Miami is located in the southeast corner of Florida. According to the US Census Bureau in 2004, the city of Miami had a population of 379,724. The larger metropolitan area has over 5 million in population. Miami is the second largest city in Florida and is the county seat for Miami-Dade County.
Miami is surrounded by water with its 300 lakes and easy access to the Atlantic Ocean. It offers boating, fishing, water skiing, surfing, windsurfing and more. Golf is another favorite sport in Miami with more than 125 golf courses with many designed by Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.
Miami is known for its cultural melting pot with very large populations of Latin Americans, Caribbean islanders.
Miami is made up of 34 incorporated cities in Miami-Dade County. The cities include Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Hialeah, Homestead, Key Biscayne, North Miami, Pinecrest, South Miami, and many more.
A map of Miami will get you heading in the right direction.
Miami summers do not drop below 70 degrees with its warm, humid subtropical climate year round. The summers often have a heat index of 110 degrees. The subtropical climate is due to the Gulf Stream which moderates the climate year round. Humidity does drop off during winter months for slightly drier conditions. Miami has two seasons with wet and dry season. They each last six months with the dry season starting in the winter months.
Getting around Miami can be cumbersome. There are five major interstates including I-95, I-75, I-195, I-395, I-595, and US-1. Miami also has major Florida state roads including the Florida Turnpike, Golden Gates Interchange and many more. To ease the pain of going through tolls, you should definitely purchase a pre-paid toll pass such as E-PASS to avoid long waits at the tolls. Another option is the Sun Pass that works statewide and on the turnpikes.
Note that you should shop around for auto insurance in Miami as it is a very competitive market with many car insurance companies.
Miami's thriving economy is marked by its biggest real estate boom since the 1920's. Tourism is a big part of the economy with the large number of Miami hotels located in downtown Miami, on Miami Beach, and Key Biscayne.
Miami has a talented work force and a rich job market. Professionals such lawyers, doctors, advertising executives and others take advantage of the international flavor of the Miami market place.
Many of the Miami area hotels are on the water and offer vacationers entertainment such as boat cruises, sailing, fishing charters and more.
Miami has a booming real estate market that includes Miami Condos, Apartments, and single family homes in the many Miami area neighborhoods.
There are many colleges and universities in the Miami area including the University of Miami, Miami University, Miami Dade Community College, FIU, and Barry University.
Miami has a sub-tropical climate which makes it different from other major USA cities. It attracts over 11 million visitors per year, more than any other US destination. The population of the Greater Miami Area is 50% Hispanic, but the streets also echo to English, French, Portuguese and German. The city precincts include several ethnic neighborhoods such as Little Havana and Little Haiti and the cultural diversity of Miami is evident in the Latin American languages, cuisine and music.
Most vacations in Miami are actually spent at Miami Beach, located on a sandbar 4 miles (6 km) across Biscayne Bay from Miami. Miami Beach attracts holiday makers looking for magnificent beaches, sunshine, water sports, non-stop entertainment in trendy clubs and bars and appreciation of the diverse music, art, and international cuisines. The Miami area is home to fabulous golf courses and several of the leading USA professional sports teams.
For additional information about Miami and the surrounding areas, we recommend the comprehensive Miami vacation guide pages included in the Visit Florida state-wide destination guide.
| Cape Coral | Clearwater | Coral Springs | Fort Lauderdale |
| Gainesville | Hieleah | Hollywood | Jacksonville |
| Miami | Miami Gardens | Miramar | North Miami |
| Orlando | Pembroke Pines | Plantation | Pampano Beach |
| Port St. Lucie | St. Petersburg | Sunrise | Tallahassee |
| Tampa | West Palm Beach | Stuart | Palm City |
| Jensen Beach | Port St Lucie |
