Miami is one of the most famous cities in the United States thanks to its popularity as a vacation destination, it’s fruit and the TV shows made here. It’s a huge city that sprawls north to south for miles. It’s also an idyllic place to live if you love the sun, sea and sand.

There are literally thousands of entertainment options in Miami, so it was difficult to pick just a few to highlight here. However, what follows are what we think every visitor to Miami should see and do while you’re here.

SOUTH BEACH

South Beach is the surf capital of Miami and an amazing place to spend time. It’s typical beach life with beautiful people everywhere, surfers catching waves, volleyball games and rollerblading. Ocean Drive is perfect for cooling down with a cocktail or watching the world go by with a coffee. Great celebrity spotting opportunities too.

OCEAN DRIVE

As well as those bars and cafes, Ocean Drive has some of the best art deco buildings in the country. It also has restaurants and clubs and even the World Erotic Art Museum for the grownups. The Drive leads into the art deco district, which features over 800 buildings that exemplify the era. They really have to be seen to be believed.

LITTLE HAVANA

Our proximity to the Caribbean and Cuba means we get a lot of people from there living and visiting here. One of the results of that is Little Havana. Taste a little bit of Cuba, smoke a cigar, walk the streets and eat amazing food. Many who live here fled Castro and have adopted the Us as their new home while still honoring their roots.

LINCOLN ROAD MALL

Lincoln Road Mall is a great place to shop and is known as the “Fifth Avenue of the South, ” but we just call it The Road. It’s full of boutiques, chain stores, bars, bistros, cafes and restaurants and is a great way to stress your credit card as well as soak up the best of Miami.

VIZCAYA MUSEUM AND GARDENS

The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is an Italian-inspired palace built for James Deering last century. It’s a museum home full of genuine antiques and works of art from the 18^th and 19^th centuries as well as opulent rooms and amazing architecture. If you want to leave the modern world behind for a while, this is the place to do it. You can even get married here!

KEY BISCAYNE

Key Biscayne is calmer, quieter and more beautiful than South Beach and is our choice for getting away from the city for a while. It used to be an exclusive vacation resort but is now open to all. There are stores, restaurants, lovely beaches and two waterfront parks to enjoy while you’re here.

CARNAVAL MIAMI

Carnaval Miami runs for ten days in early March, the city turns Latino as the carnival comes to town. If you’re here during then, you must experience this. There are beauty pageants, concerts, sports matches, food, music, laughter and fun into the early hours. The proceedings culminate in the Calle Ocho, a street party in Little Havana which should be on everyone’s to-do list.