Located in South Florida, Miami is one of Florida’s main tourist destinations with an abundance of things to do and see. From an assortment of water sports, pristine sandy beaches, great weather, to a mix of cultures that give Miami an amazing atmosphere and vibe. Its Art Deco district will transport you back to the 1920s and 30s. Don’t restrict yourself only to the city, consider a car rental in Miami and explore some amazing local neighbourhoods too.
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Miami is divided into a grid system comprising of four quarters. This makes for navigating the city pretty straight forward. Two main roads form an axis that divide the individual quarters. Flagler Street forms the east to west divide and Miami Avenue the north to south. Reaching Miami by car is also easy; the city is linked to by four interstate highways. These are the I-75, I-95, I-195 and the I-395. When visiting it is advisable to keep the following road rules and regulations in mind:
If you’re looking for parking in Miami, then you’ll be happy to know that the city has at its disposal 64 car parking garages. These publically owned secure car parks are located across the city and are relatively cheap to use. The maximum stay is 8 hours and you can pay for them using the available ticket machines. Payment is accepted using money or a credit card. An alternative, although less secure, is on-street parking. Often free of charge, on-street parking is in abundance across the city and a great option if on a budget.
Catering for more than 35 million yearly passengers, Miami Airport is not only one of the busiest airports in the world, but also the busiest in Florida. This is mainly due to the sheer amount of local entertainment and theme parks on offer. It is the main air gateway to south-eastern United States and hosts international flights to Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Miami Airport is the main airport linking the USA with Latin America.
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Address: 2100 NW 42nd Ave, Miami, FL 33126
Website: Miami Airport
Telephone: +1 305 876 7000
Blessed with Florida sunshine, golden sandy beaches and a mixture of cultures unlike any other, Miami is a great place to visit and an even greater place to have a night out in. From its beaches, museums, tourist attractions, bars, clubs, restaurants and numerous tasty on-street eateries, here is what we would recommend you do whilst in Miami.
Miami being located in the state of Florida is the perfect place to start your adventure from. Consider taking your car rental in Miami and heading further out to explore southern hospitality and beautiful landscapes. Spend a day in one of its national parks, or head towards some of the States world renowned theme attractions. Here’s what we would recommend during your visit:
Key West Day Trip: Just over three hour’s drive away, visit Key West Island. Take the Seven Mile Bridge and enjoy the scenery over the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, before reaching Key West itself via the Overseas Highway. This laid back culturally rich island is the ideal place to discover local history. From boutique shops, quaint coffee houses and excellent restaurants, the island offers plenty of snorkelling, parasailing and boating opportunities. You can also take a leisurely ride on the Conch Train, or a Trolley Tour.
Kennedy Space Centre: Great for the whole family, a day trip to the Kennedy Space Centre is a must for any space enthusiast. Taking around five hours once you arrive, the centre will entice you to take a virtual moon flight, view the Astronaut Hall or enjoy a film at the IMAX cinema. Other attractions include a roof top tour of NASA’s headquarters, the Shuttle Launch Experience and several other shows and exhibitions. The fun doesn’t just stop there – you can walk under the rockets of Apollo/Saturn V too!
Everglades: Just under an hour from Miami you’ll reach the Everglades National Park. Here you’ll be able to board an airboat to glide across the Everglades and enjoy its varied wildlife. We recommend a guided tour during your visit. The commentary will introduce you to the National Park, its unique ecosystem and local wildlife. From the safety of your airboat you’ll be able to view crocodiles and several other exotic birds, in a beautiful natural environment, with stunning views.
Marianna: If you’re willing to drive a little further from Miami, then in just under eight hours you’ll reach Marianna. Driving around 430 km might put some people off, but once you arrive, you’ll see just why we recommend a visit. Marianna is home to a network of dry caves within the Florida Caverns State Park. Golf lovers will also be impressed with the local nine-hole golf course located within the actual park. The nearby town of Two Egg is famous for its particular version of the Big Foot, known locally as the Stump Jumper.
Located in Florida State, USA, Miami city is towards the bottom eastern coastline of Florida. Biscayne Bay lies towards the east, as well as Key Biscayne and Miami Beach. Together they provide Miami shelter from the Atlantic Ocean. The city benefits from the Florida weather, with hot humid summers and short mild winters. During winter and spring, temperatures stay around 19Cº, whilst summers can reach as high as 35Cº.
South-eastern Florida was originally inhabited by the Native American Tequestas tribe, whom by the 18th Century had mostly migrated. Miami itself was named after another Native American tribe called Mayaimi. This tribe lived in the area of Lake Okeechobee until the 18th Century. Frequent contact with the Europeans led to France gaining a stronghold in the area. However, in 1566 the Spanish Monarch successfully removed the French from the area. In 1836, Fort Dallas was constructed serving as a strategic military base.
First known as Biscayne Bay Country, a local landowner managed to persuade a railroad tycoon to expand their Florida East Coast Railway to Miami. This gave a massive boost to the area with many people flocking to Miami. In 1896, Miami was officially proclaimed a city with a population of around 300. In the 1920s, Miami grew significantly until the 1925 property bubble burst. With the 1926 Miami Hurricane and the Great Depression of the 1930s, Miami’s status started to decline.
Miami’s population started growing again during the Second World War, and reached an impressive 500,000 inhabitants – in part largely due to its strategic navel location. During the 1960s many Cubans immigrated to Miami adding to its vibrant cultural mix. Nowadays, Miami is a vibrant international, cultural and financial hub. Around 15.8 million visitors flock to Miami each year to enjoy its pristine beaches, lively nightlife and mouth-watering food.
Miami has a modern and well-maintained public transport network consisting of buses, trolleys, elevated metro, light rail, taxis and trains, connecting it to the rest of the country – including Tampa and Orlando. The system is relatively cheap to use and will get you too many of the city’s tourist attractions, cultural and historical points of interest and beaches effortlessly.
Bus
Known as the Metrobus, the bus network operates over 1,000 buses along 95 citywide routes. Buses cover much of what the other public transport options do, however, it has the added bonus of also covering popular locations such as Miami Beach, Homestead, Biscayne, Florida Keys and Fort Lauderdale. Buses are a good option if you’re looking at exploring the city suburbs, whilst also gaining an insight into the lives of local inhabitants. The bus network is open all year round and services Miami-Dade County.
Light Rail
Known locally as Metromover, this self-drive light rail system is a free way to get around Miami. The network consists of three looping tracks – Brickell Loop, Inner Loop and Omni Loop. The Metromover is ideal for people wishing to visit downtown Miami. With stops including the American Airlines Arena, Miami Heat, Maurice A. Ferré Park, Frost Museum of Science, Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Centre, Pérez Art Museum and several other popular attractions.
Trolley
Miami has a tram like system known as trolleys. These are located at Miami Beach and run every 15 minutes. Trolleys are traditional and quaint - providing a unique and cheap way to hop between beaches. Four Miami trolley routes exist, North Beach, Mid-Beach, South Beach and Miami Beach. This is a fast, convenient and entertaining way to view the beautiful beaches and take in some of the entertaining sights and local neighbourhoods. The network is free to use and operates from Monday – Saturday, 06:00 until 00:00, Sunday 08:00 until 00:00.
Train
Miami Central Station provides local and inter-city services. Amtrak rail services provides the later with routes throughout Florida. Tri-Rail provides local commuter services and is a great way to get to know the local area quickly. Trains are modern and well-maintained; with tickets available for purchase at train station kiosk’s or ticket machines.
Taxis
Official city wide taxis are yellow in colour with a taxi sign upon its roof top. Taxis are metered but we advise you to discuss the cost of your journey with the driver beforehand. You can either pre-book a taxi by calling, or you can pick one up at one of the taxi ranks. These are generally located outside major tourist attractions, venues and main transport hubs.
Metro
Locally known as Metrorail, this network is an elevated rail metro system – much like a monorail. This is a quick and cheap way to transport you from Miami Airport to South Miami, whilst also taking you through the city centre. The network covers around 22 km, with stops at the Civic Centre, Hialeah, Miami-Dade and Jackson Memorial Hospital. A station connection also exists allowing you to board a Tri-Rail train to Palm Beach and Broward.