1. Miami Beach

When you think of Miami chances are you think of a sandy beach with the sun shining.

Miami Beach is the best area in Miami for soaking up some rays on a sandy beach and it is something of a legend in the city.

The beach itself technically outside of the Miami municipality as it is located on an island. Aside from the beaches, the area is also known for its Art Deco district and the odd but beautiful buildings within.

2. Jungle Island

Jungle Island is one of the most popular attractions in the city of Miami.

It is located on Watson Island and was formerly known as Parrot Jungle and even had Winston Churchill visit in 1946. The Jungle is only minutes away from South Beach and Downtown Miami.

Through interactive experiences, Jungle Island enthralls park visitors with a sense of adventure and discovery. Why not catch one of the exciting shows which are a daily occurrence.

3. Art Deco District

With a hint of 1930’s nostalgia, the beautifully restored buildings within the Art Deco District have a lot to offer on a relaxed day in the Miami beach area.

Looking out to see, (a lot of them located front Ocean Drive) the pastel painted buildings pose a great place to stop for lunch of an evening meal. With its neon signs and canopy covered dining areas, the Art Deco District truly comes in its own after dark.

4. Bayside Marketplace

Hosting over 150 specialty and tourist shops, cafes and restaurants, Bayside Market place has it all.

As well as well known chain stores visitors will find an array of charming boutiques in this outdoor style mall.

Located along Miami’s waterfront, as the name suggests, many locals come here to soak up the lively atmosphere and admire the bay, with its daily live music and fun vibe the Bayside Market does not fail to entertain.

5. Stroll through The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Recognized as one of Miami’s greatest treasures, The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens with its stunning architecture, grounds and artwork are certainly worth a visit.

Featuring 34 rooms arranged around a breath taking courtyard, the Renaissance-style villa is filled with the most exquisite European furniture and arts reaching from the 15th to the 19th century.

Over 1,100 craftsmen were bought over from Europe for true authenticity in design, to complete this 28-acre estate.

6. V Zoo Miami

Providing animals with habitats close to their natural setting, Zoo Miami visitors get the sensation of exploring a real safari.

With open-air exhibits and a cage free environment, zoo visitors have a chance to enjoy endangered wildlife up close.

With lots of interaction with the animals, Zoo Miami while not the biggest is fantastic for families especially for the younger ones with a children’s zoo featuring a range of different attractions including camel rides.

7. Explore salt marshes and Indian burial grounds

Encompassing mangrove forests, salt marshes, a coastal dune island, coastal tropical hardwood rockland hammocks and endangered pine habitats, this 440 acre Deering Estate at Cutler property has it all.

Also home to the Richard cottages c1900 which served as a hotel, the Deering Estate hosts other historical buildings of importance  dating from 1896 to 1922 and an Indian burial ground circa 1500.

Visitors are welcome to stroll through the stunning grounds, explore the houses or simply relax and soak up the surroundings.

8. Get hands on at The Miami Science Museum

With its many interactive exhibits and a large number of hands-on displays the Miami Science museum offers a truly immersive experience encompassing a wide range of scientific fields including physics, biology and chemistry.

Established in 1950, the museum has grown significantly and has expanded its space considerably throughout the years. The Museum exhibits regularly change offering fresh themes and displays to a 2nd 3rd or 4th visit is never too much.

9. Explore Croc ridden swamplands at the Everglades National Park

Just a short drive from Miami, The Everglades National Park covers 1.5 million acres of swamp lands home to alligators, snakes, crocodiles and a whole host of birds.

As well as walking trails and boardwalks to for wildlife viewing, one of the most exciting way to see the everglades is aboard a high speed airboat. Taking visitors deep into the marshes and streams, the airboat tour is guaranteed to entertain and is the best way to see alligators.

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10. Admire Freedom Tower

Built in 1925 with a the important role of an immigration-processing center for the many hundreds of thousands of Cuban refugees that were arriving, today freedom tower stands as a tribute to Cuban immigration and proudly stands out as one of the most striking and oldest skyscrapers in southern eastern United states.

11. Meet Flipper at The Miami Sea Aquarium

Actively rehabilitating and rescuing Florida’s endangered manatees, the Miami Sea Aquarium has forever been a firm family favourite attracting visitors from far and wide.

With daily shows displaying dolphins, killer whales and other ocean mammals, the aquarium will delight any visitor. If that’s not enough, check out the large observation tanks containing a wide range of tropical fish, sharks and even alligators.

Still not satisfied? Why not get involved in the “swim with dolphins” program that educates about the behavior and natural history of dolphins.

12. Soak up the sun at South Beach

Renowned for being the most popular section of Miami beach, in the summer the beach is packed with locals and visitors from around the world but in the winter months the area becomes more of a chilled out area and is a great place to take a stroll whilst admiring the art deco buildings that provide a backdrop for the beach.

13. Be childish at the Miami Children’s Museum

Founded back in 1983 but only moving to its current site as recently as 2003, the Miami Children’s Museum is a great place for children to be educated and entertained at the same time.

Appealing to the imaginations and curiosity of youngsters the exhibits are interactive and revolve around themes such as cultures around the world and art.

The museum is set in a unique looking 56,000 square foot building.

14. Learn about Locomotive History

The Gold Coast Railroad Museum was created in the 1950’s by the Miami Railroad Historical Society and houses 30 historic locomotives in pristine condition.

Famous carriages include the one that once carried Roosevelt, Truman and Reagan. Also at the museum is an impressive and detailed model railway that is worth admiring.

There are also some wooden toy train sets for children who will inevitably be inspired to play with trains after looking around the museum.

15. Visit Crandon Park

South of Miami Beach and across the Rickenbacker Causeway you will find Key Biscayne, a beautiful but small area with stunning beaches and fantastic park areas. Crandon Park is probably the most visited park in the area and for good reason.

The reef here means that the swimming conditions are ideal. Also in the park, you will find an Amusement Center and Nature Center adding even more to the family appeal of Crandon Park.

Facilities in the park are good with plenty of parking and lifeguards keeping lookout year round.

16. Stroll around Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden has a vast collection of rare tropical plants including vines, flowering trees and cycads. The gardens are open year round except for Christmas day.

Exhibits of note include the Richard H Simons Rainforest which was built thanks to a generous grant and showcases the habitat of tropical and often endangered rainforests around the world.

17. See Some Coral Art

Coral Castle is the work of eccentric Latvian American artist Edward Leedskalninand is made from 1100 tons of coral rock. The building was built by Edward alone and is both an impressive feat and a stunning work of art.

It is not actually known how Edward achieved this massive feat and this is partly the reason why so many visitors to the castle are left fascinated by their trip.

18. Swim in the Venetian Pool

The Venetian Pool in Coral Gables just outside of Miami is a little taste of Venice. It is a historic aquatic facility and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

It was built in 1923 out of a coral rock quarry. The pool holds 820,000 gallons fed from underground spring water and in the busy spring and summer months in emptied and refilled daily. The pool gets very busy in peak season and the attraction stops selling tickets once its capacity is reached.

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