Miami's South Beach

Miami's South Beach has come to mean America's unleashed playground. From its counter culture vibes to its playboy-playgirl image, it vibrates with activity all hours of the day. By sunlight, it attracts the world's beautiful people, including fashion model trying-to-bes and buff tanned beach boys. They come for the beach, for the lively sidewalk café scene along Ocean Drive, and for the beach bars. A more serious crowd tours SoBe's signature collection of Art Deco architecture in a one-mile-square. Containing 800 classic structures, it is the largest collection in the world. Museums, art galleries, and glam shops fill the streets ...

Miami's South Beach has come to mean America's unleashed playground. From its counter culture vibes to its playboy-playgirl image, it vibrates with activity all hours of the day. By sunlight, it attracts the world's beautiful people, including fashion model trying-to-bes and buff tanned beach boys. They come for the beach, for the lively sidewalk café scene along Ocean Drive, and for the beach bars. A more serious crowd tours SoBe's signature collection of Art Deco architecture in a one-mile-square. Containing 800 classic structures, it is the largest collection in the world. Museums, art galleries, and glam shops fill the streets behind Ocean Drive. By night, SoBe keeps up the momentum as the metro crowd streams onto the island and traffic is bumper-to-bumper. Visitors lodged in the chic Art Deco hotels along Ocean Drive and Collins Boulevard join locals in club hopping exclusive spots and drag shows frequented by stars into the wee hours. Year-round performing arts events and festivals elevate the nightlife scene to high-brow for some.

About the Expert

Chelle Walton is coauthor of Fodor's Florida and author of Fodor's Compass American Guides: Florida and The Sarasota, Sanibel Island & Naples Book: A Complete Guide.