Miami – The Magic City

Recently, CNN iReport, posted a article asking for writers to submit an article on what’s happening in Miami, on what to do. Being a blogger, I jumped on it but then got stuck. See I’m from Miami. I lived through the 80′s cocaine cowboy era, I witnessed how drugs were destroying Miami, I lived through a devastating category 5 Hurricane Andrew, I watched the city revamp itself over time from a once sleepy retirement community into the glitzy and glamor filled streets of Ocean Drive lined with Lamborghini’s, Ferrari’s, Maserati’s, Bentley’s, and Bugatti’s. So for me to answer the question, it was quite difficult because Miami’s not just a one note city. It’s not Vegas where you know what you’re going to get, or D.C. where you go for the museums, food, and music, or Phoenix where you go to enjoy the outdoors and desert living.  When you come to Miami don’t ask what to do, tell people what it is you like and what you want to do, and the city will provide it for you.

Now, I love Miami and I love tourists, shit they keep our economy thriving and they remind me time and time again what a beautiful city we live in. So I’m not trying to sound cynical at all here. I’ve met people who come to Miami from all over the place. From Brasil to Paris, South Carolina to Zambia, everyone comes to Miami for one reason, to see what the city has to offer and if scratch below the surface you’ll realize the city has a ton to offer.

So if you love the beach, the beaches are endless, you love local music, you won’t be able to find better local music, you’re a foodie, I don’t even know where to begin, (start in lil Haiti and work you’re way down south, through South Beach, Midtown, and all the way down to the seafood from the Keys and leave room along the way to eat from one of our local food trucks as well), then stay in town for the Food & Wine Festival or attend one of our local festivals,  you like gambling (horses, dogs, poker, we got it all) check out Micussokee or Magic City Casino, you like clubbing we got some of the biggest venues with some of the best artist in town weekly sometimes DAILY, spa treatments and relaxation is your thing (look no further then the Fountainbleau Spa or the Viceroy’s picturesque  Spa, just to name a few), you like fishing, (daily charter boats at your disposal), you like the arts, then come during Art Basel and get blown away or attend an artwalk, or better yet watch a show at the Arscht Center, Colony Theater, or any other local theatre, sitting by the pool and sipping a cool adult refreshment is your thing, the Biltmore Hotel has the largest pool in the nation and is right next to one of the oldest natural spring water pools, the Venetian Pool, oh wait, where are all my shoppers out there, there’s Merrick Park Village, Dolphin Mall, Bal Harbour Shops, Sunset Place, and Dadeland Mall, adventure sports is your thing, try windsurfing, paddle boarding, or be a part of the Miami Bike Scene, on a budget, book a room through airbnb.com and live life like a local, love electronica/dance music, I got one word for you ULTRA, you’re a hipster at heart, stay at the Standard on the beach, start at Purdy Lounge then head to midtown towards Wood Tavern, end your night at Bardot and grab a late night bite at Gigi, coming with the kids, take them to Miami Seaqurium, Jungle Island, Miami’s Children Museum, and don’t forget to grab a boogie board and spend the day with them at the beach, into alternative rock music, Mamushka’s got the best underground rock scene in Miami I know of, Memorial Day weekend is for hip hop, everyone knows that, sports junkie? now we can’t help you when it comes to the NFL, but catch a UM football game, or watch a ball game at the new Marlin’s Stadium, Sony Ericsson always deliver, and I left the best for last the Miami Heat, even if you’re not a fan of them you’ll be sure to watch a great game when you attend one of their games at the American Airlines Arena, the list goes on….

I might have left some people out, and I could even get more specific with some of the topics I mentioned above, but then again, I don’t want to give everything away. Miami is a great city, with great people. If you come, come with a good attitude, check your ego at MIA or FLL and leave it there, we don’t put up with sh*t from anyone,  sit back and let the city take you in.