Key West

Wherever you came from, you made an effort to visit Miami; the most southern of United States, and it will be a shame not to visit Key West. This is where the US-1 ends.

This bridge to Key West is 24 miles long each way! From Miami, you will have to drive down south almost about 3 hours through many small islands, but no worries my friends, because the incredible view of open ocean will amuse your eyes all along.

Key West is the southernmost of United States and it's only 90 miles away from Cuba. You can actually see Cuba with your naked eyes when the weather is good.

Key West is a small island with so many fun spots to stop by, driving a car around the island will be inconvenient. There are many rental shops where you can rent bicycle, motor cycle, and even electronic mini cars.

You can just ride your choice of vehicle along the ocean side road, or follow the Key West map for museums, shops, beaches, and restaurants.

My favorite tour spot is the Ernest Hemingway's House. It is now a museum where everyone can walk around inside the house, and you will be amazed to see how many cats can possibly live inside one house. The most interesting part of it is that those uncountable cats around and inside the house are the offsprings of cats that Hemingway actually lived with.

Most of cats in Hemingway's house are six toed due to inbreeding but their paws are so adorable, they almost look as they are thumbing up! Don't forget to taste the world famous Key West key lime pie before you leave.

Bayside Marketplace

Forget about regular malls and put shopping aside for a minute. This exciting, vibrant outdoor marketplace is full of exotic restaurants, brand name stores, special local souvenirs, and live entertainments.

Stroll along the most famous shopping district of the city. Bayside Marketplace is an indoor/outdoor marketplace located in downtown Miami, just south of the American Airlines Arena on Biscayne Bay.

It was commonly featured on Miami Vice, and the mall averages 15 million people annually. Plenty of restaurants and bars available such as The Knife Argentinean Steak House, Hard Rock Café and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

This place is loud with live music and rocks with dancers everywhere. There are many friendly exotic animals such as monkeys, snakes, and parrots. You can rent jet skis, ride a horse wagon around the shore, or even get on a charter boat for the sightseeing tour around the Dodge Island where many celebrities live.

There is a large stage for bands and singers to perform everyday, and you will see almost everyone near stage dancing to the live music.

www.baysidemarketplace.com

Nightlife

* If you are done tanning and swimming in the world famous South Beach during the day, it is time for a fabulous nightlife of Miami. Right across the Ocean Blvd., you will find many clubs, bars, and lounges. You can just walk down the street and see which is your favorite, but nowhere is more fun than the following.*

1. Delano Hotel Lounge

If you prefer to sit down in the fabulously decorated room and enjoy the music and drink than sweating dancing, Delano Hotel's lounge will blow you away.

The lounge is sectioned into four different mood and settings, and also each section's interior is breathtaking. The entire place is very spacious and the high vaulted ceilings even add up the space. This open space allows Miami's warm breeze in and it makes the main white curtain decoration that falls from the high ceilings dance smoothly.

The entrance begins with unique chairs and sofas in enormous sizes, and continues with bars and tables in elegant design. My favorite spot is outdoor lounge located in the pool area. The pool is surrounded by large beds where everyone can sit or lie down to enjoy the music and drinks.

[www.delano-hotel.com]

2. Mango's Tropical Cafe

Have you tried food or drink made with mangos? Mangos in Miami have the extraordinary sweetness and juice to it than anywhere else. But this place called mango's is juicier than any mango you tried in your entire life.

This is more of a Latin dance club than a restaurant. They have fine international cuisine but I guarantee that you won't be able to taste your food because you will be busy looking at hot guys and girls dancing so passionately on top of the bar.

They sing and play variety of Latin music and some Hip Hop. Mango's dancers are identified by their significant exotic animal printed costumes and their top of the bar choreography is just amazing, you won't be able to stop your body dancing along.

[www.mangostropicalcafe.com]

Le Tub

Le Tub is the best and the most unique restaurant located on the coastal waterway. You can't really tell from the outside, but this place got a lot of character. As the biggest fan of Le Tub myself, I only take my best friends and family here, and they want to visit Miami again just for this restaurant.
As you might have guessed from the name, they decided to decorate the restaurant with tubs and toilets. The inside is a maze of pergola-covered booths and tables next to the water. You seat yourself, but finding one can be a real challenge. This place has been very popular between Miami residents, but they got much more busier after they were featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and voted as the Best Hamburger from GQ magazine.
This is the legendary 13oz. sirloin burger, and it is HUGE! Their menus are literally hand written on paper, and although there's room for improvement, it adds the casual atmosphere. In addition to the burgers, they serve all sorts of barbeque, fresh seafood, salads, amazing fries, and key lime pie.
My favorite menu here is Crab Legs. You get a bowl full of freshly beer steamed giant snow crab legs, and you won't be able to forget the taste for your life.
If you get a chance, try to get a table next to the water because it gets unbelievably beautiful at sunset. The view is just absolutely amazing.

[www.theletub.com 1100 North Ocean Drive Hollywood, FL 33019]

Vizcaya Museum and Garden

It was 15 years ago that i first visited Vizcaya Museum and Garden in South Miami. It is more of an old Italian Renaissance Villa than a museum in the size of a castle. I fell in love with this place right away and I could not stop going back almost every year because of its elegant architecture and the beautiful garden that connects to its private harbor on Biscayne Bay.

Vizcaya was the winter residence of American industrialist James Deering from Christmas 1916 until his death in 1925. The house was intended to appear as an Italian estate that had stood for 400 years and had been occupied and renovated by several generations of a family.

Vizcaya has 34 decorated rooms with 15th through 19th century antique furnishings and art objects. The house appears to be only two stories high but between the main public rooms and the bedrooms, there is an intervening level with 12 rooms for servants and service.

Walk around the building and you will find many surprises such as the courtyard in the middle of the building, the tiniest faucet, a dummy waiter in between each story's kitchen, and a large swimming pool that begins from inside of the house and reaches out to the outdoor.
The garden is very popular for Sweet Sixteen and wedding photo shoots, and also is opened for special occasions and weddings. For more information, go to www.vizcayamuseum.org