By: Edward Dye
Beautiful views and pleasant features are fascinating in the magic city of Miami. The young city with its ambience and history is a delight for the visitors.
Towards the south of Miami is Coral Gables that is a town, presently surrounded by the greater Miami. Biltmore Hotel, built in 1926 is an impressive building of historical significance. Fairchild Tropical Garden is the city’s favorite showplace. The garden spans eighty three acres, and a ride in its tram with a volunteer guide will give you some knowledge of the various plants that are brought here from different parts of the world by David Fairchild, the botanist.
Village of Merrick Park is also in Coral Gables. The town is named after its founder George Merrick. Among the fashionable shops and restaurants, many features symbolize the town’s history. For example, walking from a parking lot to the shops, the peacock feather mosaic is seen as a decorative picture on a wall. Overlooking the seating area, are two huge bronze peacocks. The peacocks are supposed to be referring to Merrick’s wife, former Isabel Peacock. Tall grasses edge the walkways.
As Coral Gables is known to be a university town, tourists wish to have a look at the University of Miami. The school has a lively atmosphere with drama, a movie theater, sports and concerts, and it offers classes for the young as well as the old.
Coconut Grove is in the east of the magical city of Miami, located on the Biscayne Bay. There are yacht clubs, sailing schools, marinas and some pleasant waterfront activities for those who enjoy boating.
The Barnacle, which is Miami’s earliest home, is seen in its original form, and offers a real look of the magic city. You can tune your imagination to see what life was hundred years ago, while Ralph Munroe arrived from New York city to the magic city of Miami, and constructed his family’s home here, overlooking the Bay.
Driving over Rickenbacker Causeway takes you to Key Biscayne, which is a barrier island located eastwards from the mainland. While crossing the Causeway, tourists can see an amazing view of sparkling water, cruise ships, sky-scrappers and small pleasure boats gliding through the waters.
There are two family beaches in the island, with trees and some picnic tables, ahead of the sandy shores. The Crandon Beach is two miles long and is placed among the nation’s top ten beaches. Bill Baggs State Park is another beach with a scenic lighthouse, recreational bicycles and a nature trail. There are two casual restaurants here.
The popular South Beach, the southern tip of the Miami Beach (long island to the east of Miami) is the one depicted in movies. Ocean Drive is a must in South Beach. The beach side gives the best view of Art Deco facades in the buildings throughout the streets, along with the activities going on in the whole location. It is a pleasant spot for sunbaths. You can simply watch the waves, or dive into the ocean.
Driving down the Eighth Street or Calle Ocho you go into the city. English and Spanish are spoken in different parts of the magic city, though the standard language here is Spanish. We can dine in Nicaraguan, Salvadoran, Cuban and Mexican restaurants or a few ethnic restaurants owned by people from the Spanish speaking countries.
The splendid Gusman Theater constructed in 1926 and repaired in 2002, offers films, concerts and dances in amazing shows. The Adriana Arsht Center is along the Biscayne Avenue, a place for fine arts (opera, symphonies and ballet), as well as fun arts. Another huge building along the street namely, American Airlines Arena is the place where Miami Heat, the basketball team plays. In other seasons rock concerts are the attractions here.