Must-see in Miami

Miami Beach is home to the largest collection of art deco buildings in the world, and nowhere do they shine brighter than along iconic Ocean Drive. This 15-block stretch from 5th to 15th street includes some of the most famous hotels in the city and is filled with sidewalk restaurants and lively bars. Grab lunch at the historic News Café or live like a fabulous fashion designer and savor a poolside meal at Gianni’s inside the Versace Mansion. You can also go for over-the-top drinks at Sugar Factory, or find some of Miami’s best seafood at A Fish Called Avalon.

Seasons change on walls around you, and a hall of mirrors makes you question your eyes in the immersive, interactive installations at Superblue Miami. This revolutionary art experience takes visitors through a rotating collection of works designed to make its guests part of the art. Superblue’s initial exhibits include works by Es Devlin, James Turrell, and Teamlab, and most pieces stay on display for a year or longer.

Part science museum, part aquarium, the Frost Science Museum is as aesthetically interesting as it is educational. Begin your journey on the top deck, where a panoramic view of downtown Miami and the port serve as the backdrop for a tank of pettable rays and a miniature mockup of the Everglades. After you’ve seen the alligators, herons, and roseate spoonbills, head to the top of the Gulf Stream, where a 500,000-gallon martini-glass-shaped tank is filled with hammerhead sharks, rays, and other ocean life. Continue down to the lower floors, where you’ll get a look inside a live coral reef, different perspectives on the Gulf Stream, and an education about Florida’s fragile ocean ecosystem. On the ground floor, discover the Power of Science, as Frost showcases how science has shaped human history. The museum also has a series of rotating touring exhibits ranging from dinosaurs to the forensics of Sherlock Holmes. And boasts a 67-foot planetarium with regular shows and monthly laser spectaculars.

About half an hour west of the city development dramatically drops off, and you’re suddenly surrounded by a river of grass. This is the beginning of the Everglades, the swampy, wetland ecosystem that once covered all of South Florida. One special swath of it has been preserved in Everglades National Park, where you can hike through hardwood hammocks, relax under a canopy of big cypress trees, and, yes, adventure with an alligator. While cycling through Shark Valley and hiking along the Gumbo Limbo and Anhinga trails are great ways to understand the importance of the Everglades, if you want to get deep into the Blackwater Backwoods, take an airboat ride. You’ll find plenty along the Tamiami Trail in the various Miccosukee Indian villages, where guides will speed through the swamp and find alligators, wild boar, and other exotic wildlife.

What was once a nondescript industrial wasteland north of downtown Miami has been transformed into one of the most vibrant street art districts in the world. Provocative, colorful murals cover block after block in Wynwood, with each building housing breweries, restaurants, bars, and boutiques. The mainstay murals are all at the Wynwood Walls, which charge a small admission fee. Once you’ve walked the park, head out into the neighborhood and enjoy what is essentially a giant outdoor museum. Stop into the Asian food hall at 1-800 Lucky for lunch and enjoy some Japanese ice cream. Then check out one of the neighborhood’s craft breweries, like J. Wakefield and Wynwood Brewing Company.

Though there are eight wonders in the world, perhaps the ninth should be this strange sculpture garden tucked deep in southwest Miami-Dade. The Coral Castle is the creation of Ed Leedskalnin, who fueled by heartbreak, carved and carried over 22,000 pounds of coral rock and limestone to create his own, private fortress. The coral walls are filled with quizzical sculptures and creations, and one can’t help but be impressed and perplexed by how one man created the whole thing himself.

Miami’s flagship art museum sits just across Museum Park’s main plaza from Frost Science. The museum has already gained a national reputation for showcasing Latin American and Caribbean modern artists, all displayed among towering ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. The view outside is almost as stunning as the art on the walls, as the museum sits right on Biscayne Bay and offers views of the water and skyline beyond. Focus on the art, then enjoy the view while eating lunch at Verde, the onsite restaurant whose food is worth the trip alone.

The finest views of Miami and the beaches are at this park on the southern tip of Miami Beach. Set along the busy waters of Government Cut, South Pointe Park offers elevated hills from which you can watch the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean and the sun set over the Miami skyline. You can also gaze at the opulent properties on Fisher Island, and experience the surreal sight of a 20-story cruise ship sailing just a few hundred feet in front of you.

This historic swimming hole in Coral Gables was carved out of a limestone rock quarry, whose contents were used to build the homes in the city. It opened in 1924 as a glimmering public swimming pool where movie stars like the original Tarzan, Johnny Weismuller were frequent guests. Today, Venetian Pools remain a popular family weekend destination and offer a cool respite from the Miami heat all year long.

For train lovers or anyone who just wants to explore South Florida without having to drive, a ride on the Brightline is a must. South Florida’s privately-owned passenger rail service runs from Downtown Miami Central Station to Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, with stops in Aventura and Boca Raton. This isn’t your typical train, though. The stations smell like bright citrus and offer high-tech features like a touchless convenience store and USB plugs in the boarding lounge. The trains are a high-speed journey in comfort, where oversized, padded seats are decked out in power outlets and USB plugs, and a bar cart rolls through the aisles with beer, wine, and cocktails. The entire experience is quiet and luxurious and delivers you to the middle of another city in considerably less time than it takes to drive.

Loan Depot Park is home to Major League Baseball’s Miami Marlins and a truly Miami way to catch America’s pastime. The retractable-roof ballpark ensures you’ll never be rained out, and as the second-smallest stadium in the majors, it guarantees there’s never a bad seat. In left field, you can watch the game from the Recess Sports Lounge, a club within the stadium just feet from the playing field. Concession stands offer a fantastic variety of local foods, where you can sample croquetas, Miami’s Best Pizza, and even a 34-inch Cuban Sandwich if you’re feeling strong. Time your visit right, and you can also sample local beers at the Marlins’ monthly pre-game beer fests or score a burger and a beer with your ticket on select Friday nights.

Outside Kentucky, there may be no grander horse racing venue in America than Gulfstream Park. And while watching some of the best thoroughbreds in the world is exciting (especially when you’ve got a few bucks on the line), Gulfstream goes beyond gambling and offers an entire village of restaurants, bars, and even a karaoke lounge. Inside the track, the Carousel Club along the home stretch offers a swanky lounge atmosphere with two bars and a collection of local food trucks.

As you drive along NE 163rd Street, you may notice a long swath of wilderness on the south side of the street. This is Oleta River State Park, a preserved mangrove forest that’s popular for both kayaking and mountain biking. Rent a kayak from the onsite watersports center, and paddle through narrow mangrove channels. The trip back to prehistoric Florida is a mysterious escape into nature, until suddenly you pop out and find yourself smack in the middle of the Intracoastal Waterway and thrust into the modern city.

Oleta River also offers access to beaches that are only reachable by boat and uninhabited islands, perfect for an afternoon picnic. You can also rent a mountain bike and take it over the park’s several miles of courses.

Feeling daring? Head north to Haulover Beach, Miami’s lone clothing-optional beach that’s popular with seniors and visitors from Europe. You don’t have to strip all the way down to get the full experience, though if you do, be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen. You can also set up near the beach jogging pathand entertain yourself by watching runners run by who aren’t quite aware of what they’re stepping into.

The heart of Miami’s Latin American vibe lives along SW 8th Street, known locally as Calle Ocho. While it’s become a major tourist attraction, the street maintains its cultural heritage, where you can stroll through cigar shops, Cuban restaurants, and ventanitas – little café windows serving Cuban coffee and croquetas.

Ground zero for the Calle Ocho experience is Ball and Chain, a one-time after-hours jazz venue for black musicians who weren’t allowed to play on Miami Beach at night. It’s been restored to its former splendor, and now hosts regular live salsa bands on its sunny front patio. Ball and Chain’s back porch is a lush, tropical oasis where a bandshell shaped like a pineapple offers live music most nights as well.

On an island along the MacArthur Causeway between Miami and Miami Beach, Jungle Island immerses visitors in tropical foliage as they traverse a pathway filled with exotic birds. Chat with parrots and prance past flamingoes in this free outdoor zoo, complete with live animal demonstrations and frequent bird shows. If you want to get up close and personal with the animals, Jungle Island offers animal encounters with sloths, lemurs, kangaroos, and giant tortoises. The daring can also try Treetop Trekking, a ropes course set atop the animal exhibits with stunning views of the Miami Skyline.

As its name might suggest, Artechouse is a rotating showcase of art and technology, where visitors wander through immersive installations and experience art created through the use of modern tech. Previous exhibits have included Renewal 2121, where a futuristic, climate-ravaged Tokyo is taken over by wilderness while people still live there.