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Miami Beach Florida Vacations
and Stays Fun for the whole family Miami Beach, Florida is a coastal resort city of Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. It was incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a series of natural and man-made barrier islands between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper. The neighborhood of South Beach, comprising the southernmost 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2) of Miami Beach, along with Downtown Miami and the port, collectively form the commercial center of South Florida. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 87,779. Miami Beach has been one of America's pre-eminent beach resorts since the early 20th century. In 1979, Miami Beach's Art Deco Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Art Deco District is the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world and comprises hundreds of hotels, apartments and other structures erected between 1923 and 1943. Mediterranean, Streamline Moderne and Art Deco are all represented in the District. The Historic District is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the East, Lenox Court on the West, 6th Street on the South and Dade Boulevard along the Collins Canal to the North. The movement to preserve the Art Deco District's architectural heritage was led by former interior designer Barbara Capitman, who now has a street in the District named in her honor. Popular & Recommended Properties Riu Plaza Miami Beach - Located 525 feet' walk from the beach, this Miami Beach hotel features an outdoor swimming pool and sun terrace. The hotel is 9 minutes' drive from the shops and restaurants of Lincoln Road and offers free WiFi to guests. A flat-screen TV, ironing facilities, and coffee-making facilities are available in Hotel Riu Plaza Miami Beach rooms. Private bathrooms feature a shower and hairdryer. Select rooms offer a sea view. A fitness center is available. This beachfront property offers bicycle hires, concierge services, and a 24-hour front desk. Dining options include a poolside snack bar and a buffet restaurant that features salads, fresh fruit, cheese plates, and more. Guests can explore the waters, architecture, and nightlife of South Beach (2.2 mi) or play a round of golf at Bayshore Golf Course (1.6 mi). Miami Beach Convention Center is 1.5 miles' drive away while Miami International Airport is 17 minutes' drive by car. Fontainebleau Miami Beach - Beachfront Fontainebleau Miami Beach features scenic ocean views and 6 outdoor swimming pools surrounded by private cabanas. A nightclub, 9 restaurants, and a spa are located on site for comfort. A flat-screen TV and WiFi access come standard in every guestroom. Select rooms feature a kitchenette and a balcony with ocean views. Enjoy music by the pools or relax in one of the private cabanas that include a flat-screen TV, WiFi, and butler service. There is also a children's playground, children's waterscape, and direct beach access. Hotel Fontainebleau Miami Beach offers 9 dining establishments with a wide range of cuisines, including Chinese, Italian, and Japanese. Guests can enjoy oceanfront dining at La Cote or relax with coffee and cake at Chez Bon Bon. Take a tour of the Art Deco District (3.4 mi drive) or enjoy the shops, restaurants, and sights of Lincoln Road Mall (3.1 mi drive). Miami International Airport is 20 minutes' drive away. Holiday Inn Miami Beach-Oceanfront - This oceanfront hotel is just 2 miles from the Miami Beach Convention Center. It offers an outdoor swimming pool with a hot tub, free Wi-Fi in every accommodation, and an on-site restaurant. At Holiday Inn Miami Beach-Oceanfront, the Paradise Cafe is open all day, providing a breakfast buffet each morning. In addition, Blue Parrot Bar offers a full bar and snacks. The air-conditioned rooms at the Oceanfront Miami Beach Holiday Inn come with a cable TV and work desk. All rooms feature traditional decor, and some offer an ocean view. This hotel features tropical grounds with hammocks. A fitness center and a business center are available for guest convenience. South Beach is a 3 minute drive away, and Miami Beach Golf Club is a 6 minute drive from the hotel. Miami International Airport is 11.2 miles away. Z Ocean Hotel South Beach - This all-suite hotel in Miami Beach, Florida is steps from the Atlantic Ocean. It offers relaxing spa services, a restaurant, an outdoor pool and rooms with a flat-screen cable TV. A minibar, microwave and coffee maker are standard in every modern room at Z Ocean Hotel South Beach. The living area provides a CD/DVD player and a private balcony. Z Ocean Hotel features a well-equipped gym and offers local area information. Guests can receive a hot stone massage, sun umbrellas with towels and floating devices as well. The Front Porch restaurant is located in the lobby of South Beach Z Hotel. It serves local and seasonal cuisine all day as well as offers a full bar menu. Miami Seaquarium is 12 miles from South Beach Z Ocean Hotel. Miami International Airport is 11 miles from the hotel. Topless sunbathing is also allowed in some beach areas. Crystal Beach Suites Oceanfront Hotel - This Miami Beach, Florida hotel is 250 feet from the beach and 400 feet from the ocean. Features include an outdoor pool, fitness center, and free WiFi. A kitchenette, living room, and queen-size sofa bed are provided in each suite at Crystal Beach Suites Oceanfront Hotel. Premium suites include granite countertops and 2 larger flat-screen televisions. A laundry, ATM cash machine, and drink and snack vending machines are on site. Guests will also have access to a boarding pass computer and printer, luggage weight scale, and ice machines. This Miami Beach Crystal Beach Hotel is within a 10-minute drive of South Beach and Bal Harbour. Aventura Mall is less than a 20-minute drive away. Nautilus by Arlo - This oceanfront 1950s-era Nautilus features an outdoor pool surrounded by cabanas, spa services, and a restaurant. A full american buffet breakfast is available, and the South Beach district is 10 minutes' walk away. Dark wood and leather furnishings and photography by Sante D'Orazio accentuate each modern room. All rooms provide a 48-inch flat-screen TV, and certain rooms have a balcony with views of the ocean, pool, or city. Direct beach access with lounging chairs can be enjoyed to the utmost with full food and beverage service. Guests can access the fitness center 24 hours a day. A 24-hour reception, concierge service, and luggage storage are available to all guests throughout their stays. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served on the terrace or indoor dining room at the Nautilus Cabana Club. In-room dining is offered for a fee. Golfing is 5 minutes' drive away at Miami Beach Golf Club. Lincoln Road boutiques and cafes are 0.7 mi from Nautilus, while the Bass Museum of Art is 1,000 feet away. San Juan Hotel Miami Beach - Featuring free WiFi, a restaurant, and a year-round outdoor pool, San Juan Hotel Miami Beach offers accommodations in Miami Beach. Rooms are air conditioned and feature a flat-screen TV and small refrigerator. The rooms have a private bathroom fitted with a bath or shower. For your comfort, you will find bath robes and free toiletries. Guests of Miami Beach San Juan Hotel have access to valet parking, concierge services, and en suite/poolside spa services. The hotel is nonsmoking throughout and features a 24-hour front desk. SJH Bistro offers traditional, fresh foods with a twist while SJH Lounge crafts creative cocktails that can be enjoyed in the Collins Avenue patio, zen garden, or poolside cabanas. Famed Lincoln Road Mall is 8 minutes' drive from San Juan Hotel Miami Beach, while Miami Beach Convention Center is 2,650 feet from the property. The nearest airport is Miami Airport, 12 mi from the property. Loews Miami Beach Hotel - This Miami Beach beachfront resort features a full-service spa and 6 restaurants and lounges. Guests can relax at the outdoor pool and hot tub or escape to the Art Deco District, just 5 minutes' walk away. A city or ocean view is featured in all rooms at this Miami Beach hotel. A flat-screen cable TV, Keurig coffeemaker, and free public WiFi are provided. Room service is available 24 hours per day. Kayaks, parasails, boogie boards, and complimentary banana boat rides are available for guests' enjoyment. The reception is open 24 hours and shops are located on site. The on-site fitness center offers cardiovascular and strengthening equipment. A hairdresser is provided on-site. This family-friendly hotel has a state-of-the-art Kids Club and Rec Room featuring video and arcade games. Preston's serves a breakfast buffet featuring an omelet bar, local pastries, and a la carte items while Bar Collins serves Latin-inspired entrees for lunch and dinner. Traditional fares and seafood options are available poolside at Nautilus. The resort is also 9 minutes' walk from Lincoln Road Mall and 5 mi from the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. Jungle Island theme park is 2.9 mi away. Grand Beach Hotel - Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, this beachfront hotel features private beach access, a 7th-floor outdoor pool, and spacious suites. Grand Beach Hotel is 3.7 mi drive from South Beach. Two 42-inch LCD TVs with free movies, a refrigerator, and a seating area are offered in every modernly-decorated Grand Beach Hotel suite. Most suites have a private balcony and 2 full bathrooms. Hotel Grand Beach features 2 family-friendly, beachfront pools, hot tubs, and a 24-hour gym with panoramic view. Beach and pool-side spa services are available. Plus, a children's recreational area is on the 7th floor. Chez Gaston Restaurant serves Latin and American cuisine throughout the day in a casual atmosphere. Guests can get drinks at any of the 3 bars including the poolside Sunset Bar. Outdoor activities include snorkeling, windsurfing and deep sea fishing. Lincoln Road Mall is 3.5 mi drive from Hotel Grand Beach. Crest Hotel Suites - This Miami Beach, Florida hotel is just 1 block from the Atlantic Ocean. Crest Hotel Suites features an outdoor pool and contemporary rooms and studios with free WiFi. Each room offers exclusive artwork and cable TV. The cream-colored rooms are decorated with light wood furniture and have a work desk. Guests can make free local calls. The first vegan restaurant in Miami Beach, Full Bloom Vegan, is located in the lobby. The hotel also provides a tropical garden courtyard. An airport shuttle service to Miami International Airport is offered 5 times a day. The Miami Beach Convention Center is 1,650 feet from Crest Hotel Suites. The Fillmore Miami Beach is 1,000 feet away from the property, while the New World Center is 1,150 feet away. Hotel Harrison by SB Hotels - This South Beach boutique hotel is a 5 minute walk from sandy Lummus Park Beach and the night clubs on Ocean Drive. It offers valet parking, concierge services, and free Wi-Fi. A flat-screen cable TV and iPod docking station are included in the contemporary earth-toned rooms at Harrison Hotel Miami Beach. They are furnished with a work desk and modern wall art. The front desk of this smoke-free Miami Beach hotel is open 24 hours a day. Dry cleaning services are available. The Lincoln Road Mall is 1 miles from the Miami Beach Harrison. Downtown Miami is a 10 minute drive away. The Gates Hotel South Beach - a Doubletree by Hilton - Offering an outdoor pool, bar, and free WiFi access, The Gates Hotel South Beach - a Doubletree by Hilton is located on Collins Avenue just 900 feet from the beach, with waterfront views of Lake Pancoast in Miami Beach, Florida. Each room features a 42-inch flat-screen TV, coffee machine, and small refrigerator. A desk and safety deposit box are also provided. Equipped with a shower, the private bathroom comes with a hairdryer and free toiletries. A fitness center, yoga classes, and free use of bicycles can be enjoyed at this South Beach hotel. Billiards and a hot tub are available, and in-room massages can be arranged for a surcharge. Located on site, Agaveros Cantina offers meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Room service and poolside service are also available. The hotel is within walking distance of the Bass Museum of Art, which is just 3 minute's walk away. The Lincoln Road Mall is a 8 minutes walk from The Gates Hotel South Beach - a Doubletree by Hilton, and the Miami Beach Convention Center is a 5 minutes walk away. Best Western Plus Atlantic Beach Resort - Located directly on the sands of Miami Beach only 5 minutes from the Miami Beach Convention Center, this resort features a year-round outdoor pool and an on-site bar and grill. The rooms at the Atlantic beach Resort Best Western are bright and contemporary. They are equipped with video games and cable TV. A refrigerator and work desk are provided. The gym at this Miami Beach resort is open 24 hours a day. A solarium is located on the property and jet ski rentals are available. A range of concierge services are offered. The nightclubs and restaurants of South Beach are only one mile from Best Western Atlantic Beach. American Airlines Arena is a 10-minute drive from the hotel. Marseilles Beachfront Hotel - This oceanfront hotel with direct access to a private beach and a boutique Art Deco-style atmosphere. It is surrounded by famous nightclubs, restaurants and shopping centers on vibrant Collins Avenue and features two on-site bars and a restaurant. The Marseilles Beachfront Hotel places guests within 5 minutes' walk of Miami Beach Convention Center and 10 minutes' walk of the numerous shops, cafes, and galleries of Lincoln Road Shopping Mall. The Art Deco district is but 7 minutes' drive. Every guestroom includes a 42-inch flat-screen TV, electronic safety deposit box, and coffee and tea-making facilities. Private bathrooms come equipped with a shower. On-site Backyard Bar is nestled amid the pool cabanas—which can be reserved for a fee—and greenery while M Bar & Lounge is an indoor bar preparing signature cocktails. The hotel also offers American fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. With outdoor swimming pool and poolside barbecue grills and hammocks, the Marseilles is perfect for enjoying the Florida weather. Lounge chairs and beach umbrellas are available. The hotel is nonsmoking throughout, including the exterior. Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel - Offering direct access to the sands of South Beach, the oceanfront and eco-friendly Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel features a heated outdoor pool with the poolside bar, High Tide. The pool's sun terrace features cabanas and lounging chairs. Free property-wide WiFi is available. Complimentary use of in-room yoga essentials and a 32-inch flat-screen cable TV, which includes The Yoga Channel, is offered in each modern guest room at the Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel. An iHome docking station and ironing facilities are also included. A poolside massage can be arranged at the Surfcomber. This boutique Kimpton Hotel has a complimentary wine hour from 16:00 to 17:00 each evening. A 24-hour fitness center is also provided, and guests have free use of property bicycles to explore the surroundings. The Social Club restaurant is located adjacent to the hotel lobby. It features eclectic decor and Southeast-inspired cuisine. Brunch is offered as well. Lincoln Road Mall is 6 minutes' walk away and offers premium shopping venues. The Miami Beach Convention Center is 10 minutes' walk from the hotel. Bayshore Municipal Golf Course is 1.2 mi away from the Surfcomber Kimpton Hotel. Hilton Cabana Miami Beach - Enjoy views of the Atlantic Ocean from Hilton Cabana's upper deck pool. This beachfront Miami Beach hotel features free WiFi and is 1.3 mi from La Force Golf Course. Each room features retro-inspired decor and offers a 42-inch flat-screen TV, in-room safe, hairdryer, and coffee-making facilities. All rooms include a private bathroom. Select rooms feature both partial and full ocean view. Hilton Cabana includes 2 outdoor pools, a hot-tub on the first floor pool deck, and a an on-site fitness center. Laundry and dry-cleaning services, as well as connectivity printing and computer work stations are also available. The on-site restaurant, Salinity Restaurant & Terrace, serves American-style cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Beach and pool-side dining services are available. Lincoln Road Mall is a 15-minute drive from the property. The Art Deco District is 4.7 mi away, and Miami's famous South Beach is located 4.8 mi from the hotel. Iberostar Berkeley Shore Hotel - The property is 350 feet from the beach. Located on a historic site, Iberostar Berkeley Hotel offers accommodations in famed South Beach. The shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues of Lincoln Road Mall are 4 minutes' walk away. Guestrooms offer free WiFi, a 50-inch flat-screen TV, and a safety deposit box. Guests can brew a cup of coffee using the en suite coffeemaker or enjoy a snack from the mini-bar. The Miami vista can be enjoyed from Iberostar Berkeley Hotel's rooftop pool and sundeck. A fully equipped fitness center is provided for guests looking to work out during their stay. The nearest airport is Miami International Airport, 9.3 mi from the property. Hotel Astor by SB Hotels - Located in Miami Beach, a 5-minute walk from Lummus Park Beach, Hotel Astor by SB Hotels provides accommodations with a shared lounge, private parking and a garden. The property is close to several well-known attractions, a 4-minute walk from Lummus Park, 1,500 feet from Versace Mansion and a 7-minute walk from Ocean Drive. The property has a 24-hour front desk and free WiFi is available throughout the property. Popular points of interest near the hotel include South Pointe Park Beach, Miami Beach and Art Deco Historic District. The nearest airport is Miami Seaplane Base Airport, 3.5 miles from Hotel Astor by SB Hotels. Hotel Belleza - Enjoy free WiFi access at Hotel Belleza. This Miami Beach Hotel includes a concierge service and a 24-hour front desk. Rooms at Belleza feature a modern decor. The bathroom features a shower and toiletries. Cable TV is provided. Hotel Belleza offers luggage storage, fax and photocopying services, and dry cleaning services. Grocery deliveries are available. Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts, Miami Beach Convention Center, and Holocaust Memorial are 2,100 feet. Miami International Airport is 16 minutes' drive. Royal Palm South Beach Miami, a Tribute Portfolio Resort - Located on the shores of Miami Beach, the Royal Palm South Beach Miami features an on-site spa and wellness center. The resort is 5 minutes' walk from Lincoln Road Mall. Featured on site, The Compass Rose Bar has a selection of coffee, tea, and evening cocktails while the Florida Cookery serves breakfast outdoors. Byblos Miami prepares Eastern Mediterranean with a local flare. Free WiFi and a 42-inch flat-screen TV are provided in every guestroom and suite. A seating area and private bathroom are also provided. Select rooms and suites feature a balcony. Two outdoor pools, accompanied with music, and direct beachfront access are provided to guests. Cabanas are optioned, and the on-site spa offers massages, skin care services, and privai wellness services. New World Symphony is 9 minutes' walk from Royal Palm South Beach Miami while Miami Beach Convention Center is 14 minutes' walk. Miami International Airport is 12 mi away. 1 Hotel South Beach - This historic oceanfront hotel features a private beach area and on-site dining options. There are 4 swimming pools, including an adult exclusive rooftop pool, available at 1 Hotel South Beach. A tablet with daily digital newspapers comes standard in every room, as does a 55-inch smart flat-screen TV. A mini bar, in-room water filtration system, and espresso machine with organic coffee are included. 1 Hotel South Beach guests can access the on-site fitness center and spa and wellness center. Guests looking for adventure can enjoy watersports activities while kids can explore the children's club activities. Four on-site snack and beverage bars, as well as 24-hour in-room dining are available. Shopping at Lincoln Road Mall is 0.7 mi away from this hotel. Guests will be 5 minutes' drive from the nightlife and dining of South Beach city center. Marriott Stanton South Beach - Located on the beach, this luxurious oceanfront Miami hotel is adjacent to the vibrant South Beach Art Deco District. Guests can lounge in the infinity edge pool, stay active in the fitness center, or escape to the spa. A small cooler, flat-screen cable TV with internet capabilities, and coffee-making facilities are featured in all guestrooms. Select Marriott Stanton South Beach rooms include a city, coast, or ocean view. After an exciting day of exploring South Beach, guests can soak in a hot tub with a view of the Atlantic Ocean. Guests will have access to a concierge desk and launderette throughout their stay. Offering Mexican-inspired dishes, Lolo's Surf Cantina serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Azabu Miami Beach, which serves Japanese food and classic cocktails, is open for dinner. Starbucks Coffee is available as well. Guests will be 2 mi from the Miami Beach Convention Center and the shops at Lincoln Road. The Miami Beach Golf Club is 10 minutes' drive from the property. Dream South Beach - Stay in the middle of South Beach's lively entertainment district at Dream Hotel South Beach, a Florida Green Lodging hotel. An infinity-edge rooftop pool, a rooftop bar, and beachside service are featured. The waters of South Beach are 1 block away. Choose from 125 different tequilas at Naked Taco, an upscale Mexican restaurant with an al fresco patio, bar, and cafe. HIGHBAR, a Studio 54-influenced lounge, offers ocean views beside the pool. This fashion-inspired hotel includes a 37-inch flat-screen TV and iPod docking station in every stylish room. Select rooms feature a 42-inch flat-screen television. Pet-friendly Dream Hotel South Beach is 350 feet from Ocean Drive, 2,650 feet from Espanola Way, and 0.7 mi from Lincoln Road Mall. Transfer service is available for a surcharge to Dolphin Mall (25 minutes' drive) and to Sawgrass Mills mall (42 minutes' drive away). The Fairwind Hotel - Boasting an outdoor swimming pool, garden and free WiFi, The Fairwind Hotel is located in Miami Beach, 350 feet from Art Deco Historic District and 1,300 feet from Ocean Drive. All rooms in the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with free toiletries. Certain rooms at The Fairwind Hotel have a balcony. The property welcomes guests with an on-site restaurant and a rooftop terrace overlooking the city. Lincoln Road is 0.7 mi from The Fairwind Hotel, while Miami Beach Convention Center is 0.9 mi from the property. The nearest airport is Miami International Airport, 9.3 mi from the hotel. Townhouse Miami Beach - Townhouse Hotel offers accommodations in South Beach. Guests can enjoy the on-site bar. Private parking is available on site. The property is just 2 minutes' walk from the beach and 3 minutes' walk from Bass Museum of Art. Each modern room at this hotel is air conditioned and comes with a TV. Certain rooms feature a seating area where you can relax. Each room has a private bathroom equipped with a shower. Japanese-inspired Ramen Baby Burger serves ramen, burgers, and poke to guests of Townhouse Miami Beach. Bike hire is available at this hotel and the area is popular for golfing. Shopping at Lincoln Road Mall is 2,650 feet away. Guests will be 20 minutes' drive from Miami International Airport. Government Miami Beach is governed by a ceremonial mayor and six commissioners. Although the mayor runs commission meetings, the mayor and all commissioners have equal voting power and are elected by popular election. The mayor serves for terms of two years with a term limit of three terms and commissioners serve for terms of four years and are limited to two terms. Commissioners are voted for citywide and every two years three commission seats are voted upon. A city manager is responsible for administering governmental operations. An appointed city manager is responsible for administration of the city. The City Clerk and the City Attorney are also appointed officials. History In 1870, a father and son, Henry and Charles Lum, purchased the land for 25 cents an acre. The first structure to be built on this uninhabited oceanfront was the Biscayne House of Refuge, constructed in 1876 by the United States Life-Saving Service at approximately 72nd Street. Its purpose was to provide food, water, and a return to civilization for people who were shipwrecked. The next step in the development of the future Miami Beach was the planting of a coconut plantation along the shore in the 1880s by New Jersey entrepreneurs Ezra Osborn and Elnathan Field, but this was a failed venture. One of the investors in the project was agriculturist John S. Collins, who achieved success by buying out other partners and planting different crops, notably avocados, on the land that would later become Miami Beach. Meanwhile, across Biscayne Bay, the City of Miami was established in 1896 with the arrival of the railroad, and developed further as a port when the shipping channel of Government Cut was created in 1905, cutting off Fisher Island from the south end of the Miami Beach peninsula. Collins' family members saw the potential in developing the beach as a resort. This effort got underway in the early years of the 20th century by the Collins/Pancoast family, the Lummus brothers (bankers from Miami), and Indianapolis entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher. Until then, the beach here was only the destination for day-trips by ferry from Miami, across the bay. There were bath houses and food stands, but no hotel until Brown's Hotel was built in 1915 (still standing, at 112 Ocean Drive). Much of the interior land mass at that time was a tangled jungle of mangroves. Clearing it, deepening the channels and water bodies, and eliminating native growth almost everywhere in favor of land fill for development was a herculean effort. The Town of Miami Beach was chartered on March 26, 1915; it grew to become a City in 1917. Carl Fisher was the main promoter of Miami Beach's development in the 1920s as the site for wealthy industrialists from the north and Midwest to build their winter homes here. In addition, Fisher built five hotels (none surviving). In the 1920s, Fisher and others created much of Miami Beach as landfill by dredging Biscayne Bay; this man-made territory includes Star, Palm, and Hibiscus Islands, the Sunset Islands, much of Normandy Isle, and all of the Venetian Islands except Belle Isle. The Miami Beach peninsula became an island in April 1925 when Haulover Cut was opened, connecting the ocean to the bay, north of present-day Bal Harbour. The great 1926 Miami hurricane put an end to this prosperous era of the Florida Boom, but in the 1930s Miami Beach still attracted tourists, and investors constructed the mostly small-scale, stucco hotels and rooming houses, for seasonal rental, that comprise much of the present "Art Deco" historic district. Post World War American history Suburbanization - After World War II, a wave of immigrants entered the area from the Northern United States. Miami Beach, like the rest of South Florida, went through a population explosion, adding tens of thousands of persons in only a few decades. After Castro's rise to power in 1959, a wave of refugees entered South Florida and dramatically changed the demographic make-up of the area. Modern American history - Image and cultural depictions South Beach (also known as SoBe, or simply The Beach, the area from 1st street to about 25th street) is one of the more popular areas of Miami Beach. Topless sunbathing by women is illegal, but is officially tolerated on South Beach. Before the TV show Miami Vice helped make the area popular, SoBe was under urban blight, with vacant buildings and a high crime rate. Today, it is considered one of the richest commercial areas on the beach, yet poverty and crime still remain in some places near the area. Art deco hotels in Miami Beach - Miami Beach, particularly Ocean Drive of what is now the Art Deco District, was also featured prominently in the 1983 feature film Scarface and the 1996 comedy The Birdcage. The New World Symphony Orchestra is based in Miami Beach, under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. Lincoln Road, running east-west between 16th and 17th Streets, is a nationally known spot for outdoor dining, bicycling, rollerblading and shopping and features and galleries of well known designers, artists and photographers such as Romero Britto, Peter Lik, and Jonathan Adler. Jewish population Miami Beach is home to a number of Orthodox Jewish communities with a network of well-established synagogues and yeshivas, the first of which being the Landow Yeshiva, a Chabad institution in operation for over 30 years. In addition, there is also a liberal Jewish community containing such famous synagogues as Temple Emanu-El (Miami Beach, Florida) and Cuban Hebrew Congregation. It is also a magnet for Jewish families, retirees, and particularly snowbirds when the cold winter sets in to the north. They range from the Modern Orthodox to the Haredi and Hasidic - including many rebbes who vacation there during the North American winter. Till his death in 1991, the Nobel laureate writer Isaac Bashevis Singer lived in the northern end of Miami Beach and breakfasted often at Sheldon's drugstore on Harding Avenue. There are a number of kosher restaurants and even kollels for post-graduate Talmudic scholars, such as the Miami Beach Community Kollel. Miami Beach had roughly 60,000 people in Jewish households, 62 percent of the total population, in 1982, but only 16,500, or 19 percent of the population, in 2004, said Ira Sheskin, a demographer at the University of Miami who conducts surveys once a decade. Miami Beach is home to the Holocaust Memorial on Miami Beach. LGBT community After decades of economic and social decline, an influx of gays and lesbians moving to South Beach in the late-1980s to mid-1990s helped contribute to Miami Beach's revitalization. The newcomers purchased and restored dilapidated Art Deco hotels and clubs, started numerous businesses, and built political power in city and county government. As South Beach became more popular as a national and international tourist destination, there have been occasional clashes between cultures and disputes about whether South Beach is as "gay friendly" as it once was. Miami Beach is home to numerous gay bars and gay-specific events, and five service and resource organizations. The passage of progressive civil rights laws, election of outspokenly pro-gay Miami Beach Mayor Matti Bower, and the introduction of Miami Beach's Gay Pride Celebration, have reinvigorated the local LGBT community in recent years, which some argued had experienced a decline in the late 2000s. A handful of attacks and some instances of Miami Beach Police brutality against gay men have been at odds with Miami Beach's longstanding image as a welcoming place for gay people. Miami Beach is home to some of the country's largest fundraisers that benefit both local and national LGBT nonprofits. As of 2011, some of the largest LGBT events in Miami Beach are: The Winter Party The White Party The Miami Recognition Dinner The Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Aqua Girl In 2008, the new Miami Beach Mayor Matti Bower created a Gay Business Development Ad Hoc Committee, with a mission to bring recommendations to the Mayor and City Commission on initiatives to be implemented and supported by the City regarding a variety of issues to ensure the welfare and future of the Miami Beach LGBT community. While being a gay mecca of the 1980s and 1990s, Miami Beach never had a city sanctioned Gay Pride Parade until April 2009. With strong support from the newly elected mayor Matti Bower., Miami Beach had its first Gay Pride Festival in April 2009. It is now an annual event. The 2010 Pride drew tens of thousands of people. In 2009, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) began looking into instances of Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD) targeting gay men for harassment. In February 2010, the ACLU announced that it will sue the City of Miami Beach for an ongoing targeting and arrests of gay men in public. According to the ACLU, Miami Beach police have a history of arresting gay men for simply looking “too gay”. The incidents between gay men and MBPD resulted in negative publicity for the city. At the meeting with the local gay leaders, Miami Beach Police Chief Carlos Noriega claimed that the incidents were isolated, and promised increased diversity training for police officers. He also announced that captain, who is a lesbian, would soon be reassigned to internal affairs to handle complaints about cops accused of harassing gays. Some members of the committee were skeptical of Noriega's assertion that the recent case wasn't indicative of a larger problem in the MBPD, and provided examples of other cases. In January 2010, Miami Beach passed a revised Human Rights Ordinance that strengthens enforcement of already existing human rights laws and adds protections for transgendered people, making Miami Beach's human rights laws some of the most progressive in the state. Both residents of, and visitors to, Miami Beach have been able to register as domestic partners since 2004; in 2008 this benefit was extended to all of Miami-Dade County. In 2010, the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, with support from the City of Miami Beach, opened an LGBT Visitor Center at Miami Beach's Old City Hall. The Arts Each December, the City of Miami Beach hosts Art Basel Miami Beach, one of the largest art shows in the United States. Art Basel Miami Beach, the sister event to the Art Basel event held each June in Basel, Switzerland, combines an international selection of top galleries with a program of special exhibitions, parties and crossover events featuring music, film, architecture and design. Exhibition sites are located in the city's Art Deco District, and ancillary events are scattered throughout the greater Miami metropolitan area. Miami Beach is home to the New World Symphony, established in 1987 under the artistic direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. In January 2011, the New World Symphony made a highly publicized move into the New World Center building designed by Canadian American Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry. Gehry is famous for his design of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California. The new Gehry building offers Live Wallcasts™, which allow visitors to experience select events throughout the season at the half-acre, outdoor Miami Beach SoundScape through the use of visual and audio technology on a 7,000-square-foot (650 m2) projection wall. The Miami City Ballet, a ballet company founded in 1985, which is housed in a 63,000-square-foot (5,900 m2) building near Miami Beach's Bass Museum of Art. The Miami Beach Festival of the Arts is an annual outdoor art festival that was begun in 1974. In November 2007 and 2009, a multi-media art festival ("Sleepless Night") was held based on Nuit Blanche. The festival returns on November 5, 2011. Geography South Beach in March 2008 Miami Beach is located at 2548'47?N 8008'03?W (25.813025, -80.134065). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.7 sq mi (48.5 km2), of which 7.0 sq mi (18.2 km2) is land and 11.7 sq mi (30.2 km2) (62.37%) is water. Climate Miami Beach has a tropical climate (Koppen Am), with hot humid summers and warm dry winters, although located north of the Tropic of Cancer. Other than the Florida Keys, Miami Beach has the warmest winter weather in the United States (mainland). The warm and sunny weather in Miami Beach and South Florida attracts millions of travelers from around the world from November through April. Sea surface temperatures range from 75 F in winter to 86 F in the summer/fall months. Miami Beach has the warmest ocean surf in the United States mainland annually. Like much of Florida, there is a marked wet and dry season in Miami. The tropical rainy season runs from May through September, when showers and late day thunderstorms are common. The dry season is from November through April, when few showers, sunshine, and low humidity prevail. The island location of Miami Beach however, creates fewer convective thunderstorms, so Miami Beach receives less rainfall in a given year than neighboring areas such as Miami proper and Miami Beach. Proximity to the moderating influence of the Atlantic gives Miami Beach lower high temperatures and higher lows than inland areas of Florida. Other than the Florida Keys (and Key West)and Hawaii (at sea-level), Miami Beach is the only U.S. city to never report snow flurries in its weather history. Miami Beach's location on the Atlantic Ocean, near its confluence with the Gulf of Mexico, make it extraordinarily vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical storms. Though direct strikes from hurricanes are rare - Miami has experienced two direct hits from major hurricanes in recorded weather history; the 1926 Miami hurricane and Hurricane Cleo in 1964. The area has seen indirect contact from hurricanes Betsy (1965), Andrew (1992), Irene (1999), Michelle (2001), Katrina (2005), and Wilma (2005). Transportation See also: Transportation in Miami Public Transportation in Miami Beach is operated by Miami-Dade Transit (MDT). Along with neighborhoods such as Downtown and Brickell, public transit is heavily used in Miami Beach, and is a vital part of city life. Although Miami Beach has no direct Metrorail stations, numerous Metrobus lines connect to Downtown Miami and Metrorail (i.e., the 'S' bus line). The South Beach Local (SBL) is one of the most heavily-used lines in Miami, and connects all major points of South Beach to other major bus lines in the city. Metrobus ridership in Miami Beach is high, with some of the routes such as the L and S being the busiest Metrobus routes. The Airport-Beach Express (Route 150), operated by MDT, is a direct-service bus line that connects Miami International Airport to major points in South Beach. The ride costs $2.35, and runs every 30 minutes from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. seven days a week. Bicycling Since the late 20th century, cycling has grown in popularity in Miami Beach. Due to its dense, urban nature, and pedestrian-friendly streets, many Miami Beach residents get around by bicycle. In March 2011 a public bicycle sharing system named Decobike was launched, one of only a handful of such programs in the United States. The program is operated by a private corporation, Decobike, LLC, but is partnered with the City of Miami Beach in a revenue sharing model. Once fully implemented, the program hopes to have around 1000 bikes accessible from 100 stations throughout Miami Beach, from around 85th Street on the north side of Miami Beach all the way south to South Pointe Park. Education Miami-Dade County Public Schools serves Miami Beach. North Beach Elementary Treasure Island Elementary South Pointe Elementary Mater Beach Academy Biscayne Elementary Fienberg/Fisher K - 8 Center Nautilus Middle School Miami Beach Senior High School Private schools include Rabbi Alexander S. Gross Hebrew Academy, St. Patrick Catholic School, Landow Yeshiva - Lubavitch Educational Center (Klurman Mesivta High School for Boys and Beis Chana Middle and High School for Girls), and Mechina High School. Colleges and universities The Florida International University School of Architecture has a sister campus at 420 Lincoln Road in South Beach, with classroom spaces for FIU architecture, art, music and theater graduate students Neighborhoods A portion of the southern part of the South Beach skyline as seen from Biscayne Bay. Photo: Marc Averette The northernmost section of the city referred to as North Beach South Beach Belle Isle City Center Di Lido Island Flagler Monument Island Flamingo/Lummus Hibiscus Island Palm Island Rivo Alto Island San Marino Island Star Island South Pointe Mid Beach Oceanfront Bayshore Nautilus North Beach Biscayne Point Isle of Normandy La Gorce North Shore Points of interest The Fillmore Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theatre Eden Roc (hotel) Flagler Monument Island Fontainebleau Hotel Versace Mansion (Casa Casuarina) Holocaust Memorial Lincoln Road Miami Beach Architectural District Miami Beach Botanical Garden Ocean Drive South Beach Wolfsonian-FIU Museum |
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Miami Beach is a south Florida island city, connected by bridges to mainland Miami. Wide beaches stretch from North Shore Open Space Park, past palm-lined Lummus Park to South Pointe Park. The southern end, South Beach, is known for its international cachet with models and celebrities, and its early-20th-century architecture in the Art Deco Historic district with pastel-colored buildings, especially on Ocean Drive. At night, theses buildings on Ocean Drive take on a retro glow as crowds from neon-lit bars, clubs and restaurants spill onto the sidewalks. The pedestrian, fountain-dotted Lincoln Road Mall is an open-air shopping zone with high-end boutiques and popular chain retailers. Revitalization efforts have made both the resorts on the sand and the businesses on Collins Avenue glamorous once again. A center of art, the city hosts annual Art Basel and is home to the Wolfsonian-FIU museum, which examines objects since the Industrial Revolution. Miami Beach Vacation Rentals - North & South Condos & Resorts provides weather information and reservation services for the Miami Beach, Florida area. Book online or call 24/7 at (850) 696-7730. Visit our Miami Beach website to view instant weather conditions and forecasts, including beach & surf reports, while exploring property listings for hotels, resorts, condos, b&bs, and vacation rentals. Book your stay or vacation today! |
