Miami has a lot of tourist attractions. The beach, the restaurants, the sun and the night life are just some of these. For those who want something more than a bucket of beer or a frozen strawberry margarita, Miami is the best place to visit. It is booming with great culture and filled with small pieces that make it unique from other American cities.
One of these tiny pieces that make Miami colorful is Little Havana, a part of Dade County where Cuban refugees and immigrants found relief from a Castro-controlled government. The best thing about Little Havana is that the culture of the country it symbolizes is kept. Visiting the place is just like visiting Cuba, but without the socialism as well as potential missission crisis.
While walking the streets of Little Havana, tourists are treated to various experiences. From something as trivial as old men playing checkers to vibrant paintings on the wall of buildings, there's culture around each corner. This part of Miami is filled with family owned shops, coffee brewing people and restaurants. Little Havana's uniqueness stands out even in an area as diverse as Miami.
Calle Ocho is one of the reasons for this. Held annually as part of the Carnival Miami festivity, Calle Ocho is free to the public and showcases the Hispanic communities' pride. As people wave flags, adorn shirts and wear colors devoted to their heritage, culturally diverse music is played and food from various countries is served. Calle Ocho takes place in between 4th Avenue and 27th Avenue, along 8th Street. Named for being the largest street party in the state, it attracts a lot of people. Typically, the festival has more than 30 stages and hundreds of performers, entertainers and street vendors. People have been celebrating it for almost 3 decades.
Aside from the Little Havana and Calle Ocho, Miami has a lot more to offer. It is not just known for its sunny clear skies and hot weather, but it's also filled with a wide range of great tourist attractions.
Venetian Pool
While the Art Deco skyline of South Beach is the iconic image usually associated with Miami, an exclusive part of the city known as Coral Gables features an equally unforgetable attraction – the Venetian Pool. It's an incredible Mediterranean-style lagoon right in the center of historic Miami – vine-covered loggias, a large Spanish-inspired fountain and an oasis replete with stylish porticos. The Venetian Pool even has spectacular waterfalls that flow into the lagoon. As if these things were not enough, it also has its own palm-shaded island and coral rock caves.
Well-hidden behind wrought iron gates and stucco walls, the Venetian Pool served as a limestone quarry pit in the past. It was changed in 1924 when George Merrick was developing Coral Gables. He imagined a Mediterranean-inspired city of plazas, esplanades and fountains, a neat and stunning counterpart to the urban slump he saw happening in Dade County where he also worked as a commissioner.
If you are visiting the Venetian Pool with your kids, be informed that children must be 3 years of age and 38 inches tall to enter the pool. There's a snack bar and pool hours different from day to day as well as season to season. The Venetian Pool is closed for five holidays every year. Entrance fees also different by season, membership and age.
South Beach
No vacation to Miami can be considered complete without visiting South beach – the ideal Miami hot spot. From partying to shopping, this area is popular for being a trendy setting. Depending on your taste, you might enjoy spending an entire weekend touring the area. You can stay at one of the best hotels and explore the Art Deco architecture of the place or party all night with friends.
Zoo Miami
Zoo Miami is quickly becoming one of the finest zoos in the state. Its climate permits it to keep various animals from Australia, Africa and Asia like no other zoon in the nation. As one of the first free-range zoos, Zoo Miami's exhibits are completely cageless. Animals are grouped based on their geographical territory and those that live together harmoniously in the wild are put together in exhibits.
Everglades
Boasting 1.5 million acres of sub-tropical forests, saw-grass plains and swamps, Everglades National Park is among the most remarkable public parks in the US. Situated on the southern part of Florida, Everglades is home to fourteen rare and endangered species, which includes the Florida Panther, West Indian Manatee and American Crocodile. A large part of the area is primitive, explored only by researchers and adventurists, but visitors have lots of opportunity to walk, canoe and camp. Your time in this wonderful park can take the form of a quick drive or a week full of adventures in the backcountry swamp.
Miami Museum of Science
Discover the newest children-friendly exhibits at the Museum of Science. The museum is home to the Weintraub Observatory and Bird of Prey Research Center. Your whole family will certainly enjoy a great learning adventure.
Seaquarium
The Seaquarium is located right in the heart of the tourist spot, on the walkway between Key Biscayne and downtown Miami. It's a wonderful stop where you can see an outdoor aquarium experience that is only possible in a tropical climate. Be sure to spend enough time in the Seaquarium.
Jungle Island
Previously known as Parrot Jungle, Jungle Island offers tourists an enjoyable learning opportunity to observe tropical birds in their natural habitats' replicas. The attraction regularly mounts field trips as well as offers many educational programs.