South Beach Information
History
South Beach is a world renowned travel destination, famous for its exciting nightlife, fine dining, Art Deco architecture, and of course the luxurious white sands of Miami Beach. South Beach itself is the lower part of Florida's peninsula, separating the Atlantic Ocean from the Biscayne Bay. In 1870 the South Beach area was owned by Henry and Charles Lum, who built the first house in the South Beach area in 1886, using the land primarily for Coconut farming. The Lum brothers only stayed in South Beach for eight years before turning the land over to John Collins in 1894. In 1912, the Lummus Brothers acquired 400 acres of Collins' land and began to develop it with single family oceanfront homes, creating the origins of the city that stands today.
Collins continued to use the land for farming purposes until 1913, when he began construction of a bridge between Miami and his farmland, which is known today as Miami's South Beach. John Collins combined efforts with Carl Fisher in order to complete the bridge, which was know as Collins Bridge until it was replaced in 1925. At it's time it was the longest wooden bridge in the world. Today the Venetian Causeway fallows the same route. On March 26, 1915 Collins, Fisher and the Lummus Brothers consolidated their efforts to incorporate the town of Miami Beach. South Beach's inviting weather and picturesque beaches attracted several millionaires and movie stars, such as Jackie Gleason and his widely popular show to the area, which fueled interest in the area, and tourism began to boom!
South Beach's architecture was revolutionized during the 1930's Art Deco movement. Art Deco is an eclectic form of elegant and stylish modernism characterized by geometric and jumbled shapes. Many of the hotels on Ocean Drive were constructed in the Art Deco style. South Beach remains today the largest collection of Art Deco architecture that survived in the country, despite it's challenging past.
South Beach waterfront location, while beautiful, did have a detrimental effect on its growth, hurricanes, illegal immigration, and increase of drug trafficking changed this tropical paradise into a struggling city. This led to a drastic increase in crime and poverty in the city. It was not until the 1980's that this began to turn around as the fashion industry began to relocate from New York, to warmer climates, with South Beach as their primary location. From here the city began to flourish into the destination spot that it is today. Nightclubs, restaurants, and Art Deco style hotels now line the streets of Miami's South Beach, most predominantly on the main strip of Ocean Drive. The Art Deco, old style feel that helped make this city famous, has not been lost over the years, but rather protected by the Preservation Society who will not allow the cities eclectic roots to be erased.
Miami Beach Attractions
Today, the Miami Beach area, which includes seventeen islands just east of Miami, has become world-renowned for its avant-garde neighborhoods that offer some of the finest shopping, dining, and picturesque views on the East Coast. South Beach, the southernmost tip of Miami Beach, is often referred to as the “American Riviera” and is the most famous section of Miami Beach, even though it only encompasses less than two square miles. Beyond the fabulous beaches, shopping, restaurants, and nightlife that attract many visitors to this area, there are numerous cultural attractions such as the New World Symphony, theMiami City Ballet, theArt Center of South Florida, the Fillmore Miami Beach at The Jackie Gleason Theater, the Bass Museum of Art, and of course theMiami Beach Convention Center, which draws major expos and events each year.
If you are looking for culture, but prefer to be outdoors due to the magnificent weather that Miami promises almost year round, then visit one of the many outdoor cultural options, such as the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens, or for an exotic experience visit the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens or the Monkey Jungle. Miami Beach is overflowing with cultural experiences, without even visiting a museum or gallery. Simply take a stroll through the beautiful Lummas Park which separates Ocean Drive from the expansive white sands of Miami beach, this area features the largest grouping of 1920’s-1940’s Art Deco architecture in the country, that has even earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places, and is definitely one of Miami Beach’s unique treasures.
Espanola Way
For a truly ethnic experience visit Espanola Way! This Historic Spanish Village is located right in the heart of South Beach, and is modeled after the Mediterranean villages of Paris and Spain. This beautiful section features more than just the old Spanish architecture; it is alive with past and present Spanish culture. View ethnic artwork on display at the Espanola Way Art Center and Marcel Gallery, which both offer free admission to visitors, or take in a film at the Miami Beach Cinematheque and Gallery, which is the headquarters for the Miami Beach International Film Festival. Espanola Way exudes Hispanic culture with its street venders and boutique shops featuring authentic handmade treasures and clothing. A trip down Espanola Way would not be complete without stopping at one of the many ethnic sidewalk cafés and restaurants, such as A La Folie , an authentic and acclaimed French Restaurant, Hosteria Romana, for authentic Italian, Tapas & Tintos for a Spanish flare, or Oh! Mexico, for authentic Mexican cuisine. Espanola way is worth adding to any itinerary when visiting South Beach Miami!
Lincoln Road
If shopping is what you are after, then a trip to South Beach would not be complete without visiting Lincoln Road, which has been referred to as one of the most elegant, designer shopping areas in the country, comparable to Fifth Avenue in New York, and Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles. This posh street was redesigned by the legendary Morris Lapidus in the 1960’s, forming America’s first outdoor pedestrian mall. This fashionable street houses stores from all the top designers, as well as the modeling companies that advertise them, and it is a prime location for catching a glance of famous musicians and movie stars shopping during their Miami getaways! On Sundays, Lincoln Market takes on a bohemian feel as the road transitions into an open air marketplace featuring antiques, collectables, and an organic farmer’s market that is not to be missed!
Bayside Marketplace & Bayfront Park
Another outdoor market to visit is the Bayside Marketplace, which is just over the causeway from South Beach on the edge of downtown Miami. Bayside Marketplace offers an exciting outdoor shopping plaza that features daily live entertainment and a variety of restaurants and shops. Adjacent to the marketplace is the beautiful Miami Marina and Bayfront Park, which offers some of the best panoramic views of the sparkling Biscayne Bay! Great views, is not all this fantastic park offers, with a outdoor amphitheater that has a capacity for up to 10,000 people. Many talented musicians visit for concerts and festivals, in this picturesque location! Bayfront Park also offers many exciting daily activities such as the Flying Trapeze School, and the Miami SkyLift Balloon and free Yoga in the Park two nights a week and Saturday mornings right beside the bay! Bayfront Park is a great place to spend the day whether you are looking for some excitement or someplace to relax in the sun.
Coral Gables
Coral Gables , which is just inland of Bayfront Park, is yet another beautiful area that must be visited on any vacation to Miami. The name Coral Gables itself, means “City beautiful” and this Mediterranean-like city, which was designed by George Merrick in the 1920’s, definitely lives up to its name. Touring Coral Gables is easy, fun, and definitely affordable, with the free hybrid electric trolleys that run through the majestic city daily. While viewing Merrick’s amazing city, the tour would not be complete without stopping at the Merrick House where the designer spent his childhood. The house is a wonderful example of early Coral Gables architecture. Today the Merrick House has become a museum which features this historic family’s treasures on display, as they were in the 1920’s. Another of George Merrick’s properties that has been awarded a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in addition to his childhood home is his famous Venetian Pool. This magnificent natural spring pool was formed from a rock quarry in 1923. The 820,000-gallon pool features two waterfalls and coral caves, and is fed with cool spring water daily. For a nominal entrance fee a family may be transported back to the times of decadence and splendor, of the ancient Venetians, as they swim and relax around this sparkling pool. If you are more inclined to spend your day shopping, than lounging in the sun, Coral Gables is definitely a place to spend the day! With the Village of Merrick Park and the Miracle Mile to choose from, you will definitely find what you are looking for. Overflowing with high-end designers and specialty shops, shopping this beautifully landscaped area, surrounded by Mediterranean-style architecture, will definitely leave you feeling as fashionable as the shops that line the streets.
Coconut Grove
If you are looking for a shopping experience with a more eclectic, and maybe even eccentric flare, than check out Coconut Grove’s CocoWalk! Coconut Grove’s bustling community attracts many artists and musicians, which is reflected in its colorful buildings, art galleries and almost constant live music! This area features many of the varying art, film, and music festivals that come to the Miami- Dade Area, usually in Coconut Grove’s beautiful Peacock Park.
Barnacle Historic State Park
If you are looking to escape the crowds, than head into the Barnacle Historic State Park which remains a reminder of the quiet refuge that 19th century Biscayne Bay once was. The Barnacle, built in 1891, was once the famous yacht designer Commodore Ralph Munroe's home and boathouse. Today this quaint park offers daily tours to the public from Friday to Monday, and features Yoga by the Sea on Wednesday evenings! Admission to this historic park is definitely affordable for almost any budget at a price of just $1.00, and free for children under six!
Key Biscayne
Another great park to visit to escape the hustle and bustle of city life is the majestic shores of Key Biscayne’s Crandon Park. Crandon Park's beautiful two-mile beach is consistently named among the top ten beaches in the nation, and attracts many visitors to its pristine shoreline. Crandon Park offers more than just its spectacular beachfront, there is also the Crandon Park Beach Amusement Center featuring a carousel, outdoor skating rink, splash fountain and a playground for additional family fun, as well as the Crandon Park Beach Gardens, which was once the Crandon Park Zoo. The remnants of the old cages, as well as tracks from the old train that circled the zoo at one time, still remain visible through the banyan trees and foliage. Today many peacocks, wild birds, and reptiles wonder this area, free of the cages that once housed them. Key Biscayne also offers a haven for the sports enthusiast with the Crandon Park Golf Course and the Tennis Center, which host many exciting events each year, such as the Sony Ericsson Open and many annual golf tournaments. Key Biscayne, which is a small key, just South of Fisher Island is connected to the mainland, by a bridge on the North side of the Island. Key Biscayne gives you the feel of being away from reality, with a shorter travel time!
Whatever you are looking for on your next vacation in Florida, the Miami-Dade area has everything you are looking for, and when you stay at the Avalon or South Seas Hotels everything that South Beach has to offer is just steps from our front doors. Our experienced front desk and concierge staff look forward to helping you plan your next vacation! We hope to see you soon!
South Beach is a world renowned travel destination, famous for its exciting nightlife, fine dining, Art Deco architecture, and of course the luxurious white sands of Miami Beach. South Beach itself is the lower part of Florida's peninsula, separating the Atlantic Ocean from the Biscayne Bay. In 1870 the South Beach area was owned by Henry and Charles Lum, who built the first house in the South Beach area in 1886, using the land primarily for Coconut farming. The Lum brothers only stayed in South Beach for eight years before turning the land over to John Collins in 1894. In 1912, the Lummus Brothers acquired 400 acres of Collins' land and began to develop it with single family oceanfront homes, creating the origins of the city that stands today.
Collins continued to use the land for farming purposes until 1913, when he began construction of a bridge between Miami and his farmland, which is known today as Miami's South Beach. John Collins combined efforts with Carl Fisher in order to complete the bridge, which was know as Collins Bridge until it was replaced in 1925. At it's time it was the longest wooden bridge in the world. Today the Venetian Causeway fallows the same route. On March 26, 1915 Collins, Fisher and the Lummus Brothers consolidated their efforts to incorporate the town of Miami Beach. South Beach's inviting weather and picturesque beaches attracted several millionaires and movie stars, such as Jackie Gleason and his widely popular show to the area, which fueled interest in the area, and tourism began to boom!South Beach's architecture was revolutionized during the 1930's Art Deco movement. Art Deco is an eclectic form of elegant and stylish modernism characterized by geometric and jumbled shapes. Many of the hotels on Ocean Drive were constructed in the Art Deco style. South Beach remains today the largest collection of Art Deco architecture that survived in the country, despite it's challenging past.
South Beach waterfront location, while beautiful, did have a detrimental effect on its growth, hurricanes, illegal immigration, and increase of drug trafficking changed this tropical paradise into a struggling city. This led to a drastic increase in crime and poverty in the city. It was not until the 1980's that this began to turn around as the fashion industry began to relocate from New York, to warmer climates, with South Beach as their primary location. From here the city began to flourish into the destination spot that it is today. Nightclubs, restaurants, and Art Deco style hotels now line the streets of Miami's South Beach, most predominantly on the main strip of Ocean Drive. The Art Deco, old style feel that helped make this city famous, has not been lost over the years, but rather protected by the Preservation Society who will not allow the cities eclectic roots to be erased.
Miami Beach Attractions
Today, the Miami Beach area, which includes seventeen islands just east of Miami, has become world-renowned for its avant-garde neighborhoods that offer some of the finest shopping, dining, and picturesque views on the East Coast. South Beach, the southernmost tip of Miami Beach, is often referred to as the “American Riviera” and is the most famous section of Miami Beach, even though it only encompasses less than two square miles. Beyond the fabulous beaches, shopping, restaurants, and nightlife that attract many visitors to this area, there are numerous cultural attractions such as the New World Symphony, theMiami City Ballet, theArt Center of South Florida, the Fillmore Miami Beach at The Jackie Gleason Theater, the Bass Museum of Art, and of course theMiami Beach Convention Center, which draws major expos and events each year.
If you are looking for culture, but prefer to be outdoors due to the magnificent weather that Miami promises almost year round, then visit one of the many outdoor cultural options, such as the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens, or for an exotic experience visit the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens or the Monkey Jungle. Miami Beach is overflowing with cultural experiences, without even visiting a museum or gallery. Simply take a stroll through the beautiful Lummas Park which separates Ocean Drive from the expansive white sands of Miami beach, this area features the largest grouping of 1920’s-1940’s Art Deco architecture in the country, that has even earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places, and is definitely one of Miami Beach’s unique treasures.
Espanola Way
For a truly ethnic experience visit Espanola Way! This Historic Spanish Village is located right in the heart of South Beach, and is modeled after the Mediterranean villages of Paris and Spain. This beautiful section features more than just the old Spanish architecture; it is alive with past and present Spanish culture. View ethnic artwork on display at the Espanola Way Art Center and Marcel Gallery, which both offer free admission to visitors, or take in a film at the Miami Beach Cinematheque and Gallery, which is the headquarters for the Miami Beach International Film Festival. Espanola Way exudes Hispanic culture with its street venders and boutique shops featuring authentic handmade treasures and clothing. A trip down Espanola Way would not be complete without stopping at one of the many ethnic sidewalk cafés and restaurants, such as A La Folie , an authentic and acclaimed French Restaurant, Hosteria Romana, for authentic Italian, Tapas & Tintos for a Spanish flare, or Oh! Mexico, for authentic Mexican cuisine. Espanola way is worth adding to any itinerary when visiting South Beach Miami!
Lincoln Road
If shopping is what you are after, then a trip to South Beach would not be complete without visiting Lincoln Road, which has been referred to as one of the most elegant, designer shopping areas in the country, comparable to Fifth Avenue in New York, and Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles. This posh street was redesigned by the legendary Morris Lapidus in the 1960’s, forming America’s first outdoor pedestrian mall. This fashionable street houses stores from all the top designers, as well as the modeling companies that advertise them, and it is a prime location for catching a glance of famous musicians and movie stars shopping during their Miami getaways! On Sundays, Lincoln Market takes on a bohemian feel as the road transitions into an open air marketplace featuring antiques, collectables, and an organic farmer’s market that is not to be missed!
Bayside Marketplace & Bayfront Park
Another outdoor market to visit is the Bayside Marketplace, which is just over the causeway from South Beach on the edge of downtown Miami. Bayside Marketplace offers an exciting outdoor shopping plaza that features daily live entertainment and a variety of restaurants and shops. Adjacent to the marketplace is the beautiful Miami Marina and Bayfront Park, which offers some of the best panoramic views of the sparkling Biscayne Bay! Great views, is not all this fantastic park offers, with a outdoor amphitheater that has a capacity for up to 10,000 people. Many talented musicians visit for concerts and festivals, in this picturesque location! Bayfront Park also offers many exciting daily activities such as the Flying Trapeze School, and the Miami SkyLift Balloon and free Yoga in the Park two nights a week and Saturday mornings right beside the bay! Bayfront Park is a great place to spend the day whether you are looking for some excitement or someplace to relax in the sun.
Coral Gables
Coral Gables , which is just inland of Bayfront Park, is yet another beautiful area that must be visited on any vacation to Miami. The name Coral Gables itself, means “City beautiful” and this Mediterranean-like city, which was designed by George Merrick in the 1920’s, definitely lives up to its name. Touring Coral Gables is easy, fun, and definitely affordable, with the free hybrid electric trolleys that run through the majestic city daily. While viewing Merrick’s amazing city, the tour would not be complete without stopping at the Merrick House where the designer spent his childhood. The house is a wonderful example of early Coral Gables architecture. Today the Merrick House has become a museum which features this historic family’s treasures on display, as they were in the 1920’s. Another of George Merrick’s properties that has been awarded a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in addition to his childhood home is his famous Venetian Pool. This magnificent natural spring pool was formed from a rock quarry in 1923. The 820,000-gallon pool features two waterfalls and coral caves, and is fed with cool spring water daily. For a nominal entrance fee a family may be transported back to the times of decadence and splendor, of the ancient Venetians, as they swim and relax around this sparkling pool. If you are more inclined to spend your day shopping, than lounging in the sun, Coral Gables is definitely a place to spend the day! With the Village of Merrick Park and the Miracle Mile to choose from, you will definitely find what you are looking for. Overflowing with high-end designers and specialty shops, shopping this beautifully landscaped area, surrounded by Mediterranean-style architecture, will definitely leave you feeling as fashionable as the shops that line the streets.
Coconut Grove
If you are looking for a shopping experience with a more eclectic, and maybe even eccentric flare, than check out Coconut Grove’s CocoWalk! Coconut Grove’s bustling community attracts many artists and musicians, which is reflected in its colorful buildings, art galleries and almost constant live music! This area features many of the varying art, film, and music festivals that come to the Miami- Dade Area, usually in Coconut Grove’s beautiful Peacock Park.
Barnacle Historic State Park
If you are looking to escape the crowds, than head into the Barnacle Historic State Park which remains a reminder of the quiet refuge that 19th century Biscayne Bay once was. The Barnacle, built in 1891, was once the famous yacht designer Commodore Ralph Munroe's home and boathouse. Today this quaint park offers daily tours to the public from Friday to Monday, and features Yoga by the Sea on Wednesday evenings! Admission to this historic park is definitely affordable for almost any budget at a price of just $1.00, and free for children under six!
Key Biscayne
Another great park to visit to escape the hustle and bustle of city life is the majestic shores of Key Biscayne’s Crandon Park. Crandon Park's beautiful two-mile beach is consistently named among the top ten beaches in the nation, and attracts many visitors to its pristine shoreline. Crandon Park offers more than just its spectacular beachfront, there is also the Crandon Park Beach Amusement Center featuring a carousel, outdoor skating rink, splash fountain and a playground for additional family fun, as well as the Crandon Park Beach Gardens, which was once the Crandon Park Zoo. The remnants of the old cages, as well as tracks from the old train that circled the zoo at one time, still remain visible through the banyan trees and foliage. Today many peacocks, wild birds, and reptiles wonder this area, free of the cages that once housed them. Key Biscayne also offers a haven for the sports enthusiast with the Crandon Park Golf Course and the Tennis Center, which host many exciting events each year, such as the Sony Ericsson Open and many annual golf tournaments. Key Biscayne, which is a small key, just South of Fisher Island is connected to the mainland, by a bridge on the North side of the Island. Key Biscayne gives you the feel of being away from reality, with a shorter travel time!
Whatever you are looking for on your next vacation in Florida, the Miami-Dade area has everything you are looking for, and when you stay at the Avalon or South Seas Hotels everything that South Beach has to offer is just steps from our front doors. Our experienced front desk and concierge staff look forward to helping you plan your next vacation! We hope to see you soon!
