Travellers heading to this city on the southern tip of Florida will no doubt be looking forward to spending their days basking in the balmy, tropical climate. But be advised: After nightfall is when Miami really heats up.
Images: The Florida you haven't seen
Images: Beaches and fun in Florida
Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than at Crazy Pianos, a happening bar in trendy Coconut Grove, where no matter how liberally you apply your sunscreen you could still get burned. But only if you get too close to the fire-breathing bartender. As musicians pound away non-stop at two pianos, taking requests scribbled onto paper napkins and keeping the dance floor packed all night long, the young man tending bar during a recent visit periodically took a time out from mixing drinks to stoke the crowd by spewing a ball of fire up over their heads.
If you want to keep the party going, cross one of the three bridges connecting downtown Miami to the beautiful resort area of Miami Beach and check out yet another hotspot, the Louis Bar Lounge on the ground-floor of the luxurious Gansevoort South hotel.
If go-go dancers aren't your thing, try heading 18 storeys straight up to the rooftop bar, Plunge. Don't be too surprised if you pass a pro athlete or a famous hip-hop artist as you walk through the upscale hotel, which features a 3,600-sq-ft presidential suite and just about everything else imaginable. At Plunge you can take a dip in an adults-only pool, lounge around in a cabana sipping cocktails, or dance the night away beneath the stars while looking down on South Beach (SoBe).
"It's like an escape, or an oasis, and there's a great view," says Louis Escoto, a Gansevoort spokesman.
On a busy Saturday, Plunge bartender Brian Gillooly typically shakes up thousands of mojitos, a tasty cocktail that originated in Cuba.
"It's a very refreshing drink," he says with a laugh.
If you stop by before business gets hopping, Gillooly may show you how to make Miami's most popular drink, by crushing the mint leaves and mixing in some white rum, Sprite, sugar, and lots of limes.
If you prefer a slower pace, or if you're just looking for something to do after wading in the surf and feeling the white sand between your toes, check out the truly fascinating architecture in the nearby Art Deco District. From there you can walk to the Bass Museum of Art, which features paintings, sculptures and textiles from around the world, and the Holocaust Memorial, a tribute to the six million Jews killed in WWII by the Nazis, are within walking distance.
Or you can heat things up again by heading to the new World Erotic Art Museum, where fans of the cult classic movie A Clockwork Orange may recognize a large phallic statue among the thousands of historical and contemporary pieces on display.
For another unique experience in SoBe, try sightseeing in a GoCar. You can rent one of these little, yellow story-telling vehicles -- sort of a large go-cart with the steering of a motorcycle -- for $49 hour. Then hop in and zip around town on a GPS-guided tour. Just be sure to park before doing any "people watching," a popular SoBe pastime. Next to the beach, known for its topless sunbathing, there's no better place to do this than on Ocean Dr., where you may spot a celebrity.
And before heading back across the bridge into downtown, be sure to stop by Lincoln Rd., the premiere shopping area in SoBe. This pedestrian-only promenade offers hundreds of unique boutiques, upscale shops, art galleries and street performances. There's also plenty of open-air cafes and a wide range of restaurants.
If you have an eclectic palate, try dinner at SushiSamba Dromo, which features a splendid mix of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian food. Afterward, take a step back in time and enjoy some live jazz at Van Dykes Cafe. For fine-dining you're into, hike up the street a few blocks to Ola at the Sanctuary Hotel, where famed chef Douglas Rodriguez prepares his Neuvo Latino Cuisine. Or, if you're in a hurry but still want something different, try Half Moon Empanadas.
Pilar Guzman Zavala opened the one-of-a-kind fast-food restaurant nearly two years ago with her husband Juan Zavala, who was back home in Argentina for a visit when he came up with the idea for making and selling traditional empanadas in 16 flavours as well as an assortment of desserts from his homeland. While other businesses have struggled during the recession, Pilar says their restaurant has flourished. The couple hopes to one day open franchises across North America.
Miami's population is largely Spanish-speaking, so the Hispanic influence permeates just about everything, especially the music that fills the streets of so many neighbourhoods. Don't be surprised if you find yourself bouncing along to the Latin beats spilling out of cafes in historic Little Havana or coming from the bandshell at Bayside Marketplace, an outdoor mall on the city's waterfront.
If you listen closely, you may even hear the sound of Samba wafting out over the waves as you cruise around Biscayne Bay on board the Island Queen. The 90 minute, narrated cruise on this massive yacht is a must for any visitor, if for no other reason than to see the view of Miami's spectacular skyline from out on the bay.
But you'll also catch a glimpse of how the rich and the famous live as you pass by exclusive island communities teeming with multi-million dollar homes with past and present owners such as Gloria Estefan, Enrique Eglesias, Shakira, Anna Kournikova, Shaquille O'Neal and Oprah Winfrey, to name a few. Your guide will also point out the white mansion used in the movie Scarface and the Miami Beach Marina, one of many locations in town used in the filming of the TV show Dexter.
Back on land, there's still lots to see and do for travellers of all ages. For some wholesome family fun, leave the hustle-bustle of city behind and head to the southern tip of the state to explore the Everglades. After all, no trip to Florida is complete without seeing some gators.
At Everglades Alligator Farm, you'll find yourself surrounded by the toothy, prehistoric creatures. And just when you thought it couldn't get any scarier, you'll learn the price of admission ($23 for adults, $15.50 for kids) includes a 20-minute airboat ride. Skimming across the water and weeds of the glades is a blast, as long as you don't think too much about tumbling out of the high-flying craft and being snatched up in the bone-crushing jaws of a 10-metre-long alligator.
Our skipper, James White, 53, has been on the job several years and knows exactly how to play on that fear to make the ride even more intense.
"I'm a driver, not a diver," he jokes, after pointing out a stack of life vests and explaining we're on our own if we fall overboard.
The dozen or so passengers let out a nervous chuckle as we imagine horrific situations where the need for floatation devices might arise. Our captain suddenly seems a little God-like on his perch at the bow of the boat, holding the lives of every man, woman and child on board in one hand while working the rudder with the other.
After the gator ride, and before your sizzling holiday winds down, be sure to stop by the Robert is Here Fruit Stand in nearby Homestead and cool down with a frosty milkshake -- touted to be the best in Florida. Robert, who has been selling fruit from the same location for 50 years, will gladly share the story of how he started the business when he was just six years old. Back in 1959, his father sent him out to the corner to sell cucumbers to passing motorists.
"I stood out there all day and not a single car stopped," Robert says, adding he went home and broke the news to his dad.
His father came to the conclusion that motorists couldn't see his son because he was too small.
"So my dad went out back, grabbed a couple shutters that were lying around and in big, bold red letters he wrote Robert Is Here on them," Robert says.
The next day, back on that corner with his make-shift sign, Robert sold every last cuke and the rest is history.
chris.doucette@sunmedia.ca
IF YOU GO
To Miami
Getting there
Flights from Toronto to Miami take just over three hours and incredible deals are available during the off-season. American Airlines offers round-trip airfare from as low as $165 while Westjet flights start at around $150 through the summer months. Prices vary depending on day travelled.
Travel information
Miami's weather and the nightlife are both smoking hot year-round. But beaches are less crowded in the off-season and there are plenty of attraction and hotel deals available during the summer. Current promotions include Miami 4-4-3 (through September four visitors can enjoy attractions, meals and lodging for the price of three, see Miami443.com) and Miami Spa Month (more than 30 spas offer $99 treatments during July, MiamiSpaMonth.com). To check out Miami's beaches in real time, go to seemiami.live.com. For travel information, contact the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau toll free at 1-800-955-3646 or miamiandbeaches.com.
Where to stay
With the money saved on airfare by going to Miami in the off-season, treat yourself to a stay at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. This lavish hotel, with its own spa and golf course, offers a Family Fun Package until Sept. 30 with deluxe rooms from $235 per night (two-night minimum) and plenty to do for adults and kids.
For those who want to dance the night away in South Beach, the Gansevoort Miami Beach currently offers an Out and About package with deluxe rooms from $270 and suites from $390 -- a deal that includes VIP access to Mansion, one of the hottest night clubs in town, and a 2 p.m. check-out time.
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