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Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area, at the southern end of Key Biscayne, offers acres of exotic plants and nature trails bordered by white-sand beaches.

Miami Metro Zoo
Rated by experts as one of the best zoos in the world, Miami Metro zoo houses more than 900 wild animals in a 290-acre cage-less environmentMiami Sea aquarium.

The Sea aquarium is home to plenty of aquatic superstars from Flipper to Salty the sea lion and Lolita, the killer whale. It also offers scads of sharks at the Shark Channel, numerous manatees, and reef-animal exhibits.

Museum of Contemporary Art
The world of contemporary art continues to flourish with new innovations and developments at one of Miami s finest international art museums. The Museum offers 12,000 square-feet of exhibition space. Each year, the Museum presents at least eight exhibits with themes ranging from cultural identity issues to Surrealist explorations to the illusions of light and space.

Coral Castle
One of Florida s oldest operating attractions, Coral Castle is a monument to unrequited love. In 1923 an eccentric Latvian immigrant, Edward Leedskalnin, began hauling tons of coral onto his property. He carved it into a house and all the furniture he needed. For seven years he worked alone building this tribute to "Sweet Sixteen," a young girl who jilted him back in the old country.

Coco Walk
Located in the heart of trendy Coconut Grove, this open-air multi-level "shoppertainment" complex is a sophisticated and festive melting pot of international music, eateries, and stores.

Miami Museum Of Science
Learning is a blast at this nationally recognized science center, which has more than 140 hands-on exhibits, a wildlife center that is home to 150 live animals, and a 250-seat planetarium where visitors can explore the universe.

Downtown Miami
Downtown Miami is the metropolis s nerve centre - the commercial heart of the city - distinguished by its sleek skyscrapers, impressive government buildings and cultural centres and edged by the Port of Miami, the largest cruise ship port in the world.

South Beach
Glitzy, glamorous South Beach is undoubtedly the trendiest part of town, the place to see and be seen and a magnet for celebrities and fun-lovers that thrive on its cosmopolitan atmosphere, designer shopping, upbeat restaurants and fast-paced nightlife.

Miami Beach
Miami Beach is located on a long slender island connected to mainland Miami by four main causeways. It comprises various coastal towns, each with its own personality - including Surfside, the upscale shopping district of Bal Harbour, Sunny Isles Beach, South Beach (see above) and Golden Beach. A variety of watersports are available, including windsurfing, sailing, jet-skiing and parasailing.

Key Biscayne
Linked to the mainland by the Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne combines traditional Florida-style houses with ostentatious mansions belonging to some of Miami s wealthiest residents. The beaches here rank among Florida s best - their fine sand and relatively calm seas make them a popular choice for families. Other top attractions include two beautiful parks - Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area and Crandon Park - both with magnificent beaches, bike trails and nature walks. The small Crandon Family Amusement Center in the park has an old-time carousel, playground and outdoor roller rink.

Shopping opportunities abound in Miami, with a broad assortment of facilities ranging from sophisticated malls to small specialist boutiques. Miracle Mile in Coral Gables has quality galleries, boutiques and department stores, while the 6.4-hectare (16-acre) waterfront Bayside Marketplace, in downtown Miami, offers an unusual mix of retail shops and local artisan stalls. Other key areas are the funky boutiques of South Beach (most notably the Lincoln Road shopping district, nicknamed the Fifth Avenue of the South ), CocoWalk, the exclusive Streets of Mayfair shopping centres in Coconut Grove and the numerous malls scattered about Greater Miami. A stretch of Collins Avenue, between Sixth and Eighth Streets, in South Beach, has a handful of local boutiques and medium-price chain stores like Banana Republic, Urban Outfitters and A/X Armani Exchange.

The most popular mall is Aventura Mall.

Most malls are open Monday to Saturday 1000-2100 and Sunday 1200-1800. Most supermarkets open daily 0800-2200, although some are open 24 hours.