Visiting Miami: 12 must-see attractions and things to do

Oye sapapaya…! There you go, I’m back from my trip and today I’m going to share with you my impressions. 12 must-see and do things if you also want visiting Miami, a surprising and contrasting destination that deserves to be discovered.

No, Miami is not just about the party, Spring break and the bling-bling that often comes with the city. Behind this aspect lies a destination that is full of small wonders to discover and mixed culture quite unique.

But before I tell you more about my 12 must-see and do things in Miami, It is important to present its history in order to better understand it later 🙂

A little history to better understand the city before visiting Miami…

What fascinated me most was the history of the city and its rapid expansion in just over a century!

Miami It developed as a result of colossal challenges taken on by its founders, at a time when the city was covered in marshes. No one would have bet a dollar on the destination’s potential. Except for a few visionaries illuminated...

Around the 1870s, the first two people to believe in Miami were William Brickell, who bought land, opened a trading post, and a post office.

Then there was Julia Tuttle who purchased a vast citrus plantation in the region. Following two major cold waves in the United States, many harvests were destroyed, except for those of Tuttle, which benefited from excellent weather in this southern Florida region.

Together (Brickell and Tuttle), they managed to convince Henry Morrison Flagler, the American railroad magnate, to lay the Florida East Coast Railway line to Miami. And it was at that moment, in 1896, that the city really came into being…

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source: http://miamiarchives.blogspot.com

This was followed by numerous efforts to drain the marshes. In 1910 John S Collins sees great potential in Miami Beach for the culture of the lawyer! And in 1913, it was the billionaire Carl Fisher who helps Collins connect the island to the mainland by building a bridge…

In the 1920s the city experienced intense development, and it was only from 1933 that the first buildings in the Art Nouveau style began to appear. Art Deco in Miami Beach.

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The city as we know it today is beginning to take shape… During World War II, the American army occupied a large part of the city, and at the end of the war many soldiers remained in Miami to settle there.

In 1959, When Castro came to power in Cuba, in two decades, it was almost 500,000 Cubans who fled the regime to settle in the Miami area, taking with them their culture and traditions.

The city also attracted migrants from other Caribbean countries (such as Haiti) and from South America, which helped create the new face and identity of Miami, a city that has become a major tourist destination. Cosmopolitan city, mixed where Spanish is an official language spoken by nearly 65% of the inhabitants. Let me tell you that you very rarely hear English spoken in the city, whether in shops, in taxis, etc…!

Did you know that Miami is an Amerindian word meaning «fresh water» and that the name of the city comes from the Mayaimi tribe that lived in what is now Florida?

Well, now you know a little more about the history of Miami…

Collins Avenue, the main artery of Miami Beach

This is one of the main arteries of Miami Beach that runs from north to south. It is mainly home to hotels, high-end residences, and restaurants, as well as shops as you get closer to South Beach further south.

If you are staying in a hotel or residence, it is in this area that it is best to go. It is also from this avenue that you can access the beaches from the small perpendicular streets.

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Visiting Miami by bike: South Beach & the Art Deco District

Here’s an original way to visit Miami from a new angle. On a bike, you discover more things, you take advantage of them, and you learn a lot in particular! I did this guided tour with Stéphanie from the agency Miami En Français, a French-speaking guide who has been living in Miami for a few years. We started the tour at the Espanola Way, a small typical street in the city center also known for its many restaurants.

We continued towards Dru Soundscape Park located opposite New World Center, a building built by The architect Franck Gehry where many concerts take place. Good deal: the events are broadcast live in the park on the Wallcast, A 650 square meter projection wall. The perfect opportunity to have a picnic in the open air in the evening and enjoy the concert with good acoustics (many speakers throughout the park).

We then headed to Ocean Drive by bike, following the walk which runs along the seaside. By the way, I recommend you to go there to walk around too; this walk goes all along the beach and you’ll see joggers, couples on roller skates, and cyclists; in short, in the morning it’s a great place to spend the day. The meeting of athletes. Note that there are also many wooded areas where you can rest, refresh yourself, and take a shower.

We finally get to the beginning of Ocean Drive, This famous boulevard, known for its typical Art Deco buildings, some of which appear in many films and series (Scarface, 2 cops in Miami, Bad Boys, etc…). .

It is imperative to see this boulevard both by day and especially by night! The atmosphere changes completely. The buildings are all lit in different colors for an absolutely unique setting. You might even encounter old convertible cars 60s style with crazy charm! You feel like you're in a movie...

Well, it’s nice to stroll around this neighborhood during the day, but even though the atmosphere is great in the evening, it remains the most touristy spot in the city…

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Before continuing our journey further south on the island, we took in the view from the terrace/roof-top of the Betsy Hotel, a historic building built in 1942. It is free to access the terrace to admire the view of Lummus Park that runs along Ocean Drive, then the ocean beyond sight.

Take a look at the decor of the hotel lobby too; it’s really beautiful and refined in a chic colonial style. By the way, the city is full of art deco-style hotels, so if you want to stay in one of them, compare prices on sites like Liligo.fr

A little further on, we could see Gianni Versace's house, the famous couturier who was murdered in front of the 15th of July 1997.

We continued our walk to arrive at South Point Pier, a pier from which you can enjoy a beautiful view of all of South Beach. Don’t forget to also take a walk in the park located nearby 🙂

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Shopping on Lincoln Road

Lincoln Road is a kind of open-air shopping center where you can find many international brands (Zara, H&M, etc…), which is handy if you forgot essential items in your suitcase! There are also a few bars and restaurants to take a break during your shopping session.

See the rescue huts on Miami Beach beach

They are mythical and indispensable! All along the beach in Miami Beach, you can see many of them. rescue huts All of them are colorful and come in different shapes. It’s a must-see when you want to visit Miami!

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Street art in Miami: a visit to the Wynwood neighborhood

Wynwood... We hear so much about it! It’s one of the hippest neighborhoods in Miami, located just a few blocks from Downtown, where one can admire many street art frescoes created by the greatest international street artists.

It is also the case today one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in the world to admire street art! It’s of course a must-see stop when you want to visiting Miami… Previously Wynwood It was a little frequented area, with only warehouses there, but in 2009 Tony Goldman rehabilitated the neighborhood with the ambition of making it one of the world’s centers of street art.

The neighborhood is so large that I recommend starting the tour from the Wynwood Walls, a kind of open-air museum where major works are created, such as those by OS Gemeos, Okudart, Vhils, Shepard Faire, etc…

It’s a bit the nerve center of the neighborhood. The site is open every day from 10:30 to 11:30 (on Fridays and Saturdays until midnight // on Sundays until 20:00). Admission is free!

Next, I recommend that you get lost in the neighborhood and visit Miami from the perspective of street art. At every street corner, you will be amazed by these gigantic, colorful works, often filled with symbols.

But beware! Every year, the walls of the neighborhood are repainted white so that the artists can create new murals… That’s the ephemeral aspect that I particularly like. It’s not sure you’ll be able to see the same street art as the ones I saw during my visit…

Wunwood also features artist workshops, architect and designer studios, co-working spaces, start-up incubators, trendy restaurants and bars – all very nice!

I would also recommend that you have dinner at 1-800 Lucky, a food hall that brings together 7 restaurants. And right next to it there is a bar-club, El Patio, where you can enjoy some Latin music! The atmosphere is great 🙂 In the daytime, go have a drink at Panther Coffee; it’s located just a few steps from the Wynwood Walls!

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Visit the Miami Design District

We continue with the visit to Miami Design District, a new neighborhood dedicated to design. Design, In architecture, contemporary art and luxury, located just two blocks from Wynwood...

What a contrast! That’s what’s surprising in Miami; it’s enough to walk down a street to find yourself in a completely different world… This somewhat sanitized neighborhood was created in the early 2000s by Craig Robins who bought old buildings from the neighborhood to renovate them and convinced the first renowned contemporary designers and artists to move in.

It was also at this time that Miami hosted the first Art Basel Festival. A little later, the luxury industry took root in the neighborhood, making it a must-see destination. shopping High-end. You’ll find all the biggest names in haute couture, jewelry, and watches here.

I really liked the architecture of the buildings, and especially the colorful, out-of-the-ordinary parking lot that’s quite unique in its kind! Well, it’s not the neighborhood I’d go shopping in, but the Miami Design District is definitely worth a visit and is well worth spending a little time exploring.

If you wish to do a combined visit of Wynwood + Miami Design District, visit the agency’s website. Miami in French, This guided tour is really great and you learn a lot about the history and development of the neighborhoods 🙂

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Visit to Little Havana

Little Havana is another must-see stop when visiting Miami. The neighborhood developed over the waves of migration of Cubans fleeing the Castro regime starting in 1959. As the name suggests, it is a small concentration of Cuban culture!

They speak Spanish there, they eat local specialties like Ropa Vieja in the restaurants. paladares, You can drink a Cuban coffee (very strong!) at the Versailles bar, you can visit cigar factories, and you can watch the old people playing dominos in the famous Maximo Gomez Dominos Park and we take advantage of this quite unique lively atmosphere along the famous Calle Ocho.

• Do not miss the opportunity to observe the street-art all over the neighborhood
• Push open the door of the Cubaocho Museum, a kind of museum, library, bar, etc. A must-see!
• Enjoy The best ice cream at Azucar (Take Abuela Maria!)
• Have a Cuban coffee to go at El Exquisito bar (75 cents)
• Visit the Havana Classic Cigar
• Drinking a milkshake or fruit juice at « Los Pinareños »The oldest open-air market in Miami"

By the way, don’t miss the chance to come to this central artery on the last Friday of each month for the « Cultural Fridays«The stars of the artistic and cultural scene in the neighborhood are honored and the atmosphere is always great!

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Visiting Miami: Downtown – Brickell and Bayside

After Little Havana, head to Miami Downtown, located a few blocks south! Once again, it’s a radical change of scenery; the atmosphere of the community neighborhoods with their traditional shops gives way to this business district that includes many skyscrapers.

It is the financial center of Florida and the 3rd largest in the United States after New York and Chicago. The neighborhoods of Downtown and Brickell are separated by the Miami River, which you can walk along to reach the Bayfront Park a little further away and then the Bayside Market Place where you will find bars, restaurants and shops.

It’s worth stopping by for a night out; there’s plenty of entertainment and live concerts.

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Visit to Little Haiti

Discover this neighborhood, still little known and less touristy than Little Havana. The Haitian diaspora began in the 80s and many migrants have settled in this neighborhood, but have not abandoned their traditional way of life.

As you well know, here you find a small summary of Haitian culture with typical restaurants, bookstores, record stores, shops that sell Afro-Caribbean products, etc…

Here again, we can observe street art works depicting important figures from the country such as Toussaint and highlights such as Haiti’s independence in 1804.

Haitian culture is celebrated through museums, a cultural center where many events take place throughout the year. But the neighborhood is undergoing a major transformation and many real estate projects are about to be launched very soon… Hopefully the atmosphere and identity of Little Haiti will be preserved 🙂

Visiting the neighborhood is an interesting and enriching step to get a better feel for the culture of this relatively unknown Caribbean island.

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Departed by private boat in Biscayne Bay

A wonderful experience to have if you are visiting Miami with friends! It costs 389€ for 2 hours of cruising in Biscayne Bay on a private boat that can accommodate up to 6 people. The more people you are, the more advantageous the price per person is!

We were greeted by Thomas, a French expat also living in Miami, who took us to his outdoor deck, which has benches at the back and front for relaxing. There is also storage space to keep his belongings and a fridge to keep his drinks cool 🙂

Everyone is settled in, the music playlist is loaded, and here we go for two hours of cruising around the famous mansions of celebrities and billionaires around Star Island, Palm Island and Hibiscus Island, then we crossed through Miami Downtown by taking the Miami River, and then we went full speed ahead on a small island a little further out in the bay. A perfect opportunity to swim, enjoy the atmosphere, and have an aperitif at the end of the day.

To book click here 

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Sunset on the Venitian Islands

As for the sunrise, there’s no surprise; you have to watch it from the beaches of Miami Beach facing east, but when it comes to the sunset, it’s a bit more difficult to find!

I advise you to go to The terrace of the Standard Hotel On the Venitian Islands, it is one of the perfect spots to watch the sunset over the skyline of Miami Downtown while sipping a cocktail in a nice setting with good music!

Stay on the blog, I'll give you some Practical tips for preparing a trip to Miami

How to prepare for your trip? You can choose to do a trip to Miami with Fram For example, you can choose a turnkey package including flight + hotel or you can go on a road trip by booking your nights on the spot one by one. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide based on your preferences and budget. I’ll tell you more about it in the other article.

* Stay was made possible thanks to a partnership with the Miami agency, Liligo.fr and Miami in France.

The content of this article only reflects my opinion; I maintain complete freedom in my statements, and my recommendations are always objective.