What Is Miami Known For? 16 Attractions You'll Fall in Love With

12th of September 2022

In this article

Miami is located in Florida, the most southeastern state in the United States. It is particularly famous for its wonderful beaches. In fact, Miami has 16 great beaches within its borders. Each of them has different vibes and aesthetics. Some are dog-friendly, while others make for great family time.

Apart from the beaches, there are also numerous museums scattered around Miami. Some of them are targeted at the younger population, some towards science geeks, history lovers, and general art enthusiasts.

Regardless of your preferences, if you're planning to visit Miami you'll surely find something you'll love among these 16 attractions Miami is known for. Our list combines information about the weather, the sights to see, places to visit, and the food to taste for a well-rounded Miami experience.

1. Immaculate Weather

Miami is known for a long list of things; top of that list is its soothing weather all year round. The city has a tropical climate, with long summers and warm winters. The warmest month in Miami is August, with an average temperature of 29 °C. January is the coldest at 20.3 °C. Winter in Miami starts around December and lasts till February. It is usually warm, with December having an average temperature of 21.8 °C, January having 20.3 °C, and February having 21.5 °C.

Summer in Miami is long and hot and lasts between May and October. It is graced by rain and thunderstorms. Spring is short, typically between March and April. Autumn is the shortest and occurs only in November. Overall, Miami has excellent weather all year round, with adequate sunshine and rainfall.

2. Exquisite Food Scene

The Atlantic Ocean and Latin culture have the most significant impact on the food in Miami. Miami is famous for some iconic local and international cuisines. Many restaurants serve seafood like The Rusty Pelican, Azabu Miami Beach, and Stiltsville Fish Bar, among others.

Besides the fantastic seafood, Latin culture is also extensively represented, with the famous Cuban coffee, Cuban sandwiches, Chicharrones, and Jugos.

Chicken 'n' Watermelon 'n' Waffles

It is a popular food in Miami and is a combination of waffles, chicken, and watermelon, as the name suggests. It is served with Vermont sharp cheddar, Bourbon maple syrup, and hot honey sauce. It is a delicious meal that your tastebuds will thank you for.

The Cuban Sandwich

The Cuban sandwich is made with Swiss cheese, ham, mustard, roasted pork, pickles, and fresh Cuban bread. It is a piece of unique Cuban cuisine that is made exclusively from fresh ingredients.

Chicharrones

It is Spanish for fresh pork rinds that are fried and well seasoned, giving it a greasy and crackly feel. It is best served fresh and steaming hot from the frying pan in which the chef cooked it.

Key Lime Pie

This type of pie is a popular dessert in Miami. It is a sweet, creamy, and crunchy lime pie that is delightful to taste.

Other popular foods in Miami include Fritas, Arepas, Fish sandwiches, and Stone crabs.

3. Delicious Drinks

Cuban Coffee

Cuban coffee keeps the city running. It has a strong taste and distinctive dark look. There are two types of coffee in Miami - Cafecito, and Café con Leche, which are both strong variants of coffee. They have about twice the strength of regular coffee.

Café con Leche is a little weaker than Cafecito as it translates literally to coffee with milk and is served in a jar with warm milk that has been foamed. It is ideal for non-regular coffee drinkers.

Regular coffee drinkers can go for Cafecito, the stronger variant, which has twice the strength of regular coffee. People can smell its aroma within a 500-foot radius during brewing. It is best to go easy with this brew, as it has been shown to cause irregular heartbeat and palpitations.

Pina Colada. Away from coffee, there is Pina Colada, a coconut-based cocktail. It is a blended drink with coconut and rum. It is well-known for its numerous appearances on Instagram pictures as it looks very picturesque in addition to tasting yummy.

Mojito mixes light rum, sugar, mint, soda water, and lime and is the perfect drink for the never-ending summer afternoons in Miami. It is an influx from the Cuban culture.

Jupina is another drink from Cuba that has found its way into Miami. It is a fizzy, sweet pineapple juice that tourists can purchase at bars or supermarkets all around the bayside marketplace.

4. Magnificent Beaches to Enjoy

Miami Beach

The beach has a lot to offer, regardless of what catches your fancy. There are cafes, bars, sidewalks, and concession stands all around the beach for your pleasure. In the water, kayaking, surfing, and swimming are available, while jogging, strolling, and skating along the coastline are done on elevated broad walkways.

South Beach

The South beach is a 9-mile stretch along the Atlantic Ocean coastline at the southern tip of Miami and looks directly into the Atlantic. South beach has some of the most popular clubs hosting iconic night parties.

Hobie Beach

Hobie Beach is also known as Windsurfer Beach because of the windsurfing lessons that go on there constantly. It is located between Downtown Miami, Brickell, and Key Biscayne. It is a budget and dog-friendly beach. It has shallow water with a low current, making it ideal for dogs to play in.

Lummus Park Beach

Lummus Park Beach offers early risers space to walk, run, or cycle while catching a glimpse of the sunrise. During the day, visitors can climb onto the lifeguard's tower to have an exquisite view of the beach. One can also enjoy the sun and the sandy shores of the beach.

Sunny Isles Beach

Sunny Isles Beach is located about 20 miles North of Miami, towards the coast, and stretches two and a half miles long. It has clear water, great for diving and other fun water activities.

Key Biscane and Crandon Park

Key Biscayne and Crandon Park are located on Biscayne Bay. It is one of the most spectacular places in Miami to watch many bird species like hawks, herons, songbirds, and ospreys.

5. Picturesque Art Deco Architecture

Art deco is a design movement that originated in France in the 1920s. In architecture, it incorporated geometric shapes, streamlined forms and vibrant colors. Over 800 of these historical buildings are all concentrated in a one-mile-long zone, making it the largest concentration of art deco in the world. It is just a short drive and can be explored on foot.

The art deco buildings have gone through multiple phases of renovations but still preserve their quality and style. Some of the buildings, like The Carlyle, are now residential buildings, while others like The McAlpin are hotels, giving tourists the iconic Miami beach vibe.

6. Museums to Visit

Perez Art Museum

In 2013, the Perez Art Museum was moved from Flagler Street to the Museum Park in Downtown Miami, Florida. It contains over 2,000 works of art from Western Europe, North and South America, and Africa, from the 20th and 21st centuries. It welcomes over 300,000 visitors every year.

Phillip and Patricia Frost Science Museum

The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum is a science museum that ignites a keen interest in innovation. The museum has a planetarium, Aquarium, and other wings dedicated to educating its visitors about the human body, solar system, flight, and lasers. It is located in downtown Miami and is one of the must-see tourist attractions when visiting Miami.

Miami Children's Museum

The Miami Children's Museum was established in 1983 and later moved downtown Miami to its $25 million home. It is dedicated to educating children and helping them learn. It has four outdoor exhibits and fourteen themed galleries to help children learn. There are tourist shops, educational gift shops, and Subway lunches for its visitors.

History Miami Museum

HistoryMiami Museum is one of the largest privately owned museums in the southeastern United States. In South Florida, it is the second oldest cultural institution after The Ancient Spanish Monastery. The museum is home to over 37,000 3D artifacts from various eras, from prehistoric times to the 20th century.

Institute of Contemporary Art

The institute of contemporary art (ICA) in Miami is the go-to contemporary art museum for modern artworks. The institute is dedicated to bringing under-recognized artists including local and upcoming artists to the limelight. The institute is open all year with free access to enjoy the exhibits.

7. Numerous Lush Green Oasis.

Everglades National Park

Everglades National park is a protected space for endangered wildlife species such as the Florida panther, West Indian manatee, leatherback turtle, and the American crocodile. It sits on a 1.5-million-acre area preserved in Southern Florida, covering sawgrass marshes, coastal mangroves, and pine Flatwoods. It is one of the most visited spots in Miami, Florida.

There are several trails for visitors in the park, with varying degrees of difficulty, where visitors can enjoy the environment and watch wildlife. There are also low-powered boats, canoes and kayaks available for visitors.

Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens

Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens is an 83-acre garden that was established in 1936. It is equipped with a learning center, laboratory, conservation research facility, and a museum dedicated to preserving the garden's biodiversity.

The garden has vines, cycads, palm trees, and flowering trees, among others. One of the most iconic trees in the garden is the African baobab by the Gate House.

Bayfront Park

Bayfront park sits on 32 acres of land on Biscayne bay in Downtown Miami. It is a famous family amusement center on Miami's waterfront. It was built in 1896 and has undergone many expansions over the years. It has a waterfall that can be traced back to 1926, special lighting effects, and performance venues that entertain visitors.

Oleta Park

Oleta park is the largest urban park in Florida and has an area of 1,043 acres. The park's central theme is the large river that allows for canoeing and kayaking. Outside of the water, biking, trailing, camping, and extreme sports also take place.

8. Tuscan-Style Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is located in Biscayne bay in Florida. It originally belonged to the businessman James Deering and was called Villa Vizcaya. It has a total area of 50 acres. The museum and a well-tended garden cover 10 acres, while hardwood trees cover the remaining 40 acres.

The museum has over 70 rooms with great detail in the architecture. It is stocked with European art, originating from the 15th to the 19th century.

9. The Iconic Ocean Drive

The Ocean Drive is the Hollywood picture of Miami, located on the Sout beach. It features beautiful palm trees, well-carved bodies, roller skates, beaches with white sand, tropical cocktails, and a vibrant nightlife scene.

10. Beautiful Riverwalk Along the Miami River

The Miami Riverwalk is located along the northern bank of the famous Miami river. It is a well-maintained and beautiful path. It stretches from the Bayfront Park to the Second Avenue Bridge and is renowned for its beautiful sights. It is ideal for taking a stroll or jog in the daytime, while the lights make it a delight to watch at night.

11. Wynwood Walls Showcasing Dazzling Street Art

Wynwood Walls are famous for showcasing stunning street graffiti art. These are large-sized pieces of art that cover the walls as high as 40 feet and stretch for blocks. The art represented on these walls is unlike traditional art in museums.

Artists from various parts of the world have made an art signature on these walls in times past, including some like Kenny Scharf, Maya Hayuk, and Fafi, among many others.

12. Exciting Nightlife & Live Music Scene

Miami never disappoints when it comes to its nightlife and music scene. There are numerous spots in Miami to enjoy the nightlife, including the Flamingo Theater Bar, High Note Jazz Club at CubaOcho, Ball & Chain etc. Many music genres are popular in Miami, including rock, techno bass, jazz, hip-hop, and Miami bass.

Miami regularly has live music events where tourists and residents can experience the beauty of music. The Ultra music festival takes place in March, and it premiers electronic music with famous DJs to get the party going.

There is also the Miami Music Week that comes up every year in March to add spice to the already colorful city.

13. Feel the Cuban Culture in Little Havana

Havana is the name of the largest city in Cuba. Little Havana is home to many Cuban refugees and immigrants from South and Central America. It has a lot of Cuban and Latin American influence, from the cigar shops to the hair salons, car dealerships, and restaurants, it feels like a Cuban city in the United States.

This strong presence of the Latin culture is the reason why Miami is nicknamed "The Capital of Latin America." Other Cuban inputs in Little Havana include the walk of fame for Latin personalities and artists, Cuban Memorial Boulevard, St. John Bosco Catholic Church, and Municipio de Santiago de Cuba.

14. Numerous Rooftops to View Stunning Cityscapes

There are a lot of rooftop restaurants and cafes that offer breathtaking and unobstructed views of the beaches in Miami. Some of the restaurants worth checking out include Juvia in South Beach, Terras in East Little Havana, Cebada Rooftop, Area31 in Downtown Miami, and Mila on South beach.

15. Scenic Shopping Experience in the Bayside Marketplace

The Bayside Marketplace is situated in Downtown Miami. It is a two-story open-air mall, with about 30 restaurants and 70 shops. During the day, the shopping mall is filled with various shopping activities, while the restaurants bring life to it at night.

The mall has an observation wheel that stands 176 feet above the Bayside Market. The observation wheel has 42 Gondolas that allow the visitors to get a breathtaking view of the skyline and the entire beachside.

16. An Array of Outdoor Activities

Tourists in Miami can enjoy a large variety of outdoor activities. The long summer makes it possible to enjoy hiking, cycling, and bird watching. On the beach and in the water, visitors can engage in sailing, snorkeling, surfing, boat cruises, and scuba diving.

To Conclude: What Makes Miami Special?

Miami is something everyone should experience at least once in a lifetime. The iconic Ocean Drive as depicted in Hollywood movies, the art deco district, street art on Wynwood Walls, and the numerous white sand beaches make Miami a wholesome experience rather than just a location.