Miami

Guide Note

The city of Miami is the most populous city in the state of Florida, and with more than 5.5 million residents in the greater Miami Dade County area, it ranks as the fourth largest urban area in the United States. Miami is a popular year-round travel destination because of its warm climate and fantastic beaches. The city includes a large Cuban-American population of families that have immigrated from nearby Cuba in the last five decades. South Beach is one of the most trend-setting areas for fashion and night life in the world, with more than 23 blocks containing hundreds of night clubs, restaurants, and oceanfront hotels right on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

Fast Facts

1. Country: United States
2. State: Florida
3. County: Dade
4. Mayor: Manny Diaz
5. Population: 404,048 (2006)
6. Founded: 1896
7. Currency: U.S. Dollar
8. Area code: +305, +786
9. Nickname: "Magic City"
10. Time zone: EST

The city has enjoyed a renaissance over the last 15 years following the devastating effects of Hurricane Andrew, a Category 5 hurricane which was the most destructive hurricane in U.S. history until the 2004 Hurricane Katrina. The downtown Miami area has seen sharp increase in skyscraper-sized buildings, and in 2008 was named by Forbes Magazine as "America's Cleanest City".

Miami has always been a favorite location for the entertainment industry. It's currently the on-location home and backdrop for the popular CBS television series CSI: Miami, and was also home to two of the more popular NBC shows from the past two decades: Miami Vice in the 1980s, and The Golden Girls in the early 1990s. The city has also been home to numerous films such as: There's Something About Mary, Goldfinger, Ace Ventura, and Scarface. Additionally, Miami has produced many talented musical acts, such as KC and the Sunshine Band, Marilyn Manson, and multiple Grammy winning artist Gloria Estefan.

To many, Miami was just a place to retire to until the Miami Dolphins rose to power in the National Football League during the 1970s. The team gave the city a much needed identity to the rest of the country. The franchise won back-to-back Super Bowl championships, and the 1972 team became the only undefeated champion in league history. During the 1980s, the University of Miami football program came to prominence winning five national championships. The city is also home to: baseball's Florida Marlins, who won World Series titles in 1997 and 2003; the Florida Panthers of the NHL; and the NBA's Miami Heat, which won the 2006 NBA Championship.

While in Miami, make sure to check out some of the attractions such as the Coral Castle, Miami Museum of Science and for the kid in all of us check out the Miami Children's Museum. One of the hottest neighborhoods here is South Beach, this side of town consists of 23 blocks filled with hundreds of nightclubs, restaurants and oceanfront hotels.

1. Actors: Sidney Poitier, Robert DeNiro, Eva Mendes
2. Musicians: Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, Debbie Harry
3. Athletes: Chad Johnson, Alex Rodriguez, Steve Carlton