Miami Alive Guide. Key Biscayne, Miami Beach, Coral Gables & Beyond

267 Pages·2011·11.34 MB·English

by  Lisa Simundson

Miami Alive: Key Biscayne, Miami Beach, Coral Gables & Beyond
Lisa Simundson
Hunter Publishing, Inc.
Introduction
Welcome to Miami, a subtropical oasis of fun-in-the-sun excitement on the
southern tip of the Florida peninsula. Get ready for a day at the beach and a night
on the town; a culinary tour of the world and an exploration of fascinating
cultures and history; shopping sojourns that lead from the biggest malls down to
the smallest roadside stands. It's all here in the place where major highways end
and adventures begin.
A Brief History of Miami
The 20th Century

1920-1940

One man figures prominently in the modern history of both Miami and the Keys:
Henry Flagler. In a prescient move in 1896, the Standard Oil executive extended
his Florida East Coast Railroad to Miami, paving the way for the development of
tourism, which would become Miami's dominant industry by the mid-1900s.

HENRY FLAGLER

Henry Flagler originally intended for Palm Beach to be the terminus of his
Florida East Coast Railroad, but severe freezes in 1894 and 1895 made him re-
think his decision. Legend has it that South Florida pioneer Julia Tuttle mailed
Flagler a fresh orange blossom from Miami in the middle of that winter, leading
himto head southward. Actually, Mrs. Tuttle offered Flagler half her property in
the then-unincorporated community of Miami if he would extend the railroad
and build a grand hotel. Flagler complied, and the city of Miami was
incorporated in July of 1896. His exclusive Royal Palm Hotel opened in 1897.

Miami went through a number of booms and busts, including a devastating blow
in 1926 when a major hurricane in September killed more than 100 people and
caused millions of dollars in damage, putting an end to what had been a vigorous
land boom. But the city recovered and went on to establish itself as a major
aviation center with the birth of Pan American World Airways, which connected
Miami to a number of Central and South American cities by 1935. At the same
time, Eastern Airlines was flying daily between Miami, New York, Chicago and
intermediate cities. Miami's early '20s land boom included the development of
Coral Gables, Miami Shores, Hialeah, Miami Springs, and Opa-Locka.

Also during this period, a new architectural style was drawing national attention
to Miami – Art Deco. Between 1935 and 1941, more than 200 Art Deco hotels
were built on Miami Beach, and tourists flocked to visit them. Though the
picturesque region declined in later decades, its renaissance began in 1979 when
it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the renovations
began. Today, Miami Beach’s Art Deco District and South Beach are among
Florida’s most popular destinations.

The Post-War Boom

Another boom period in Miami followed World War II, with construction,
tourism and aviation the leading industries. Land was protected and set aside for
recreation with the creation of sprawling parks like Crandon, Cape Florida State
Recreation Area, Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park.
Meanwhile, a new facet of the tourism industry was developing – cruising.
Miami was a perfect location for a port, and it didn't take long before the city
became known as “the cruise ship capital of the world.”

The Cuban Influx

Another significant milestone occurred during the 1960s, something that
changed Miami's social, cultural and economic landscape forever – the arrival of
thousands of Cuban refugees fleeing a Communist regime. To say their arrival
had a major impact is something of an understatement. Today, Miami is as much
Spanish-speaking as English-speaking, and has developed into the “crossroads of
the Americas” for business and finance.
Following the Cubans came smaller influxes of immigrants from Central
America, Haiti and other Caribbean and Latin nations.

Miami Today

Today, Miami's mix of cultures has created a colorful mosaic that gives it the
flavor of other lands without the hassles of foreign travel.

For the visitor, Miami's cultural diversity yields rich rewards, from gourmet
dining and unique shopping opportunities to restaurants and stores offering
dazzling diversity with a special tropical tang – meals and merchandise that are
just not available anywhere else. Miami's concerts and art galleries, sporting and
cultural events, museums and book fairs, and especially its festivals, are also
seasoned with this potent tropical brew. Taste and enjoy!

EARLY INHABITANTS

The first human inhabitants of South Florida were the Native American
ancestors of the Calusa and Tequesta Indians who migrated here and established
permanent villages at the mouth of the Miami River. Then came the trickle that
was soon to develop into a tidal wave: the arrival of the Europeans. First came
the Spanish, then the English, bringing European diseases and warfare with
them. By 1763 – the year Spain ceded Florida to the British – the Calusas and
Tequestas were virtually wiped out.

They were followed by Creek Indians migrating from Georgia, Alabama and the
Carolinas, who came to be known collectively as the Seminoles. In 1830, after
Congress decreed that all Indians living east of the Mississippi River had to
move west to Oklahoma, these hardy Seminoles refused to surrender their
freedom and join the “Trail of Tears,” engaging in three wars with the US Army
before finally retreating into the vastness of the Everglades.

The descendants of these brave, proud people are today's Seminole and
Miccosukee tribes, who still live in South Florida.

Visitors to Miami can observe day-to-day life in the Miccosukee Tribe, located
off US-41 in the western reaches of Miami-Dade County. The Miccosukees also
operate a lavish resort, complete with gaming casino.
Miami
The Magic City
Rome may not have been built in a day, but it almost seems as if Miami was. In
just 100 years, it has gone from a sleepy fishing village by the bay to an
international metropolis and business center –where sleek office buildings rise
alongside luxury hotels, where arts and culture not only thrive but re-define
artistic frontiers, where local restaurants feature the flavors of many different
cultures, and clubs sizzle until dawn.
Dining & Shopping
Miami can anchor a family vacation that includes the “kiddie carnivals” of
Orlando, the islands of the Florida Keys and the Bahamas, or the unique eco-
tourism adventures of the Everglades, but it also works as an adult destination in
its own right, sparkling with activity.

Here, visitors delight in gourmet dining and world-class shopping, discovering
the diversity of restaurants filled with the flavors of Latin America and the
Caribbean and shopping opportunities that run the gamut from boutique shops to
enormous malls boasting their own tempting eateries.

From haute cuisine to haute couture, Miami’s high-end restaurants and designer
boutiques are quite posh, and the servers and salespeople dress accordingly.
You’ll probably want to dress for fine dining. However, it’s not unusual to see
folks in shorts and tennis shoes browsing through the Gucci watches at an
upscale boutique, especially in heavy tourist areas such as South Beach. At
cultural events you might see everything from evening gowns to jeans.

Attractions & Nightlife
Miami’s many moods also flavor the myriad concerts and cultural events, art
galleries, museums, book fairs and festivals that fill its cultural calendar all year
long.

If sports are your game, you’ve also come to the right place. Along with
professional franchises in all the major sports, Miami is home to sprawling golf
courses that host world-class tournaments; championship racetracks where sleek
thoroughbreds race to the finish; Jai-Alai; greyhound racing; and motor sports
events. And today’s high rollers can tempt lady luck at local Indian gaming
palaces or hop on luxury ships that sail out beyond the limit of the law for some