Best of Miami

Ocean Drive [1]: Ocean Drive is the heart of South Beach, where art deco buildings are transformed into stylish hotels in which the hippest nightclubs host celebrities and those who hope to see celebrities. With the Atlantic on one side and sidewalk cafés on the other, this part of town is as walkably beautiful during the day as it is stumblingly decadent at nigh.

Design District [2]: The Design District is one of Miami’s oldest neighborhoods. Its recent reincarnation as one of Miami’s premier spots for contemporary art and furnishings — as well as the sort of hip gentrification that goes along with such a reputation — has given it all the historic and artistic appeal of South Beach, without the 5 a.m. pool parties.

Little Havana [3]: As Cubans flocked to Miami after the 1959 Revolution — and again after the 1980 Mariel Boatlift — Little Havana became the part of Central Miami that they congregated in. By the mid-1960s, it became known (somewhat pejoratively) as Little Havana, and today it is the heart of the United States’ Cuban American community.

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens [4]: The 34-room Gilded Age mansion and its 10 acres of botanical gardens have long been an icon of Miami’s historical opulence. The Vizcaya is the “diplomatic seat” of Miami-Dade County, and it is easy to understand why, given the majestic profile the Vizcaya cuts across its beautiful grounds and out onto Biscayne Bay.

Coral Castle [5]: Located in Homestead, about 30 miles or half an hour south of downtown Miami, the half-acre Coral Castle was crafted by hand out of local materials by a skinny love-struck Latvian as an homage to his one true romance. Today, it’s a peculiar monument not only to his emotional fervor but also to his singular design and construction skills.