It isn’t just the weather that’s hot in Miami – the sizzling nightlife and the plethora of daytime activities under the warmth of the sun makes this the perfect destination.
This sub-tropical city of over two million people attracts tourists all year round. If working on a tan is your first priority then head over to Key Biscayne Beach or the very popular South Beach where beautiful bodies dot the pristine landscape. There are a host of activities offered on these beaches including swimming, jet skiing, paddle boarding, kayaking and parasailing. Scooters, roller blades, bikes and Segways are available to rent.
A great way to see Biscayne Bay is from the water on one of Island Queen Cruises tours or a personalized two-hour sightseeing tour aboard a Zodiac boat from Ocean Force Adventures. The more adventurous can catch a sightseeing flight from Key Biscayne on a Cessna 172 Seahawk Seaplane.
Attractions include the Jewish Museum, Coral Castle Museum & Sculpture Garden, Airboat Tours Gator Park, Flamingo Gardens, Viscaya Museum Gardens, and the Miami Seaquarium. A highlight at this world-class marine-life entertainment park is the Dolphin Odyssey Experience at Dolphin Harbour which includes a deep water swim pulled by a dolphin as well as a handshake and a very wet kiss.
There is no shortage of trendy boutiques to check out including the super cool Collins Avenue Shopping District. South Beach’s Lincoln Road offers shopping late into the night. If one prefers mall shopping, the Aventura Mall is South Florida’s largest.
After dinner enjoy a night of music at the Frank Gehry designed, New World Symphony Center or theatre at the Ziff Ballet Opera House at Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. Upcoming shows include We Will Rock You, Elf, Once and War Horse. The Flat is an intimate lounge catering to the after-dinner crowd. Cozy couches surround a baby-grand piano with a colourful sketch of Ray Charles on the lid. The place just invites one to sit back and relax.
After midnight and it is time to party! At the time most Canadian bars serve last call, Miami’s bars and clubs begin to rev up. The latest offering on the Miami Beach late-night scene and the nightclub to be seen in, is Mokai Ultra Lounge. You might even catch a celebrity or two dancing the night away.
Speaking of celebrities, you can sleep like one at one of Miami’s beautiful hotels. Arguably, the grandest is the Four Seasons Hotel Miami, an AAA Five Diamond Award property. The sleek, 70-storey building on downtown Miami’s Brickell Avenue was built in 2003 with 221 guest rooms and suites. This urban retreat underwent a multi-million dollar renovation in 2011. Designed with Miami-flair and European-style elegance all rooms have a lovely city or Biscayne Bay view.
The hotel’s public spaces have an updated Art-Deco vibe with an art collection displaying works of well-known Miami and Latin-American artisans. The Four Seasons has three large pools located on the seventh-floor. The main pool and whirlpool are surrounded by chaise lounges and cabanas are available to rent. You can take a walk through the landscaped terrace or have a drink at Bahia, the outdoor bar by the waterfall. The Sports Club/LA Miami operates a recreational and fitness centre and full-service spa on the fourth-floor. If you can’t pull yourself away from your comfy chaise, no worries, the spa offers massages poolside.
Four Seasons’ guests are also invited to the Hilton Bentley in South Beach at 1st and Ocean where they have complimentary access to beach amenities including umbrellas and chaise loungers.
Off the seventh-floor lobby is the Edge Steak and Bar in the Four Seasons Hotel Miami. Kosher meals can be ordered from outside the hotel in advance.
For more Miami information online go to: www.MiamiAndBeaches.com. To book your Four Seasons Hotel Miami holiday visit: www.fourseasons.com/miami or from Canada call 800- 268-6282.
