12 Great Things to Do in Miami

Miami International Airport (MIA) is rather centrally located as far as major airports go. A short 10 minute drive will get your from the airport to Downtown Miami. It's no secret that Florida caters to drivers. Wide boulevards and urban sprawl mean that if you're planning to spend time in the area, you will find it much more convenient to drive yourself or to rent a car in order to get around. Ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft are also good choices. Public transportation options include the Metrorail rapid transit system and the Metromover automated people mover. When paired with Miami's Metrobus system, they provide a good alternative to automobile transportation and are especially convenient during rush hour when traffic in Miami can become rather congested.

Located southwest of downtown, Zoo Miami is the only sub-tropical zoo in the continental United States and is home to over 2,000 animals. The zoo's cage-free enclosures are designed to mimic natural habitats and to allow species that normally coexist to inhabit familiar environments. This innovative and humane design makes the experience at Zoo Miami more akin to a nature safari than a traditional zoo. At Zoo Miami you can see animals interacting with each other as they would in the wild. Take a mini trip around the world as you visit different park sections including Asia, Africa, Australia, the Amazon, and more. Whether you have kids of your own or are just a big kid at heart, there is plenty to enjoy at Zoo Miami, which is why we think it's a great place to visit. As a bonus, visit the Gold Coast Railroad Museum right next door.

Located on the other side of Biscayne Bay from downtown is the impressive South Beach. Here you'll find trendy shops, amazing beaches, and steamy nightlife. South Beach is packed with upscale developments and great resorts. Venture over from central Miami and start at South Pointe Park Pier. Trendy restaurants and cafes dot the streets near the pointe. Stroll through South Pointe Park and head north along Washington Street. The Florida Jewish Museum is a great place to duck in if you want to get out of the sun. Otherwise, bring your suntan lotion and enjoy the pristine sands. When the sun goes down, the streets near the waterfront buzz with activity as restaurant-goers dress their best and make for a night on the town. Enjoy a great meal with an ocean view and then let your inhibitions go as you dance late into the night at one of the area's many bars and clubs. Experiencing the nightlife in South Beach is for sure one of the top-12 ultimate things to do in Miami.

Visitors to Miami's Little Havana neighborhood can experience Cuban culture and the bustling café life along Southwest 8th Street (aka Calle Ocho). Start at the Calle Ocho Walk of Fame and branch out in either direction. Find yourself a place for a coffee or a game of dominos, or just enjoy the comings and goings in this lively neighborhood. Each year, during the annual Carnaval Miami celebration, Little Havana hosts its own street festival also called Calle Ocho. Traditionally, members of the neighborhood's various ethnic communities display colors or flags representing their cultural heritage. Diverse Latin and South American foods are on offer while music and merriment stretch late into the night. Without a doubt, Calle Ocho is the event on the Little Havana social calendar and something you don't want to miss if you happen to be in town.

If you love everything about the ocean and the animals that live in it, the Miami Seaquarium is the place for you. Located on Virginia Key in Biscayne Bay, it is one of the oldest oceanariums in the United States. Miami Seaquarium offers the chance to play with dolphins, swim with seals, or become an animal trainer for the day. Once you arrive, be sure to check the show schedule so you don't miss performances with your favorite animals. Families will want to make a stop by the touch pools where the little ones can discover bamboo sharks, cleaner fish, and various invertebrates. Finally, don't miss the beautiful flamingos near the entrance as you're arriving. These gorgeous creatures will bring a smile to your face and set you in the right mood for exploring one of Miami's best attractions.

As tourists flocked to Miami's warm climate and beautiful shoreline, developers constructed a wave of hotels and businesses catering to these newcomers. Art Deco became the go-to design motif both for its attractiveness and the relative cost savings associated with construction. The result was that Miami's South Beach neighborhood now contains the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the world. Today, visitors can see many of these iconic structures preserved in their full glory. There are some 960 buildings spread out between 6th Street to the south and Collins Park to the north. Start your tour at the Art Deco Welcome Center on Ocean Drive at 10th Street where can find information on the neighborhood, learn about preservation efforts, and discover the backstory behind many of the locations. A stroll through the Art Deco District is a classic thing to do in Miami.

Located in the heart of downtown Miami, the Frost Museum of Science is South Florida's premiere museum for science and technology. It's a great place to stop when you're exploring the Miami waterfront. The museum's many hands-on exhibitions cover topics ranging from outer space to the strange creatures living inside each of us. Visit the design lab where you'll be presented with engineering challenges requiring creative solutions. The innovative "River of Grass" exhibit gives you a detailed look at the incredible Everglades ecosystem. Learn about star formation, black holes, and more when you catch a show at the planetarium. A few exhibits are located outdoors so keep this in mind as regards possible inclement weather or the need to protect yourself against the sun. With so much to see and experience, we know you'll agree that a visit to the Frost Museum of Science is a great thing to do in Miami.

Everglades National Park was established in 1934. As the largest tropical wilderness in the United States and the largest wilderness area of any kind east of the Mississippi River, the Everglades are a national treasure. UNESCO recognized the park in 1976 as a World Heritage Site. The Everglades ecosystem is unlike any other tropical wetlands on Earth. Boating through Everglades National Park is a popular activity. Make sure you obtain the proper registration and permits and be sure to observe all regulations in order to safeguard this precious natural resource. To get the most out of your visit, consider going on a guided tour or participating in one of the park's ranger-led activities. These informative sessions will help you better understand and appreciate the true wonder that is Everglades National Park. Found nowhere else on Earth, it's easy to understand why a visit to the Everglades makes our list of 12 great things to do in Miami.

Bayside Marketplace is situated on the waterfront near Bayfront Park. It's a sprawling yet cozy collection of shops, restaurants, and cafes. If you hop on the Miami River Walk you will eventually reach Bayside Marketplace. You might get lucky and happen upon some live music at the Bayfront Park Amphitheatre. Enjoy the view across Biscayne Bay before heading inside Bayside Marketplace. This is a great place to peruse the latest in fashion brands, which are all conveniently found in this one location. The two-story open air shopping center wraps around Bayside Marina. Watch the yachts coming and going as you sip a latte or cool drink at the Mojito Bar or Lombardi's Miami Italian Restaurant. With so many top brands packed into Bayside Marketplace, you might not want to leave until you've searched up and down for the best bargains. Either way you go, this downtown attraction is one of the top-12 ultimate things to do in Miami.

Wynwood is a neighborhood popular with local Miamians. Known for its trendy cafes and creative street art, Wynwood is a place to be. This is especially true on the second Saturday of every month when the streets fill with music, dance, and entertainment during the monthly Art Walk. Having transformed in recent years from a stogy former warehouse district, Wynwood is riding the wave of urban redevelopment helping to revitalized many American cities. There are more than 70 art spaces and museums, countless new and innovative restaurants, and dynamic startups eager to tap into a talent pool hungry for opportunity. Repurposing these locations has allowed for the creation of large exhibition halls well-suited to sizable installations and highly creative displays. When you visit Wynwood, you cannot help but feel surrounded by new and exciting things, which is why stopping here is a great thing to do when you're in Miami.

The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens are housed in a classic villa first constructed in 1916. Architect F. Burrall Hoffman was strongly influenced by elements from the Italian Renaissance and he incorporated strong hints of Tuscan style throughout. Visitors can tour the elaborately manicured gardens and marvel at the collection of fine furnishings and various artworks. Business magnet James Deering commissioned construction of the villa and grounds to serve as his primary winter residence. Today, the 50-acre site is open to the public as a museum and includes both the main buildings, the formal gardens, and a track of jungle forest beyond. Touring the villa's ornate interior and wandering through the gardens is a lovely experience and certainly among the top things to do in Miami.

The Miami Design District is one of those stops for people who appreciate a bit of the finer things in life. Some of the city's best shopping experiences are found here. High-end brands including Louis Vuitton, Dior, Prada, and Hermes all have retail locations in the area. Visitors can sample a range of great restaurants featuring entrees from award-winning chefs while wandering past public art collections containing works from Buckminster Fuller and other innovative artists. The Miami Design District is a perfect pairing with a visit to the nearby Wynwood Art District. The combination makes for a great day on the town and offers an excellent chance to see some of the most exciting things happening in Miami.

Miami's oft-derided ambivalence to its hometown sports franchises means the city is a great place to can catch your favorite teams when they come to town. Chances are good you can easily score tickets to Marlins or Panthers games. NBA games at American Airlines Arena are always popular. Look ahead to matchups when you're in town and try to catch a game. Tickets are easy to snag on StubHub or other vendors. The arrival of David Beckham's Inter Miami CF, which officially joined Major League Soccer at the start of the 2020 season, adds yet another great option to the Miami sports menu. Throw in the University of Miami Hurricanes and you've got yourself a potent combination of sporting franchises in a great market. Don't pass up the opportunity to see your favorite sports stars in action.

Miami is America's Magic City. This place has a lot going for it, not least some of the best weather anywhere in the continental United States. If you're someone who enjoys shopping or exploring new and innovative art spaces, there's something for you in Miami. Easy access to fantastic beaches and world class arts and entertainment options make this one of America's best vacation destinations. No matter what your passion or excitement, you will find something to tickle your fancy in Miami.