Miami
At a glance - Greater Miami is home to more than 2.4 million people. More than half its residents claim Spanish as their native tongue, while the lifting tones of Portuguese, French, Creole, Italian, Dutch, and Hebrew are also heard throughout the city - in the home, cafes, and gathering spots of the dozens of Miami's distinctly different neighborhoods. Some areas, like South Beach's Art Deco district, are internationally renowned while other less heralded burgs like South Miami and Hialeah are hidden treasures.

The weather has always been the main attraction, with yearly temperatures in Miami averaging 76 degrees. Sun-kissed days feature bluer than blue skies, dotted with surreal cotton candy clouds. Gentle oceanic breezes keep things cool through the day, and nothing can stop the heat during "Moon over Miami" evenings.

The world's playground... Miami is one of those rare destinations where the cutting edge of urban chic co-exists with the beauty and splendor of a tropical paradise. Great year-round weather, top-ranked beaches, and the sparkling waters of Biscayne Bay are the backdrops for a cosmopolitan metropolis, pulsing with the rhythms of its diverse population.

With an unparalleled mix of ethnic and cultural groups spread throughout the sprawling city's environs, the city of Miami provides visitors a new perspective on every corner; a melange of images, sounds, and tastes that range from the familiar to the exotic.

Eco-adventure
Although the community is best known as a sexy and sophisticated international city, a natural oasis exists in Miami. A peerless and wondrous environment, the Florida Everglades and Biscayne National Parks draw more than a million visitors each year to explore Florida's breathtaking wilderness. Here, on the lookout for manatees and sea turtles, cameras click not for divas and movie stars, but for more than 300 varieties of birds and glorious sunsets over the River of Grass.

An International destination
As Miami molds itself into a 21st century arts Mecca, the most renowned architects of our era, including Cesar Pelli, Robert A.M. Stern, Arquitectonica, and Arata Isozaki, are changing the very face of Miami.
Modeled after "purpose-built" performance halls, like New York's Lincoln Center, the magnificent Carnival Center for the Performing Arts includes the 2,200-seat Carnival Symphony Hall, the 2,400 seat Sanford and Delores Ziff Ballet Opera House, and a 200-seat black box Studio Theatre. Four Nationally esteemed companies will be in residence: the Concert Association of Florida, Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet, and the New World Symphony.

Explore the Offbeat
With an agenda comprising locals' favorites that have been around forever and the latest up and coming attractions, the savvy traveler can meander off the well-beaten path and discover a whimsical Miami.
Just south of Coconut Grove, Coral Gables is home to the Venetian Pool, an 820,000-gallon swimming pool built in 1923 from a coral rock quarry. Considered one of the world’s most unique and breathtaking pools, the spring-fed water and the coral rock keeps the water temperature nice and cool in the hot summer sun.
Key Biscayne, renowned for its swanky resorts, is also home to one of Miami's best-kept secrets. Jimbo's, a ramshackle shantytown hidden down a lane on Virginia Key, is a gathering spot for local anglers who come by boat to stock up on bait, as well as colorful local characters and in-the-know locals. The Donut Gallery is a great place for a casual breakfast with locals lining up to get in on the weekends.

Getting there...
For information on visiting Greater Miami and the Beaches call toll free 800-933-8448 or 305-539-3000 or visit www.miamiandbeaches.com.

Florida Keys & Key West
Visitors have to be up for the challenge that comes with visiting a destination like the Florida Keys and Key West. They have to be open-minded, able to relax, and first and most importantly, to come as they are.
It's a world away from big cities and theme parks and the Florida Keys and Key West likes it that way. A link of islands that begins south of Miami, the Florida Keys are connected by the Overseas Highway's 43 bridges, one almost seven miles long that crosses over the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

Vistas of the Keys are dominated by emerald-green lagoons, deep-blue seas, nodding palms, rustling pines and olive-green mangroves.

Area Overview
Key Largo is where ecotourists will find the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the first underwater preserve in the United States. Pennekamp Park offers a variety of water-related activities including Scuba, snorkeling, and glass-bottom boat excursions to the coral reef.

Known as the Sport Fishing Capital of the World, Islamorada is heralded for its angling diversity and features the Keys' largest fleet of offshore charter boats and shallow-water "backcountry" boats.

In the heart of the Florida Keys is Marathon, home to Crane Point, a 63.5-acre land tract that is one of the most important and archeological sites in the Keys.

A drive across the new Seven Mile Bridge, the longest segmental bridge in the world, leads to the Lower Keys. But, visitors shouldn't pass up the chance to explore Pigeon Key, a small island below the middle of the bridge, which is accessible from a visitor center at the west end of Marathon.

The Lower Keys are noted for Looe Key Reef, rated by many as among the most spectacular shallow-water dive experiences to be found. Just to the west of Looe Key, the 210-foot island freighter Adolphus Busch Senior rests on the bottom of the ocean as an artificial reef, providing additional habitat for marine species as well as another site for divers.

A popular sight in the Lower Keys are the miniature Key Deer. These tiny deer, no larger than a mid-size dog roam freely through the National Key Deer Refuge.

Where the land ends and meets the sea is Key West, America's southernmost city. Located closer to Cuba than Miami, Key West is independent, historical, and offbeat! Residents and visitors to the island actively participate in sightseeing, outdoor, and maritime activities.

Visitors to Key West can pet a shark, explore a curiously comforting cemetery, tour Hemingway's former home, and fish for tarpon on the flats. If that's not enough, the sunset celebration held each evening at Mallory Square is where travelers can come face-to-face with fire-eaters, tightrope walkers, and say goodbye to another day's sunshine.

Getting around
Thanks to an active tourist industry, getting around Key West is easy, informative, and fun. Transportation combines with entertainment aboard the Old Town Trolley fleet, designed to convey visitors around the island while offering narrated tours of the city's points of interest. Styled after San Francisco cable cars, the trolleys take 90 minutes to tour the entire island.

Colorful two- and four-seater electric cars are also available for rent. The smile-inducing vehicles can be driven at street speed up to 25 mph and are allowed on virtually all Key West roadways except North Roosevelt Boulevard.
A creative spirit

The performing arts flourish in Key West, which has three theaters offering regular productions and a new festival celebrating the work of emerging playwrights.

As well as theatrical and musical performances, virtually every medium is represented in Key West's many galleries, from oils and watercolors to sculpture, metalwork, pottery, and more. Be it tropically themed exhibit halls or working studios where visitors watch the creative process, galleries abound in Key West.

Delicious
The mollusk conch (pronounced konk) is almost impossible to pass up while visiting the Keys. Served in many forms including spicy chowder and deep-fried fritters, Keys eateries pride themselves on creating unique interpretations of classic dishes, so don't expect consistency from one restaurant to another.

Stone crabs, renowned for their sweet and succulent meat, also are a popular delicacy. Because all the crab's meat is contained within its grapnels, these are the only portions of the crustacean that are harvested. In addition to offerings from the sea, Keys cuisine reflects a multitude of cultural influences including Cuban. Ropa vieja, a name that literally means "old clothes", tastes like heavenly shredded beef. Other favorite dishes are picadillo, and roast pork or port chunks.

For information on visiting the Florida Keys and Key West call toll free 800- FLA-KEYS or visit www.fla-keys.com.

While soaking up the sunshine and atmosphere of this tropical playground... May we recommend the following activities...

The BankAtlantic Center is the premier sports and entertainment venue in South Florida, and one of the top 20 facilities of its kind in the world. Home to more than 200 events each year, over two million guests visit on an annual basis for concerts, sports, shows and other events.

BankAtlantic Center offers a wide range of entertainment options on an annual basis including country music concerts, children's shows, NHL hockey, hip-hop and R&B acts, college basketball, classic rock, theatre shows and more.
www.bankatlanticcenter.com

When you've seen all there is on land, experience the underwater world of Key Largo in the Florida Keys. The 50-foot Quicksilver Catamaran provides guests with snorkel trips to coral reefs and John Pennekamp State Park in the National Marine Sanctuary. The Florida Keys are home to the third largest barrier reef in the world, and are the most diverse marine ecosystem in the world.

From celebrations and events to relaxing sunset cruises, the Quicksilver Catamaran is truly the best way to enjoy the waters of Key Largo!
800-347-9972 | www.quicksilversnorkel.com

Celeb watching! Miami is famous for hosting celebrities wanting to lounge around hotel pools, dine in the finest of restaurants, and dance the night away at the nation's hottest clubs. J Lo, Oprah, Tobey Maguire, Mickey Rourke, Cher, Leonardo DiCaprio, Rosie O'Donnell, Andy Garcia, Tyra Banks, Denzel Washington, and Diane Von Furstenberg have all lingered awhile in Miami. Many luminaries buy homes, open trendy restaurants, or participate in high-profile community events. The celebrity presence fuels Miami's mystique.