Accommodations

Miami offers an exciting, fun and sun oriented getaway with a variety of condos, vacation homes, hotels, and resorts. Choose an accommodation near any of Miami's local attractions that offers comfort while making the most of the beautiful beaches and attractions at affordably priced rates.

View our Miami Vacation Rentals or Miami Resorts

Activities

The Art Deco Museum and Welcome Center shop are must see stops for all who want to experience South Beach's Art Deco Historic District, its design, origins and history. Miami Seaquarium is a South Florida attraction like no other, a place where dolphins walk on water and a killer whale flies through the air.  It is a world-class marine-life entertainment park with eight different marine animal shows and presentations offered daily. The Imax Theatre at Sunset Place presents images of immense size and striking clarity. Sound so clear and deep you can feel it, with giant screens that immerse you in new worlds. Treat yourself and your family to a great day outdoors at Parrot Jungle Island. Attend any of the park's shows that enable your kids to interact with parrots, reptiles, other birds, fish and flamingos. Everglades National Park is one of the most unusual public parks in the United States. Located on the southern tip of Florida, the park is home to rare and endangered species, including the American Crocodile, the Florida Panther and the West Indian Manatee.

Events

Miami is host to the annual New Years Day Orange Bowl, featuring two of the best college football teams. The Coconut Grove Art Festival in February features the works of more than 300 artists, food, and music along South Bayshore Drive. In March the Miami International Film Festival showcases a variety of acclaimed films from various genres and countries. The Festival has presented films from more than 50 countries, including 125 East Coast, U.S., and world premieres. Screenings are held at several locations around town. Calle Ocho is a celebration of Hispanic culture that takes place in March at the end of Miami Carnival. Known as the world's largest street party, the festival spans 23 city blocks, filled with musical stages, youth sites, folklore sites and food vendors.

Water Sports

The Atlantic Coast beaches of Miami and the Gold Coast are perfect for swimming, surfing, or catching up on your tan. You can also find powerboat and sailboat rentals, as well as jetski rentals. The warm Gulf Stream waters are inviting for snorkeling and scuba diving.

Golfing

Take advantage of South Florida's year-round gorgeous weather, tempered by gentle sea breezes. The golf courses are set with a backdrop of white-sand beach and crystal-blue Atlantic waters on beautifully tended courses offering some of the best greens in the country.

History

The first permanent European settlers arrived in the early 1800s, people who came from the Bahamas to hunt for treasure from the ships that ran aground on the treacherous Great Florida reef. Some accepted Spanish land offers along the Miami River and Seminole Indians began to migrate to the area at about the same time. Following the Spanish sale of Florida to the United States, the area was affected by the Second Seminole Indian war with most of the population of Miami killed or driven off.

In 1891, a wealthy Cleveland woman named Julia Tuttle purchased an enormous citrus plantation in the Miami area. She and William Brickell tried to get railroad magnate Henry Flagler to expand his rail line, the Florida East Coast Railroad, southward to the area, but he initially declined. Following the great Florida freezes of 1894 and 1895, which devestated most of the citrus industry in Florida, Flagler was persuaded to reconsider. Following the arrival of Flagler's railroad, the City of Miami began its rapid growth to become one of the worlds largest and most famous cities.