Miami Restaurants, Shops and Other Tourist Attractions

Humid and warm, Miami is an experience in and of itself. Hot, sunny beaches mixed with blue skies and beautiful people make it enjoyable to visit. Miami is a total tourist trap, but in the best ways. If you go there, enjoy Miami for what it is, and not what you want it to be. My advice? Stick to the beach and you can't go wrong (but do bring lots of sunscreen!). Remember also: if you're going out on the town, its usuallu best to go where the locals do, as they know th emost happening spots.

South Beach is one of Miami's famed beaches, and rightly so. The people watching is the best activity in South Beach, and it is full of myriad stores and restaurants. However, be careful while parking because the price is pretty steep. You'd be better off taking one of the many shuttles or buses if you're going for a day trip.Home to happening nightlife and beautiful people, South Beach also boasts a number of good restaurants. You'll find everything from Italian and Greek food to hot dog bars and cafes.

The Bayside Marketplace boasts tons of shopping and is miami's version of San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. Keep an eye out for novelty stores and bargains. Most of the stores are high-end, trendy fashion outposts catering to the rich and the wannabes . However, the ocean is beautiful and there are a number of boat rides to take around the bay. Look around and you can find some excellent food at reasonable prices. There is always entertainment, but watch out for beggars and other unsavory characters towards evening.

Coconut Grove is home to tons of shopping, excellent restaurants, and interesting sights (code for tourist trap). Make sure you stay to the Main Highway and off of the side streets-they can get seamy at night. Avoid Grand Avenue, as it will lead you to a dangerous neighborhood. A walk down Mayfair is nice, as there are a number of cool restaurants and shops. The food can be good, even great, and there's lots of cool souvenirs at low prices. If you decide to visit, remember parking can cost up to $8 per hour. There's live entertainment towards evening, and if you have children, be careful towards dark as that is when the beautiful young things come out to party.

Ocean Drive is a sightseer's paradise, especially if you're a people watcher or art deco enthusiast. Ocean Drive can be spendy, so beware if you're shopping. However, little novelty stores abound and you can often find some excellent deals. It happens to be home to some exquisite art deco buildings and is great for a short sightseeing jaunt. Cafe Milano, Cafe Pelican, and News Café are all reasonably priced and serve excellent food. Nightlife is average, though there are some decent bars and dance clubs.