Coral Gables: The City Beautiful

Coming to Miami but you don't want to spend all of your time at the beach? Get away from all of the hustle and bustle of South Beach in Coral Gables. This urban oasis features beautiful tree-lined streets, historic homes, an historic hotel, and three golf courses in the middle of a large metropolis. After the craziness of Bird Road, you'll be amazed at this peaceful neighborhood...

Passing Through Miami on a Cruise?

The best way to combine a cruise with a visit to Miami is to add a few days onto the beginning or end of your trip. When that's not possible, you still may have time to selectively experience Miami on your layover. Our experience with cruise schedules is that your 10-hour layover can dwindle down to eight hours or less, so it's best to focus on one or two activities...

Get Your Cool On with a Great Cuban Shirt!

Want to look like a native? Why not pick up a cool shirt to wear as you tour Miami? There is one shirt that is worn by everyone from rock stars to presidents -- the guayabera. It's a shirt that is both formal and casual at the same time. And it's appropriate for all occasions. If you want the best guayabera in Miami, there is only one place to go...

South Beach by Day or Night

You can't come to Miami without enjoying the beach. We realize that the beaches are probably Miami's number one attraction. Miami Beach, and in particular South Beach, offers a unique combination of swimming, sunbathing, entertainment, dining, exercise, and people watching. Come during the day for swimming and sunbathing. Come at night for restaurants, clubs, and more people watching...

Cool Off on a Hot Summer Day

Summers in Miami can be very, very hot! In July and August especially, the beaches are packed. Everybody enjoys the beach in summer. But the water is so warm -- like bath water! You just don't feel refreshed. There is a great place to cool off in Miami, there's a great pool where the water is served well chilled. We're not talking about some boring hotel pool. No this one was created from a huge rock quarry and is fed by a natural spring. Got your interest yet? Read on...

Have You Tried "Drive-by" Shopping Yet?

Miami has some great places to pick up milk, soda, beer, or snacks. The best thing is, you never have to leave your car! Just drive up, roll down the window, and tell them what you want. Cubans call them "La Vaquita" -- the little cow. You'll find them all over Miami. Many are open 24 hours a day. As far as we know, these stores are only located in Florida...

Shop and Practice Your Spanish -- All at the Same Time!

Why travel "south of the border," when you can experience a foreign culture and practice your high school Spanish all at the same time. Forget Mexico! South Florida offers all of that and more! Traveling to Miami is like going to another country -- without ever leaving the good old USA. Here is a great place to turn the kids loose with their textbook Spanish AND pick up a few bargains in the process...

Get Your Ride Simonized

OK snow birds, you've just driven the family sedan 1,800 miles from somewhere in the middle of Iowa. Your vehicle is covered with road salt, mud, and a few clumps of good old Iowa manure. In short, your ride looks like hell. Well never fear, once you get to Miami your troubles are over. Don't make the mistake of looking for a large, mechanized car wash like they have back home. And forget about those self-service places. We have exactly what you need...

How to be Treated Like Royalty

There are many great mansions in Miami: Gloria Estefan, the Bee Gees, Rosie O'Donnell, Julio Iglesias, and Madonna -- just to name a few -- have beautiful ocean side estates. There are several tour boats that can take you past these beautiful homes. However, there aren't any tours that let you go inside them. So you can only imagine what's happening inside. However, there is a place where you can tour the inside of a great Miami mansion...

Buy Great, Cheap Stuff -- Without Leaving Your Car

Don't be alarmed if you stop at a traffic light and someone lumbers up to your car window carrying something vaguely suspicious looking in their hands. At least don't be alarmed if this happens to you during the day. If you see someone approaching your car -- during the day, when there are other cars around -- roll down the window and see what they have. Otherwise, you'll miss out on one of Miami's best bargains...

An Authentic Cuban Grocery

There are many small Cuban markets sprinkled throughout Miami. A good Cuban grocery is an eating adventure! You'll have a great time exploring wonderful new foods and products you've probably never seen before. Whether you have a taste for Cuban crackers, or meringues, Cuban spices or a delicious flan, this place has it all...

Get a Little Flora With Your Fauna

They say that everyone has a green thumb in Miami. Stick just about anything in the ground and in a week or two you have a giant leafy green thing growing in the backyard. Miami has a wide variety of tropical and semi-tropical plants. If you don't know a Mangifera indica (mango) from a Hevea brasiliensis (rubber tree), why not visit a place where they have people who can set you straight? In no time, you too can be a tropical plant expert.