Many of Miami's
districts are
officially cities in their own
right, and each has a background and
character very much its own. Most
people head straight to
Miami
Beach , specifically the
South
Beach strip, where many of the
city's famed Art Deco buildings have
been restored to their former
stunning splendor, all pastels, neon
and wavy lines. Though touted as the
chic gathering place for the city's
fashionable faces, it's not as
exclusive as you might expect,
especially on weekend afternoons
when families and out-of-towners
join the washboard stomachs and
bulging pecs. Make time, too, for
Key
Biscayne , a smart, secluded
island community with some beautiful
beaches, five miles off the mainland
but easily reached by a causeway.
On the mainland, downtown
has a few good museums but little
else of interest to visitors. Little
Havana , to the west, is the
best spot to head for a Cuban lunch,
while immediately south the spacious
boulevards of Coral Gables
are as impressive now as they were
in the 1920s, when the district set
new standards in town planning.
Independently minded but equally
wealthy Coconut Grove is also
worth a look, thanks to its walkable
center and a couple of Miami's most
popular attractions.
