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.

If you haven't been, it's a nice place to visit. We've been numerous of time so it wasn't like we…read morehad ti stop and see and do everything. It is a major tourist trap along the strip with restaurants and bars. They'll solicit you in with deals but once inside, it can be very pricey. Also, be careful with your bill, so many different fees added on as well as gratuity. You may end up tipping double if you don't check. Places does get pretty wild and loud at night and especially on the weekend. It was pretty mellow during the daytime as evening during our stay mid week. Also, weather wasn't that great either. Beside that, it's a staple of your in Miami.

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.

Cool spot, chill vibes will definitely go again to just marvel at the art and creativity.read more

I absolutely love South Beach! This was my second time visiting, and it was just as much fun as I…read moreremembered. The atmosphere was so lively, and even though it was super hot, I loved every minute of it. Since the FIFA World Cup was coming up, there were decorations and displays around the area that added to the excitement. It made the whole beach feel even more energetic. There's so much to do besides just relaxing on the sand. You can walk the beachfront trails, check out the outdoor workout areas, visit the nearby restaurants and shops, or simply enjoy the beautiful scenery. The beach itself was amazing. The sand was soft, the water was warm, and it was the perfect place to spend the day. Thankfully, our hotel included complimentary beach chairs, which made the experience even better. If your hotel doesn't provide them, you can always bring your own chairs or just relax on a towel or blankets. I love the Miami vibe, and South Beach is one of my favorite places to visit. It's always a fun, energetic destination, and I can't wait to come back.

Living in South Beach, Miami comes with some amazing amenities. Yes, it's pricey, but the benefits…read morecan be life-changing. Tourists visit from all over the world. South Beach has free outdoor gyms, beautiful parks with pools, tennis courts, football fields, baseball fields, and tracks. And of course, they have all the beaches you could ever want with volleyball, warm sunshine, and beautiful weather practically all year long. I personally love the months of mid-November-April for best weather! It is not so humid then. When you take advantage of everything South Beach has to offer like great restaurants, nightclubs, events, concerts, beaches, and shopping, you realize you're not just paying for a place to live, you're paying for a lifestyle. The only disadvantage that I can think of for South Beach is the lack of parking spots. I wind up taking Lyft or Uber to South Beach as it is the least bit of hassle. Do put South Beach on your bucket list.

I loved here. AMO aqui. I enjoyed very Spanish and Cuban culture…read more There were a lot of restaraunts and suvenier shops. I felt history. I loved the chickens. They were so adrable that I could not eat them!

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.

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.

Gorgeous park! I absolutely adored the artistic air, which was effortlessly worked into the…read morelandscaping. We serendipitously came across this park while exploring. One of the shots from this day was actually featured on the cover of a state circulated magazine. Goes to show you the best shots are candid and unplanned:)

My wife and I went to this event and we had had a very good time. When we arrived, they had parking…read moremonitors that were directing us where to park. Once you go in, they had Security making sure that no one was bringing in any weapons or vapes as well. We enjoyed walking the trail and seeing the different light fixtures, and the reflections they had on the plants. As we were walking, they did have 3 food trucks, a vendor that sold shaved ice, and they were selling alcoholic beverages. We spent an hour and a half there and had a very good time and we do recommend this for a date night or for family. If you do have a little children that requires a stroller, there are some places that you have to go down and it's hard with the stroller but it's not impossible . I saw that this was rated very low, and I am perplexed by that, but I can understand maybe because people feel like the price is expensive for what you get. It cost us about $$32 each and the food trucks were on the pricier end. They cost about $16-$18. For the amount of the ticket, we did have to think about the fact that there are monitors out there and so you don't feel like your car can be broken into. I appreciate the safety value. Now that I know what to expect, for the next time, we will bring a blanket so we can have more time to just sit down and enjoy the experience and have some snacks on hand. Overall, the experience was very nice and simple. People also need to understand that this is a garden so you're not going to get a lot of disturbance of nature. It's about taking the beauty of it in and relaxing yourself. The only critique that I would give is that they need to have better array of food selections because it was just burgers and sandwiches.

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!

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.