American Airlines Arena

American Airlines Arena, Home of the Miami HEAT!

    A trip to Miami isn't complete without visiting the American Airlines Arena. Since its grand opening on December 31, 1999, the stadium has become one of the nation's premier facilities in sports and entertainment as well as a center of activity in South Florida. The 19,600-seat American Airlines Arena ranks among the nation's top 10 venues annually for ticket sales and it's among the top 5 for Latin entertainment. Artists such as  Coldplay, Marc Anthony, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and Jay Z have performed at the arena, just to name a few. 

    The American Airlines Arena has also hosted several life TV events, including the MTV Video Music Awards and the Latin Grammy Awards. Univision Network has also broadcasted its famous Premio Lo Nuestro Awards show from the arena for five years.

    It isn't just the home of the Miami HEAT, it's also held championship boxing, wrestling, mix martial arts, tennis, and gymnastics. It has been the venue of choice for family shows like Disney On Ice, Sesame Street, The Wiggles, and Ringling Bros. and Barnum ft. Bailey Circus.

    American Airlines Arena was awarded LEED certification in the category of existing buildings: Operations and Maintenance by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). It became the first existing building in the country to have received LEED certification and the only one in Florida to receive this designation by the USGBC.


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Downtown Miami

See what Miami is all about at Downtown Miami!

Visiting Downtown Miami is a unique experience. It's wonderful during the day for a family vacation but at night it's perfect for a party crowd with the parties in clubs going on all night long! 

You can visit the Modern Art Museum that shares a courtyard with the South Florida Historical Museum or take a beauty break and stop by a beauty salon. Downtown offers a variety of restaurants and cuisines to choose from like Cacique, a typical Cuban restaurant, or La Loggia, a favorite Italian bistro. There are also many stores perfect for a shipping spree like Macy's of the Seybold Building, a complex of discount jewelers and watch shops favored by locals for engagement rings and major bling. Discount stores like ROSS and Marshall's can also be found. Don't worry about transportation. Everything you need is in walking distance or you can take the Metromover, a bus in the sky.

The Freedom Tower is another sight to see. Today, the tower is used as a monument to the trials of Cuban Americans in America. On the first floor, there's a museum a public museum that capture things like boat lifts, life in pre- and post- Castro Cuba, and the advances made by Cuban Americans in the country. There is even a library that holds a numerous amount of books about fleeing Cuba and life in America.

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Venetian Pool

Cool Down at Venetian Pool!

   Venetian Pool, originally the Venetian Casino, is a Venetian-style lagoon carved out of coral rock. Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world have visited it and enjoyed it. There are two waterfalls that provide a scenic backdrop. You can even hide in cave-like grottos for a fun, new experience. The nearly 90-year-old buildings are constantly under maintenance to provide the best look and experience possible.

    One of the first public pools in South Florida and born in 1924, Venetian Pool has held concerts and the pool was even drained once so an opera could perform. It has also welcomed swimming movie star Esther Williams and Tarzan actor Johnny Weismuller to its waters. In case you were wondering, the pool is drained and the pool bottom is cleaned daily.

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Bayside Marketplace

Bayside Marketplace

    Bayside Marketplace, located on Biscayne Bay, is an open-air center with over 140 stores, shops, and restaurants. Some you may know are GUESS, Gap, Express. Enjoy dining at Hard Rock Cafe, The Knife, Hooters, Five Guys, and Chili's. You can also enjoy lively performances by Miami's best local musicians who take the stage at night.

Bayside Marketplace is recognized nationally and is the most visited attraction in Miami with a number five ranking statewide.

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Everglades Safari Park

Enjoy some time at the Everglades!

   When visiting the Everglades, stop by Everglades Safari Park. The park offers a variety of activities, from airboat rides to wildlife shows and jungle walkways.

    Some of the best things to do are going on an airboat ride, petting an alligator as well as seeing an alligator show, kayaking in the Everglades, and enjoying a bike ride through Shark Valley.  

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Miami Flyboard

Soar on a Flyboard!

    

    Visit Miami Flyboard and take your vacation to the next level with their Flyboard and Hoverboard rentals. The new products of Zapata Racing, the Flyboard and Hoverboard, offer an experience like never before!

 So how does it work? The Flyboard is a personal jet board that mounts on your feet. The water pressure created by a personal watercraft is redirected to a hose that splits in two directions. At the end are two nozzles beneath your feet pointing down, which creates lift.

If you think it´s hard learning how to fly on one of these then think again. With proper instructions, you'll be out of the water and flying in the first 5 minutes Most people are out in 30 seconds!




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Key Biscayne

Spend a day at Key Biscayne!

 

    Key Biscayne has much to offer, from white, sandy beaches to outdoor recreational activities that include bicycling, tennis, fishing, kite boarding, windsurfing, and more. You can visit the 170-year old Cape Florida Lighthouse or go to Crandon Park Beach and meet Lolita the Killer Whale. Fun fact, Crandon beach is also famous for its parade of famous photographers and models. Near the southern tip of Key Biscayne is Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area, which is one of the most beautiful natural areas near Miami.

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Tropical Park

Visit Tropical Park!

    Tropical Park attracts more than one million visitors a year. The park has everything, from basketball courts, BBQ grills, bicycling paths, and even a boxing center. Also, there's an equestrian centre where many horse shows are held annually. In fact, the park was developed on the site of a former horse track. The Tropical Stadium is home to the Miami-Dade Track and Field Team and has been the host for meets for the Junior Olympics and USA National Team. 

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Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Enjoy the beauty of nature at Vizcaya!



   In 1952, James Deering's nieces,
Barbara Deering Danielson and Marion Deering McCormick, conveyed Vizcaya to what is now Miami-Dade County. Vizcaya has welcomed U.S officials for decades, including former presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, as well as foreign leaders like Queen Elizabeth II, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, and Pope John Paul II. Also, major international events have taken place have been held at Vizcaya, including the Summit of the Americas and the signing of the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas. Now, photoshoots and even wedding are held here.

  Vizcaya still preserves most of its old furnishings as well as the historic layout of the gardens. The mansion is surrounded by acres of European-style gardens with fountains and statuary. The pièce de résistance, carved out of Florida limestone in the shape of an oversized Venetian barge is found sitting in the bay at the backside of the mansion.

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Wynwood Walls

The Wynwood Walls are quite the sight to see!

The walls started with Tony Goldman, committed to graffiti and street art. His goal was to give this type of art more attention as well as respect. The Wynwood Walls have brought many amazing artists from around the world to Miami. Many have come from the United States, Brazil, Belgium, Mexico, Portugal, Ukraine, Greece, Spain, Germany, France, England, Japan, and Singapore to contribute their own works of art. Some Wynwood artists include, Kenny Scharf, Momo, Ben Wolf, Brandon Opalka, Faith 47, and many more.

Now, the Wynwood Walls program has seen over 50 artists representing 16 countries and has covered 80,000 square feet of walls. The walls are definitely a sight to see. Come and spend the day here looking at all the amazing art!

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