Ocean Drive is the most iconic street in Miami Beach, running along South Beach with historic Art…read moreDeco buildings, restaurants, and cafés. The pastel-colored hotels and neon lights make the area feel lively both day and night. Walking here gives you the true South Beach vibe with music, sports cars, and beach views. Even a short stroll along this stretch feels like stepping into a movie scene. At night, the whole area takes on a completely different vibe. Since it's a one way road, you really notice the kind of cars cruising through--and some of them are just incredible to see. The party energy spills out everywhere, with people roaming around freely until the early hours of the morning.

What a treat for the eyes! Ocean Drive's iconic south beach/Miami Beach vibes are everywhere! From…read morethe art deco buildings, to the colors, the blue skies and sun, the music playing from shops and cafes, and the people, in vibrant attire, cruising along. We loved every minute our walk up and down the Drive. Truly, one can understand the pull to live here full time when taking in Ocean Drive.

If you love elephants and art, then this exhibit is a must for you to see and experience. Never did…read moreI think that I would see 100 lifelike elephants on the beach in Miami Beach. You can get up close and personal for free until December 8 while Art Basel 2024 is happening in Miami and Miami Beach. The exhibit is located between 36th and 37th Streets on Collins Ave behind the 36th Street Park and the Faena Hotel. There is plenty of free parking. The Great Elephant Migration is a global fundraising adventure to amplify indigenous knowledge and inspire the human race, to share space. I am so thrilled that we were able to view this exhibit ahead of the official opening on Dec. 2. It lasts until Dec. 8. After Miami Beach, it will be traveling to Montana. It migrated from New York City to Miami Beach by truckload.

Located on the 36th Street beach behind the Faena Hotel - always a primo spot for their creative…read moreMiami Art Week installations - you will find a herd of elephants! Well, not actually real elephants, because then it would be an episode of Jumanji, but instead a Public Art piece intended to educate and embrace the nature around us. There are a few educational posters, lights to see the exhibit at night, and of course Pachyderms! These wooden (it looks like a rattan-type wood) masterpieces were crafted by artisans in the Nilgiri Hills of India, and the craftsmanship was superb. You can see the differences in each of the creatures, including expressive eyes. The elephants on exhibit range from a full adult size to babies. As a side note, there is also an adjacent installation of what look to be foam blocks arranged in the shape of a starfish. I was told the plan is to use those elements to construct an artificial reef offshore after the exhibit is complete. There is also an adjacent sculpture made to look like a sinking ship (though when I went at night the "sails" weren't up).

South Beach is the heart of Miami Beach and famous worldwide for its white sand, turquoise water,…read moreand lively atmosphere. The beach is wide, clean, and perfect for walking, sunbathing, or simply enjoying the ocean view. When you head toward the beach through Lummus Park, the stretch of green really welcomes you. You do have to walk quite a bit to reach the sand--it's surprisingly far from Ocean Drive. I don't think I've ever seen such a large distance between a main road and the beach before, but honestly, that's part of its charm. Palm trees, colorful lifeguard towers, and the Art Deco skyline create the classic Miami postcard scene. Whether you visit for sunrise or sunset, the vibe here is always energetic. Parking: Take my words: Park at 'Miami Beach Parking Garage [7th St]', its your best bet

Ah, the world famous South Beach, which is really a melting pot of all different kinds of people…read morefrom all over the world. It's mostly tourists and spring breakers, but the diversity is really amazing. Plus, right along Ocean Drive, the row of buildings with 1950s style art deco architecture that is really cool. The street and the area has been featured in countless movies and TV shows. There are also clubs and all sorts of swanky hotels along this stretch, where people come to see and be seen. Just walking on the boardwalk, there is so much to take in. Plus there are bikes you can easily rent from bike exchange kiosks that allow you to ride on the path that stretches along the beach. People also walk this and its a very fun activity. The path is really well maintained and quite beautiful. The beach itself is classic powdery sand with waves rolling in to enjoy. The water is not too cold, but not too warm either. It's super crowded at certain times of day and certain times of year, and parking is limited, so plan accordingly. Five stars.

More like 4.5 stars. I like Little Havana. I really don't come here very often. In fact, I have…read morebeen more on the west side of 8th Street compared to Little Havana. I find the Little Havana area to be charming. There are some nice restaurants in this area. I got to eat at Ciao Havana and was happy eating there. There is Old's Sandwich near there. That looked really good. I would like.to.eat there at some point. I like this area because of the history. I walked by a barber shop and saw how busy it was and how the barbershop seemed to be taking pride in their work. That is so nice to see. I look forward to coming back to this area. It is a nice break from Broward where I live.

Review #1,000 The…read morefinale to our Miami tour, booked to kill time before heading to the airport. This was the day that we disembarked from our Caribbean cruise. After Cuba's fall to Fidel Castro, Miami received an influx of Cuban migrants, some 150,000 at the time. And this community became their hub. We were tantalized by our tour bus guide's verbal preparations of his Cuban heritage found here, especially the Cuban coffee. Lunch at the popular Cuban restaurant La Esquina de La Fama, our first stop, delivered on the Cuban coffee hype. As did the mojitos for some, which they're probably most famous for. Then other than the guide's walking tour option to the nearby Cuban cigar factory which we passed on; we had toured a similar hand rolled cigar factory in the Dominican Republic. So we were now free to explore on our own. Colorful murals, especially in what is known as Art Park, surround you. Nearby Domino Park is open to the public, but playing dominoes there is reserved only for the local elderly. But feel free to stroll around the various games going on. There is also a very popular ice cream parlor that came highly recommended but we passed on it. And per the guides strong protest to please avoid/tongue-in-cheek, the McDonald's smack dab in the midst of it all, that advice went unheeded by more than a few lol. My wife crossed the street to check out a small strip mall, joining another group of tourists headed that way. While I remained in a cool shaded spot to avoid the encroaching Miami humidity. Oh, and if you feel a need for a bit more positivity in your life, try rubbing one of the large chickens, you can't miss them, for "good luck" they say. Little Havana, a nice way to kill some time when in town.

Super cute and a nice photo op too. This 120 year old Banyan tree is a central inside the cute and…read morelush Upper Buena Vista, a sanctuary that offers local independent shops, and cute restaurants. This tree is known as is "the Bodhi Wish tree." Adorned in colourful ribbons. This tree is reputed to have special magnetic and spiritual values. An ancestral Asian tradition suggests that writing a wish on a ribbon and tying it to the tree could lead to eternal blessings. If you look closely at the ribbons, you'll find that each one carries a special wish! Upper Buena Vista partners with non-profit One Tree Planted, which plants trees in North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Pacific to support reforestation and preservation of nature. So, purchase a ribbon, write your wish and there will be a tree planted in your honour.

I love a historic tree so much that I even have a collection on Yelp. I discovered the Bodhi…read moreWishtree on a recent visit to Upper Buena Vista. The Bodhi Wishtree is a 120 year old banyan tree located in Upper Buena Vista retail and dining development which was actually designed around it. The tree is said to have spiritual and magnetic properties. According to Asian tradition you can write a wish on a ribbon, tie it to the tree, and receive eternal blessings. Ribbons used to be sold by the The House of Findings for a $1 donation given to the non profit One Tree Planted foundation that seeks to support reforestation in four continents. The House of Findings is currently closed except for appointments so I'm not sure how they are handling ribbon sales now. The tree is the centerpiece of the Upper Buena Vista complex providing shade, shelter, and positive energy to visitors. Beneath the tree is a giant colorful Pinocchio sculpture. Tons of people were getting their picture taken in front of the tree and it is the perfect backdrop for an Instagram shot of one of the amazing drinks from Amazonica.. Upper Buena Vista is such a cool place and the Bodhi Wishtree is front and center of all of the fun.

As a fan of public art, this sculpture really caught my eye while driving past Lincoln Road. XO…read moreWorld is one of the monumental sculptures of the XO WORLD Project which was founded by artist Daniel Anderson to promote equality, unity, peace, and love. The mission of XO World Project Foundation is to improve the quality of life for women and children in poor underserved communities around the world by providing essential healthcare. The foundation offers support of hospital infrastructure, trains medical professionals, and donates medical equipment. They also work to improve health care by increasing access to clean water, sustainable food sources. and preventing diseases by expanding health screenings. Anderson took his inspiration for this sculpture from the game of jacks. It is a recreational pastime that has brought fun and happiness to children across cultures since ancient times. The X in the sculpture represents love in universal sign language while the O is represented by a globe that is symbolic for humanity coming together as one. The sculpture is made of 20,000 pounds of stainless steel and is 12 feet high and 24 feet long. XO World was unveiled at the 40 year milestone of World Peace Day, September 21, 2021, at the World Trade Center campus in New York. It has now made its way from the World Trade Center to the entrance of the Lincoln Road Mall in Miami. Come out and see this beautiful sculpture while it is here.

If you are looking for an inexpensive date night idea this is the perfect place. SoundScape Park in…read moreMiami Beach was created by the Dutch urban design & landscape architecture firm of West 8. The park was designed by architect Frank Gehry. SoundScape Park was one of the last pieces of the Miami Beach City Center Redevelopment Plan, a redevelopment of 5.86 acres in the heart of Miami Beach's City Center district. The 2.5-acre urban park was created to be a cultural and civic center for Miami Beach. The park is in front of the New World Center and they use it for special events. During some New World Symphony performances, the outside wall of the Frank Gehry-designed concert hall features a 7000-sq-ft projection of the concert within. November 23rd and 24th kicks off the 14th season of SoundScape Cinema Series, a free movie event every Wednesday at 8 PM. You can bring a picnic and enjoy the free shows. The park is easily recognizable by its conic pergolas at the edge of the park. Their shape was inspired by the puffy cumulous clouds often seen in the sky in South Florida's tropical climate. The hand-fabricated painted aluminum structures provide shade and support for the colorful blooms on bougainvillea vines which add color to the entrance of the park.

A large, open city park that is very close to South Beach and Lincoln Way. Pretty empty on a…read moregorgeous Friday morning, with various architectural aspects/patterns around you to enhance the view. A few homeless around.

What a wonderful experience! I enjoyed visiting the NightGarden at Fairchild to get some holiday…read morevibes in our tropical climate. After 6pm, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden lights up with disco balls, fairies, and lots of light shows. My son loved the talking tree that you could talk to. I enjoyed the fun light show inside the Rainforest area. While their restaurant and cafe are closed at that time, they do have food trucks and a bar for this event!

Well worth it It can…read morebe expensive if you are dumb but if you look for promo codes and discounts, they can be found and I feel make this night out during the holiday season well worth it. My kids favorite part was by far being able to talk to a tree. Usually, talking to a tree would be some kind of punishment for misbehaving at the playground but this tree actually talks back. Archie is a really cool experience and it's great how he remember the kids names after a while. My favorite part was the garden walk with the crazy lights. Magical

Mugshot Gummy Bear is really an art piece named The Vandal Gummy Bear by Brooklyn artist WhIsBe,…read moreshort for What Is Beauty. WhisBe first started making the The Vandal Gummy in 2011 as a nostalgia piece. As the artist explains it "At first, it represented the idea of innocence lost. Some represent my take on health and nutrition to my concerns about incarcerated youth, pharmaceuticals and addiction in this country." Some of the bears are translucent and filled with pills to represent addiction while others have a multicolor ombre effect which is popular during Pride Month. WhIsBe created a $60,000 pink one to represent Miami during Art Basel week in 2019. He also accepts commissions. No matter what color, The Vandal Gummy Bear signature look is a candy bear holding a Department of Corrections sign as if it were posing for a mug shot. It is a juxtaposition between the sentimental sugary treat and the alarming mug shot. You can find the red Vandal Gummy Bear at 296 NE 62nd St in Miami. He is parked between two buildings. Perfect for a quick photo shoot or your social media.

Starchild is a 50 foot tall figural sculpture made of powdered coated aluminum and steel. The piece…read morewas commissioned by the City of Miami Beach For Art Basel 2022. Founded in 1970 in Switzerland, Art Basel is the most prestigious art fair in the United States. It is held each year in in Basel, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Paris, and here in Miami Beach. Starchild was created by Friends With You, the collaborative art project of Los Angeles based artists Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III. They have been working together since 2002 to create modern art with a message of spirituality and to make a positive impact on the world. Their art is a physical embodiment of the traits of kindness and positivity and they work in the mediums of sculpture, paintings, animation, live performances, virtual reality, and digital art. Friends With You has had their art displayed in public exhibitions, museums, art galleries, and public spaces across the world. Their fine art exhibitions have been held at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the NSU Art Museum, and the Dallas Contemporary. Their Little Cloud balloon was a part of the 2018 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Little Cloud Sky on Espanola Way was another public art installation commissioned by The City of Miami Beach. They also created the animation series "True and the Rainbow Kingdom" for Netflix. Starchild is the main character in the Friends With You series where they rename the earth ocean as a means of unifying the planet. It is meant to resemble a "falling star or comet imbued with humanoid features." The myth created around the project says that Starchild is an intergalactic emissary sent to unify our world. "Ocean is a collection of metaphors conjuring our combined humanity; where most belief systems highlight what's unique to them, Ocean's mythology aims to unearth the common myths and viewpoints that exist in everyone, deep in the human psyche, to create a mythology that everyone can not only relate to but be a part of, regardless of cultural background. The closer we get to the truth of our existence, the more we can sense the power of our nature. The unification and creation of a better society has to start with this understanding which allows us to be more compassionate to each other as well as seeing every living thing as us." Starchild marks the beginning of life on ocean and is a symbol of light, power, and nature. This cheerful sculpture is currently brightening Henry Liebman Square on the corner of W 41st Street and Pine Tree Drive next to a fountain. The bright orange color and quirky nature of the piece made me smile. I applaud any art that wants to bring more joy, kindness, and love to the world.