Miami-area Attractions

The Miami Area

The Miami area in South Florida is a diverse business and tourism destination, with immigrant groups from all over the world. The Port of Miami is the top cruise ship port in the world, with many cruise lines based there. Farther north in Fort Lauderdale is Port Everglades, which also has some cruise business. Both the Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports are among the busiest in the country, with a lot of international flights.

Among the most popular attractions in South Florida is the Miami Seaquarium, which has been thrilling audiences with its dolphin shows for decades. The Seaquarium was the home of Flipper, the famous dolphin who became a television star. The Seaquarium is on the Rickenbacker Causeway at Virginia Key, next door to the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.

Farther south is Key Biscayne, an outdoor paradise with miles of public beach. At the south end of the public beach is a beautiful park that was previously the old Miami zoo. Several wild peacocks and iguanas roam the grounds. A bicycle trail runs all along Key Biscayne, passing near several highrise condominiums near the shore. At the south end of the island is Cape Florida State Park, home to a historic lighthouse. There is no need for a car to visit the Key, as bus letter B departs from Government Center in downtown Miami.

Greater Miami has a good public transportation system, radiating from Government Center. All Miami buses and the Metrorail depart from there. Within downtown Miami, visitors can ride the Metromover from the financial district on the south side to the Omni Center on the north end. Along their downtown tour, visitors can walk along Bayfront Park, which is well-kept and has many places to sit along a circular fountain. On the north side of Bayfront Park is the Bayside open-air shopping mall and Miamarina. There are several fine restaurants at Bayside with a view of the tour boat docks and huge yachts docked alongside them. Directly across is the Port of Miami.

Just north of Bayside along Biscayne Boulevard is the American Airlines Arena, where basketball and hockey games are held. Directly across from the arena is the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, and just south on the same side of the boulevard is the historic Freedom Tower. This was the processing center for thousands of Cuban refugees who fled to America during the 60s.

Biscayne Boulevard is U.S. Highway 1, which runs all along the eastern United States from Maine to the Florida Keys.