Miami Beach Florida Overview
Miami Beach is on the mainland, while the city of Miami Beach is on a thin barrier island about 4 miles across Biscayne Bay. The locals call this area the Billion Dollar Sandbar. Miami is also known as a playground for the rich and famous and is world famous for the many elegant hotels and luxury resorts and spas that line its beaches. In the summer the average daily temperature is 82 degrees but in July and August the temperatures soar to the 90s. Bring an umbrella, because it rains every day in Miami at 3 p.m. Over 400 multinational companies have operations in this commercial center which is a gateway to international business. The city is also home to over135 financial institutions and foreign agencies. Over 2.1 million people reside in Miami. Sixty percent of the population is foreign born and almost 40% are Cuban. Although area-wise it is only 34 square miles, Miami is the eleventh largest metropolitan area in the United States.
Recreational pursuits in Miami include boating, biking, fishing, golf inline skating, kayaking, sailing, gaming, jet-skiing, scuba diving, tennis and windsurfing. The city is known for its miles of bike causeways, 18 hole golf courses and big sports events. Favorite sports include professional baseball, basketball, football, horseracing and hockey. Ticket Master supplies tickets for most major events. |
Millions of visitors flow through Miami International airport each year. They come to do business and enjoy the area's countless pleasures that include swimming, fishing, boating, golfing and embark on luxury cruises to the Caribbean from the Port of Miami.
Perhaps Miami's most popular attraction is its incredible 35-mile stretch of beachfront, which runs northwards from the tip of South Beach and then circles the city. There is a beach to suit every preference in Miami. There are beaches for swimming, socializing, or nature watching. There are also private and public beaches that specifically cater to family, seniors, gays and singles. One of the longest stretches of sandy beach runs more than a dozen miles along Collins Avenue.