AAA Destination Guide: Official AAA maps, expatriates, Cubans and other Hispanic groups, and those with
travel information and top picks Caribbean, European and Asian heritage. You’re as likely to hear
Spanish spoken as English, sip a martini or a mojito, and dine on stone
AAA Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach includes trip-planning crab, arroz con pollo or corned beef on rye.
information covering AAA recommended attractions and restaurants,
exclusive member discounts, maps and more.   Essentials
The appeal of greater Miami goes beyond sun-soaked beaches and a Cruise along oceanfront Collins Avenue, past rows of hotels and condos,
world-renowned climate. The young metropolis also has diverse to Ocean Drive in South Beach, where people-watching is an art form.
neighborhoods and a cultural richness suggestive of older, more Marvel at the sherbet-colored architectural gems in the Art Deco District
established American cities. as you dine, drink or shop in this oh-so-trendy area. South Beach doesn’t
Surprisingly, this popular destination may really come to life, though, until the sun goes down. Then the neon-lit
require some geographic orientation: Few lounges, hip cafes and dance clubs pulsate into the wee hours with jazz,
realize Miami proper, on the mainland, and salsa and pop rhythms. You might even spot a celebrity or two among the
Miami Beach are separate cities. The cosmopolitan, international crowd.
former, while still a vacation spot, is more
business-oriented, with a skyline of Imagine what life was like during the Gilded Age at Vizcaya Museum and
imposing bank towers; the latter’s casual Gardens, the lavish 34-room winter estate of industrialist James Deering.
environment is almost entirely geared to
¡Bienvenidos a Calle Ocho! Welcome to Eighth Street, the main
tourism and its silhouette lined with high-rise
thoroughfare of Little Havana. Immerse yourself in Cuban culture,
hotels and condominiums.
transplanted to South Florida, as you sip a café con leche or shop for
A tropical sun and crystal-hued waters beckon visitors year-round—mom, hand-rolled cigars and the perfect souvenir guayabera.
dad and the kids to build sand castles and frolic in the ocean during
summer, and snowbirds anxious to leave ice scrapers and snow shovels Catch some beach time—you are in Florida, after all! Feel the sand trickle
for a temperate winter. It’s a place where you can wave at cruise ships through your toes, wade into the gentle surf (being careful not to get a
sailing away to Caribbean islands, dine at waterfront restaurants, sleep in mouthful of saltwater) and test your architectural skills with a plastic pail
pastel-colored Art Deco hotels, shop at designer boutiques and catch and shovel. Two favorite nearby beaches are Crandon Park and Bill
exhibits at world-class museums. Baggs Cape Florida State Beach.

This is not a typical Southern city, though, as its location might suggest.
Multicultural Miami has integrated large populations of Northern

1 
Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

Essentials Map Essentials Details - Get additional information on AAA.com;

- GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members
- Exclusive AAA member discounts available

1. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens 4. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

3251 S Miami Ave 10901 Old Cutler Rd
Miami, FL 33129 Coral Gables, FL 33156
Phone: (305) 250-9133 Phone: (305) 667-1651

2. Crandon Park 5. The Holocaust Memorial

4000 Crandon Blvd 1933-1945 Meridian Ave
Key Biscayne, FL 33149 Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: (305) 361-5421 Phone: (305) 538-1663

3. Jungle Island
1111 Parrot Jungle Tr
Miami, FL 33132
Phone: (305) 400-7000

Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com Also south is Biscayne National Park, 95 percent of which is underwater.
If you’re not experienced in scuba diving, snorkeling or kayaking, you can
Squaaawk! You can pose with a parrot, feed a flamingo or mingle with a view its coral reefs and other aquatic wonders on a glass-bottom boat
macaw at Jungle Island. Other residents you’ll want to meet include cute tour.
twin orangutans; an Asian water monitor named Godzilla; and
Crocosaurus, a saltwater crocodile. You won’t be able to tiptoe through the tulips, though you can stroll
through a rainforest and among the palms, bougainvillea, hibiscus, fruits
Cheer on the Dolphins, Heat, Marlins or Hurricanes, depending on what and vines that grow in organized profusion at Fairchild Tropical Botanic
time of year you’re visiting the city (that is, if you can get a ticket). For a Garden.
truly local experience, visit the Miami Jai-Alai Fronton and place a bet on
your favorite player or team. Glide your way through the Miami Metrozoo on a monorail, taking time to
admire the natural habitats where animals native to Africa, Asia and
Steer your car south toward Florida City to the main entrance of Europe live.
Everglades National Park, where trails, boardwalks and tram tours
provide access to hardwood hammocks, swamps, an amazing variety of In a city famous for its diverse cultures and lifestyles, The Holocaust
birdlife and subtropical plants, mangrove forests and sawgrass prairies. Memorial is a fitting reminder of our world’s need for tolerance.

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Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

Essentials Map Miami and Miami Beach in 3 Days

Three days is barely enough time to get to know any major destination.
But AAA travel editors suggest these activities to make the most of your
time in greater Miami.

Before making travel plans, it is important to note that while Miami and
Miami Beach share an enviable location in sunny South Florida, they are
distinct, different cities. Miami, on the mainland, is a multicultural
metropolis with a businesslike demeanor. It is separated from oceanfront,
tourist-oriented Miami Beach by several causeways over Biscayne Bay.
Because of some of the distances involved, you’ll need an automobile to
reach many of the places mentioned below.

Day 1: Morning
Start your stay in Miami Beach with a visit to South Beach. This trendy
hot-spot is as well-known for its restored sherbet-hued Art Deco-inspired
boutique hotels as for its pulsating nightlife. The perfect place to begin is
the Art Deco Welcome Center on Ocean Drive at 10th Street. In addition
to exhibits and a neat gift shop, the center offers a 90-minute self-guiding
audio tour, an enlightening walk that provides historical and architectural
information about Art Deco District gems. Several guided walking tours
also are available.

Now that you’re well-versed in Streamline Moderne, stepped rooflines

Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com
and porthole windows, head across the MacArthur Causeway, admiring
Essentials Details - Get additional information on AAA.com; the palatial mansions on one side and the balcony-bedecked cruise ships
- GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members at the Port of Miami on the other. Your destination is Jungle Island, where
the lush, tropical surroundings are home to exotic, colorful characters
such as macaws, orangutans, lizards and a liger named Hercules.
6. Everglades 7. Biscayne 8. Miami Metrozoo
National Park National Park 12400 SW 152nd St Chance meetings with handlers and their animal charges make terrific
40001 State Hwy 94 9700 SW 328th St Miami, FL 33177 photo ops.
Homestead, FL 33034 Homestead, FL 33033 Phone: (305) 251-0400
Phone: (305) 242-7700 Phone: (305) 230-7275 Afternoon
Make a return trip across the MacArthur Causeway to Miami Beach and
head south. The legendary Joe’s Stone Crab Restaurant is nearby. As
the name suggests, stone crabs are the star attraction and, indeed, the

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Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

Miami and Miami Beach in 3 Days – Day 1 Map restaurant is only open during their season, mid-October to mid-May.
Also, long waits (which are the norm here) are shorter at lunch than at
dinner. Joe’s has been serving these delicacies for close to 90 years, so
come hungry, but save room for a piece of the restaurant’s famous key
lime pie for dessert.

Proceed back into the heart of the Art Deco District to a museum
dedicated to decorative arts created between 1885 and 1945. The
Wolfsonian-Florida International University examines these objects and
how they reflect the societal, technological and political bent of their time.
Not far away, a series of sculptures and a contemplative garden at The
Holocaust Memorial remind visitors of the horror and tragedy of the 6
million Jews persecuted and exterminated by the Nazis 1933-45.

Evening
To complete your day in Miami Beach, plan on having dinner on Lincoln
Road, a 7-block-long, tree-lined pedestrian mall in the northern reaches
Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com of the Art Deco District. One upscale restaurant to consider is Yuca
Restaurant (an acronym for “Young, Urban Cuban-Americans”) for
Day 1 Details - Get additional information on AAA.com; creative, playful presentations of traditional Cuban dishes.
AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds
- GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members You don’t need to travel far to extend your evening activities. Check out
- Exclusive AAA member discounts available
the eclectic array of shops, galleries and boutiques for which Lincoln
Road is known, then move on to one of SoBe’s many clubs for an
1.  Jungle Island 4.  The Holocaust Memorial evening of dancing, merriment and beautiful people watching, perhaps
1111 Parrot Jungle Tr 1933-1945 Meridian Ave
topped off by a nightcap at a fashionable hotel bar or a walk on the
Miami, FL 33132 Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: (305) 400-7000 Phone: (305) 538-1663 beach. You’ll soon understand why this section of Miami Beach is also
known as “America’s Riviera.”

2.  Joe's Stone Crab 5.  Yuca Restaurant Serious partying in South Beach doesn’t begin until late, after 11 for sure,
Restaurant 501 Lincoln Rd
11 Washington Ave Miami Beach, FL 33139 and an evening on the town in this trendy area can be expensive when
Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 532-9822 you factor in parking fees, cover charges and steep drink prices. Lines
Phone: (305) 673-0365 form to get in the more popular clubs (many with over-the-top, gimmicky
3.  The Wolfsonian-Florida themes), and bouncers can be selective. DJs are the norm here; live
International University music is a rarity. If you have a specific place in mind, phone ahead to
1001 Washington Ave make sure it’s still in business or check the Miami Herald’s “Weekend”
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: (305) 531-1001 section; what’s in (or even open) this week, might not be next week. A

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Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

few classy hotel bars to consider are the ultra-sleek Rose Bar at the Point your car to the southeast and cross the Rickenbacker Causeway
Delano Hotel and the swanky red environment of the SkyBar at The (there is a toll eastbound only). Your next destination is the Miami
Shore Club. Seaquarium, home to 1960s TV and movie celebrity Flipper. The likeable
dolphin and an assortment of killer whales, sea lions and other marine
Day 2: Morning mammals gracefully frolic in daily shows. Guests also can see sharks
Today’s activities are concentrated on the western side of Biscayne Bay, being fed and watch a diver hand-feed residents of a 750,000-gallon
in Miami. To begin your day, spend some time on Calle Ocho (S.W. saltwater aquarium.
Eighth Street), Miami’s “Little Havana,” where Spanglish seems to be the
language most commonly heard. Once the hub of Miami’s exile Cuban Return to the mainland and head towards Coconut Grove to the
community, this stretch of Eighth Street between 4th and 27th avenues resplendent winter residence of wealthy Chicago industrialist James
now embraces other Latino nationalities as well. As you walk around a Deering, a founder of the International Harvester Co., who spared no
bit, step into some art galleries and a cigar factory, but be sure to visit a expense in building his 34-room bayfront mansion. Designed to resemble
Calle Ocho landmark, Domino Park, a neighborhood fixture where groups an Italian villa, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is filled with antiques,
of older Cuban men, typically retirees, gather to play dominoes and paintings and sculptures hand-chosen by Deering himself on jaunts to
chess. Europe. The 10 acres of formal gardens surrounding the estate are
equally opulent.
Miami and Miami Beach in 3 Days – Day 2 Map
Day 2 Details - Get additional information on AAA.com;
AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds
- GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members
- Exclusive AAA member discounts available

1. Miami Seaquarium 4. Azul

4400 Rickenbacker Cswy 500 Brickell Key Dr
Miami, FL 33149 Miami, FL 33131
Phone: (305) 361-5705 Phone: (305) 913-8358

5. Mandarin Oriental, Miami

2. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens 500 Brickell Key Dr
3251 S Miami Ave Miami, FL
Miami, FL 33129 Phone: (305) 913-8288
Phone: (305) 250-9133
6. ACQUA
1435 Brickell Ave
Miami, FL 33131
3. Miami Science Museum
Phone: (305) 381-3190
3280 S Miami Ave
Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com Miami, FL 33129
7. Four Seasons Hotel Miami
Phone: (305) 646-4234
1435 Brickell Ave
Miami, FL
Phone: (305) 358-3535

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Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

If you’re traveling with children, a good alternative to one of the above Day 2 Details - Get additional information on AAA.com;
points of interest might be the kid-friendly Miami Science Museum. AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds
Practically across the street from Vizcaya, this Smithsonian affiliate has a - GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members
planetarium, a wildlife center, a natural history collection and quality
8. Las Culebrinas 11. The Biltmore Hotel Coral Gables
traveling exhibits.
in the Grove 1200 Anastasia Ave
2890 SW 27th Ave Coral Gables, FL
Miami and Miami Beach in 3 Days – Day 2 Map Coconut Grove, FL 33133 Phone: (305) 445-1926
Phone: (305) 448-4090
12. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
9. Flanigan's Seafood 10901 Old Cutler Rd
Bar & Grill Coral Gables, FL 33156
2721 Bird Rd Phone: (305) 667-1651
Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Phone: (305) 446-1114
13. Matheson Hammock Park
10. Coral Gables 9610 Old Cutler Rd
Coral Gables, FL 33156
Phone: (305) 665-5475

Afternoon
It’s just a couple of miles to the heart of fashionable Coconut Grove, a
former artists’ colony known for its funky shops, varied restaurant choices
(many of them open-air), marina and nightlife. Take advantage of the
abundance of dining opportunities and stop for a relaxing lunch. Among
the possibilities are Las Culebrinas in the Grove Restaurant for Cuban
and Spanish favorites, and Flanigan’s Seafood Bar & Grill for a juicy
burger or baby back ribs. Serious shoppers will want to check out the
offerings at CocoWalk, a large outdoor shopping complex.

More shopping can be found west of Coconut Grove in Coral Gables,

designed as a planned community in 1925. “The City Beautiful,” as it calls
itself, features tree-lined streets; Mediterranean Revival architecture; The
Biltmore Hotel Coral Gables, an elegant, posh treasure of a hotel; and the
University of Miami. The aforementioned shopping takes place at Miracle
Mile, a downtown enclave of elegant stores, galleries, restaurants and
theaters, and at The Village of Merrick Park, a decidedly chichi center
where shopaholics can max out their credit cards at the likes of Ann
Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com

6 
Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

Taylor, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Tiffany & Miami and Miami Beach in 3 Days – Day 3 Map
Co.

If you can tear yourself away from shopping, nature awaits. Fairchild
Tropical Botanic Garden and Matheson Hammock Park are next to each
other on Old Cutler Road, a scenic connector between Coconut Grove
and Coral Gables. Stately homes and a majestic canopy of huge, very old
and otherworldly banyan trees make this a particularly picturesque drive.
Trams transport visitors through the rare tropical foliage the beautifully
landscaped garden is known for. Don’t miss the palm and cycad
collections, said to be among the world’s finest. If you’re ready for a quick
break, Matheson Hammock Park is the perfect spot. The park’s shallow
manmade lagoon is ideal for a quick splash, and shady trails are just right
for a relaxing stroll.

Evening
Return to your hotel to freshen up for a night on the town in downtown
Miami. The signature restaurants in two sumptuous lodgings—Azul in the
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Mandarin Oriental, Miami on Brickell Key and Acqua in the Four Seasons
Hotel Miami—define a romantic evening. The former shines with its open
kitchen and Mediterranean/Asian fusion cuisine and the latter blends the
Day 3 Details - Get additional information on AAA.com;
best of Italian and Caribbean influences.
AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds
After-dinner indulgences might include a walk through nearby Bayfront - GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members
Park, a popular site for concerts and special events, or an after-dinner 1. Crandon Park 3. Flamingo Visitor Center
drink at Bayside Marketplace. If you’re so inclined, take in a performance 4000 Crandon Blvd 1 Flamingo Lodge Hwy
in the Mediterranean courtyard splendor of the Gusman Center for the Key Biscayne, FL 33149 Flamingo, FL 33034
Phone: (305) 361-5421 Phone: (239) 695-2945
Performing Arts or, if the Heat are in town, watch Dwyane Wade crash
the boards at the American Airlines Arena. Or catch a Dolphins or Marlins 2. Miami Metrozoo 4. Monkey Jungle
game at Land Shark Stadium (Dolphin Stadium) north of Miami in Miami 12400 SW 152nd St 14805 SW 216th St
Miami, FL 33177 Miami, FL 33170
Gardens depending on the season. Phone: (305) 251-0400 Phone: (305) 235-1611

Day 3: Morning 5. Tropical Chinese Restaurant

You’re in Miami, so beach time is a requisite. Two of the best are on Key 7991 Bird Rd (SW 40th St)
Miami, FL 33155
Biscayne (across the Rickenbacker Causeway), and both are perennially Phone: (305) 262-7576
listed on “best beaches” lists. Family-friendly Crandon Park has 2 miles of
sandy beach and calm water protected by an offshore sandbar. Bill

7 
Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

Miami and Miami Beach in 3 Days – Day 3 Map Day 3 Details - Get additional information on AAA.com;
AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds

6. Everglades National Park 10. Rosita's Restaurante

40001 State Hwy 94 199 W Palm Dr
Homestead, FL 33034 Florida City, FL 33034
Phone: (305) 242-7700 Phone: (305) 246-3114

7.  Florida City 11.  Ernest Coe Visitor Center

40001 SR 9336
8. The Capri Restaurant Homestead, FL 33034
935 N Krome Ave Phone: (305) 242-7700
Florida City, FL 33030
Phone: (305) 247-1544 12.  Everglades Alligator Farm
40351 SW 192nd Ave
9.  Mutineer Restaurant Florida City, FL 33034
11 SE 1st Ave Phone: (305) 247-2628
Florida City, FL 33034
Phone: (305) 245-3377 13. Homestead

Make an orientation stop at the park’s main visitor center, the Ernest Coe
Visitor Center in Homestead. From there, a 38-mile road heads south
Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com
through the park to the Flamingo Visitor Center, providing opportunities to
stop and explore this subtropical wilderness that protects many
Baggs Cape Florida State Park not only has a pristine Atlantic Ocean
endangered plants and animals. Boardwalks, nature trails and overlooks
beach but also an 1846 lighthouse and keeper’s cottage. You’ll find the
may afford glimpses of alligators, egrets and native plants.
beaches far less crowded on weekdays.
As you head back toward Miami, two other nature-themed attractions
Change into dry clothes and get ready for a drive. Head southwest to
merit consideration. In addition to an airboat ride into the Everglades, a
Miami Metrozoo, where the animals live in cageless settings reminiscent
stop at Everglades Alligator Farm in Florida City also gives guests a
of their natural habitats. Trams and an air-conditioned monorail provide
chance to see a variety of gators and crocodiles and hold some of their
an easy way to meet the residents.
offspring. The phrase “run of the jungle” takes on new meaning at
Afternoon Monkey Jungle, where close to 400 primates actually do roam free.
Mother Nature could be considered the theme for this day. After the Visitors can observe the chattering creatures from screened walkways.
beach and the zoo, continue heading southwest to Everglades National
Evening
Park. Just before the entrance to the park at Florida City are several
If hunger pangs strike on the drive back to your hotel, pull into the parking
lunch spots to choose from: The Capri Restaurant offers Italian favorites,
lot of the establishment many locals consider to have the area’s best
the nautical-themed Mutineer Restaurant features seafood and Mexican
Chinese food. Tropical Chinese Restaurant, in an unassuming strip
specialties are on the menu at Rosita’s Restaurante.

8 
Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

shopping center, draws crowds for its Sunday dim sum selections, though The quietly elegant Azul, the signature restaurant in the stunning
the regular menu also has its devoted followers. Mandarin Oriental, Miami, features an open kitchen and ceiling-high
windows with spectacular views of Biscayne Bay. The inspiration for its
For a truly Miami experience, watch the high-speed action at what is said
artistic fusion cuisine comes from the Mediterranean and Asia. Among
to be the world’s fastest ball game—jai alai. Games are played Friday
the menu choices are several meat and seafood entrees with multiple
and Saturday evenings (as well as matinees during the week) at the
preparation styles on one plate. A wine list with world-class selections
Miami Jai-Alai Fronton. Bet on your favorites and learn some new terms:
a fronton is the arena in which the game takes place, and a cesta is the complements the menu options.
wicker basket the player uses to catch and throw the ball, which is called
At Acqua, on the seventh floor of the towering Four Seasons Hotel Miami,
a pelota.
guests have a choice of dining either indoors or outside on a terrace
overlooking the pool. Choosing the latter option in the evening provides
Restaurants expansive views of the twinkling lights of Biscayne Bay. The menu, which
leans heavily towards dishes from Northern Italy, is especially notable for
Restaurants throughout Miami wisely take advantage of the abundance
its seafood, pasta and the chef’s divine risottos, though many dishes
of fresh, locally grown (and freshly caught) ingredients and the diverse
cuisines of the city’s international population, blending components of Restaurants Details - Get additional information on AAA.com;
each in creative, innovative ways. AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds

Restaurants Map 1.Azul 5. Tropical Chinese Restaurant

500 Brickell Key Dr 7991 Bird Rd (SW 40th St)
Miami, FL 33131 Miami, FL 33155
Phone: (305) 913-8358 Phone: (305) 262-7576

2. ACQUA 6. Palme d'Or

1435 Brickell Ave 1200 Anastasia Ave
Miami, FL 33131 Coral Gables, FL 33134
Phone: (305) 381-3190 Phone: (305) 913-3201

3. Islas Canarias 7. Las Culebrinas in the Grove

Restaurant 2890 SW 27th Ave
285 NW 27th Ave Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Miami, FL 33125 Phone: (305) 448-4090
Phone: (305) 649-0440
8. Flanigan's Seafood Bar & Grill
4. Casa Juancho 2721 Bird Rd
Restaurant Coconut Grove, FL 33133
2436 SW 8th St Phone: (305) 446-1114
Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com Miami, FL 33135
Phone: (305) 642-2452 9. Baleen Miami
4 Grove Isle Dr
Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Phone: (305) 857-5007

9 
Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

feature sauces flavored with Caribbean fruits and spices. The food’s Restaurants Map
artistic presentation harmonizes with the restaurant’s attentive service
and comfortable ambience. An extensive wine selection allows for expert
pairing of food and drink.

For dishes with a Latin flavor, especially traditional Cuban cuisine or

dishes reminiscent of Spain, choose from this duo of restaurants in Little
Havana. In a small shopping center, Islas Canarias Restaurant is a local
favorite. Decorated with a few pictures of the Cuban countryside, this
unpretentious, family-style eatery is known for its authentic Cuban
cooking. And although the name is a reference to the Canary Islands, the
homeland of the restaurant’s owner, the menu items—baked lamb,
chorizos, and black beans and rice—are straight from Havana.

The warm colors of the brick walls and the wood-beamed ceiling, pottery,
artwork and strolling troubadours are as evocative of Spain as the cuisine
at Casa Juancho Restaurant. The restaurant’s tapas menu, with more
than 30 choices, serves as a prelude to the regular menu, which features
fresh fish prepared Spanish style, aged Black Angus beef and, for
dessert, crema Catalana, a custard dish with a crunchy, caramelized
coating. The restaurant is known for its rare Armagnacs, Spanish
brandies and large selection of wines from Spain.

Several miles southwest, off the main road in a small strip shopping
center, is Tropical Chinese Restaurant, which many regard as Miami’s Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com

finest Chinese dining experience. Finding the restaurant the first time
might be a little difficult, but once there you will be rewarded with a Restaurants Details - Get additional information on AAA.com;
sumptuous Hong Kong-style meal. The comprehensive menu at this AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds
elegantly simple establishment accommodates connoisseurs of Chinese
10. Yuca Restaurant 11. Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant
food as well as those who prefer traditional American fare. Be 501 Lincoln Rd 11 Washington Ave
adventurous and try the braised sea cucumber with spicy sauce or Miami Beach, FL 33139 Miami Beach, FL 33139
indulge in the shredded chicken with shark fin soup or the popular black Phone: (305) 532-9822 Phone: (305) 673-0365
bean lobster. The 54 items on the dim sum menu are sure to tempt. An
open kitchen allows diners to view the chefs in action.

Tucked away in Coral Gables’ historic 1926 The Biltmore Hotel Coral
Gables is a dining jewel, the Palme d’Or, recognized for its gracious

10 
Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

service, Old World elegance and refined bill of fare. The intimate dining places throughout the dining room, and one of the restaurant’s signature
room, opulently adorned with crystal chandeliers, features “Modern dishes is its warm and steaming monkey bread. More traditional menu
French” cuisine as created by chef Philippe Ruiz. Guests can design their offerings are highlighted by superb meat dishes and fresh seafood whose
own tasting menu by selecting items from the diverse à la carte listings. sauces use island fruits and spices to incorporate Caribbean flavors.
Favorites include a foie gras terrine, pan-seared Dover sole and braised Other favorites include the chef’s rendition of lobster bisque and an Asian
7 hour beef. Cheese enthusiasts will be delighted with the tableside cart bouillabaisse.
bearing an extensive selection from around the world.
In addition to its lively nightlife scene and oh-so-trendy hotels, South
If nearby Coconut Grove is your destination, here are three restaurants Beach also has its share of excellent restaurants. Yuca Restaurant
worthy of consideration. With a mix of Spanish and Cuban food, Las (pronounced YOO-ka) on South Beach’s fashionable Lincoln Road
Culebrinas in the Grove Restaurant is an affordable option in this Pedestrian Mall is a play-on-word acronym for “Young Urban Cuban-
sometimes pricey area. The eatery’s hacienda-style interior exudes a Americans.” The restaurant, which is said to have originated the Nuevo
warm décor with faux-finished walls and Spanish pottery and artwork. Latino style of cooking, features playfully innovative Cuban pork, chicken,
The cordial wait staff will guide you through the menu, which offers an beef and seafood dishes. Those lucky enough to snag a seat by one of
array of Spanish favorites such as calamari, sausages prepared several the large picture windows or on the sidewalk patio can indulge in a bit of
ways, traditional Cuban pork and chicken entrees, and a variety of flans people watching.
for those who have room for dessert. A cozy lounge and bar area is
upstairs. You can’t visit Miami without having a meal at the legendary Joe’s Stone
Crab Restaurant, a South Beach fixture since 1913. At the very southern
Expect to be treated like one of the locals at Flanigan’s Seafood Bar & end of Miami Beach, this institution has been serving stone crabs since
Grill, where the atmosphere is as casual as the artwork. The restaurant’s 1921. Joe didn’t discover the delectable little rascals, but he certainly put
walls are covered with scores of pictures of fishermen with their them on the map (or menu, in this case). As you would assume, this is a
tournament-winning catches as well as snapshots of the owner and his popular place and waits are to be expected. Reservations aren’t
friends. This is the place to watch the game on TV, grab a bite and enjoy accepted, though, so get there early and relax in the lounge or courtyard
a cold brew. The baby back ribs can’t be beat, but you also can choose until your name is called. Then put on a bib and enjoy Joe’s signature
from huge burgers, fish sandwiches and pasta dishes, though locals love dish brought to you on trays by tuxedo-clad waiters. If you prefer, steaks,
the just-off-the-boat fresh fish of the day. Flanigan’s can be found chops and chicken also are available, but you must end your meal with a
throughout the South Florida area. slice of Joe’s key lime pie.

For a more upscale Coconut Grove experience, make a reservation at Attractions

Baleen Miami, one of the area’s most romantic dining retreats. Guests
may choose to dine outdoors under the stars with spectacular waterfront In a city with dozens of attractions, you may have trouble deciding where
views of Miami or inside under seductive golden lighting where secluded to spend your time. Here are the highlights for this destination, as chosen
booths guarantee privacy. The restaurant doesn’t take itself too seriously, by AAA editors. GEMs are “Great Experiences for Members.”
however, as evidenced by its whimsical monkey theme: Diners may find
the animals hanging discreetly from sconces and other unexpected Lush, tropical south Florida seems a “natural” for points of interest such
as the AAA GEM attractions Jungle Island and Miami Metrozoo. In

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Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

Attractions Map Attractions Details - Get additional information on AAA.com;

- GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members
- Exclusive AAA member discounts available

1. Jungle Island 9. Miami-Dade Cultural Center

1111 Parrot Jungle Tr 101 W Flagler St
Miami, FL 33132 Miami, FL 33130
Phone: (305) 400-7000

10. Historical Museum of

2. Miami Seaquarium Southern Florida
4400 Rickenbacker Cswy 101 W Flagler St
Miami, FL 33149 Miami, FL 33130
Phone: (305) 361-5705 Phone: (305) 375-1492

3. Crandon Park 11. Main Library of the Miami-Dade

4000 Crandon Blvd Public Library System
Key Biscayne, FL 33149 101 W Flagler St
Phone: (305) 361-5421 Miami, FL 33130
Phone: (305) 375-2665
4. Matheson Hammock Park
9610 Old Cutler Rd 12. Miami Science Museum
Coral Gables, FL 33156 3280 S Miami Ave
Phone: (305) 665-5475 Miami, FL 33129
Phone: (305) 646-4234
5. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
10901 Old Cutler Rd
Coral Gables, FL 33156 13. Ancient Spanish Monastery
Phone: (305) 667-1651 16711 W Dixie Hwy
North Miami Beach, FL 33160
Phone: (305) 945-1461
6. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
3251 S Miami Ave 14. The Barnacle Historic State Park
Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com Miami, FL 33129 3485 Main Hwy
Phone: (305) 250-9133 Coconut Grove, FL 33133
addition to the rainbow-hued birds that are part of its name, cockatoos Phone: (305) 442-6866
and macaws join collections of primates and reptiles at the former 7. The Wolfsonian-Florida 15. The Holocaust Memorial
attraction as the star performers of stage shows in venues such as the International University 1933-1945 Meridian Ave
1001 Washington Ave Miami Beach, FL 33139
Parrot Bowl. At Miami’s zoo, the animals live in open-air, cageless Phone: (305) 538-1663
Miami Beach, FL 33139
settings designed to resemble their natural habitats. If Florida’s typically Phone: (305) 531-1001
muggy weather proves too much, visitors can see the zoo’s residents
8. Miami Art Museum 16. Island Queen Cruises
from an air-conditioned monorail. 101 W Flagler St 401 Biscayne Blvd
Miami, FL 33130 Miami, FL 33132
Phone: (305) 375-3000 Phone: (305) 379-5119

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Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

In addition to a parrot jungle, you also can find a Monkey Jungle in Miami. If you have time for a slightly longer side trip, another nearby national
Since the 1930s hundreds of monkeys have roamed free here, swinging park is well worth the excursion to explore the state’s amazing and
and chattering away as visitors meander through the park, observing the shrinking natural ecology. The main entrance to Everglades National
creatures’ antics from protective screened walkways. Experience another Park, a AAA GEM attraction, is about 45 miles from downtown Miami, just
up-close-and-personal look at nature at Everglades Alligator Farm, south outside Florida City. An escape from urban south Florida, this is the
of Miami in Florida City, where your admission includes an airboat ride nation’s largest remaining subtropical wilderness, sheltering many
into the Everglades as well as alligator shows and feedings and a chance threatened or endangered plants and animals. Essentially a slow-moving
to bring back a souvenir photo featuring you and a cuddly infant gator or freshwater river fed by Lake Okeechobee, the park is a labyrinth of
snake. Marine mammals are the focus at Miami Seaquarium, a AAA GEM mangrove waterways and saw grass marsh dotted with hammocks and
attraction on Biscayne Bay and a Miami fixture since 1955. This is the salt prairies. The best way to see this fragile area is by following the 38-
home of television star Flipper and his dolphin, whale and sea lion mile road from the Ernest Coe Visitor Center at the park’s entrance to the
friends, who cavort in shows presented throughout the day. Flamingo Visitor Center; elevated boardwalks and well-marked trails
along the way provide an opportunity to see more of the park’s interior.
The subtropical outdoors can also be appreciated at several nearby parks
and gardens. Over the Rickenbacker Causeway on the barrier island of While you might not want to venture as far afield as Key West, it’s difficult
Key Biscayne is Crandon Park, whose 2-mile expanse of white sand is to resist visiting at least one of the closest of Florida’s Keys. US 1, the
consistently ranked among the nation’s best beaches. Bring a picnic Overseas Highway, links the mainland and Key Largo, where you’ll find
lunch and spend the day, or check out the park’s nature preserve, tennis John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. An easy way to view the reefs
center or golf course. Coral Gables’ contribution is Matheson Hammock and their brilliantly colored marine life is on a glass-bottom boat trip, or
Park, on the shore of Biscayne Bay. The park is known for its manmade you could opt to snorkel or scuba dive for a closer view.
swimming lagoon and nature trails through a hardwood hammock and
thickets of mangrove trees. You won’t have far to drive to get to Fairchild There’s also plenty to do indoors in Miami. Sneaking a peek into the
Tropical Botanic Garden; a AAA GEM attraction it’s conveniently next to lifestyles of the rich and famous is always a guilty pleasure. Wealthy
Matheson Hammock Park. With 83 beautifully landscaped acres of rare industrialist brothers James and Charles Deering, heirs to the
palms, exotic plants, flowering vines, lily ponds, tropical fruits, lakes, International Harvester fortune, both established winter homes in Miami
cycads and a rain forest, the gloriously colorful garden is a treat to in the early 20th century. The two residences are now AAA GEM
behold. A narrated tram tour is a great way to understand the scope of attractions.
the garden.
James Deering built his bayfront retreat, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens,
Imagine having a national park practically in your backyard. That’s the to resemble a centuries-old Italian estate. Its 34 rooms are lavishly
case with Biscayne National Park, which is only 9 miles east of appointed with antiques and objets d’art carefully selected by Deering on
Homestead. Since 95 percent of the pristine park consists of water, a multiple trips to Europe. Statuary and fountains enhance the 10 acres of
boat is necessary to see just about anything other than the visitor center. formal gardens. Charles Deering bought, rather than built, his waterfront
Not to worry, though. Glass-bottom boat tours and scuba and snorkeling estate, then remodeled the two existing buildings and added an
expeditions start from the visitor center, which also has exhibits about the impressive Mediterranean Revival stone mansion to house his impressive
park’s four ecosystems: bay, coral reef, keys and mangrove forest. collection of paintings, tapestries and furniture. His property, the Deering

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Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

Estate at Cutler, is now managed by the Miami-Dade County Park and The Miami Art Museum, one of the three components of the AAA GEM
Recreation Department and is used for education and recreation. The attraction Miami-Dade Cultural Center, is known for its collection of 20th-
450-acre grounds also include an archeological site, an Indian burial and 21st-century works by the culturally diverse artists who call Miami
mound, hardwood hammocks, a mangrove forest and nature and canoe home and for the comprehensive traveling exhibits it mounts. The
tours. Historical Museum of Southern Florida, another part of the complex,
explores the culture of south Florida and the Caribbean from a historical
In a renovated Art Deco District warehouse built in the same time frame perspective. The museum’s permanent exhibit, Tropical Dreams: A
as the Deerings’ homes, The Wolfsonian-Florida International University People’s History of South Florida, chronicles 10,000 years using
art museum focuses on objects created between 1885 and 1945, mainly interactive displays, audiovisual presentations and hundreds of artifacts.
in North America and Europe. The museum interprets these items—glass The final element of the center is the Main Library of the Miami-Dade
pieces, metalwork, textiles, fine art, furniture, rare books and postcards, Public Library System which, in addition to cataloging important
to mention just a few—based on how they reflect contemporary culture
and how that culture shaped their design. Attractions Details - Get additional information on AAA.com;
AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds
Attractions Map - GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members
- Exclusive AAA member discounts available

17. Miami Metrozoo

12400 SW 152nd St 22. Ernest Coe Visitor Center
Miami, FL 33177 40001 SR 9336
Phone: (305) 251-0400 Homestead, FL 33034
Phone: (305) 242-7700

18. Monkey Jungle 23. Flamingo Visitor Center

14805 SW 216th St 1 Flamingo Lodge Hwy
Miami, FL 33170 Flamingo, FL 33034
Phone: (305) 235-1611 Phone: (239) 695-2945

19. Everglades Alligator Farm 24. John Pennekamp

40351 SW 192nd Ave Coral Reef State Park
Florida City, FL 33034 US 1, Milepost 102.5
Phone: (305) 247-2628 Key Largo, FL 33037
Phone: (305) 451-1202
20. Biscayne National Park
9700 SW 328th St 25. Deering Estate at Cutler
Homestead, FL 33033-5634 16701 SW 72nd Ave
Phone: (305) 230-7275 Miami, FL 33157
Phone: (305) 235-1668
Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com 21. Everglades National Park
40001 State Hwy 94
Homestead, FL 33034
Phone: (305) 242-7700

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Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

documents and books, contributes photographs and prints that further Not quite as old, The Barnacle Historic State Park in Coconut Grove
document local history. The Mediterranean-style cultural center was contains the home built in stages 1890-1928 by early pioneer and yacht
designed around an elevated plaza by noted architect Philip Johnson. designer Commodore Ralph Munroe. The site is still surrounded by a
hammock of native pines, trees and subtropical plants, just as it was
The Miami Science Museum, an affiliate of Washington, D.C.’s, when Munroe developed a craft that would skim the shallow waters of the
venerable Smithsonian Institution, offers visitors a chance to experience coastal shoals and reefs. Munroe’s home, topped with a barnacle-shaped
an Indiana Jones-style trek through Latin America and the Caribbean. roof, contains many family possessions; his boathouse, where he
The museum’s permanent exhibit takes intrepid adventurers through designed and built his boats, also can be seen.
jungles and the tomb of a Mayan king to discover archeological artifacts
related to the natural and cultural history of the Americas. At the The focal point of The Holocaust Memorial, a AAA GEM attraction, is a
complex’s planetarium, star shows and laser rock and multimedia 42-foot-high bronze forearm reaching toward the sky, as if grasping for
presentations educate guests about astronomy and the night sky. Injured life. Nearly 100 anguished figures can be seen clinging desperately to the
birds of prey, many of whom cannot be released back into the wild, have sculpture, which is tattooed with a number from the Auschwitz
a home at the attraction’s outdoor concentration camp. The museum, conceived by a small group of Miami
rehabilitation facility and wildlife center. Holocaust survivors to commemorate the 6 million Jews who perished at
the hands of Nazi Germany, was designed as a series of outdoor spaces,
Two very different nearby historical sites which also include an eternal flame and black granite panels etched with
are well-worth a short drive. The older, and victims’ names. Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel was
certainly more traveled of the two, is the the guest speaker at the memorial’s dedication.
Ancient Spanish Monastery, or, to use its
official name, The Ancient Monastery St. If you prefer to avoid unwieldy maps and missed interstate exits yet still
Bernard de Clairvaux. It’s probably a safe see Miami’s highlights, consider a relaxing narrated sightseeing
assumption that most monasteries remain excursion offered by Island Queen Cruises. Keep your camera handy as
at the location where they were built. Not so you sail along Biscayne Bay. You’ll be able to create memories for your
scrapbook from either an enclosed, air-conditioned salon or topside
in this case. The saga begins in Segovia,
where you can enjoy the sun and ocean breeze as your yacht cruises
Spain, where the monastery was completed
past the scenic downtown Miami skyline; the Port of Miami; and
in 1141; for almost 7 centuries it was
Millionaire’s Row, where celebrities live the good life in their palatial
occupied by Cistercian monks. After a period as a granary and stable, the
estates on Star and Fisher islands.
cloisters and other buildings were purchased in 1925 by publishing
magnate William Randolph Hearst, disassembled and shipped to the
United States for use at his San Simeon, Calif., estate. Instead, the
11,000 crates ended up in Brooklyn, N.Y., where they remained in
storage until they were sold to Miami developers in 1952. Now a North
Miami Beach Episcopal church, the former monastery has displays of
furniture and art and is a popular venue for weddings.

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Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

Events day AAA GEM event, held at the Miami Beach Convention Center, brings
together more than 2,300 manufacturers of boats, engines and boat-
In addition to its many cultural and historic landmarks, this destination related accessories and a quarter of a million aficionados—a match made
hosts a number of outstanding festivals and events that may coincide in heaven, so to speak. Whether you’re ready to buy or are just window
with your visit. GEMs are “Great Experiences for Members.” shopping, you can find anything from personal watercraft to luxury
yachts. If you prefer your boat to have sails, head to the show’s Strictly-
South Florida’s guarantee of year-round warm, sunny days makes Miami Sail Miami at Miamarina at Bayside.
a natural for festivals of all types. Football fanatics start the year off right
(especially if their team wins!) at the FedEx Orange Bowl, an early Slightly later in the month, the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, held in the
January clash between two of the nation’s tropical, eclectic village of the same name, is not only a AAA GEM event
top-ranked collegiate teams. Being part of the but one of the nation’s leading outdoor art festivals. Known for its trendy
Bowl Championship Series guarantees fans a shopping and entertainment district, the Grove is the perfect setting for
top-notch match-up, in addition to a high- this 3-day affair featuring the works of more than 330 of the country’s
energy half-time spectacular. The contest’s premier artists and craftsmen. Art lovers can mingle with vendors while
name is somewhat of a misnomer, though, as admiring their paintings; jewelry and metalwork; sculptures; photography;
the game moved north from Miami’s venerable Orange Bowl to Land and glass, fiber, clay and wood works.
Shark Stadium (Dolphin Stadium) in 1996. The bowl game is a AAA GEM
event. It takes 2 weeks in March to celebrate Carnaval Miami, a Hispanic
extravaganza drawing revelers from around the world. Held mostly in the
South Beach’s whimsical architecture is the focus of mid-January’s Art Little Havana section of Miami, the colorful fiesta features Latin music
Deco Weekend. Sponsored by the Miami Design Preservation League, and culinary delights; parades; fireworks; and sporting events, including a
the event promotes the culture and the unique design elements that domino tournament. The festivities culminate with Calle Ocho, said to be
constitute Miami Beach’s historic Art Deco District. Ocean Drive between the nation’s largest street party. Twenty-three blocks of S.W. 8th Street in
5th and 15th streets is closed for the duration of the event, all the better Little Havana are closed down to accommodate more than 30 stages
to appreciate the pastel-hued 1930s gems lining the street. Walking from which salsa, merengue and Caribbean rhythms pulsate. Some
tours; a film series; lectures; music, dance and theatrical performances; a estimates claim a million partygoers pack this gargantuan block party.
parade; and vendors with era-appropriate antiques and collectibles help
reinforce the theme. When spring arrives in Miami, the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition
can’t be far behind. Known simply as The Fair, the 18-day event from
Two art festivals and a boat show fill the calendar during February. First mid-May into April is a family favorite. The 80-acre Fair Expo Center at
up is the Miami Beach Festival of the Arts. Artists from across the country Coral Way and 112th Avenue is where fairgoers can whoop it up on
showcase their creations in a juried, open-air, weekend show on Ocean midway rides, chow down on corn dogs and cotton candy, survey blue
Terrace, on the beach a block east of Collins Avenue between 73rd and ribbon-winning cows and apple pies, and try to win the elusive teddy bear
75th streets. If you’re vacationing in Florida (or if you live here), chances at games of chance.
are you came to be near the water or, better yet, on it. A boater’s idea of
heaven surely must include the Miami International Boat Show. This 5- Coconut Grove, settled by Bahamian immigrants in the 1890s, celebrates
its heritage with an early June weeklong carnival-like event, the

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Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival. The Grove’s Grand Avenue more might not see as many model-types as you would have in the 1990s, but
closely resembles Nassau’s Bay Street during this rollicking street party, spying a glamorous woman owning the sidewalk as if it were a runway in
with junkanoo groups in brightly colored costumes dancing and parading Milan is certainly not unusual.
in the streets to the vibrant rhythms of steel drums, cowbells and
washboards. Street vendors lining the avenue hawk Bahamian foods, Creating a very different mood just a couple blocks south is another,
libations, arts and crafts. smaller pedestrian-only shopping district: the charming Española Way.
Designed to look like a Spanish village, Española Way features colorfully
The Homestead-Miami Speedway, south in nearby Homestead, is the painted Mediterranean-style buildings, lovingly restored and housing art
site of the Ford Championship Weekend in mid-November. Three galleries, clothing shops and restaurants. At night, strings of lights
season-ending NASCAR races, including the Chase for the Sprint Cup overhead make the setting especially romantic, and on weekends the
Ford 400, draw the sport’s biggest names and their legions of fans. street becomes an open-air market with vendors selling produce, flowers,
jewelry and clothing.
For a full week in late November bibliophiles gather at the Miami Dade
College Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami to indulge their passion for The easiest place to park for both Lincoln Road and Española Way is in
the printed word. The Miami Book Fair International, one of the nation’s the large parking garage on 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue across
largest such fairs and a booklover’s delight, offers readings by authors from the Miami Beach City Hall. Lincoln Road is just south and Española
from the United States and abroad, a rare book show and events for Way is south of 15th Street between Washington and Jefferson avenues.
young readers. The best way to get from Lincoln Road to Española Way is via Drexel
Avenue.
Things to Do
Head to Miami Beach’s northern tip for a shopping experience at Bal
Shopping Harbour Shops in the upscale village of Bal Harbour. Its blank-walled
exterior may not compare favorably to some of the more recently built
With its string of iconic, pastel-colored Art Deco hotels, Ocean Drive may outdoor shopping villages with their carefully executed ornamentation
be South Beach’s most well-known street, but as SoBe’s storied inside and out, but Bal Harbour Shops has been the destination for ritzy
shopping district, Lincoln Road ranks a close second. The diversity of shopping in South Florida for more than 4 decades. And what it lacks on
businesses along this rejuvenated shopping promenade is dizzying: ice the outside is more than compensated for by its lushly landscaped interior
cream parlors, coffee houses, restaurants serving an array of cuisines, courtyards with fountains, waterfalls and abstract sculptures—a modern
art galleries, furniture stores, high-profile designer boutiques, unique and sophisticated setting. When your wanderings among the pricey
shops and chain stores are all represented. boutiques and high-end department stores (Neiman Marcus and Saks
Fifth Avenue) become too much, there’s always a seat at hand among
And when it comes to people-watching, the human diversity is just as
the palm trees, tree ferns and orchids in bloom.
striking. There’s Miami’s multicultural mélange of residents and the
international visitors the city attracts. There are retirees and Across the bay, downtown Miami’s Bayside Marketplace enjoys a prime
twentysomethings. There are wealthy society matrons dressed to the waterfront location in the shadow of Miami’s tallest buildings. The brightly
nines and beach bums in board shorts. There are conservatively dressed colored outdoor shopping center offers a mix of typical suburban mall
business people and fashionistas daring to wear the latest designs. You stores and vendors doing a brisk business selling tourist knickknacks to

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Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

the busloads of cruise passengers waiting to embark from the nearby known as Miracle Mile between Douglas and LeJeune roads, boasts
terminal. On most afternoons and evenings, live bands on the Marina several high-rise office buildings and hotels (also Mediterranean Revival-
Stage create a festive atmosphere. style). Still, the character of Miracle Mile seems more like a small town
business district, with book stores, hair salons and bridal shops sprinkled
One of the most exciting changes in Miami recently has been the in among the stores selling men’s and women’s apparel, housewares and
transformation of a bleak warehouse zone just north of downtown into the furniture. Fountains mark the entrances to Miracle Mile, which is actually
Wynwood Art District, home to more than 70 art galleries, artist studios a mere half mile long, and at the western end you’ll see the graceful
and museums. Although the district covers several city blocks between curving colonnade and clock tower of Coral Gables City Hall, completed
Biscayne Bay and I-95 north of N.W. 20th Street, the majority of galleries in 1928.
are concentrated around N.W. 2nd Avenue and N.W. 24th Street. Not
only does Wynwood figure prominently during Art Basel Miami Beach, the Another, much newer Mediterranean Revival-style landmark in the
prestigious international contemporary art show held in early December, Gables, the Village of Merrick Park, is just over a mile south of city hall.
it also hosts a popular gallery walk every second Saturday evening of the Completed in 2002, this chic outdoor shopping village is centered about a
month. large courtyard with fountains and statues and is landscaped with
immaculate flower beds and ranks of stately royal palms. The largest
What the Wynwood Art District is to contemporary art, the Miami Design retailers are Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, which are joined by dozens
District is to stylish furniture showrooms and interior design stores, of upscale boutique chains. During the day and into the early evening you
although there’s a good bit of overlap between the two ever since art can travel between Merrick Park and Miracle Mile aboard the free trolley
galleries and studios began proliferating here as well. Restaurants and that runs every 15 minutes along Ponce de Leon Boulevard.
exclusive clothing boutiques are among the latest arrivals to this roughly
18-block area north of Wynwood and I-195 between N.E 2nd and N. Nightlife
Miami avenues. And like Wynwood, the Design District also hosts a
gallery walk every second Saturday evening of the month. The glamorous life is as much a part of the South Beach mystique as
palm trees, lapping ocean waves and Art Deco hotels. Once the sun goes
The tree-shaded sidewalks of Coconut Grove, a Miami neighborhood on down, that lifestyle takes on a whole new luster as the glitterati step out in
Biscayne Bay south of downtown, entice shoppers to stroll from shop to designer clothes to sip cocktails and groove to booming music in ultra-
shop, with a pause here and there for coffee or a bite to eat at one of the stylish surroundings. Although the air of exclusivity is carefully
Grove’s many restaurants. Although the area’s glory days as a shopping cultivated—as it was during South Beach’s earlier heyday in the 1930s,
destination seem to be behind it, and you’ll likely find several store fronts ‘40s and ‘50s when it was America’s playground for the rich and
vacant, you can still enjoy a pleasant afternoon of retail therapy here, famous—the reality isn’t quite so intimidating, particularly if you start your
particularly at the CocoWalk shopping center on Grand Avenue and evening before 11 p.m.
Virginia Street, home to a variety of chain stores and restaurants.
The area around the intersection of Collins Avenue and Lincoln Road
Less than 3 miles away is Miracle Mile, a far more lively shopping district specializes in chic nightspots, one of the most impressive being Rose Bar
in downtown Coral Gables. Although the Gables is better known for its at the Delano Hotel (1685 Collins Ave.). The main entrance leads into a
exclusive Mediterranean Revival-style housing communities and banyan dramatic grand breezeway with lofty ceilings, massive columns, billowing
tree-shaded streets, the downtown area centered along Coral Way, white curtains and a series of seating areas characterized by comfy,

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Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

mismatched armchairs, oversized floor mirrors and a wall of flickering small enough to fit at a reserved table but large enough to share the
votive candles. Rose Bar is a cozy nook off the Delano’s grand hallway expense. Phone (305) 531-2800.
bathed in red-tinged light coming mainly from the bar’s translucent
countertop. Have a drink here and continue through the breezeway past Several blocks south of Lincoln Road, Mango’s Tropical Café (900 Ocean
a restaurant and its patio dining area out to the narrow infinity pool Dr.) offers a very different nightclub experience, but one no less saturated
surrounded by curtained cabanas, swaying palm trees and a series of with local color. The Latin-Caribbean hotspot on beautiful, beachfront
whimsical roomlike seating areas complete with giant chess pieces, floor Ocean Drive serves up spicy Caribbean cuisine, tasty mojitos and dance
lamps, lanterns and hammocks. Phone (305) 672-2000. numbers that get steamier—while the dancers’ costumes get skimpier—
as the evening progresses. Vibrant murals, garish lighting and lively
Nearby at the Shore Club (1901 Collins Ave.)—another trendy boutique entertainment help make Mango’s a perennial tourist favorite. Phone
hotel with enough theatrical lighting and elegant décor for two hotels—is (305) 673-4422.
SkyBar, a great place for celebrity sightings if you can get in. Go there
before 10 p.m. or on a weeknight, and you can dance in the aptly named Surf and sand is the theme at the appropriately named Nikki Beach (1
Redroom with its luminous red walls and ball-bearing curtains without risk Ocean Dr.), near the southern tip of the island. The beautiful people love
of bumping into the likes of Beyoncé or Lindsay Lohan, or anyone else for sunbathing in Nikki Beach’s huge outdoor area with its cabanas, plush
that matter if you get there too early. Skybar occupies the rear of the day beds and signature white teepees. The club regularly hosts parties
hotel and includes a Moroccan-themed garden area outdoors set amid and fashion shows, resident DJs play the latest dance music, and after
lush screens of tropical foliage as well as pool- and beach-side bars. night falls the party continues upstairs in the oceanfront complex’s Club
Phone (305) 695-3100. Nikki. Phone (305) 538-1111.

Getting in is even more of a challenge at SET (320 Lincoln Road), but the Should stepping out to South Beach’s fabulous clubs (with their fabulous
effort is worth it. SET offers the real South Beach nightclub experience, prices) begin to wear thin, head to one of the city’s local haunts for a low-
something you might not expect judging from its plain-Jane exterior. If it key alternative. Although Club Deuce Bar & Grill (222 14th St.) is just a
weren’t for the crowds waiting outside you might never find the place. short walk from the beach and Lincoln Road it offers a refreshing change
Inside is a whole other world of light and sound that will likely leave your of pace when all you want is a beer and a game of pool; phone (305)
head spinning before you ever touch one of the pricey (though not by 531-6200. Likewise, The Abbey Brewing Co. (1115 16th St.), just a
South Beach standards) cocktails. couple blocks off Lincoln Road, dispenses with all that high-end Collins
Avenue frippery in favor of a dim, no-frills ambience where you can
The two-level club has enough spot lights, lasers, smoke machines, choose from among a handful of house recipe brews along with several
plasma screens, projectors and top-of-the-line speakers for a big-budget imported draft beers; phone (305) 538-8110.
Hollywood movie set, which may be where it gets its name. From its main
level—with its globular chandeliers and twin go-go girl platforms behind Of course, there’s far more to the Miami nightclub scene than South
the bar—to the exclusive VIP Room and ultra-exclusive Trophy Room Beach. In recent years nightlife across the bay in downtown has really
upstairs, the décor is posh and dramatically lit. Check into getting bottle taken off, and one of the first of the big clubs was Club Space (34 N.E.
service; purchasing that privilege may make sense if you have a party 11th St.), a two-level warehouse of a place with a state-of-the-art sound
system and a regular lineup of top DJs from around the world. Space’s
unusual 24-hour liquor license allows it to keep the party going all night

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Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

long after other dance emporiums have closed. Space even hosts a this onetime speakeasy owes its reputation to its good food and nightly
popular Sunday-morning dance event on its outdoor Terrace where you’ll live music (mainly blues, jazz and rock). Phone (305) 374-1198.
find energetic clubbers who’ve been up all night mixing with those well-
rested patrons who’ve come out to start their day with a cup of coffee and Spectator Sports
a healthy dose of throbbing house music. Phone (305) 375-0001.
In addition to year-round sunshine and white, sandy beaches, Miami is
If variety is indeed the spice of life, then the scene at The Vagabond (30 blessed with an abundance of professional sport offerings, including four
N.E. 14th St.) is four-alarm chili hot thanks to its eclectic rotation of bands major-league teams. No matter what your preference might be, you’ll find
and DJs playing hip-hop, indie rock, classic rock, house and even jazz, a venue and a crowd of like-minded fans ready to cheer on their favorites.
soul and funk depending on the night and sometimes the room you’re in.
Auto Racing
There’s a large dance floor, a lounge area with cushioned benches and a
Homestead-Miami has a 2.2-mile oval track that is negotiated by some of
very popular patio with fire pits, a grill serving hamburgers and hotdogs
the sport’s top names.
for late-night sustenance and some coveted elbowroom when things get
too crowded indoors. Although the area has gotten more upscale thanks Baseball
to new high-rises in the neighborhood, it’s still a little sketchy after dark. Fans of the National League Florida Marlins passionately support their
Take a cab rather than risk parking off the beaten path. Phone (305) 379- team during home games at Land Shark Stadium (Dolphin Stadium),
0508. 2267 Dan Marino Blvd., east of 27th Avenue in North Miami; phone (305)
623-6100. The Marlins brought the World Series title home to Miami in
Another couple of blocks west on 14th Street is Karu & Y (71 N.W. 14th
1997 and 2003. The national pastime also is played locally in the college
St.), a sophisticated South Beach-style club on the mainland. You might
ranks when the University of Miami Hurricanes take the field on the UM
be tempted to leave a trail of breadcrumbs—or cocktail olives—as you
campus at Mark Light Stadium.
wander through Karu & Y’s maze of stylish bars, dance floors and garden
retreats. The décor is upscale and generally Asian-themed; the outdoor Basketball
areas are lush and furnished with cabanas and cushioned lounge chairs; The Miami Heat, 2006 NBA champions, have been a hot ticket in town
and the theatrical lighting ranges from soothing to wild and psychedelic. since their 1988 debut. During their October to April season, the Heat
There’s even a tony restaurant with Dale Chihuly glass chandeliers and play at the American Airlines Arena, downtown on Biscayne Boulevard
other artistic touches. But unless you’re ready to shell out really big bucks adjacent to Bayside Marketplace; phone (786) 777-1000 for information.
for VIP treatment, be prepared to wait in line for a while and keep in mind
that although the club is deluxe, the surrounding neighborhood is not. Football
Phone (305) 403-7850. Backed by legions of “dolfans,” the Miami Dolphins suit up for battle at
the 75,000-seat Land Shark Stadium (Dolphin Stadium); phone (954)
Much easier on your wallet is Tobacco Road (626 S. Miami Ave.), a 452-7000 for the Dolphins or (305) 623-6100 for the stadium. The
downscale Miami institution and neighborhood hangout near the Brickell University of Miami Hurricanes also call the stadium their home turf;
financial district south of downtown that just happens to be the city’s phone (305) 643-7100. Despite five national championship titles, the
oldest bar. Housed in a low-profile building sandwiched in a row of other ’Canes seldom fill up the stadium, so tickets are not difficult to come by.
low-profile buildings in the shadow of high-rise condos and office towers,

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Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

Greyhound Racing take the bicycle path that winds beneath a canopy of trees in Coconut
The dogs average a swift 40 mph at Flagler Greyhound Track, 401 N.W. Grove, where you can hop off and cruise through the neighborhood’s
38th Ct., year-round; phone (305) 649-3000. colorful downtown area. Slightly more removed is the tropical escape of
Key Biscayne. Here, on an island just 7 miles long and 2 miles wide, are
Horse Racing 12 miles of bicycling trails. Bicycle rentals are available at all of the above
Thoroughbreds run to the roar of the crowd December through May at locations; helmets are required for those under 17.
Gulfstream Park, 901 S. Federal Hwy. in nearby Hallandale, about a half-
hour drive north from downtown Miami. The scenic track, encircling an Experienced bicyclists desiring more extensive routes can contact the
artificial lake, is host to numerous major races; phone (800) 771-8873. Miami-Dade Bicycle Pedestrian Program, which distributes maps about
bicycling and bicycling safety and outlines some of Miami’s more than
The usual March-to-May season is extended at Calder Race Course, just 180 miles of bicycle trails; phone (305) 375-1647. A color-coded map of
south of County Line Road (SR 852) at 21001 N.W. 27th Ave., where the Miami-Dade County’s suitable roads also is available.
horses run from late April to early January on a 1-mile course in a glass-
enclosed, air-conditioned sports facility. Phone (305) 625-1311 for Fishing
specific starting and wrap-up dates. An abundance of water naturally brings plenty of fishing opportunities,
and the popularity of bridge fishing, seen all over Miami, is just a prelude
Jai Alai to the opportunities available in a city where fishing is serious business.
In this high-speed, indoor version of lacrosse, players climb the walls to South Pointe Park in south Miami Beach offers excellent surf casting.
catch and hurl balls (pelotas) with woven baskets (cestas). Spectators Although bridge fishing generally is not allowed, it is permitted on the old
place bets on the evening’s players from behind a protective wall of Rickenbacker Causeway, which was left standing for that purpose when
glass. See the action for yourself at America’s oldest jai alai arena the new bridge was constructed for automobile traffic. Several piers in
(fronton), the Miami Jai-Alai Fronton, 3500 N.W. 37th Ave.; phone (305) Miami Beach, as well as the Tamiami Canal, also are favorites of anglers.
633-6400.
Numerous marinas offer deep-sea fishing excursions, where avid anglers
Note: Policies on admitting children to pari-mutuel betting facilities vary. haul in prizes that range from snapper and bonito to big game catches
Phone in advance for specific information. like sailfish, tarpon and bluefish.
Recreation Kelley Fishing Fleet, 10800 Collins Ave. at Haulover Marina, provides
party boats for half-day or full-day excursions out of Miami Beach; phone
A wealth of clear blue skies and a climate conducive to outdoor activity
(305) 945-3801. Private charter boats abound at Haulover, with many
any time of the year make Miami a “hot” spot for those in search of fun in
offering 2-, 3- and 4-day fishing trips to the Bahamas; make the rounds
the sun. This tropical playground, with an average annual temperature of
and choose the one that suits your needs.
76 F, comes equipped with aquamarine waters and more than enough
land-based activities to suit all tastes. Licenses, required for freshwater fishing, are available at bait and tackle
shops, sporting goods and discount department stores, as well as the
Bicycling
county tax collector’s office in the Miami-Dade County Courthouse, 140
Few places offer such diverse cycling environments as Miami. Pedal the
hard-packed sands of Miami Beach while enjoying the sun and sights, or

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Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

W. Flagler St., Miami, FL 33130. Licenses also are available by mail; information about public courts phone the Miami-Dade County Parks
phone (888) 347-4356 (a credit card is required). Department at (305) 755-7800.

Golf Water Sports

More than 30 golf courses provide a wide choice of greens for hackers Whether you like zipping across its surface or exploring the world below
and seasoned golfers alike. Crandon Park Golf Course, 6700 Crandon it, everything you need to enjoy the water can be found in Miami, and all
Blvd. in Key Biscayne, (305) 361-9129, is recognized by most Florida of it can be rented—from kayaks, windsurfers and boogie boards to
golfers as the No. 1-ranked public course in the state; it also is among the catamarans, sailboats, personal watercraft and scuba equipment.
top public links in the country. All courses listed below offer at least 18
holes and are open to the public. Many scuba and sail shops offer day-trip packages that include rental
equipment and lessons for windsurfing, scuba diving and snorkeling.
Sites in the Miami area include Bayshore, 2401 Biarritz Dr. in Miami Sunken hulls, reefs and underwater gardens provide excellent
Beach, (305) 868-6502; Biltmore, 1210 Anastasia in Coral Gables, (305) opportunities for photography or exploration. North of Snapper Creek and
460-5364; Don Shula’s Hotel and Golf Club, 6842 Main St. in Miami south of Matheson Hammock Park is one of the better snorkeling sites.
Lakes, (305) 821-1150; Doral Park Golf and Country Club, 5001 N.W. Another favorite location is near Fowley Rocks Light just south of Key
104th Ave., (305) 591-8800; Golf Club of Miami, 6801 Miami Gardens Biscayne.
Dr., (305) 829-8449; International Links Miami-Melreese, 1802 N.W. 37th
Ave., (305) 633-4583; Killian Green, 9980 S.W. 104th St., (305) 271- Boating is popular in Miami. Boats of all sizes and descriptions are for
0917; Miami Springs Golf Course, 650 Curtiss Pkwy. in Miami Springs, hire, whether for pleasure cruising, fishing or water skiing. Dinner Key
(305) 805-5180; and Miccosukee Golf & Country Club, 6401 Kendall and waterfront Coconut Grove are pristine and popular sites for launching
Lakes Dr., (305) 382-3930. sailboats. Other locations for sailboat rentals are available around the bay
and on the Miami River. Boating events, whose locations and schedules
The two city-owned Miami Beach courses welcome guests, and many are printed in area newspapers, take place throughout the year.
hotels and motels have arrangements with private and semiprivate
courses that allow guests to play. Powerboat rentals are available from Club Nautico at several locations:
Tumberry Isle Marina in Aventura; Crandon Park Marina in Key Biscayne;
Tennis and Miami Beach Marina, in Miami Beach, (305) 394-9099. Renters must
Miami’s balmy climate allows for year-round tennis dates, and nearly 500 be at least 21 years of age.
public courts cater to the racket. A majority of the hotels and motels in
Miami and Miami Beach have private tennis facilities for their guests. Water skiing and windsurfing instruction and equipment are available
Nearly all charge an hourly fee for use by nonresidents. throughout the area. Many shops are clustered around the 79th Street
Causeway (North Bay). Skiing is good all along the bay. Personal
Best bets include the Crandon Tennis Center, 7300 Crandon Blvd. in Key watercraft also can be rented. Surfing, while not the best in the country,
Biscayne, with hard courts; phone (305) 365-2300. Miami Beach’s attracts many enthusiasts. Two of the best spots are South Beach and
Flamingo Park Tennis Center, at Jefferson and 11th streets, offers 19 Haulover Beach.
well-maintained clay courts; phone (305) 365-2300. For additional

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Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

Some of the most popular white sand beaches in the Miami area are at Music
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park and Crandon Park. Miami Beach’s Miami Symphony Orchestra presents a dozen concerts each year; phone
oceanfront restoration program added 150 to 200 feet to the width of the (305) 275-5666. Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas created the New
city’s 10.5-mile stretch of beach, southward from 87th Terrace to the World Symphony, the only advanced-training orchestra in the world as an
south end of Miami Beach. interim step for young musicians who have completed their academic
instruction. For subscriptions, season or single tickets phone (305) 673-
Performing Arts 3331, or phone the main office at (305) 673-3330.
The 1981 development of the National Foundation for the Arts was the
springboard for cultural evolution in south Florida. Patrons of the arts Opera
enjoy an expanding array of performing arts venues. Included are the The celebrated Florida Grand Opera, 2901 W. Flagler St., which has
provided South Florida with operatic performances since the early 1940s,
handsomely refurbished Colony Theater on Lincoln Road in south Miami
offers productions in the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of
Beach, (305) 674-1040; the 1,710-seat, Moorish-styled Gusman Center
Miami-Dade County; phone (800) 741-1010. Included among those
for the Performing Arts, 174 E. Flagler Street in downtown Miami, (305)
honored during the opera’s International Series are Placido Domingo and
374-2444; and the Art Deco Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing
Luciano Pavarotti. Promising singers make their mark in lead roles during
Arts (known as “TOPA”) on Washington Avenue in south Miami Beach, the lower-priced National Series.
(305) 673-7300.
Theater
The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County Area Stage Company presents off-Broadway plays throughout the year;
offers three theaters and an outdoor performance plaza showcasing phone (305) 666-2078. Actor’s Playhouse offers year-round productions
everything from Broadway to opera, dance to drama and cabaret to for adults and children and is host to the National Children’s Theatre
comedy. The center is at 1300 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami; phone (786) 468- Festival; phone (305) 444-9293.
2000.
Insider Info
Dance
Among the professional dance troupes in the Miami area is the Miami Art Deco in South Beach
City Ballet, Florida’s first fully professional resident ballet company. South Beach comprises the area from 21st Street down to 1st Street near
Artistic director Edward Villella premiered in the New York City Ballet the tip of Miami Beach. Within its confines lingers the Art Deco District, a
under George Balanchine; works by Balanchine are included in the distinctive neighborhood where flat-roofed, stucco buildings are crowned
company’s repertoire. Performances take place October through March with soaring finials and stepped parapets, and many sport such
at Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County; distinguishing architectural touches as porthole windows and edgy
phone (305) 929-7010 for ticket information. geometric patterns.

The professional dance company Ballet Flamenco La Rosa moves to a “SoBe,” also known as America’s Riviera, draws a trendy social mix of
flamenco and Latin-style beat; for ticket and schedule information phone models, paparazzi, locals, bohemians, producers, vacationers, inline
(305) 899-7729. skaters, drag queens and celebrities. Alfresco cafes serve with a
European flair. Funky shops line Collins Avenue. And there is an ever-

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Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

changing number of fashionable nightclubs in which to dance the night your own, the league also has self-guiding audio tours that introduce
away. The blossoming artists’ colony on Lincoln Road attracts a visitors to the district’s distinctive architecture.
sophisticated, international crowd, and the street’s pedestrian mall, full of
hip retail shops and superb restaurants, is an especially pleasant place to Content for this destination guide compiled by AAA Travel Editors
browse. Everything is within walking distance, so there’s no need for a
AAA Editors collectively cover more than 6,000 North American
car.
destinations. Their work is published in millions of member-only
How did this once dowdy beachside venue become the toast of Miami? TourBook® guides distributed annually by AAA/CAA clubs; online in
The answer lies within the fanciful Art Deco hotels, built during the 1930s Travel Guides at AAA.com/maps; and via handheld and other electronic
and ’40s as an answer to Depression era blues. But the fanciful seaside devices. Practically anywhere you want to go, the AAA network has been.
lodgings languished by the 1980s, their facades crumbled and paint That’s why for generations AAA has been the most trusted name in travel
peeling. Developers were set to raze the buildings, a fate that seemed publishing. See individual editor bios on AAA.com.
likely until conservationist Barbara Baer Capitman intervened. Her
associate, Leonard Lazar Horowitz, had an idea to cover the drab brown
and tan exteriors with playful hues of lavender, pink, melon and mint,
literally transforming Ocean Drive with a paintbrush. A community was
dazzled, and investors took notice. The rest is real estate—and
preservation—history.

The term Art Deco, which was not coined until 1968, is derived from a
1925 French design fair, the Paris Exposition International des Arts
Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes. Two other words from the name of
that gathering—industrial and modern—pretty much sum up what Art
Deco architecture is all about. Early Art Deco buildings (mid-1920s to
mid-1930s) are characterized by angular and geometric shapes and
decorative ornamentation, much of which was inspired by ancient
Egyptian art. The later style (late 1930s to early 1940s), commonly called
“streamline,” is distinguished by rounded corners, expanses of light-
catching glass, banded stripes and, frequently, nautical motifs. Colorful
neon lights emphasize these architectural details. The largest
concentration of renovated Art Deco gems can be found along a 10-block
stretch of Ocean Drive from 5th to 15th streets.

The organization Capitman founded in 1976, the Miami Design

Preservation League, sponsors the annual Art Deco Weekend festival in
January as well as the Art Deco Welcome Center at 1001 Ocean Dr.
Ninety-minute guided walking tours, led by local architects and historians,
depart several times a week from the center. Or, if you want to explore on

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Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

100704

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Destination Guide: Miami and Miami Beach 

26