Miami
Play all day & night in the sunshine city of Miami, Florida.
Miami is the southernmost city in Florida and although it’s one of the smallest major cities in the US, it’s also one of the most densely populated. The majority of the city is spread along the coastline which is made up of hundreds of islands, the largest of which contains Miami Beach and South beach, the most famous of Miami’s beaches. Miami is known for its year-round warm climate, amazing nightlife and luxury lifestyle and is home to some of the world’s most rich and famous.
The majority of Miami’s sights are quite spread out so it can be quite difficult to negotiate your way around via public transport, particularly if you don’t have much time to explore. Therefore, the best way to explore Miami is by car. You can easily hop from destination to destination by Uber, or if you’d like a little more freedom to explore then its worth renting a car – there are many rental companies at Miami International Airport.
You can’t visit Miami without visiting its famous beaches. Miami and South beach are actually the same stretch of beach (South beach is simply the southern part of Miami Beach) which is on a huge barrier island which sits between Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. South beach is known famously for its gorgeous Art-Deco historic district. Along Ocean Drive you can step back in time and awe at an array of retro pastel coloured buildings with their fluorescent neon signs. This strip is a major entertainment district and is bursting with life day and night, with hundreds of restaurants, shops, hotels and nightclubs.
To get your 21st century art-fix, head over to the warehouse district of Wynwood and walk around Wynwood Walls, one of the worlds largest open-air street art installations. Opened in 2009, this place is an ever-evolving outdoor canvas which has attracted some of the best graffiti and street artists in the world. Though the ‘walls’ are the main attraction, this district is bursting with creativity with many of the surrounding buildings and landmarks transformed into pieces of art. As well as taking in the art, there are plenty of very cool boutiques and amazing bars and restaurants around, so be sure to allow plenty of time when visiting.
CLIMATE
Miami has a tropical monsoon climate, with sun all year round. Summer is long, hot and wet and winter is warm and generally dry. Expect temperatures of around 30 degrees from May through to October, with November through to April a slightly cooler 26 degrees on average. The sea is warm all year round too, and doesn’t drop below 24 degrees.
LANGUAGE
As with the rest of the US, English is the official and most widely spoken language, although Spanish is spoken by around 60% of Miami’s population too.
VOYA FAVOURITE PLACES TO VISIT INCLUDE
Though there is lots to discover in Miami city itself, we recommend heading out of the city for the full experience of Florida. The Florida keys are just an hour or so drive South of Miami and are made up of a string of jaw-dropping tropical islands, famous for scuba diving, snorkelling and boating. The Everglades National Park is another bucket-list destination. It’s just a 30 minute drive from Miami and offers an abundance of wildlife and activities within the 1.5 million acres of wetlands. Take a guided kayak or boat tour for the best chance to spot some of Florida’s spectacular wildlife – from Alligators and Manatees to Pelicans and Eagles. Don’t forget to pack your binoculars!
VOYA FAVOURITE PLACES TO STAY INCLUDE
Be prepared to spend a lot of time swooning over hotels – there are just far too many to choose from! For something affordable and suitably retro, check out Washington Park South Beach which is a stunning Art-Deco hotel which has been lovingly restored. If you’re looking to push the boat out, the Delano South Beach hotel is a very swanky upscale Art-Deco hotel with a rooftop bar… and probably a few celebs, too!
VOYA FAVOURITE DISHES TO TRY
With the island of Cuba just 90 miles from Florida’s coastline, its no surprise to see the food in Miami has a heavy Cuban influence. The most widely available dish is the Cuban sandwich which contains pork, cheese and pickles pressed between delicious toasted Cuban bread – one not to miss! If you’re after something more typically Floridian, the most famous dishes are stone crab which is a local delicacy, and key lime pie if you’re after something sweet. If you’re feeling adventurous, fried alligator tail or ‘gator bites’ can be found on most bar menus… It actually tastes a lot like chicken.
VOYA CAPSULE WARDROBE SUGGESTIONS
