.

The other side of Merrit Island is the National Wildlife Refuge, a park created in 1963, which provides a safe exile for the regions birds. The area is extremely interesting for bird-watching fans.

Orlando is situated 200 miles north of Miami and 35 miles west of Cape Canaveral. It is home to three major attractions: Sea World, a marine–biology centre with an enormous aquarium offering seal, sea lion, dolphin and killer whale displays; Universal Studios and Walt Disney World, first opened in 1971 and now the biggest amusement park in the world.

Miami - The traveller's notebook

Currency : The unit of currency is the US$, subdivided into 100 cents.

Electric supply: 110-120 V, 60 Hz.

Climate : The temperature is tropical with a high rate of humidity. The end of summer sees the arrival of hurricanes that can simply result in strong winds or, as happened in 1992 with Hurricane Andrew, devastate the area causing severe damage.

Telephones : Telephone code:. 305

Miami - A pocket guide

National holidays:

New Year’s Day, 1 January Matin Luther King Memorial, third Monday in January G.Washington Birthday, third Monday in February Armed Forces Day, third Saturday in May Memorial Day, last Monday in May Flag Day, 14 June United States of America’s Independence Day, 4 July Labor Day, first Monday in September Columbus Day, second Monday in October Thanksgiving Day, fourth Thursday in November Christmas Day, 25 December

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