The Travel Channel
ranked South Beach's broad sand beaches and
gorgeous turquoise waters as one of the top ten beaches in the world,
and the Surfrider Foundation
voted it the premier urban beach in the US.
Public beaches define the 10-mile strand along the Atlantic Ocean,
enlivened by colorful, funky lifeguard stations. Collins Avenue,
Miami Beach's
main artery, carves out a scenic route parallel to the beach,
and a raised boardwalk between 21st and 41st street invites strolling along the sea.
But there's more than powdery white sand to this land of
exuberant architecture, pulsating nightlife and international flavor
in a scene that is as cool as the sun is hot.
Occupying less than two square miles on the southern tip of
Miami Beach,
South Beach's subtropical sandbar has an identity of its own.
South Beach has been called the American Riviera and an
Art Deco Playground.
This magnetic city is alive every minute of every day and night,
and has earned a reputation as an ultra-chic, 24/7, people-watching street party.
With its beautiful beaches and whimsical architecture,
the area has also become a favored location for films,
music and television shows and a backdrop for a myriad of fashion shoots.
In fact, the renaissance of South Beach was a significant factor in
Greater Miami and Beaches'
growth as a nationally recognized center for film, television and
print production, and Latin music.
Today's hottest musical artists film their videos in
South Florida
and then stay for the reminder of the week - turning
local parties into a people-watching nirvana.
The South Florida
beach scene offers a glimpse into
the lifestyle of some of the world's most outrageous and
beautiful people.
Perhaps it's a case of art imitating life, because just
like in the music videos, sexy women can regularly be seen
traipsing around in their bikinis showing off their sun-kissed bodies,
while good-looking, athletic men work it out along
Ocean Drive.
Miami Beach
has emerged as a real estate hot spot, attracting
world-renowned property developers and thousands of
investors, residents and long-term visitors to its sunny shores each year.
Miami Beach
is a city of architectural wonder ranging from early coral structures
that seem to rise from the sea, to
Mediterranean Revival
castles that evoke old world grace & flair,
Art Deco
buildings that looked towards the future for inspiration, and
Miami Modern
architecture with its free form shapes both contribute to the
come-as-you-are architectural style of
Miami Beach.
The Art Deco Historic District
encompasses the largest concentration of 1920's and 1930's
architecture in the world. It is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places,
and is internationally recognized as one of
South Florida's
unique attractions.
Indeed,
Miami Beach's
Art Deco District
is the first and largest district of
Art Deco
architecture in the world.
A visit to South Beach redefines how you look at buildings -
sweeping curves, soaring finials and glass brick expanses of the
Art Deco
architectural style create a wonderful time warp.
Stand in Lummus Park
(a green expanse bordering the beach),
and note how the pastel pinks, bright aquas and canary yellows of
Ocean Drive hotels fight for space in the sky.
In South Beach, outdoor cafes are ideal for not only
people watching, but also "building watching".
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