DK Eyewitness - DK Eyewitness Top 10 Miami and the Keys (Pocket Travel Guide)

Clockwise from top: Bahia Honda State Park, Atlantic coral reef at Key Largo, Ocean Drive, Miami skyline, Art Deco fountain, tearoom at Vizcaya museum, Sloppy Joes bar at Key West

With its world-class beaches, pastel-colored Art Deco architecture, and pulsating nightlife, Miami is Floridas most glamorous city. There is also a robust cultural scene, and the city has a sizable Latin American population. To the south, the Keys are a string of reef-fringed islands, sprinkled with white-sand beaches culminating at Key West. With DK Eyewitness Top 10 Miami and the Keys, its yours to explore.

Miamis hedonistic heart is South Beach: elegant and stylish, with fine dining and fashionable shopping. Everything ultimately revolves around the beach itself, an enticing stretch of sand backed by hip hotels. The skyscrapers of Downtown Miami, by contrast, harbor historic sights and intriguing museums, while nearby Little Havana is the hub of everything Cuban, from traditional fruit-juice stalls to cigar factories. North of Downtown lie the Wynwood murals, the trendy stores of the Design District, and Little Haiti, one of the citys most exuberant areas.

Meanwhile, at Floridas southern tip, the Keys are an archipelago of over 10,000 tiny islands of which fewer than 50 are inhabited. Just offshore lies the Florida Reef, a great wall of living coral with a dazzling array of marine life. Key West boasts museums and TheHemingway Home, lively bars, and spectacular sunsets.

Whether youre coming for a weekend or a week, our Top 10 guide brings together the best of everything the region has to offer, from hip South Beach to authentic Cuban diners. The guide has useful tips throughout, from seeking out whats free to places off the beaten path, plus nine easy-to-follow itineraries designed to tie together a clutch of sights in a short space of time. Add inspiring photography and detailed maps, and youve got the essential pocket-sized travel companion. Enjoy the book, and enjoy Miami and the Keys.

EXPLORING MIAMI AND THE KEYS

There are so many things to do in Miami and the Keys, you could easily spend a couple of weeks here. Whether youre visiting for a weekend or have the luxury of an extra couple of days, these two-and four-day itineraries will help you make the most of your time.

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Two Days in Miami

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Day 1

Morning

Begin by having breakfast at .

The Biscayne Bay boat tour is a very popular way of seeing the sights.

Afternoon

Head to .

Day 2

Morning

Start the day in .

Afternoon

Take a tour of .

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Four Days in Miami and the Keys

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Day 1

Morning

Sample .

Afternoon

After lunch take in some of George Merricks fabulous architecture around .

Day 2

Morning

Spend the day exploring the , beginning with breakfast on the Broadwalk in Hollywood Beach. Explore Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park before lunch in Fort Lauderdale.

Afternoon

Head up the coast to Palm Beach, touring the before heading back to Miami.

Day 3

Morning

Stroll around .

Afternoon

Head out to the for the afternoon, getting a taster at Shark Valley, Mahogany Hammock, and the Anhinga and Gumbo Limbo trails.

Day 4

Morning

Get up early to drive Hwy-1 to , and perhaps a picnic.

Bahia Honda State Park has one of the best beaches in the world.

Afternoon

Visit the .

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Top 10 Miami and the Keys Highlights

Art Deco apartments on Ocean Drive, lit up after sunset

Top 10 Miami and the Keys Highlights

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SOUTH BEACH

SoBe, the nickname for Miamis beautiful South Beach, was inspired by Manhattans SoHo, and its become every bit as hip and fashionable as its New York counterpart. Now the American Riviera offers an ebullient mix of beach life, club-crawling, and alternative chic, attracting devotees from around the globe. Yet, SoBes chic modern character is also nicely blended with just the right amount of light-hearted kitsch.

NEED TO KNOW

Villa Casa Casuarina: restaurant open 11am4:30pm & 6pmmidnight daily; www.vmmiamibeach.com

O Cinema South Beach: www.o-cinema.org

Google Map

• Parking is a problem in the area, so once you find a place, leave the car and walk. Use the Miami Beach Parking App to identify municipal parking facilities, and pay via ParkMobile (www.parkmobile.io). There are meters as well that accept credit cards (or cash).
• To participate fully in the SoBe experience, the is the ideal place to grab a bite to eat or to catch-up on some reading.

Lincoln Road Mall

Google Map

Built in the 1920s as an upscale shopping district, the Lincoln Road Mall became a pedestrian mall in the 1960s. This fashionable area is lined with restaurants, shops, and galleries.