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Located in south Florida, Miami has a rich history and tradition of both intense focus and intense relaxation. From its earliest days as a railroad centre to its major role as a military-focused region during World War II to its modern legacy of fun, sun, and international influences, there is no other city quite like Miami.
One of the most famous places in all of Miami is, of course, Miami Beach. It is actually a small barrier island just off the tip of Miami, connected to the main city by several highways and bridges. For over one hundred years, people have flocked to Miami Beach from all over the world, attracted by its nightlife, shopping, and internationally recognized resorts. It is also home to an active art and music culture, offering visitors yet another opportunity for a memorable vacation.
Miami is also famous for its very large Latin American population, particularly those with a Cuban or Haitian heritage. There is such a large Cuban community, in fact, that the section of Miami known as "Little Havana" is a tremendous tourist destination all its own. Spanish is spoken by a huge percentage of Miami residents, but you may very well encounter French and Portuguese speakers as well.
A visit to Little Havana is very much a visit to an area with an authentic and thriving Latin American culture. There you will find a huge array of restaurants and cafes serving authentic foods, as well as very traditional Cuban coffee shops where you can experience the full potency of Cuban coffee. For those who have never been to Cuba (and that's probably most people), spending some time in Little Havana is likely as close as you can come to the "real thing" without going to Cuba itself.
For a taste of history combined with American ingenuity, look no further than the Ancient Spanish Monastery. This amazing structure was originally built in 1141 in Segovia, Spain, and was disassembled and brought to the U.S. in the 1950's. After languishing in New York for a number of years, two Miami businessmen purchased the monastery and brought it to Miami for reassembly. Today it is a thriving church and a very popular location for weddings of all kinds.
There are plenty of opportunities for exploring the attractions in and around Miami, such as the Miami Seaquarium, the Miami MetroZoo, and Jungle Island, just to name a few. You can even get into the great outdoors without going out of the city, just by visiting Oleta River State Recreation Park. This lush expanse of relaxing outdoors is a terrific place to swim, walk or ride a bike on the many trails, or venture out to a thriving mangrove island complete with native animals and plants.
Miami International Airport is the primary airport serving the area; it is an extremely busy and often congested place because of the tremendous amount of air and cargo traffic that goes through there each day. It is possible to get direct flights from most major European, Asian, and Latin countries, as well as connecting flights from other major U.S. cities.
A very good alternative to consider is Fort Lauderdale International Airport, located about 45 minutes away from Miami. This is a much smaller airport with fewer international flights, but it is also much less crowded and usually costs a great deal less than flying into the larger Miami International Airport. Regardless of which airport you choose, there is a wide array of transportation options for getting into the city, including shuttles, buses, taxis, and the like.
Wiki:- Miami
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