The ONLY North American Stopover of The Volvo Ocean Race

Miami is one of the most iconic cities in the world, brimming with character.

Its nightlife is as good as anywhere in the country, the 15 miles of beaches are crammed with all manner of flamboyant souls, and there is enough drama behind closed doors to inspire numerous television series.  South Beach is great for shopping and parties and, for that matter, it inspires much of the drama on TV with more than 150 clubs and bars.

When the pace and thrill of Miami gets too much, it is reassuring to know there are more than 800 parks in and around the city, including the Biscayne and Everglades national parks. The Everglades, particularly, makes for a spectacular tour. It contains 1.5 million acres of swamps, saw-grass prairies and sub-tropical jungles, along with 14 rare and endangered species. A large chunk of the park is difficult to reach and explored only by researchers, but there are great packages available for walking, camping and canoe expeditions.

The Miami Metrozoo is also a good place to spend some time. Given Miami’s charming climate, the zoo is able to accommodate animals from Asia, Australia, and Africa and, unlike many other zoos, it is “free-range” in that the animals are cageless.  There are countless choices from historic to adventuresome, natural to man-made, places like authentic Indian villages and botanical sanctuaries.   Places that capture the imagination and stir the soul.

If you want to catch a game … the NFL season finishes in February, so a trip to Miami Dolphins is out, but Miami Heat and the Miami Marlins are well worth a visit for sports fans.

As far as sailing is concerned, the local scene is thriving.  Miami and Biscayne Bay are well known among sailors and boaters around the world for its unique sailing conditions that offer an amazing opportunity of spending a day on water with spectacular views Miami Skyline.