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When a lot of people think about Miami they think of tacky pink flamingos, retirement homes and bad 80s television. But recently, what used to be a sleepy beach-vacation destination has awoken from its humid slumber, upped its tempo, and finally earned its place as one of the most chic destinations in the United States. In today's Miami don't be surprised to see a few celebrities, and a lot of people who think they're celebrities. But don't be fooled by the hipper-than-thou celebrity-drenched playground either. South Beach may be the place to see and be seen but it's also a place where locals go to have a good time. While the chic elite do, indeed, flock to Miami's coolest enclave, it is surprisingly accessible to the average Joe, Jane, or José. For every Phillippe Starck-designed, bank-account-busting boutique hotel on South Beach, there's a kitschy, candy-coated Art Deco one that's much less taxing on the pockets. For each Pan-MediterAsian haute cuisinerie, there's always the down-home, no-nonsense Cuban bodega (a small corner grocery store, usually with a walk-up window for ordering) offering hearty food at ridiculously cheap prices. Come to Miami and relax on the Keys, the Gold Coast, or the Treasure Coast, and you'll not only expose yourself to more UV rays than is probably healthy, but to a world of cultural, historical surprises as well. Take in a major league baseball game in the spring, walk in the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway, get up close and personal with the area's sea life, soak up the serenity of unspoiled landscapes, and much more. Forget what you've heard about South Florida being Heaven's Waiting Room. That slogan is as passé as the concept of "early bird" dinners (which you can still get--they just no longer define the region). In fact, according to some people, South Florida is heaven. So what are you waiting for? |