Miami Beach

The island on which present-day Miami Beach sits, was originally a mangrove swamp. In 1913, a wooden bridge was built to connect it with the mainland, but development was slow until the Florida land boom of the 1920's. Miami Beach developed as a year-round resort. It became famous for its 'gold coast' hotel strip, palatial estates and recreational facilities.

The glamorous hotel and vacation industry began to decline in the 1970's. Later, large numbers of Cuban refugees from the Mariel boatlift flooded into the area, seeking cheap accommodations. A spurt in less-expensive development along the ocean road followed. That led to the influx of a younger population and to the exodus of many wealthier retirees to other resort cities in Florida. The 1979 designation of an Art Deco section of South Beach as a historic district slowly set in motion an architectural revival of Miami Beach. Buildings were refurbished, in tropical, pastel-tinted colors and by the 1990's, the city had re-emerged as a popular tourist destination.

Nowadays, tourism is thriving and the industry is the city's chief earner. Most people come to Miami Beach for its beaches, clubs and bars, but the city is also worth a visit for its spectacular redesigns in modern architectural history. The Art Deco Historic District is a collection of bright pink, lavender and turquoise buildings, most of which date from the 1920's. The district is one of the largest areas on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The Deco district is in the heart of South Beach, or SoBe, as it is often referred to. It is the southwestern section of Miami Beach.

If you just visit for the sand and sea, Miami Beach is one of the best city beaches in the world. The water is clear and warm and the sand is relatively white and clean. The beach is very wide, so even on busy days, there's room for everyone. At the westernmost end of the beach is the Promenade, a Deco-ish, wavy ribbon of concrete. It is a popular spot for photo shoots and it has appeared on the covers of countless magazines. If you show up early in the morning, you're likely to see shoots in progress. The Promenade is also popular with in-line skaters, bicyclists, skateboarders, dog walkers and people watching people.

Miami Beach has a strong Jewish culture mixed with Latin flair. The city boasts a Cuban-Jewish Congregation. In the middle of Miami Beach is a Holocaust Memorial that was created through the efforts of Miami Beach Holocaust survivors.

There is a wide variety of accommodation in Miami Beach. There are also countless bars, nightclubs and restaurants. The 34,000-seat Convention Hall complex in Miami Beach is often host to important political conventions. The city's cultural institutions include the Bass Art Museum, the Cultural Park and the Wolfsonian, which is a museum of design.

Miami Beach sits on an island between Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean in the southeast of Florida. It is connected to Miami by four 6 km (4 miles) long causeways. Miami Beach is 660 km southeast of Tallahassee and 1510 km south of Washington D.C.