Miami Beach Tourist Information from Fodor's
With more than half of its population Hispanic in origin, it's no wonder Miami is called the
capital of Latin America. This growing metropolis boasts the largest cruise-ship port and
one of the largest airports in the world. More than 100 companies base their international
operations in the city, and major-league sports are big news here. Undergirding all of this
energy and prosperity is a flourishing drug culture that fuels get-rich-quick lifestyles. Today
South Beach is the deco darling of the world, its main thoroughfare (Lincoln Road) rivaling
the pedestrian malls of Cambridge, Lyons, and Munich for crowds and festivities. Don't
miss the bistros, galleries, and cafés of chic Coconut Grove.
Your personal mini-guide includes: Eating Out, Essential Information and Fodor's Top
Picks.
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A denotes those restaurants and hotels that we highly recommend.
We found 24 restaurants that match your criteria. You selected: All Price
Ranges and All Cuisines.
MIAMI BEACH
Dominique's
Alexander Hotel, 5225 Collins Ave.
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/865-6500 or 800/327-6121
|
Over $50
French |
| Woodwork and mirrors from a Vanderbilt home and other demolished New York mansions
create an intimate setting for a unique nouvelle-cuisine experience in either of two enclosed
patios, both glass-sided for views of the ocean. Specialties include exotic appetizers such as
buffalo sausage, sautéed alligator tail, and rattlesnake-meat salad; entrées such as rack of lamb
(which accounts for 35% of the restaurant's total sales) and fresh seafood; and an extensive
wine list. The restaurant also serves brunch on Sunday. AE, DC, MC, V. Reservations advised.
|
Embers
1661 Meridian Ave.
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/538-0997
|
$35--$50
American |
| In the change sweeping up from South Beach across Lincoln Road, art, style, and "being there"
make the difference. This re-creation of a once-famed local restaurant has gotten it all right.
The Embers was a landmark steak-and- potatoes house on 21st Street when cholesterol was
still unpronounceable and gay meant frivolous. A bunch of Beach High kids grew up eating
dinner there with their families. Cut to 30 years later, and "kids" Sid Lewis, Steven Polisar, and
Larry Schwartz, wealthy from Ocean Drive investments, have put their money where their
memories are. The new Embers is five blocks south (a gay club occupies the original site),
around the corner from Lincoln Road. Nostalgia hits you right inside the door of this rerun of a
place that's high impact without glitz. Saucer lights dangle an amber glow from the ceiling,
collections of early Beach photos hang on the walls, and black, white, and sepia mute the scene.
The steaks are still here, as are the original apple fritters, New York-style basket of bread,
double-baked Embers potato mashed with scallions and baked crisp on top, the duck, ribs, and
chicken. Pastas and à la carte veggies have been added, and there's Key lime pie, apple pie,
cheesecake, and a few other desserts. Come by and add 30 years to your Beach trip. AE, MC,
V. Reservations accepted. No lunch. |
Forge
432 Arthur Godfrey Rd.
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/538-8533
|
$35--$50
Continental |
| A new courtyard with outdoor seating for 70 has opened as part of the slow rebuilding of this
landmark, which suffered a disastrous fire in 1991. Often compared to a museum, the Forge
still stands behind a facade of 19th-century Parisian mansions, where an authentic forge once
stood. Each of the intimate dining salons has its own historical artifacts, including a
250-year-old chandelier that hung in James Madison's White House. A fully stocked wine cellar
contains an inventory of 380,000 bottles--including more than 500 dating from 1822 (and
costing as much as $35,000) and recorked in 1989 by experts from Domaines Barons de
Rothschild. Specialties include Norwegian salmon served over fresh garden vegetables with
spinach vinaigrette, veal tenderloin roasted Tuscan-style over oak wood and marinated with
fresh blackberries, and free-range Wisconsin duck roasted with black currants. Desserts are
extravagant; try the famous blacksmith pie. AE, DC, MC, V. Reservations advised. No lunch. |
Osteria del Teatro
1443 Washington Ave.
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/538-7850
|
$35--$50
Italian |
| This 20-table dining room is the culinary equivalent of Pavarotti. Thanks to word of mouth of
knowledgeable diner-outers, this Northern Italian restaurant is consistently full, and despite a
tiny kitchen, the preparations are just as consistent. Orchids grace the tables in the intimate,
low-ceilinged, gray, gray, and gray room with a laced canvas ceiling, deco lamps, and the most
refined clink and clatter along this remarkable restaurant row. Everything comes carefully
detailed, starting with large, unevenly sliced hunks of homemade bread lightly toasted.
Specialties included an appetizer of grilled portobello mushroom topped with fontina cheese
and served over a bed of arugula with a green peppercorn-brandy sauce, and among entrées,
linguine sautéed with chunks of jumbo shrimp, roasted peppers, capers, black olives, fresh
diced tomato, and equally fresh herbs in a tangy garlic-olive oil sauce. Make room for dessert
and coffee so you don't feel guilty lingering in this tiny but special room. AE, DC, MC, V.
Reservations required. Closed Tues., Dec. 25, Jan. 1. No lunch. |
Pacific Time
915 Lincoln Rd.
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/534-5979
|
$35--$50
Seafood |
| Three times has proved the charm at this cool California-style restaurant on Lincoln Road,
where both the highly rated Johnny's and then B.C. Chong tried to make a go, too early in the
neighborhood's revival. By 1993, the place was packed even on nights something special wasn't
happening; nowadays it's rare that you can get in without either a reservation or a 45-minute
wait. And the superb 100-seat eatery co-owned by chef Jonathan Eismann, previously of China
Grill in Manhattan, shows staying power. The room is pale with a high blue ceiling and
banquettes, accents of mahogany and brass, recessed lights, paddle fans, plank floors, a bar just
inside the entry, and white covers on tables that fill the space to an open-windowed kitchen.
Entrées include a cedar-roasted salmon, rosemary-roasted chicken, and shiitake
mushroom-grilled, dry-aged Colorado beef. Rices, potatoes, and vegetables are à la carte;
however, a pre-theater (6-7) prix fixe dinner (a noodle dish, Szechuan mixed grill, grilled ginger
chicken) is more affordable ($20). Desserts (mostly around $7) include baked apricots and
fresh blackberries in phyllo pastry and a warm bittersweet-chocolate bombe. There's a big
California wine list. AE, DC, MC, V. Reservations advised. |
Max's South Beach
764 Washington Ave.
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/532-0070
|
$20--$35
American |
| This place has a warmer style of deco than Ocean Drive and more affordable gourmet cuisine
than Chef Allen's and Mark's Place. Famed south Florida restaurateur Dennis Max has extended
his bijou collection of eateries to South Beach with celebrity chef Kerry Simon in charge of the
kitchen. The result is an immensely popular seen-and-be-seen addition to Deco District dining.
Packed with locals nightly, the 110-seat restaurant is woody, glass, and bistrolike, with a
seating mix of high-top tables, booths, starched white linen, and seats of black leather. Photo
displays are from Rolling Stone, which helped make a star of Simon, formerly of the Edwardian
Room of Ivana Trump's Plaza Hotel, by naming him one of 1991's 100 hottest personalities. He
dares turn out an authentic meat loaf and mashed potatoes; grilled and roasted veggies with
organic grains; orrecchiette pasta with broccoli rabe, sausage, and sun-dried tomatoes; and pot
roast with garlic, fresh herbs, and slow-cooked veggies. But there's also a salmon tandoori with
black beans and cayenne onion rings, a big choice of grills, and baked sea bass with basil,
carrots, and a carrot-orange vinaigrette. Desserts include a Butterfinger chocolate cake with
banana ice cream and Jack Daniel caramel, old-fashioned strawberry shortcake, and banana
cream pie. Come out and feel like a native. AE, D, DC, MC, V. Reservations advised. No
lunch. |
Thai Toni
890 Washington Ave.
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/538-8424
|
$20--$35
Asian |
| Since 1989, Thai silks, bronze Buddhas, dramatic ceiling drapes, private dining alcoves, and
two raised platforms for those who want to dine seated on cushions have set this exceptional
Thai restaurant apart from everything trendy in the neighborhood. The mellow Thai Singha
beer sets you up for the spicy jumping squid appetizer prepared with chili paste and hot pepper
or the hot hot pork. Choose from a large variety of inexpensive noodle, fried-rice, and
vegetarian dishes or such traditional entrées as beef and broccoli, basil duck, or hot-and-spicy
deep-fried whole snapper garnished with basil leaves and mixed vegetables. Desserts are
routine, but the homemade lemonade is distinctly tart. AE, MC, V. Reservations accepted.
Closed Thanksgiving, Dec. 25. No lunch. |
Norma's on the Beach
646 Lincoln Rd. Mall,
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/532-2809
|
$20--$35
Caribbean |
| Put this wonderful reggae-style hole-in-the-wall near the top of your list. The interior is small,
but a wall of mirrors makes it look larger, and tables outside on the mall add seating. Color
bursts from seat cushions and cut-tin Haitian tap taps (jitneys) on the walls (all the art is for
sale). Instead of bud vases on tables, there are entire palm trees in pots on the floor. Adding to
the mood is Thursday evening's Brazilian music, Friday's anything-goes group, and Saturday's
jazz duo. The cuisine melds French finesse with Caribbean seasonings. Dishes might include
Red Stripe-beer baby-back ribs with Appleton rum glaze; Rasta chicken breast with callaloo
(West Indian spinach), cream cheese, and roasted sweet peppers in a white-wine sauce; or
pan-sautéed pompano with tropical rum banana sauce. Hey! This is fun. AE, D, DC, MC, V.
Reservations accepted. Closed Mon., Thanksgiving, Dec. 25. |
Pineapples
530 Arthur Godfrey Rd.
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/532-9731
|
$20--$35
Health Food |
| Art-filled, tropical pink-and-green café seating occupies half of this popular mid-Beach
neighborhood emporium; on the other side of the wall is a retail health foods store. Daily
seafood, chicken, and vegetarian specials add variety to longtime favorites lasagna filled with
tofu and mushrooms, spinach fettuccine with feta cheese, and a good variety of salads. Organic
wine and beer are newly added. No smoking. AE, MC, V. No reservations. |
Da Leo
819 Lincoln Rd. Mall
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/674-0350
|
$20--$35
Italian |
| Tables from this little restaurant spill all over the mall, staying full thanks to consistently good
food at prices only half what the trendy places charge. The volume keeps the mood festive and
the standards high. Inside you won't find youthful in-line skaters, but you will be amazed by the
art, which so completely covers the walls you might think the canvasses provide structural
support. The look is ancient Roman town house (though owner Leonardo Marchini hails from
Lucca), with high ceiling fans, banquettes along one wall, and wainscoting along the other.
Pastas, a few fish, a couple of veal, and a fowl choice make up most of the entrées. The house
salad is shiny with olive oil lavished over fresh garden veggies served in a big bowl. AE, DC,
MC, V. No reservations. Closed some holidays. No lunch weekends. |
Mezzanotte
1200 Washington Ave.
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/673-4343
|
$20--$35
Italian |
| Sometime between 6 and 10 each night, the big square room with the square bar in the middle
transforms from an empty catering hall to a New Year's Eve party. Trendoids call for their
capellini with fresh tomato and basil; calamari in clam juice, garlic, and red wine; or scaloppine
with mushroom, pepper, and white wine---everything a gift from tomato heaven---and then top
it off with their dolci: fresh napoleon, chocolate mousse, or tiramisù. Chic but not intimate,
Mezzanotte has been known since 1988 for fine food at moderate prices, but watch out for the
coffee at $2.25 a pop! AE, DC, MC, V. Reservations accepted for parties of 5 or more. Closed
Thanksgiving. No lunch. |
Joe's Stone Crab Restaurant
227 Biscayne St.
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/673-0365, 305/673-4611 for take-out orders
|
$20--$35
Seafood |
| "Before SoBe, Joe Be," touts this fourth-generation family restaurant, which reopened for the
1996 season with a chest-puffing facade on Washington Avenue, replacing the entrance on
Biscayne Street, on which it had fronted since 1913. You go to wait, people-watch, and finally
settle down to an ample à la carte menu. About a ton of stone-crab claws is served daily, with
drawn butter, lemon wedges, and piquant mustard sauce (recipe available). Popular side orders
include salad with a brisk vinaigrette house dressing, creamed garlic spinach, french-fried
onions, fried green tomatoes, and hash browns. Save room for dessert--a slice of Key lime pie
with graham-cracker crust and real whipped cream or apple pie with a crumb-pecan topping.
To minimize the wait, come for lunch at 11:30, for dinner at 5 or after 9. For overnight
shipping, call 800/780-2722. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No reservations. Closed May 15--Oct. 15. |
11th Street Diner
11th St. and Washington Ave.,
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/534-6373
|
$12--$20
American |
| A poor man's News Cafe, this is another place to see and be seen while chowing down
affordably. There's a big line for Sunday breakfast, when half the tables seem to be filled by
models working their cellular phones. Still, it retains the folksiness of its origins as a 1948
stainless-steel diner, trucked down from Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, and set on the site of a
former gas station. Sit at the counter, in one of the vintage leatherette booths, or on white
wicker seats on the patio. At the full bar under a big '30s-style mural, you can order food and
an Anchor Steam. Down-home cooking--hot turkey sandwiches drenched in thick gravy, meat
loaf, baby-back ribs, honey-baked ham--is joined by some new-age dishes, such as marinated
dolphin, tofu, and veggies. From 11 to 4, you can get a cup of soup and either a half sandwich
or house salad for $3.95. Breakfasts and nightly main course specials, served 5 to midnight, are
also great buys. And there are lots of sugar shocks for dessert (pecan pie, a brownie hot-fudge
sundae, cheesecake, cinnamon buns). The place is open 24 hours, and the divine smell of
fresh-brewed hazelnut decaf coffee is always in the air. Note: 15% is added to bills. AE, D, DC,
MC, V. No reservations. |
Gertrude's
826 Lincoln Rd. Mall,
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/538-6929
|
$12--$20
American |
| If a great cup of coffee is what you crave, this will be your high. What you get with it is a
high-ceilinged coffeehouse atmosphere with arty walls and a guaranteed freshly ground bean
bouquet. There are some 20 tables inside, 20 out on the mall. Before your coffee, try a soup,
salad, or sandwich (turkey breast on sourdough, garden burger with trimmings, grilled chicken
with tarragon mayo on herb rye). Desserts include outrageous chocolate cakes, berry tarts, and
pies--many choices either fat-free or sugar-free--and there's a good selection of affordable
wines by the bottle or glass. Coffees--Kona, mocha java, Hawaiian coconut, and macadamia
nut to name but a few of the 20 or so choices, many also in decaf--are ground on the spot and
individually brewed in your cup. Espresso, cappuccino, and tea are also offered. AE, DC, MC,
V. No reservations. Closed Dec. 25. |
Lulu's
1053 Washington Ave.,
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/532-6147
|
$12--$20
American |
| The logo features a fat beribboned pig eyeing a steaming platter, a hint of the pig paraphernalia
and secondhand-store trash--old-time Coke signs and discarded license plates--that decorate
this hip, colorful, sophomoric spot. Come here if you want to pig out on southern fried
cooking: barbecued pork, BLTs, pork chops, and authentic lumpy mashed potatoes. For
non-pig eaters, there are salads, all kinds of sandwiches (crab cake, fried catfish, smoked marlin
salad, plus an Elvis fried peanut butter 'n' banana), and such main courses as boneless chicken
breast, chicken-fried steak, and strip steak. You sit at cafeteria-style tables with
red-and-white-check tablecloths downstairs and on the mezzanine; the upstairs room, favored
by the T-shirt crowd, is overwhelmed with Elvis memorabilia. January 18 and August 16--the
King's birth and death days--are big events at Lulu's, and everybody dresses up Elvis-style.
Though the place is zany, the food's good. MC, V. No reservations. |
13th Street Cafe
227 13th St.,
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/532-8336
|
$12--$20
Caribbean |
| This little Caribbean neighborhood café adds sparkle to a side street with colorful fruit
sculptures, a colored-chalk blackboard, and ceiling drops with world-beat drawings. A few
sidewalk stools and pass-throughs make it easy for locals to nosh without missing the action on
the street. The menu has mostly sandwiches, pita pizzas, and pasta salads, though there's
always a fixed-price dinner special--maybe a spinach fettuccine Alfredo or a baked turkey dish,
plus salad and dessert--for $6.95. There are lots of juices, coolers, and revitalizers, and bagels,
brownies, and monster cookies stare back at anybody seated at the counter. Breakfast is served
all day. No credit cards. No reservations. |
Puerto Sagua Restaurant
700 Collins Ave.,
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/673-1115
|
$12--$20
Caribbean |
| On the back wall, a 3-D mural shows the original Puerto Sagua, in old Havana on the Number
43 bus route. The owners jumped the chaos there in '62 and headed for South Beach, where
they now serve the same delicious black beans and rice 365 days a year. If you're looking for
atmosphere, the best place to sit is at the counter, where the gab's as quick as the service. Also
on the menu are fried red snapper, pork fillet, and pickled kingfish, along with a cafecito (small
coffee) for $1, sangria, and Spanish wines and cider. Don't miss it (or the convenience of the
new artsy parking lot across the street). AE, DC, MC, V. No reservations. |
World Cafe
719 Lincoln Rd. Mall,
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/534-9095
|
$12--$20
International |
| If there's another way to do something, South Beach will find it. Here on the Lincoln Road
Mall, food gets combined with furniture and crafts from around the globe. The displays and
menus are mostly Third World, and live nightly world-beat music adds to the global village
ideal. Guests sit surrounded by Indian wood vases, Nigerian drums, and Indonesian batiks and
dine on cuisine that's mainly Thai but with a natural-foods touch. So there's beef basil,
green-curry chicken, and Thai stir-fry with shrimp and chicken as well as vegetarian spring
rolls, vegetable panang curry (with coconut milk and peanuts), and vegetable stir-fry with tofu.
Brown rice, available at all meals, is $1 extra. Desserts range from tiramisù and a Middle
Eastern walnut roll to fruit crisp and home-baked cookies. It's a wonderful change of pace.
MC, V. No reservations. Closed Thanksgiving, Dec. 25, Jan. 1. |
Titi's Tacos
900 Ocean Dr.,
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/672-8484
|
$12--$20
Mexican |
| Next door to the very affordable Mango's hotel is this convivial spot for quality fajitas, tacos,
enchiladas, and pollo mole (chicken cooked in poblano sauce) with rice and beans. Or try the
shrimp sautéed with peppers and onions and served with tons of melted cheese, sour cream,
and rice, and finish the meal off with flan or tres leches (a puddinglike concoction of whipped
cream and evaporated and condensed milk). The owner, who is from Vera Cruz, has put
together a very Caribbean-Mexican look--terra-cotta tiles, ceramic-tile tabletops, and lots of
Mexican wall murals. Though Titi's has no liquor license, waitresses come in from Mango's, the
Cuban café next door, to take drink orders. Breakfast is also offered. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No
reservations. |
WPA Restaurant & Bar
685 Washington Ave.,
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/534-1684
|
$12--$20
Mexican |
| "We think it's time again for WPA" is this restaurant's motto, and it has already done plenty for
the public good just by reviving food service in this choice Deco building. Once Friedman's
Bakery, it was one of the first restorations in South Beach and helped to ignite the Deco
District comeback. The decor is didactically 1930s--high open-beam ceilings, a big labor mural
in the Mexican socialist style, and a signature display case of ketchup, mustard, and a dozen
varieties of spicy sauces. The menu features lots of grazing food: Tex-Mex dishes, egg rolls,
potato skins, a few stir-fries and grills, plus sandwiches, salads (Greek, fruit, tostada), burgers,
ribs, wings, pizzas, and pastas. AE, D, DC, MC, V. Reservations accepted. No lunch
weekends. |
News Cafe
800 Ocean Dr.
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/538-6397
|
Under $20
American |
| This is the hippest joint on Ocean Drive. Owners Mark Soyka, who trained on the
cosmopolitan beach scene in Tel Aviv, and Jeffrey Dispenzieri, from New York, are right on
the money. Quick, friendly servers don't hurry guests who have come to schmooze or intellects
deep in a Tolstoy novel picked out of the book rack. A raw bar has been added in back with 15
stools, but most visitors prefer sitting outside to feel the salt breeze and look at whom they're
not with. Offering a little of this and a little of that---bagels, pâtés, chocolate fondue---the café
attracts a big all-the-time crowd, with people coming in for a snack, a light meal, or an aperitif
and, invariably, to indulge in the people parade. AE, DC, MC, V. No reservations. Open 24
hrs. |
Van Dyke Cafe
846 Lincoln Rd.
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/534-3600
|
Under $20
American |
| Mark Soyka's second restaurant has quickly attracted the artsy crowd, just as his News Cafe
draws the fashion crowd. Of course, tourists like it, too. It features the same style menu, but
instead of facing south, this place, in the restored, 1924 Van Dyke Hotel, faces north and is
shadier. Save the News Cafe for winter, the Van Dyke for summer. Three meals are served,
and a 15% gratuity is included. AE, DC, MC, V. No reservations. |
Muff'n Man
234 12th St.,
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/538-6833
|
Under $12
American |
| Although 8 or 10 kinds of tasty sandwiches and homemade soups are served here, most people
come for the baked goods. Multiberry, apple, and cinnamon-raisin muffins, among others (all
$1.50); brownies; and cookies are baked here daily. The interior is filled with Deco District
photos and silk pillows, and it's next door to the laundromat with the out-of-town papers, the
racing sheet, and Variety. No credit cards. No reservations. No dinner. |
Beehive Diner
630 Lincoln Rd. Mall,
Miami, Florida
Phone: 305/538-7484
|
Under $12
International |
| Though seating extends onto Lincoln Road Mall, the real pleasure here is to be found behind
the ornamental iron gates that lead to the fountain and ceramic pond in front of the Courtyard
630 Shops. Cross the big bee pavement mural, like crossing the Yellow Brick Road to reach
the Emerald City. You'll find a place that's as much an art gallery as a restaurant, filled with
work by local artists as well as plants. Take your pick of inside or courtyard tables, and enjoy
some of the most affordable food around, including a big variety of specialties (chicken breast
six different ways, meat loaf, catfish, pizzas, pastas) starting at $6 and most well under $10.
Wednesday evening features a gay show, magic, and fire eating. AE, D, DC, MC, V. No
reservations. Closed Dec. 24, Dec. 31. No lunch Sun. |
CAMERAS, CAMCORDERS, AND COMPUTERS
| LAPTOPS
Before you depart, check your portable computer's battery, because you may be asked at
security to turn on the computer to prove that it is what it appears to be. At the airport, you
may prefer to request a manual inspection, although security X-rays do not harm hard-disk
or floppy-disk storage.
PHOTOGRAPHY
If your camera is new or if you haven't used it for a while, shoot and develop a few rolls of
film before you leave. Always store film in a cool, dry place---never in the car's glove
compartment or on the shelf under the rear window.
Every pass through an X-ray machine increases film's chance of clouding. To protect it, carry it
in a clear plastic bag and ask for hand inspection at security. Such requests are virtually
always honored at U.S. airports. Don't depend on a lead-lined bag to protect film in checked
luggage---the airline may increase the radiation to see what's inside.
VIDEO
Before your trip, test your camcorder, invest in a skylight filter to protect the lens, and
charge the batteries. (Airport security personnel may ask you to turn on the camcorder to
prove that it's what it appears to be).
Videotape is not damaged by X-rays, but it may be harmed by the magnetic field of a
walk-through metal detector, so ask that videotapes be hand-checked.
|
CAR RENTAL
|
Florida is a car renter's bazaar, with more discount companies offering more bargains---and
more fine print---than any other state in the nation. For the best deal, look for the best
combination rate for car and airfare.
FOR U.K. CITIZENS
In the United States you must be 21 to rent a car; rates may be higher for those under 25. Extra
costs cover child seats, compulsory for children under five (about $3 per day), and additional
drivers (about $1.50 per day). To pick up your reserved car you will need the reservation
voucher, a passport, a U.K. driver's license, and a travel policy covering each driver.
|
CHILDREN AND TRAVEL
| FLYING
Safety Seats
If you choose not to buy a seat for your child, many airlines will allow you to use a vacant seat
(if there is one) free of charge and will often rearrange seating to accommodate you. When
reserving seat assignments, ask to have an empty seat in the middle of your traveling
party. Often it will remain vacant, and you can use it for your child, so bring your safety seat
just in case. If the flight is full, you can check the safety seat at the gate.
KNOW-HOW
Periodicals for parents that are filled with listings of events, resources, and advice are available
free at such places as libraries, supermarkets, and museums.
|
CRUISES
|
To get the best deal on a cruise, consult a cruise-only travel agency.
|
CUSTOMS AND DUTIES
| ENTERING THE U.S.
Visitors aged 21 or over may import the following into the United States: 200 cigarettes or 50
cigars or 2 kilograms of tobacco; 1 U.S. liter of alcohol; gifts to the value of $100. Restricted
items include meat products, seeds, plants, and fruits. Never carry illegal drugs.
ON YOUR RETURN FROM THE U.S.
In Canada
If you've been out of Canada for at least seven days, you may bring in C$500 worth of goods
duty-free. If you've been away for fewer than seven days but for more than 48 hours, the
duty-free allowance drops to C$200; if your trip lasts between 24 and 48 hours, the allowance
is C$50. You cannot pool allowances with family members. Goods claimed under the C$500
exemption may follow you by mail; those claimed under the lesser exemptions must accompany
you.
Alcohol and tobacco products may be included in the seven-day and 48-hour exemptions but
not in the 24-hour exemption. If you meet the age requirements of the province or territory
through which you reenter Canada, you may bring in, duty-free, 1.14 liters (40 imperial ounces)
of wine or liquor or 24 12-ounce cans or bottles of beer or ale. If you are 16 or older, you may
bring in, duty-free, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or cigarillos, and 400 tobacco sticks or 400 grams
of manufactured tobacco. Alcohol and tobacco must accompany you on your return.
An unlimited number of gifts valued up to C$60 each may be mailed to Canada duty-free.
These do not count as part of your exemption. Label the package "Unsolicited Gift---Value
under $60." Alcohol and tobacco are excluded.
In the U.K.
From countries outside the EU, including the United States, you may import duty-free 200
cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco; 1 liter of spirits or 2 liters of
fortified or sparkling wine; 2 liters of still table wine; 60 milliliters of perfume; 250 milliliters of
toilet water; plus £136 worth of other goods, including gifts and souvenirs.
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DINING
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One cautionary word: Raw oysters have been identified as a problem for people with chronic
illness of the liver, stomach, or blood, or who have immune disorders. Since 1993, all Florida
restaurants serving raw oysters are required to post a notice in plain view of all patrons warning
of the risks associated with consuming them.
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DRIVING
| Three major interstates lead to Florida from various parts of the country. I--95 begins in Maine,
runs south through New England and the Mid-Atlantic states, and enters Florida just north of
Jacksonville. It continues south past Daytona Beach, the Space Coast, Vero Beach, Palm
Beach, and Fort Lauderdale, eventually ending in Miami.
I--75 begins at the Canadian border in Michigan and runs south through Ohio, Kentucky,
Tennessee, and Georgia before entering Florida. The interstate moves through the center of the
state before veering west into Tampa. It follows the west coast south to Naples, then crosses
the state, and ends in Fort Lauderdale.
California and all the most southern states are connected to Florida by I--10. This interstate
originates in Los Angeles and moves east through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, and Alabama before entering Florida at Pensacola on the west coast. I--10
continues straight across the northern part of the state until it terminates in Jacksonville.
Travelers heading from the Midwest or other points west for the lower east coast of Florida
will want to use Florida's Turnpike from Wildwood, which crosses the state for 304 miles and
terminates in Florida City. Coin service plazas have replaced the use of toll cards through the
urban southern sections of the turnpike.
SPEED LIMITS
In Florida the speed limits are 55 mph on the state highways, 30 mph within city limits and
residential areas, and 55--65 mph on the interstates and on Florida's Turnpike. These limits may
vary, so be sure to watch road signs for any changes.
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FESTIVALS AND SEASONAL EVENTS
| WINTER
Mid-Dec.
Winterfest Boat Parade is on the Intracoastal Waterway, Fort Lauderdale (tel.
305/767--0686).
Late Dec.
Coconut Grove King Mango Strut is a parody of the Orange Bowl Parade (tel.
305/858--6253).
Early Jan.
Polo Season opens at the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club (tel. 407/793--1440).
Mid-Jan.
Art Deco Weekend spotlights Miami Beach's historic district with an Art Deco street fair, a
1930s-style Moon Over Miami Ball, and live entertainment (tel. 305/672--2014).
Mid-Jan.
Taste of the Grove Food and Music Festival is a popular fund-raiser put on in Coconut
Grove's Peacock Park by area restaurants (tel. 305/444--7270).
Late Jan.
Miami Rivers Blues Festival takes place on the south bank of the river next to Tobacco Road
(tel. 305/374--1198).
Feb.--Mar.
Winter Equestrian Festival includes more than 1,000 horses and three grand-prix equestrian
events at the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club in West Palm Beach (tel. 407/798--7000).
Mid-Feb.
Miami Film Festival is 10 days of international, domestic, and local films sponsored by the
Film Society of America (tel. 305/377--3456).
Mid-Feb.
Coconut Grove Art Festival is the state's largest (tel. 305/447--0401).
SPRING
Early Mar.
Carnaval Miami is a carnival celebration staged by the Little Havana Tourist Authority (tel.
305/644--8888).
Late Apr.
River Cities Festival is a three-day event in Miami Springs and Hialeah that focuses attention
on the Miami River and the need to keep it clean (tel. 305/887--1515).
Late Apr.--early May
Conch Republic Celebration in Key West honors the founding fathers of the Conch Republic,
"the small island nation of Key West" (tel. 305/296--0123).
First weekend in May
Sunfest includes a wide variety of cultural and sporting events in West Palm Beach (tel.
407/659--5980 or 800/833--5733).
SUMMER
First weekend in June
Miami-Bahamas Goombay Festival, in Miami's Coconut Grove, celebrates the city's
Bahamian heritage (tel. 305/443--7928 or 305/372--9966).
Mid-JulyHemingway Days Festival, in Key West, includes plays, short-story competitions, |
HEALTH CONCERNS
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DIVERS' ALERT
Scuba divers take note: Do not fly within 24 hours of scuba diving.
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LODGING
| HOTELS AND MOTELS
Florida, with some 40 million visitors in 1995, has every conceivable type of lodging,
everything from tree houses to penthouses, from mansions for hire to hostels. Recession in the
early 1990s discouraged investors from adding to Florida's hotel-room supply, but even with
occupancy rates inching up above 70%, there are always rooms for the night, except maybe
during Christmas and other holiday weekends. Even the most glittery resort towns like Miami
have affordable lodgings, typically motel rooms that may cost as little as $30--$40 a night---not
in the best part of town, mind you, but not in the worst, either, perhaps along busy highways
where you'll need the roar of the air-conditioning to drown out the traffic. Since beachfront
properties tend to be more expensive, look for properties a little off the beach for the best
bargain; still, many beachfront properties are surprisingly affordable, too. Travelers who favor
vintage hotels can find them everywhere. Florida also has more than 200 historic inns.
Often the best bet for traveling with children is to book space that comes with a kitchen and
more than one bedroom. Children are welcome generally everywhere in Florida. Pets are
another matter, so inquire ahead of time if you're bringing an animal with you.
In the busy seasons---over Christmas, from late January through Easter, and during holiday
weekends in summer---always reserve ahead for the top properties. If you're not booking
through a travel agent, call the visitors bureau or the chamber of commerce in the area
where you're going to check whether any special event is scheduled for when you plan to
arrive. If demand isn't especially high for the time you have in mind, you can often save by
showing up at a lodging in mid- to late afternoon---desk clerks are typically willing to
negotiate with travelers in order to fill those rooms late in the day. In addition, check with
chambers of commerce for discount coupons for selected properties.
INNS AND B&BS;
Small inns and guest houses are becoming increasingly numerous and popular in Florida. Many
offer the convenience of bed-and-breakfast accommodations in a homelike setting; many, in
fact, are in private homes, and the owners treat you almost like a member of the family.
VACATION OWNERSHIP RESORTS
Vacation ownership resorts sell hotel rooms, condominium apartments, or villas in weekly,
monthly, or quarterly increments. The weekly arrangement is most popular; it's often referred
to as "interval ownership" or "time sharing." Of more than 3,000 vacation ownership resorts
around the world, some 500 are in Florida. As an owner, you can join your resort's exchange
organization and swap your interval for another someplace else in any year when you want a
change of scene. Even if you don't own an interval, you can rent at many vacation ownership
resorts where unsold intervals remain and/or owners have placed their intervals in a rental
program.
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PACKING FOR MIAMI
| The Miami area is warm year-round and often extremely humid during the summer months. Be
prepared for sudden summer storms, but keep in mind that plastic raincoats are uncomfortable
in the high humidity.
Dress is casual throughout the state, with sundresses, jeans, or walking shorts appropriate
during the day; bring a pair of comfortable walking shoes or sneakers. A few of the better
restaurants request that men wear jackets and ties, but most do not. Be prepared for
air-conditioning working in overdrive.
Be sure to take a sun hat and a good sunscreen because the sun can be fierce, even in winter.
Bring an extra pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses in your carry-on luggage, and if you have a
health problem, pack enough medication to last the trip. In case your bags go astray, don't
put prescription drugs or valuables in luggage to be checked.
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PASSPORTS AND VISAS
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British citizens need a valid passport. If you are staying fewer than 90 days and traveling on a
vacation, with a return or onward ticket, you will probably not need a visa. However, you will
need to fill out the Visa Waiver Form, 1-94W, supplied by the airline.
While traveling, keep one photocopy of the data page separate from your wallet and leave
another copy with someone at home. If you lose your passport, promptly call the nearest
embassy or consulate and the local police; having the data page can speed replacement.
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SHOPPING
|
Malls in Florida are full of nationally franchised shops, major department-store chains, and
one-of-a-kind shops catering to a mass audience. For the best souvenirs, look for small shops
in out-of-the-way places.
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WHEN TO GO
| Florida is a state for all seasons, although most visitors prefer October--April. Winter remains
the height of the tourist season, when southern Florida is crowded with "snowbirds" fleeing the
cold weather in the North. Hotels, bars, discos, restaurants, shops, and attractions are all
crowded. Hollywood and Broadway celebrities appear in sophisticated supper clubs, and other
performing artists hold the stage at ballets, operas, concerts, and theaters. For the college
crowd, spring vacation is still the time to congregate in Florida.
Summer in Florida, as smart budget-minded visitors have discovered, is often hot and very
humid, but ocean breezes make the season bearable along the coast. Besides, many hotels lower
their prices considerably during summer.
CLIMATE
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The Average Daily Temperature for Miami for October is 72-83 F, 22 - 28 C.
Here's what Fodor's considers to be the best of the best in Miami. We
hope you get a chance to experience some of them, as well as find some
personal favorites of your own. When you get back, drop us a line and tell
us about them.
A T T R A C T I O N S
Biltmore Hotel. The Biltmore's 26-story tower is a replica of the Giralda Tower in
Seville, Spain. 1200 Anastasia Ave., tel. 305/445-1926.
Little Havana. Hispanics and Anglos alike come to this area in downtown Miami to
experience the flavor of traditional Cuban culture. That culture, of course, functions in Spanish.
Many Little Havana residents and shopkeepers speak little or no English.
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. The 70-rooom house and gardens overlook Biscayne Bay on
a 30-acre tract that includes a native hammock and more than 10 acres of formal gardens and
fountains. In the house, 34 rooms of paintings, sculpture, antique furniture, and other
decorative arts, are open to the public. 3251 S. Miami Ave., tel. 305/250-9133. Admission: $8
adults, $4 children 6-12. Guided 45-min tours available, group tours by appointment. House
and ticket booth open daily 9:30-4:30; garden: daily 9:30-5:30. Closed Dec. 25.
V I E W S T O R E M E M B E R
Ocean Drive in the Art Deco District, Miami Beach. Feast your eyes on brilliantly
restored vintage Art Deco hotels at every turn. Since their restoration, this palm-lined
beachfront is hopping 24 hours a day.
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Copyright © 1997 Fodor's Travel Publications Inc.