Miami: Where North and Latin America Overlap

On Florida's southeastern shore, Miami is the spot where the United States blends into Latin America. You will hear as much Spanish on the sidewalk as English. A causeway links downtown to the beach, roughly a quarter of an hour away, and the mainland and the island can feel like two different cities. Pastel Art Deco hotels face Ocean Drive, artists have covered the walls of Wynwood with murals, and by mid-afternoon the aroma of coffee and cigars drifts through Little Havana. Heat and humidity last most of the year, and they set the pace of daily life, so plan outdoor sightseeing for mornings and evenings.

Places to Sleep

• Fontainebleau Miami Beach: Architect Morris Lapidus created the hotel in 1954, and its sweeping curved front and the grand lobby staircase remain the main draw. A big beachfront resort, it has a number of dining rooms plus a pool area that stays buzzing well into the evening, with a long stretch of sand just beyond it.
• The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach: Set in a 1953 Art Deco building near the oceanfront end of Lincoln Road, carefully restored instead of replaced. Rooms with ocean views, a pool terrace facing the sea, and Ocean Drive only a few blocks to the south.
• Mandarin Oriental, Miami: Located on Brickell Key, a small island just off the downtown business district. It is peaceful, with its own bayside beach and rooms that look back toward the skyline. A good pick if you want to be near the city without the racket.

What to See and Do

• Walk South Beach: The Art Deco district stretches along Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue, with hundreds of pastel buildings that light up in neon after dark. Stroll it in the early evening when the heat eases, then head down to the sand.
• Wynwood: A district of old warehouses north of the downtown core, where artists from around the world keep painting over each other's work. At its heart sits Wynwood Walls, a courtyard that charges admission. The surrounding streets show off more murals for free.
• Little Havana: Calle Ocho runs through the middle of the neighbourhood. Pick up a cortadito from a street-side window, watch the players at Domino Park, and drop in on a shop where cigars are still rolled by hand.

Family-Friendly Places to Eat

Miami is good at feeding big groups, and most restaurants will squeeze in another chair. These suit kids well:

• Big Pink:
  Where: 157 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139
  A South Beach diner whose big platters get shared whether you meant to or not. Burgers, breakfast at any hour, and some dishes served on a retro TV-dinner tray.
• Shake Shack:
  Where: Several branches, one at 1111 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, Florida 33139
  Burgers, hot dogs and frozen custard shakes, served fast and with no fuss. Place your order at the counter, grab an outdoor table, and the noise will not bother anyone.
• Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.:
  Where: 401 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida 33132
  Right on the waterfront at Bayside Marketplace, with a decor built around the Forrest Gump film that kids enjoy more than their parents. Shrimp cooked every possible way, along with Southern-style dishes.
• Cheesecake Factory:
  Where: 19501 Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura, Florida 33180
  The menu spans many pages, so every diner finds something, though choosing takes a while. Servings are generous, and the cheesecake is the reason to save space.
• Graziano's:
  Where: Several branches, one at 394 Giralda Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida 33134
  An Argentine grill serving grilled meats, empanadas and an extensive wine list. It started out as a market and still sells cuts of meat to take home.
• Whisk Gourmet Food & Catering:
  Where: 7382 SW 56th Avenue, South Miami, Florida 33143
  A small kitchen in South Miami making Southern comfort dishes with local produce. Serving morning and midday meals, and the fried chicken is the one to order.
• Los Ranchos Steakhouse:
  Where: 8888 SW 136th Street, Miami, Florida 33176
  Steaks are grilled the Nicaraguan way and come with chimichurri and fried plantains. The dining room is cosy, the cuts are big, and there is enough seafood to keep a mixed group content.

A Few Things Worth Knowing

• A crossroads, not a blend: Miami is where North and South America trade with each other, and its communities stay distinct instead of merging into one. It shows in the cooking, and in the particular Spanish you hear on each street.
• Art Deco by the block: South Beach has the densest collection of Art Deco buildings in the world, over 800, nearly all built between the 1920s and the early 1940s. Conservation efforts that began in the 1970s saved them from demolition.
• Two seasons, not four: Summer is the wet season, May through October, with sticky heat and a thunderstorm most afternoons. The dry months from November to April are what draw winter visitors. Hurricane season spans June to November.