Miami Holiday Guide

Miami International Airport, one of the busiest international airports in the world, is about nine hours away from Britain, and you can get flights there from all of Britain's major airports.

Once you've landed, travelling around by car is recommended, as the buses in Miami are often unreliable.

Miami's well-kept beaches, which are especially popular with surfers and families, are often recognised as being among the best in the USA. They also boast numerous awards, won down the years. South Beach is probably the city's most fashionable beach - grab a drink at one of its many bars and cafes and see if you can spot a film star or two.

Further north, the palm tree-lined Bal Harbour Beach is a popular spot for fishing. If you would like to get back to nature and let it all hang out, take a trip to the north side of Haulover Beach, where clothing is optional.

The Art Deco area in South Beach, the only such historic area in the country, is worth a walk around, as are the many museums, including the Bass Museum and the Miami Art Building.

The Hispanic area of Little Havana is a fascinating area to explore and you should try out some of the local cuisine. The Wolfsonian Institute, which houses a large collection of artefacts, is also worth a look.

No visit to Miami would seem complete without a trip to the Everglades National Park, the largest subtropical wilderness in the country. Here you can take an air boat ride and look out for all manner of wildlife, such as crocodiles and panthers, going about their business in their natural habitat.

Also in the vicinity is the city of Orlando, which is home to Walt Disney World - though children will probably want to spend more than just one day here. Miami also offers numerous tours by air and by boat, affording some wonderful views of the area.

Kids will probably be happy getting their fill of burgers and fries in any of the many shopping malls, but there is also a wide variety of restaurants to choose from in Miami . While you're there you should definitely sample some of the local Latin and Caribbean-flavoured delicacies on offer - there are some great eateries, for instance, on Calle Ocho in Little Havana.
South Beach is also a good area for fine cuisine, with venues such as the South Beach Brasserie, which is owned by Michael Caine, or Joe's Stone Crab, which is said to be the most profitable restaurant in the USA.
Not surprisingly for one of the USA's most fashionable cities, Miami has a thriving nightlife, with a large choice of places to go to when evening sets in. If you fancy taking in a show while on holiday here, there are many theatres around, such as the Jackie Gleason Theatre or the Lincoln.

If you're not quite ready for bed after that, there is a whole host of bars and clubs to go to - Downtown Miami, South Beach or the Design District come recommended. There are also lots of clubs that play Hispanic music that are worth checking out, especially in Little Havana, and west of the Bay area.

This being America, there are plenty of large shopping malls to choose from, including the Aventura Mall, Bayside Marketplace and Sawgrass Mills. If; however, you prefer your shopping on a smaller, more personal level, Espanola Way is home to a great flea market, while there are many art and antique fairs on South Beach worth visiting.

Look out also for the Little Havana district, where you should be able to pick up Hispanic items such as Cuban trinkets.

In the unlikely event that the kids will want to be torn away from the beach, there are many places of interest in Miami that the whole family will enjoy. Parrot Jungle Island, for instance, is home to a wide variety of animals, while Monkey Jungle is kind of a zoo with a twist, where humans are caged while the monkeys let their hair down in the open air.

Children will also love seeing marine creatures such as dolphins and whales at the Miami Seaquarium. There are also several museums in the area - the Science Museum and the Children's Museum should keep youngsters happily occupied.