South Beach

South Beach, at the south end of the narrow island known as Miami Beach, is a mecca for the young and beautiful who have claimed this stretch of the American Riviera as their own centre of trendy fashion and open lifestyles. Known commonly as SoBe, the district is a 23-block long stretch lined with restored art deco buildings, shops, museums, boutique hotels, many of Miami's best restaurants - and of, course, pristine beaches.

South Beach draws sun lovers, partygoers looking for vibrant nightlife, tourists cruising past the colourful line-up of art deco hotels and apartment buildings, a thriving gay community, singles and trend-setters looking to see and be seen. Many artists, musicians and entertainers call SoBe home, and health-conscious locals can be seen relaxing in the street front cafes, jogging along the beach, taking in the fresh air and living the healthy lifestyle.

Located in Florida, South Beach lies across the Biscayne Bay causeway from Miami, a long strip of land separating the Atlantic Ocean from Biscayne Bay. 

Encompassing the southern 23 blocks of Miami Beach on this flat barrier island, SoBe's most popular area focuses on trendy Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue, from 5th Street to Lincoln Road. Overlooking the sparkling Atlantic to the east, and Miami's skyline across Biscayne Bay to the west, South Beach is Miami's fashionable beach destination and famous for its fashion photo shoots.

Wide, white sandy beaches and clear sparkling blue waters are popular with locals and vacationers, who enjoy swimming, sunning, people watching, volleyball and windsurfing. Topless bathers, supermodels, and celebrities are common sights. Cyclists, skaters and joggers enjoy the palm-fringed boardwalk, which runs alongside the beach.

Guided walking tours of the Art Deco Historic District begin at the Art Deco District Welcome Centre (100 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach). Duck Tours Miami (1665 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach) depart South Beach for an amphibious adventure, splashing into Biscayne Bay to cruise past homes of the rich and famous. Miami is a boater's paradise, offering pleasure cruising, sailing, kayaking, fishing, surfing, snorkelling and scuba diving. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens (3251 South Miami Avenue, Miami), an Italian Renaissance-style estate built for agricultural industrialist James Deering, is a memorable step back in time.

Miami Beach offers much for the family, with beaches patrolled by lifeguards in colourful stands, beach volleyball, cycling, fishing, golf, and family entertainment at major malls and marketplaces. Family attractions are a short drive from most hotels in South Beach. Parrot Jungle Island (1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, MacArthur Causeway, Miami) is popular with kids, where they can encounter exotic animals like the liger and the 907kg (2,000 pound) crocosaurus, splash down a 51m (168ft) water slide, and enjoy spectacular animal shows. At the cageless Miami Metrozoo (12400 SW 152nd Street, Miami) animals roam in native habitats, protected from visitors.

Bal Harbour Shops (9700 Collins Avenue, Bal Harbour), in the affluent enclave on the northern tip of Miami Beach, supply the rich and famous from shops like Cartier, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Neimann Marcus. Restaurants, street performers and nightly open-air concerts make this a popular spot. Lincoln Road features art galleries, antique shops, and offbeat boutiques in the heart of South Beach. The Bayside Marketplace (401 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami), downtown Miami's waterfront mecca, is an open-air market filled with shops, restaurants, entertainment, and boating activities. Miracle Mile (SW 24th Street, Coral Gables), in elegant Coral Gables, boasts fine boutiques, gourmet restaurants and art galleries.

When the sun goes down, South Beach's energy-filled nightlife kicks into gear. Hundreds of bars and nightclubs come alive as partying, music, and laughter spill out into the streets. The neon lights of the art deco hotels and buildings lure the ultra hip crowd to dance and party till dawn. Cars cruise bumper-to-bumper down Ocean Boulevard and Collins Avenue while groups stroll the sidewalks, deciding on the next club to visit.

Culinary options in South Beach draw those with the most discriminating palate. Sidewalk cafes are perfect for people watching year-round as enticing aromas of delectable dishes from Cuban to Asian fusion, Brazilian and French waft in the warm, night air. Pulsating Mango's (900 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach) provides great Caribbean food plus Cuban waitresses expert at tabletop dancing. Joe's Stone Crab (11 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach) is a South Beach landmark, and the News Café (800 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach), is open 24 hours, and offers a European-style sidewalk newsstand/café/bookstore experience unique to South Beach. Most art deco hotels feature atmospheric restaurants with outstanding new world cuisine, such as The Blue Door (Delano Hotel, 1685 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach), and Wish (The Hotel, 801 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach).

South Beach can best be explored on foot. At night it's almost impossible to drive, and parking is limited. If you plan to go further afield, a car will be essential, as Miami does not have good public transport.

South Beach is ideally positioned on South Florida's Gold Coast. Airboat tours of the Everglades swamps are a family favourite, searching for alligators, crocodiles, and a variety of bird and wildlife. A glass bottom boat reef tour is the way to explore Biscayne National Park. Close to downtown, the Port of Miami is the largest cruise ship port in the world, and starting point for cruising adventures to the Caribbean, South and Central America.

A side trip to the Florida Keys for a taste of island spice should end in the charming, laid back, Jimmy Buffet-style town of Key West, where conch chowder, fresh seafood and key lime pie are accompanied by a perfect tropical sunset.

The DiLido Restaurant at the Ritz Carlton (One Lincoln Avenue, Miami Beach) is the only beachfront restaurant in South Beach. A flamenco guitarist plays by torchlight on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Dinner in bed takes on a whole new meaning at sizzling hot spot BED (929 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach), where the lounge culture nibbles on French cuisine behind gauzy curtains and parties the night away in bed (literally!). It's a favourite of the beautiful people and sports and entertainment celebs. Mynt (1920 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach), space-aged and cool, draws the ultra hip crowd of actors and the rich and famous. The tempo really picks up after 0100.

Miami International Airport (MIA)