Miami, Florida – The Magic City – is a major player in commerce, culture, arts, and trade. This huge metropolitan city is home to some of the best Cuban food you can find on this side of the Americas and has been the home of countless movie and television filming.
This isn’t a surprise considering the liveliness, color, music, and movement that covers the place. Aside from spending your entire vacation at the beach or walking through the streets and eating at every food vendor, here are a few things the more artsy or academic types can enjoy while they’re in Miami.
Related read: 7 Must See Places in Key West, Florida
Zoo Miami
Get out and see this massive 750-acre zoo with over 3,000 animals. The experience includes VIP tours, tram tours, a monorail, rides, and waterplay areas. You can even rent Safari Cycles so you can be sure to cover as much of the ground as possible. In addition to all the fun, one-way pathways including Amazon and Beyond, Critter Connection, and Florida: Mission Everglades are up and running. And, to add icing to the cake, you can schedule to feed the camels, giraffes, and rhinos.
Bayside Marketplace
Bayside has a ton of walking and biking cultural tours available or you can set off on a sunset cruise to visti and explore the Biscanye Bay’s islands. But if you just want to take a stroll, this is a great setting to run around with a drink near (or on) the water and this joint is packed with huge restaurants with super fresh seafood.
Little Havana
If you have ever wanted to visit Cuba or just wanted to see immense color in a US location, you’ve got to check out Little Havana. It is the center of Hispanic culture in Miami. You couldn’t throw a rock without hitting a Latin-inspire restaurant, venue, market, or cafe. You can play some dominoes, grab a cortado or a batdio (espresso with milk or a fresh fruit drink, respectively) and grab some real Cuban food. If you happen to be hopping around on the last Friday of the month, Little Havana hosts Viernes Culturales (Cultural Fridays) with showcasing of the art scene in the neighborhood (with the Latin beat always ringing through the streets).
Wynwood Arts District
What used to be the Warehouse District of Wynwood has burst onto the scene! It’s become one of the most visited outdoor museum art districts in the world. It is the hub of Southern Florida for art. Murals, street art, and graffiti inspired the neighbrohood and created a vibrant outdoor experience. Now it houses 70 galleries and museums, restaurants, bars, companies, and artists. The place is just alive and it is absolutely worth exploring.
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Vizcaya is a super cool museum sitting on the water. It has a super cool ecosystem sustaining the gorgeous and lush gardens that surround it. It was built in 1916 and is a tribute to the Italian Renaissance. This villa is an absolutely stunning gaze into the history of Miami and its cultural influences.
Miami Design District
The Design District is completely dedicated to all things design. You would be hard-pressed not to run into a fashionista, graphic designer, architect, or a unique dining experience walking literally anywhere in this neighborhood. Created by a number of well-respected and well-known architects, this super buzzing artistic spot was meant to be a great unifier of the arts in Miami. It’s a wonderfully beautiful place to visit.
Related Read: St. Augustine, Florida: Meet the United States’ Oldest City
The party city of Miami is vibrant within many of its Latin and Italian-inspired streets. It’s nearly impossible not to find something any type of adventurer can appreciate. With food, music, art, and energy pulsing through every nook and cranny. Grab yourself a drink and a cubano and hit the streets of The Magic City. I will bet you’ll leave with the city’s slogan ringing through: Miami’s for Me.
Be sure to check out all of Wild Bum’s Florida travel guides right here!
About the Author
Dallas Thornley is a lifelong writer and traveler. Born in El Paso, TX as an army brat, she had the opportunity to visit cities all over the country. She has continued to wanderlust as an international traveler. She now lives in Utah with her daughter and her cat.
