Best Things to Experience in Miami & South Florida

1. South Beach Miami Nightlife
   South Beach Miami is world famous for its own elegant nighlife scenes. Ocean Drive on South Beach is full of night bars, clubs and dance bars crowded with people – International tourists, domestic tourists and local community. If you are trying to catch a glimpse of celebrity then you might want to consider nightclubs – SET and Mokai.  These nightclubs are labeled as high end places where you can take advantage of luxury VIP events. Visitors can find the best scenes at one of the top nightclus which includes – Sanctuary Hotel’s Roof Lounge, The Hotel Astor, The Forge, Cameo, Sky Bar at the Shore club, Rose Bar at the Delano Hotel, Hotel Victor, Mansion, Mynt and Prive.
   
   
2. Everglades Air Boat Ride
   It’s time to learn the Flordia’s most remarkable treasure with thrill and excitement – Everglade. Everglade is one of the famous subtropical ecosystems providing heart throbbing mysteries. Everglade swamp covers several miles of wild area in South Florida. Sawgrass recreation park is the best place to start your adventure through air boat. Best way of exploring Everglade is Canoe but air boat rides will help you saving time by moving through suborn saw grass. Air boat ride is designed to give you around 30 minutes of thrilling experience. These tours are handled by very well trained captains who provides guidance and share stories during the tour. Usually as part of the Everglade’s air boat purchase includes all exhibits – Reptile Exhibits, Exotic Wildlife and “Swamp” Exhibits at Sawgrass Recreation Park. I would say visitors must put Everglades Air boat ride on their list of top things to do in Miami.
   
   
3. Vizcaya’s Museums & Garden
   Vizcaya is a National Historic Landmark of Miami built in 1916 by agricultural industrialist James Deering. Vizcaya Museum & Gardens has been a remarkable landmark of Miami history by sharing the treasure through main house, ten acres of formal gardens, historic village and rockland hammock – known as native forest. Entire place offers antique array of art objects in several forms – display or integrated in building construction. Gardens offers very fine example of architectural elements along with statuary. Place holds collections from North America, Aisa and Europe spanning around 2000 years. Every year hundreds of thousands of tourists and local visit Vizcaya Museum & Gardens for leisure. Also, place offers services to organize private even. So If you are planning for a wedding, Vizcaya is not a bad choice
   
   
4. Big Fish Restaurant in Miami
   Big Fish restaurant in Miami is located right on the Miami river bank from where you can enjoy the elegant Miami Downtown’s skyline view. You can say that Big Fish restaurant is a real catchy and scenic seafood shack right on the Miami River. Sailing freighters, fishing boats and yachts in slow and soothing Miami river add up the extra beauty to the scenic view from the restaurant. Place is famous for seafood but also serves Italian food. So if you are looking to dine and wine good place. Usually Big Fish gets crowded on Friday’s during happy hour.
   
   
5. CocoWalk – Coconut Grove, Miami FL
   CocoWalk is located at 3015 Grand Avenue in Coconut Grove. CocoWalk – Coconut Grove’s open mall providing good options for shopping and eating out. CocoWalk features several art galleries, good restaurants, bars and movie theater. Restaurants are lined up on Coco-Walk which includes Bic Bistro, Hooters, Fat Tuesday, Cheesecake Factory and Yogurbella. Among all usually my favorite places for dinner are Los Ranchos Steakhouse and Café Tu Tu Tango.
   
   
6. Cruise Ship Watching from South Point Park – Miami, FL
   For me, watching the sailing big ships has been the most favorite thing to do in Miami. Everyday lots of big monstrous ships start their journey from the port of Miami. It is fun to be on board but even watching them passing by is also a whole different experience. South Point is located at the southern tip of the South Beach Miami. You can just sit back and relax in South Point park while watching big ships sailing away and disappear in horizon.
   
   
7. Bill Baggs Cape Florida Recreation Area – Miami, FL
   Bill Baggs Cape Florida State park is renowned one of the best beaches in Miami. Bill Baggs Cape features a historic lighthouse which was built in 1825. This historic lighthouse was reconstructed in 1864 and since than it has been the oldest standing structure in Miami-Dade county. Visitors can take advantage of mile long sandy beach and blue water ocean. Place is always busy with local as well as tourists taking sunbath, swimming, enjoying shoreline fishing, biking and kayaking in park. You can also take advantage of guided tour of the lighthouse but you need to follow their time line. Guided tours of the lighthouse and lighthouse keeper cottage is scheduled two times a day. As you are in little Cuba,Miami, you can enjoy authentic Cuban food in Lighthouse Cafe or Boater’s grill. If you are carrying your grill then you can reserve pavilion to have your own barbecue picnic.
   
   
8. Salsa Lesson Crash Course on South Beach, Miami
   Salsa Mia crash course has been my favorite during Miami vacation trip. You can get awesome salsa lessons one of your evenings in Miami at the Yuca Lounge. Salsa Mia organize salsa lessons upstairs at Yuca Lounge. Salsa Mia is very well known dance school offering crash course on South Beach along with mojitos, live music and dancing. You can take advantage of good dance instructors to learn all basic Salsa dance and get started on the floor from the first night in Miami. If you are a solo traveler in Miami, nothing to worry – Salsa Mia classes are designed to rotate partners so you will have an opportunity to dance and learn with everyone including instructors. It would be nice to add Salsa Lessons crash course on your Miami itinerary to learn the Miami Style Salsa.
   
   
9. Celebrity Islands Tour – Feel like a Celebrity
   Miami city has been a home of big celebrities. Star Island, Hibiscus Island and Palm Island are located between South Beach and Miami mainland. Celebrities including J Lo, Shaquille O’Neal and Gloria Estefan have their home on one of these islands. These islands are guarded but being on public roads, non-residents can enter. At the gate you might get stopped by guards but just say that you want to look around. Visitors can avoid guard by taking one of the cruises which will take around celebrity islands.
   
   
10. Pawn Shop Lounge in Miami Downtown
    Pawn Shop Lounge is very well known Miami’s first boutique nightclub which used to be a pawn shop in old days. Place is full of old decor which includes vintage school bus, original 727 jet, silver vintage airstream trail and many similar bewildering decor. They offer great music, drinks and nice appearance in lounge created in jet plane. Pawn Shop Lounge is always crowded especially with young crowd. I loved the place when I went to Miami, it is one of my favorite chill places in Miami.
    
    
11. Drive Parallel to Ocean on Miami A1A
    Florida A1A runs north-south parallel to ocean through Miami Beach. A1A begins at U.S. 1 and interstate 395. Miami A1A is also known as McArthur Causeway, Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue. In Ft. Lauderdale area, A1A highway meets with coast. Overall both end of A1A meets U.S. 1 – north side at Dixie Highway in Palm Beach County and south-side at 18th Avenue in Broward. Overall A1A highway is heavily trafficked road which lets you experience the scenic view of Miami art deco and modern expensive high-rises parallel to Ocean.
    
    
12. Scuba Diving at Jupiter Beach – West Palm Beach, FL (80 miles north of Miami )
    Jupiter offers a great beach, famous Jupiter Lighthouse and scuba diving ocean. One of the main things to do in Jupiter is Scuba diving. Gulf Steam plays major role in bringing amazing coral life and aquatic animals in Jupiter. If you are looking to experience the thrilling sights of Lemon Sharks, Bull Sharks, Hammerhead and/or Goliath Groupers then you might get lucky during your dive trips. Several scuba diving and snorkeling trip companies have established their base in Jupiter. You can take advantage of those scuba trip companies during your trip.
    
    
13. Dolphin Research Center – Marathon, FL – Florida Keys (100 miles south of Miami)
    Dolphin Research Center is a good option to put on your things to do list. You can easily spend couple of hourst to whole day exploring about Atlantic bottle-nose dolphins. Dolphin research center also has narrated session for visitors demonstrating different aspect os dolphins and sea lions. Admission ticket fees are somewhere between $12 to $20 based on age and groups. Make sure to check operation hours if you are planning to visit the place during public holidays weekends. Usually Dolphin Research Center is closed on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas day.