10 of the Best Things To Do in Miami, Florida

Often defined by idyllic beaches, vibrant colors, and abundant nightlife, Miami is one of the top travel destinations on the globe. Miami offers visitors a wide range of activities from glamorous to cerebrally stimulating. Whether you are in Miami for business or pleasure, the city presents irresistible adventures for visitors to explore, such as the celestial Vizcaya Museum, Zoo Miami, the Venetian Pool, and others. The Cuban enclave has so much activity that stems beyond lounging around on the fine sand beaches. 

Miami is best known for its thriving cultural scene in the winter season with events like Art Basel and lively art neighborhoods such as Wynwood, which is known for its annual murals that debut Miami Art Week. From sand beaches to designer shops, nature walks to museums, salsa dancing to animal reserves, there is plenty for you to do in Miami, making it such an ideal travel destination.

1. Eat at the Time Out Market Miami (TOMM)

Suppose you feel like a taste of some of the finest delicacies in the city, then a visit to South Beach is completely necessary. A conglomerate of the city's best restaurants and chefs cooking their best dishes in one location can be found here. TOMM has happy hour every day they are open and bottomless brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. The best part about TOMM is that the chefs and restaurants are those that are highly starred in the city, making for a spectacular culinary experience.

2. Art Deco Walking Tour

If ever you wondered about the inspiration behind Miami's architecture, then visit the Art Deco Museum and Welcome Center along the beach on Ocean Drive. Miami, often characterized by colorful yet iconic architecture, makes the city a colorful fantasy for visitors. The Miami Design Preservation League, with the aid of passionate tour guides, offers 1.5 to 2-hour walking tours of the neighborhood.

3. Visit Miami Beach City

You can't claim to have been to Miami if you haven't visited Miami Beach. The famed Miami Beach is a South Florida Island connected to mainland Miami by bridges. The city is a hub for visiting celebrities and models looking to have a good time on the island city's beaches that stretch from North Shore Open Space Park and past palm-dotted Lummus Park to South Pointe Park. In addition, there is a string of luxury hotels and nightclubs on the Island to cater to any nightlife experiences you wish to have while here.

4. Visit the Wynwood Walls

The outdoor abundance of artwork by graffiti artists is an excellent appendage to the city's relatively rich art culture. Wynwood was initially a collection of aging warehouses only for Tony Goldman, a hotelier and historic preservationist, to take an interest in the early 2000s. The man behind the revival of SoHo focused on transforming the once failing neighborhood into a cultural oasis, starting with the Art Basel in 2009. Today the Wynwood Walls is one of the most sought-after places for photography in the entirety of Miami.

5. A Visit to Little Havana

Located west of downtown Miami, Little Havana is Miami's vibrant Cuban heart. Flocks of the city's guests herd this neighborhood to experience the country's rich culture and food. Calle Ocho 8^th South West is the center of activity with Latin-inspired Cafes, restaurants, fruit stands, cigar shops, art galleries, rum bars, bakeries, and music parks. There is also Domino Park, where locals engage in political talk over heated games of dominoes. The streets are filled with murals and other artwork, and there are mosaic tiles near Domino Park depicting the Cuban legacy.

6. Visit Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

If you are more enthused by experiences in nature, then a visit to these 83 sprawling acres of colorful gardens should be the highlight of your trip. The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden has some of the rarest species of the plant kingdom, such as petticoat palm. Missioned to share the joy and beauty of tropical gardening by Doctor David Fairchild in 1938, the garden has more than 3,400 species, including orchids, tropical fruits, as well as native and exotic plants in its ecosystem. Of course, the best way to enjoy a bit of everything is by taking the 45-minute tram tour.

7. Visit Zoo Miami

If you are visiting Miami as a family, this is one activity that everyone can fully enjoy. Also known as Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens, Zoo Miami is the largest and oldest in Florida and the only equatorial zoo in the mainland United States. The zoo is home to 500 species representing 3000 animals living free-range without cages thanks to the strategically placed moats that separate visitors from the animals. The animals are clustered, affording to their geographic territories as they would in the wild, with trees, foliage, and even soil that closely matches the animals' native habitats.

8. Visit the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Located in the Coconut Grove district on Biscayne Bay, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a national historic landmark. The premises were initially built as a winter home by James Deering, a farming manufacturer, between 1914 and 1922. Today, the museum serves as the most diversified country with exhibitions from the 15^th to the 19^th Centuries. The museum features a main house filled with decorative art, 10 acres of formal gardens, a native forest (a Rockland hammock), and a mangrove shore.

9. Swim in the Venetian Pool

For those searching for a relaxing alternative to the city's vast beaches, this Italian-themed public pool is the best in the city. Located in Coral Gables, the Venetian was created in 1923 from a coral rock quarry. The shared pool is visited by hundreds of thousands of people from all over the globe each year due to the unique and natural aquifers that feed it 820,000 gallons of spring water. In addition, the two waterfalls and cave-like grottos provide a scenic backdrop and offer a fun experience for swimmers.

10. Visit the Bayfront Park

The Bayfront Park was regarded as the city's first public gathering space. Initially called the Royal Palm Park after its set up in 1896, the park had nothing more than a pavilion and a green area used by visitors for baseball games. After expanding significantly over the years, the Bayfront now sits on 32 acres in the heart of Downtown Miami on Biscayne Bay. Today, the park is a public ground for visitors who seek fresh air, short nature strolls, biking activities, yoga, salsa, movie nights, or to sit in any of the park's many green areas.

There are plenty of good reasons why Miami is perceived as one of the top destinations to visit in the world, and these are just 10 of those practically countless reasons. If you’re looking for artistry, life-changing cuisine, and beautiful days in the sun, you will feel right at home in stunning Miami, Florida.