Miami


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Miami [1] is the commercial center of Florida, USA and is located in the southern part of the state on the Atlantic ocean. The city has over 380,000 and is the anchor of the South Florida Metropolitan area (Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach) with over 5.5 million people. Popular travel destination Miami Beach is near Miami.

Contents

[edit] Districts

Note: This districting is incomplete, obviously. Please help and improve it!

[edit] Understand

The local Latin population is mostly Cuban exiles (which have now become second and third generation locals) with South Americans from various countries gaining ground. There is also a large Haitian community as well, and many signs and public announcements are in English, Spanish and Creole. There are many other Caribbean groups in the community; most of them are originally from the Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, or the Virgin Islands.

[edit] Talk

Miami has the largest Latin American population outside of Latin America itself, with nearly 65% of its populace either Latin American or of Latin American ancestry. Spanish is a language often used for day-to-day discourse in many places, although English is the language of preference, especially when dealing with businesses and government and one will find that almost all locals speak English to a comfortable if not fluent level. Despite this, it is not at all uncommon to encounter a local who does not speak English at all, though this is usually centered amongst shops and restaurants in residential communities and not generally the case in large tourist areas or the downtown district. Even when encountering a local who does not speak English, one could easily find another local to help with translation if needed without much effort, since most of the population is fluently bilingual. In certain neighborhoods, such as Little Havana and Hialeah, most locals will address a person first in Spanish, then in English, rather than the other way around. Many times, although someone may speak English, their preference will be to speak Spanish and will resist speaking to one in English. The simplest way to get treated in English is to use the "approach rule", where most locals will only respond in the language they were summoned in, unless they are not able to speak it, this rule can be used on anyone whether or not they were originally speaking Spanish, English, or any other language. "Spanglish", a mixture of English and Spanish, is a somewhat common occurrence (but less so than in the American southwest), with bilingual locals switching between English and Spanish mid-sentence, and occasionally replacing a common English word for its Spanish equivalent.

Haitian Creole is another language where the above applies, and it is not uncommon for a person to hear a conversation in Creole when riding public transportation or sitting at a restaurant. Unlike Spanish, Haitian Creole is generally centered amongst the Haitian neighborhoods in the North of the city and most Haitians are more adapted to English than their Hispanic neighbors. Portuguese and French are other languages that many be encountered, though they tend to be spoken mainly around tourist areas and most speakers of these languages have adapted to English as well.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Miami International Airport (IATA: MIA) [2] is located just west of the city in an unincorporated, suburban area. It is an important hub for traffic between North America and Latin America: Spanish is just as likely to be understood as English. The international traffic makes MIA a large and congested place. Be sure to allow extra time when departing MIA, particularly if flying internationally, as you may face an hour-long line just to check your bags. Curbside check-in is an excellent idea.

The predominant carrier at MIA is American Airlines, which has direct flights to most major cities in the Americas and several European cities as well. European and Latin carriers are well-represented at MIA, although the airport has no direct service to Asia, Africa or Oceania.

Fort Lauderdale International Airport (IATA: FLL) [3] is 25-40 minutes north of Miami proper, depending on traffic, and does not have nearly as many international routes. However, it is smaller and less trafficked than MIA, making customs, immigration and security much easier. Southwest Airlines, JetBlue and other low-cost carriers generally use FLL instead of MIA, making FLL a cheaper alternative in many cases as well.

While public transport is available to MIA and FLL, it is not a realistic option for someone arriving with luggage and no knowledge of the area. Your best option is to take a taxi from the airport, or rent a car. MIA's car rental facilities are scattered around the airport and connected to the terminal by shuttle buses: FLL's facilities are more conveniently located in the parking garage adjacent to the terminals.

[edit] By train

Amtrak's Silver Service operates two trains daily to Miami from New York, Washington and other eastern seaboard cities. The ride from New York is about 24 hours but is often subject to delays, as Amtrak uses poorer-quality freight lines south of Washington and must cope with slow freight trains along the way.

[edit] By car

There are three main highways coming into Miami. I-95 runs along the Atlantic coast of the United States and terminates in Miami. I-75 comes in from the midwestern US and runs through Atlanta and Tampa before terminating in Miami. Florida's Turnpike is a toll road mainly useful for those driving in from Orlando. The only southbound route from Miami is US 1, which runs through the Florida Keys all the way to Key West.

[edit] Get around

[edit] By bus

Miami has a large and elaborate public bus system which covers the entire county and connects, at northern points, to the bus system in Greater Fort Lauderdale. The bus system was, for a long time, notorious for being unreliable, though recent developments have changed this. Despite these changes, and due to high local traffic, buses tend to have a harder time remaining on schedule, though buses run often enough through each route so as not to be a nuisance. Schedules and routes are available from the Miami-Dade Transit website or by calling (305) 770-3131.

[edit] By train

Metrorail is a single-line elevated rail system serving Miami and surrounding areas. Due to low funding, Metrorail has not been greatly expanded since its opening in 1984, and only serves two areas of tourist interest: downtown Miami and the area around Dadeland Mall. Coconut Grove and downtown Coral Gables can be reached via short shuttle bus from various stations. Metrorail operates between roughly 5AM and midnight, with a bus serving all Metrorail stations operating in the overnight hours, effectively providing 24-hour service.

Downtown Miami is served by an elevated people mover system known as Metromover, which connects to Metrorail at two stations. Metromover is free of charge and is the most efficient way to move around Downtown Miami.

Currently, a funding boost has set forth an expansion for the Metrorail system, including a connection to Miami International Airport to be operating by 2010. Further expansion to the north toward Dolphins Stadium is expected to be operating by 2012. A light rail line to Miami Beach is also under development.

[edit] By taxi

Taxis are generally expensive with a surcharge of $2.50 for the pick-up and an aditional $0.40 for each sixth of a mile travelled. Almost all cab companies in the area have pre-determined rates for travel into the barrier islands of Miami Beach and other beach and nightclub communities popular with tourists which can range from $30-$60 (depending on arrival location, for example South Beach may be the most expensive, while a residential neighborhood in Miami Beach the cheapest); the charge is the same regardless of pick-up location on the mainland. All taxis are fitted with maps of the barrier islands which state the cost per location, the same applies for passengers leaving the islands onto the mainland, though normal rates apply for person travelling by taxi within the islands or within the mainland.

Service is available throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe counties regardless of pick-up location. The normal service charges apply for these four counties, but it is wise to ask for a pre-determined price beforehand if leaving the county as this will in most cases turn out to be cheaper and most drivers are willing to negotiate when leaving the county. If you wish to be taxied to a location outside of those four counties, you must negotiate a price and advise the cab company first. Drivers may refuse to drive outside of the metropolitan area if they are not advised to do so beforehand.

Usually, you will have to call a cab company and request a pick-up. Taxis operated by the major companies are not normally allowed to pick up passengers at random locations for safety and legal reasons except at the airport, cruise port, and train stations. Some individual taxi drivers will not follow this rule, however, so you may try hailing a taxi in the street.

All taxi drivers must have a valid license to operate. If you enter a cab and do not see a valid license placed in front of the passenger's seat, you should not enter the taxi and instead call another cab company, regardless of what the driver says. If you willingly enter a taxi with an expired license, or an unlicensed cab, and there is an incident or accident, it is possible that you may not be able to hold the driver accountable by law; it may also be dangerous to enter an unlicensed taxi, though it is uncommon to hear of crimes involving unlicensed taxis anywhere in the metropolitan area since the county government keeps track of all taxis in the area, and cooperates with other counties. When entering a cab, you should make note of the driver's name, license number, and cab number which should be easily available through the cab, if any problems arise during the trip. This information may be able to help you identify the cab driver to the police or cab company.

[edit] By car

Unless you plan to stay downtown or in a single location elsewhere, you will find that a car is a major convenience in Miami, and car rentals are cheap in comparison to other major US cities.

Surface roads in Miami are usually easy to navigate. The area's roads are designed around a grid system, where most roads are numbered based on their distance from the city center. Addresses also conform to the numbering of the roads around them. For instance, "9500 NW 30th Street" would be by the intersection of 30th Street and 95th Road, about 95 blocks west and 30 blocks north of the city center.

Note that if you cross into Broward County, the roads will be numbered based on their distance from the Fort Lauderdale or Hollywood city center, which is generally the same going east-west but will be very different going north-south. Some street names also change at the county line. The coastline highway, A1A, is known as "Collins Avenue" in Miami but becomes "Ocean Drive" in Broward. Likewise, "Red Road" in Miami becomes "University Drive" in Broward.

Miami has four primary expressways. I-95 runs north from downtown Miami to Fort Lauderdale and points beyond. 836 (also known as the Dolphin) runs west from downtown Miami, along the edge of Miami International Airport. 826 (known as the Palmetto Expressway to locals) and Florida's Turnpike form "F"-shaped loops around the city. The Turnpike continues north, roughly parallel to I-95, and will take you to Orlando if you keep driving.

I-95, the Palmetto and the Turnpike intersect at a junction in north Miami called the Golden Glades. This is one of the most nightmarishly-designed interchanges in Florida, and is best avoided by newbies unless you have very good lane-changing reflexes.

South of Miami, the main road is US 1, which is not an expressway but rather a very busy multi-lane surface road. US 1 runs through South Miami to Homestead, and if you keep driving south you enter the Florida Keys.

[edit] See

  • Vizcaya Museum and Gardens [4] European-inspired estate. Includes a main house filled with art and furnishings and ten acres of gardens on Biscayne Bay.
  • Oleta River State Park, 305-919-1846, [5].

[edit] Do

There are many things to do in Miami, if not in Miami itself the travel to Fort Lauderdale and the Keys is not far off. The Miami area is home to many beautiful beaches, such as world-famous South Beach in nearby Miami Beach, and a fun and lively night life. There are numerous dining places and night clubs as well as a drive in theatre for those who want privacy when watching a newly released film. There are lively, outgoing, smiling faces at every corner. For the daytime there are malls, flea markets, and museums to visit. There is also the Sea Aquarium for those who enjoy seeing and learning more about sea life.

  • County Fair & Exposition [6]
  • Tropical Park Equestrian Center [7]
  • Eco-Adventure Tours [8]
  • Canoe Trips
  • Kayaking and Snorkeling
  • Bike Tours

[edit] Events

If you are in town the weekend after New Years, do check out the King Mango Strut, a parade/parody of the events of the year, held every year in Coconut Grove.

[edit] Learn

  • St. Thomas University [9]


  • Miami-Dade Community College [10]
  • Barry University [11]
  • Florida International University [12]
  • University of Miami [13]

[edit] Work

[edit] Buy

Some visitors, particularly from South America, come to Miami exclusively to shop. Sometimes it is said that the main two things to do in Miami are to go shopping and going to the beach.

Some popular malls include:

  • Dadeland Mall in South Miami, accessible via MetroRail
  • Merrick Park in Coral Gables (exclusive and trendy stores), accessible via Metrorail and also by trolley (free in Coral Gables).
  • Lincoln Road Mall
  • Bal Harbor Shops has more exclusive and trendy stores, but is much smaller than Merrick Park
  • Aventura Mall in Aventura.
  • Dolphin Mall - Largest Mall in Miami [14].
  • Sawgrass Mills Mall - Outlet mall located in Broward County, north of Miami. Very convenient if driving in or out of Miami on I-75.
  • Bayside Marketplace in the heart of downtown Miami where you can visit this lovely open-air market, browse the artist's carts, or sip an iced drink and stroll along the pier.

[edit] Eat

Many international cuisines are to be found, with a heavy leaning towards Latin foods, particularly Cuban cuisine. Cuban cuisine to try: a sandwich cubano (Cuban sandwich), and a cafecito (literally: little coffee, but compares to a strong, sweet expresso.)

Coral Gables is the fancy business district from Monday to Friday (Downtown being the Banking district) where many people use to work. It is loaded with places to eat, from cafes to great restaurants. It has much more life during the week, but the restaurants are also open on weekends.

Along the beach there are many places to eat. Ocean Drive (South Beach) has a street full of restaurants and nightclubs. Lincoln Road Mall (near 17th Street) has several stores and restaurants and is very typical of South Beach with its gay bars, restaurants and stores ones next to the others. Between 67th and 75th street and Collins Avenue there are different restaurants such as Argentinians, Chileans, Mexicans, Japanese, Italian, Peruvian, Venezuelan, French, Colombian, Greek (highly recommended), and so on. Around 96th Street (near Bal Harbour Shops) and Collins Avenue there are also a few international restaurants.

[edit] Budget

For budget Cuban cuisine there are various La Carreta restaurants throughout the city, with low prices, a lot of food, and pleasant staff - be careful, though, as most people only speak Spanish.

[edit] Mid-range

[edit] Splurge

  • Joe's Stone Crab, on South Beach. Famous for - not surprisingly - its stone crabs, but the restaurant is seasonal (typically months with the letter R, September-April). China Grill on South Beach is also trendy. The food is good but the portions are small, and the price is mainly for the atmosphere. A full dinner for three-four people will run $250-$300.
  • Nobu & Ago Restaurant, 1901 Collins Avenue, +1 800 697 1791, [15] Serving cutting-edge Japanese cuisine, Nobu Matsuhisa and Robert DeNiro's renowned NOBU comes to Miami Beach.
  • Blue Sea Restaurant, 1685 Collins Avenue (located in an alcove off the main lobby of the Delano Hotel), +1 800 697 1791 [16]. The obvious choice for a casual meal served in a cozy setting.
  • Blue Door Restaurant, 1685 Collins Avenue (located in the Delano Hotel), +1 800 697 1791 [17]. Refined modern French cuisine with Brazilian and global influences.

[edit] Drink

Most of the drinking nightlife is centered around South Beach or Coconut Grove. "Cuba Libre" is a popular drink, known to the rest of the world as plain old "rum and Coke". Mojitos are also very popular.

MIAMI BEACH

  • Rose Bar, 1685 Collins Avenue, [18].
  • Sky Bar, 1901 Collins Avenue, [19]. Part of the hip and trendy Nobu & Ago restaurant.
  • Mac's Club Deuce, 14th Street between Washington & Collins. Open until 5AM, affordable, local hang-out.


COCONUT GROVE

  • Barracuda Bar & Grill, Fuller Street, serves beer & wine only, popular local hang-out.
  • Mr. Moe's, Commodore Plaza, popular with college crowds, serves good food.
  • Sand Bar, Grand Avenue, also popular with college crowds.
  • Greenstreet Cafe, Main Highway, Serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A bit more upscale but has a fantastic outside seating area for cocktails.

[edit] Sleep

Miami is a tourist town and has many hotels, located mostly around the airport area and along Miami Beach. High season (fewer rooms, higher prices) is during the winter months of November through February, with Summer being the low season. There are a few hostels, all located in South Beach.

[edit] Budget

  • Jazz on South Beach Hostel in Miami, 321 Collins Avenue, [20].
  • Days Inn Civic Center, 1050 NW 14th Street, [21].
  • South Beach Hostel in Miami, 235 Washington Avenue, [22].

[edit] Mid-range

  • Beacon Hotel 720 Ocean Drive, [23]. In the heart of South Beach, rooms equipped with Flat Panel LCD TVs, Cable television, IP-Phones with voicemail and data-port features, in-room mini-bar, and wireless high speed Internet access
  • Doral Resort, 4400 NW 87th Ave., [24]. The resort features 5 golf courses (host to the PGA Tour since 1962) and five restaurants. The Spa at Doral offers a range of high-end spa luxuries and facilities.
  • The Mutiny Hotel, 2951 South Bayshore Drive [25] is located in the Coconut Grove area in Miami, Florida. The hotel’s 12-story tower sits on Sailboat Bay. The hotel's 120, one and two-bedroom deluxe suites and penthouse suites all have bay or city views.
  • Carlton South Beach Hotel, 1433 Collins Ave., Miami Beach (305)672-5858, [26].
  • Crowne Plaza Miami - Airport, 950 NW LeJeune Road, [27].
  • Embassy Suites Miami - Airport, 3974 NW South River Drive, [28].
  • Summerfield Suites by Wyndham - Airport, 5710 Blue Lagoon Drive, [29].
  • Wyndham Grand Bay Coconut Grove Hotel, 2669 South Bayshore Drive, [30].
  • Kent Hotel - South Beach, 1131 Collins Avenue, [31].
  • InterContinental Miami Airport West, [32]. Conveniently close to Miami's business district and the various attractions, which include Coconut Grove and Miami Beach.
  • Don Shula - Hotel & Golf Club, 6842 Main Street, Miami Lakes, [33].
  • Miami El Palacio Sports Hotel 21485 NW 27th Avenue, +1 305 621-5801, [34]. A sports hotel and conference center close to the International Airport, Pro Player Stadium, and Calder Race Course.
  • Newport Beachside Hotel and Resort16701 Collins Avenue., [35], An oceanfront resort located midway between Fort Lauderdale and Miami International Airports. Pool, restaurants, and spa all on site.
  • Miami Airport Marriott, 1201 NW LeJeune Road, [36].
  • Marriott South Beach, 161 Ocean Drive, [37]. Steeped in art deco splendor and a high energy atmosphere, Marriott is a stylish South Beach luxury hotel in the trendiest corner of America's Riviera.
  • Marriott Biscayne Bay, 305-374-3900, [38]. A luxury hotel located in Downtown Miami’s Arts and Entertainment District. Amenities include elegant waterfront accommodations, onsite dining/catering, a heated pool, and event space.

[edit] Splurge

  • The Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables, [39]. One of Miami's best-known "grand old hotels," most famous for its enormous outdoor swimming pool and attached 18-hole golf course.
  • Four Seasons, 1435 Brickell Avenue, [40]. Located in a 66-story gray glass tower in the Brickell business district. Has a large pool deck at the seventh-floor lobby level with a view of Biscayne Bay.
  • The Shore Club Hotel, 1901 Collins Avenue, [41]. Hotel features the Beach House, two pools, a spa, the Skybar, Nobu & Ago restaurant, penthouse suites, and meeting facilities.
  • Delano Luxury Hotel, 1685 Collins Avenue, [42]. Hotel features the poolside Bungalows, the Blue Door restaurant, the Blue Sea restaurant, the Rose Bar, the Agua Bathhouse, the Water Salon, penthouse suites, and meeting facilities.
  • The Setai, 2001 Collins Avenue, [43]. Contemporary Asian style hotel in a reconstructed Deco building. Managed by GHM hotels, operator of the high-end Chedi chain.

[edit] Contact

[edit] Stay safe

The emergency telephone number for fire, police and rescue emergencies is 911. If one requires non-emergency assistance, do not call 911 as that number is reserved for emergencies only. To contact police in a non-emergency situation one may call +1 305 4POLICE. This number will only contact police services, for fire and medical one should dial 911, though if a non-emergency medical or fire situation were to arise, the number for police will be able to contact these services.

[edit] Personal security

Miami, despite being heralded in the news as a center of crime and drug smuggling, is relatively safe for the passing tourist. One should use the same precautions as when traveling anywhere - try not to travel alone, avoid deserted areas at night, etc.

Traveling by day is almost completely innocuous, though the infrequent purse-snatching does occur in downtown. It is important to note that downtown Miami is quickly becoming increasingly gentrified with the construction of trendy, expensive high-rises and an influx in high-class European and South American buyers.

Some parts of Little Havana, Central Hialeah, and portions of Northern Dade-County, especially around Liberty City and Allpattah can be especially dangerous due to high crime rates, though it is unlikely that tourists would visit these areas since they are mostly residential suburbs and not part of the general attraction of the metropolis.

Public transport, which operates 24 hours in most tourist destinations is generally safe at all hours. Waiting for a bus in an isolated area however, should best be avoided. It is also probably wise to avoid the using the Metrorail north of Downtown Miami after 10PM. Traveling alone anywhere late at night, except for the strip on South Beach, Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne, and most western and southern suburbs, is not prudent. Though it is unlikely that much will actually occur, it is better to be safe, especially for a tourist unfamiliar with the geography of Miami.

Most of South Beach (Ocean Drive, Collins, etc.) are frequented by tourists at all hours, even until dawn, and are safe to peruse, as are the 'hot spot' areas of Coconut Grove. However, much of the rest of the Beach is not recommended to traverse after hours, and the beach itself is closed from midnight-5AM. It is not recommended to walk down empty areas of the beach at night, as purse snatching and muggings are known to occur on the beach itself by persons who hide in a nearby area, or walk down the beach behind tourists seemingly acting like another innocent person, slowly approaching the person or couple before attacking randomly. This occurs to locals and tourists, and usually occurs right as tourists decide to talk a nighttime walk down the beach.

Brickell Avenue in downtown is mainly safe to frequent at most hours of the night, but downtown is host to a large homeless population and mugging is a possibility especially for a woman.

Also a threat is Grand Avenue, directly adjacent to Coconut Grove. The late Coconut Grove party-goer should never travel Grand Avenue at night by foot, or risk being mugged.

[edit] Cope

When on a layover at Miami International Airport 3 hours or more, take the J Bus to Miami Beach and jump in the warm Atlantic Ocean.

[edit] Get out

The Port of Miami is a major cruise ship embarkation port.

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