Fun activities to do in Miami Beach – Mi Am I entertained!

South Beach or Miami Beach is where the party's at! If Miami is famous for anything, it's for this long stretch of golden sand that meets aquamarine waters. The beach is full of vibrant, lively folk enjoying the sun and surf; swimming, sunbathing or playing Frisbee and volleyball on the beach or going jet skiing, kite surfing, kayaking or any other exhilarating water sports available to visitors. The beach is lined with fun restaurants, bars, food stalls and many a South Beach Miami hotel, including luxury hotels like COMO Metropolitan Miami Beach. The vivacious atmosphere of the beach is nothing if not contagious and will leave anyone smiling for days to come!

Miami has an inspiring history that's almost synonymous with the 'American Dream'. The magnificent, world-famous city grew from a mangrove swamp that was envisioned to be nothing more than a mango, avocado and coconut farm. This rise to the top is captured through the city's architecture and it is, in fact, the first 20th century metropolitan area to be included in the National Register of Historic Places. The neighbourhood, more formally known as the Miami Beach Architectural District, contains buildings designed between 1920 and 1940 that feature riveting architectural elements such as a design aesthetic inspired by a style called 'Art Deco' that first became popular in France. In Miami, the buildings are distinguishable by their aquatic and floral embellishments, pastel colours and nautical designs. The best way to experience this unique style is by taking a short stroll from 6th street to 23rd street, which holds the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world!

Biscayne National Park is one of North America's best marine parks and the largest in the country. The park is made up of four distinct ecosystems: Biscayne Bay, Florida Keys, mangroves and coral reefs; 95% of the park is under water. Guided Canoe trips to explore the mangrove system are available which presents an amazing opportunity to witness manatees, dolphins, jellyfish, sting rays and sharks! Snorkelling in the coral reef is a phenomenal experience filled with brilliantly coloured live coral and reef fishes. Scuba diving is also available; Biscayne Bay provides a particularly unique diving adventure thanks to the many shipwrecks that litter the sea floor! The national park can only be accessed via boat, so prior planning is required.

The neighbourhood of Little Havana was built by and comprises of Cuban Immigrants who fled the clutches of the tyrant Fidel Castro of Cuba. The area makes for a fascinating, immersive cultural experience complete with countless little parks and eateries, vendors and stalls selling delicious Cuban dishes. Little Havana also houses many museums and memorials, as well as, a fantastic shopping district and of course the famous Callo Ocho Walk of Fame! The neighbourhood also hosts a number of annual festivals, including the Three Kings Parade and Calla Ocho Festival, which are televised across the world.

This ancient, Spanish monastery was constructed as early as 1133 AD in Sacramenia, in northern Spain. You read that right, this monastery, now located to the north of Miami Beach, was first located in Spain. William Randolph Hearst purchased the cloisters and outer buildings of this grand and ancient monastery and shipped it, in more than 11,000 wooden crates, to the United States of America, in 1925. The monastery pieces were purchased and used to reconstruct it in 1953, a year after Hearst's death, by two entrepreneurs as a tourist attraction – the endeavour, dubbed 'the world's largest jigsaw puzzle' took 19 months and $20 million dollars in today's currency to complete! Today, the church holds services every Sunday and on weekdays in both Spanish and English and the monastery is a popular site for weddings.