For this series on iconic ports of call, we’re highlighting nine cities that have leveraged their more industrial past to flourish into world-renowned, waterfront destinations. Several travel professionals share suggestions on where to go, what to see and what to do in order to fully appreciate these maritime metropolises.
Considered the gateway to Latin and Central America, Miami is a vibrant and colorful city known for bikinis, beaches and beautiful people. With more than 800 buildings, Miami’s Art Deco district boasts the world’s largest collection of Art Deco architecture. Once a favorite destination of pirates—Blackbeard is rumored to have been a regular visitor—Miami is the go-to destination for travelers preferring beach vacations with a side of over-the-top indulgence. Sandy beaches aside, Alexandra Wensley, director of communications at the Mandarin Oriental, Miami, says it’s the people that really make the city. Albert L. Mertz adds, “It’s our amazing blend of cultures, the thriving art scene, the vibrant nightlife, and being the yachting capital of the Americas.”
South Beach: Called the “American Riviera,” South Beach offers visitors an eclectic mix of high-end boutiques, galleries, beachside eateries and, of course, a glittering nightlife.
Wynwood Art District: Home to more than 70 art galleries, one of the largest open-air street-art installations in the world and Basel Art Fair.
Seafood: For Mertz, it’s all about the Florida stone crab, while Wensley recommends the ceviche at La Mer by Gaston Acurio.
Florida Keys: A coral cay archipelago stretching 120 miles and just a mere hour from Miami, visiting the Keys should be added to any Miami itinerary.
Live Music: When it comes to the music of Miami, Latin is king.
This article is an excerpt from the July, August, September edition of the Traveler magazine. Click here to access the full issue.
Andrew Harper members have access to full travel-planning services through Andrew Harper Travel.
1 (800) 375-4685
Open M-F 8:30AM-5:30PM CT
