Year-round sunshine, exotic natural beauty, and world-renowned recreational facilities draw thousands of visitors to Miami Beach each year. Join AAPT in Miami Beach in January and soak up some of this famous resort’s multicultural ambience.

A Brief History
In the late 19th century, South Florida was sparsely populated frontier territory, and Miami was little more than a settlement and a few plantations. Among the first to recognize the area’s commercial potential and correctly predict that it would become one of the world’s busiest seaports was a widow named Julia Tuttle who owned a large tract of land on the north bank of the Miami River.

In 1895, in exchange for land, she persuaded industrialist Henry Flagler to extend his railroad south from West Palm Beach to Miami. The railroad arrived in 1896, and the city, launched on a path of rapid growth, was incorporated that same year.

One of the many Northerners who arrived in the area during this period was a Quaker farmer from New Jersey named John Collins who purchased property on one of Miami’s barrier islands. In 1913, with help from entrepreneur Carl Fisher, who had made a fortune from the sale of his automobile headlamp business, Collins had a bridge constructed that connected the island to the mainland.

Biscayne Bay was dredged to create more waterfront property, and the new development was incorporated as Miami Beach in 1915. Many flamboyant hotels and elegant estates were built on the island during the 1920s and 1930s.

Another building boom followed World War II, when many servicemen who had trained in the Miami area returned to settle there with their families. By the end of the 1950s, South Florida had doubled its prewar population.

The following decades presented many challenges to the area. By the 1970s Miami Beach was losing business to newer resorts, and many of the magnificent hotels fell prey to urban decay. The influx of refugees from troubled Caribbean and Latin American countries, including more than half a million Cuban exiles who fled to Miami after Fidel Castro took over Cuba in 1959, placed tremendous burdens on the city’s resources.

Miami weathered these crises, and in the 1980s and early 1990s the city experienced a renaissance that included a multi-billion dollar building boom. A revitalized Miami Beach once again became a popular tourist destination.

Touring the Town
NOAA/National Weather Service
11691 S.W. 17th St.
(305) 229-4470
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov
The National Hurricane Center/Tropical Prediction Center is co-located with the National Weather Service Miami Forecast Office on the main campus of Florida International University located about 12 miles west of downtown Miami. Public tours of the NHC/TPC are available January through mid-May, outside of the hurricane season for the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific, by prior appointment. A tour includes a briefing on the causes and effects of hurricanes; how the organization, technology and procedures work; and a walk about the facility.

Biscayne National Park
9700 S.W. 328th St. Homestead, FL 33033
(305) 230-7275
http://www.nps.gov/bisc/
The largest marine park in the United States, Biscayne National Park protects and preserves a marine ecosystem that includes living coral reefs, mangrove shorelines, a shallow bay, and undeveloped islands. Glass-bottom boat tours of the bay and reefs, snorkeling and scuba diving trips are available.

Miami Beach Art Deco Historic District
Art Deco Welcome Center
1001 Ocean Dr.
(305) 672-2014
The South Beach Art Deco District is an architectural showcase of nearly 1000 historic buildings, most built between 1933 and 1949. In 1976, the Miami Design Preservation League was formed to encourage restoration of the decaying area, and in 1979 the Art Deco District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The district’s revival represents one of the greatest historic preservation success stories in America. Self-guided tours are offered.

Parrot Jungle and Gardens
11000 S.W. 57th Ave.
(305) 666-7834
http://www.parrotjungle.com
This bird sanctuary, wildlife habitat and botanical garden features a trained parrot show, wildlife show, a lory aviary, alligator and crocodile pools, flamingos, a playground and petting zoo.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
3251 S. Miami Ave.
(305) 250-9133
http://www.vizcayamuseum.com
Formerly the estate of industrialist James Deering, the 10-acre Italian Renaissance-style estate features 34 rooms furnished with European decorative arts and extensive formal gardens with pools and fountains.

The Holocaust Memorial
1933-1945 Meridian Ave.
(305) 538-1663
The 42-foot-high bronze sculpture of an arm rising from the ground, with people climbing it looking for escape, is a memorial to the 6 million Jews who died in the Holocaust. A memorial wall inscribed with the names of the victims and a meditation garden are also on the premises.

The Miami Beach Vicinity Miami Seaquarium
4400 Rickenbacker Causeway
(305) 361-5705
http://www.miamiseaquarium.com
South Florida’s largest marine aquarium is home to killer whale Lolita, dolphin superstar Flipper, and more than 10,000 creatures of the sea.

Restaurants
From outdoor cafes to retro dining in Art Deco hotels, Miami Beach offers choices galore. Here’s a sampling:

Joe’s Stone Crab Restaurant
11 Washington Ave.
305-673-0365
This seafood restaurant has been owned by the same family since 1913. In addition to the legendary stone crab, Joe’s is known for its key lime pie.

Lincoln Road Cafe
941 Lincoln Rd.
305-538-8066
Sample authentic Cuban fare in a diner-like setting, with outdoor tables bordered by plants and shrubs. Live music is provided in the evening.

Pacific Time
915 Lincoln Rd.
305-534-5979
Pacific Time, offering Asian Pacific Rim cuisine and rated as one of America’s best restaurants by Gourmet magazine, is located in a space resembling a decaying Roman villa.

More Information
City of Miami Beach
http://www.ci.miami-beach.fl.us/

Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce
(305) 627-1270
http://www.miamibeachchamber.com

Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau
(305) 539-3000 or (800) 933-8448
http://www.gmcvb.com