Welcome to Miami, a subtropical oasis of fun-in-the-sun excitement on the southern tip of the Florida peninsula. Get ready for a day at the beach and a night on the town; a culinary tour of the world and an exploration of fascinating cultures and history; shopping sojourns that lead from the biggest malls down to the smallest roadside stands. It's all here in the place where major highways end and adventures begin. Rome may not have been built in a day, but it almost seems as if Miami was. In just 100 years, it has gone from a sleepy fishing village by the bay to an international metropolis and business center -where sleek office buildings rise alongside luxury hotels, where arts and culture not only thrive but re-define artistic frontiers, where local restaurants feature the flavors of many different cultures, and clubs sizzle until dawn. Here, visitors delight in gourmet dining and world-class shopping, discovering the diversity of restaurants filled with the flavors of Latin America and the Caribbean and shopping opportunities that run the gamut from boutique shops to enormous malls boasting their own tempting eateries. Miami's many moods also flavor the myriad concerts and cultural events, art galleries, museums, book fairs and festivals that fill its cultural calendar all year long. When the sun sets, many visitors head back east toward South Beach, holiday kingdom of the night. Here, in a Deco-designed district of pastel neon, clubs throb with a mesmerizing mix of music, from salsa to reggae to hard rock. Daytime visitors to South Beach enjoy the boutiques, beachfront parks, charming restaurants and cafes and art galleries. But at night, the rhythms of South Beach's club scene overwhelm the beat of the Atlantic thundering onto the famous beaches. Miami's hotel variety is staggering. All the major chains are here, from business-friendly airport hotels to sumptuous, full-service beach and golf resorts and gleaming, high-rise and high-style city hotels. And don't forget the Art Deco masterpieces of South Beach -small boutique hotels lining Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue offer personalized service, unique amenities and fascinating histories. Here is the ultimate guide to it all! Every restaurant, hotel, nightclub, beach and recreation possibility worth your attention is described in detail by an author who lives here, with color photos throughout.