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Miami Area Guide

The Howard Johnson Dezerland Miami area guide provides information about the most exciting South Beach and Miami Florida events. You can be close to all of these great attractions when you reserve your hotel rooms with the Howard Johnson Plaza Dezerland Miami Beach Resort.

Soaring Adventures of America
America's largest network of hot air balloon, glider and skydiving recreational rides, 200 certified locations nationwide, 23 years experience, 300,000 rides, 100% safety record. Member: Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau, Balloon Federation of America, Soaring Society of America, United States Parachute Association. 305-373-0031 or 1-800-SOARING.

Deering Estate Historic Tours - Daily
Cost: Adults: $6 - Children: $4. Weekday and weekend schedules available. See some of South Florida's earliest buildings. The Richmond Cottage, built between 1896 and 1916, is one of the finest remaining examples of South Florida's vernacular architecture and the Stone House, built in 1922 is a unique example of Florida's Mediterranean Revival style architecture. For additional information, call the Deering Estate at 305-235-1668 Ext 225.

Deering Estate Natural Areas Tours - Daily
Cost: Adults: $6 - Children: $4. Weekday and weekend schedules available. A one-hour guided walking tour through lush tropical hardwood hammocks. Tour includes a visit to a Tequesta burial mound. For additional information, call the Deering Estate at 305-235-1668 Ext 225.

Deering Estate Mangrove Boardwalk Tours - Daily
Cost: Adults: $6 - Children: $4. Weekday and weekend schedules available. A guided walk along a ?-mile boardwalk. Learn about our unique ecosystem and enjoy views from our observation area. For additional information, call the Deering Estate at 305-235-1668 Ext 225.

Daylight Weekend Canoe Tours at the Deering Estate at Cutler
Canoeists will experience the beauty of Biscayne Bay as they make their way to Chicken Key Island, a seven-acre bird rookery. Space is limited and reservations are required. Cost of daytime canoe trips, which is $20 per adult, $15 kids (ages 9 - 14) (kids must be accompanied by an adult). Price includes general admission to the 420-acre Estate. For additional information, call the Deering Estate at 305-235-1668 Ext 242.

Ancient Spanish Monastery
Take a trip back in time to 1141 when Spain built this monastery, then disassembled it and rebuilt it in the United States. Originally intended to be rebuilt in California by newspaper tycoon, William Hearst, but due to possible contamination to the bricks they were held in Miami. Now you can take a look at one of the oldest buildings in the Western Hemisphere and learn about its great journey from Miami to New York and its return to Miami. Call 305/945-1462 for admission and times.

On and In the Water

Masita II Fishing Charters
Custom sport fishing charters available for half day, full day and night trips with a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain. For information please call 954-562-0747 (mobile) or 954-704-1643. Located at the marina at Bayside Marketplace, 401 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami.

RA Yacht Charters (Sailing)
The RA Yacht sails for full-days, half-days, or sunset-moonlight cruises on Miami's Biscayne Bay. Or, sail to the Florida Keys or the Bahamas. Learn to sail enjoy the sun, swim, or snorkel in the crystal-clear water. Dinner Key Marina, Pier 7, Slip 8, 3600 Pan American Drive Coconut Grove, 305-854-7341.

Jet Ski Rentals
Waverunners, parasailing, banana boats, wind surfers and kayaks. Beach olympics and water sports also available for corporate/group events- from Key Largo to Palm Beach. Locations on South Florida's beaches. Call: 786-255-3410, www.miamijetskirentals.com

Club Nautico Boat Rentals
Be the captain of your own boat while cruising the beautiful waters of Miami. Boat rentals for half and full days. New boats. Long-term, family and corporate plans available. Miami Beach Marina, 300 Alton Road, 305-673-2502.

Ocean Safari Diving Adventures
Full service dive center: instruction for all levels, sales, service, repairs. 50 ft custom dive boat for charters and trips. PADI training facility and IANTD technical training facility. Under-water photography equipment. Custom gas blending on premises. Authorized dealer for Beuchat, Scubapro, Aqua-lung, Uwatec, Atomic, Suunto. 5 min from the airport, 10 min. from the beach. Open Mon.-Sat., 9am-6pm. 677 SW 1st Street, near downtown Miami, 305-548-5043.

Island Rocket
Exciting, two-hour, high-speed boat trip to the Florida Keys for a day of fun. The state-of-the-art catamaran design puts passenger comfort first, without compromising rocket speed! Departs from the marina at 9am and returns 5pm. Bayside Marketplace, 401 Biscayne Boulevard. Reservations are recommended. 1-800-854-8121. For English/Spanish, 786-299-7999

Museums/Exhibits

Art Deco Museum
Architectural tours of the historic art deco district, multi-media exhibits, interactive displays, historic photos, children's area and film pavilion. Open daily 10am-6pm. 1001 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, 305-531-3484.

ArtsBeach, Miami Beach
2ndThursdays is the city's free monthly multicultural arts night. On the second Thursday evening of every month from 6 to 9, visual and performing arts groups showcase their work in a dizzying display of creative energy. Music, dance, theater, cinema, readings, art exhibits, multimedia, heritage, guided tours, workshops, rehearsals, lectures, story-telling, neighborhood fairs, yoga, and other free activities take place throughout the entire city of Miami Beach. Locations and events change monthly; first hour features activities for kids. Whenever possible, the City offers free parking for participants near the Miami Beach Botanical Garden (Convention Center Drive at 19th Street). Ride the Electrowave to most South Beach venues for 25 cents, or select a neighborhood and walk to events scheduled there. 305-673-7500 for information and an events calendar. Map I-13.

Bass Museum of Art
2121 Park Avenue, Miami Beach, 305-673-7530.

Cultural Fridays in Little Havana (Viernes Culturales)
On the last Friday of each month, from 7pm to 11pm, Calle Ocho's (SW 8th Street) 14th through 17th Avenues transform into an open-air gallery with 100+ artists, sculptures and artisans filling the sidewalks with their creations. Local restaurants, art galleries, merchant stores, and the historic Tower Theater all celebrate and participate in the event.

Latin American Art Museum
Exhibits by Latin American and European artists. 2206 SW 8th Street (in the Miami Art Center), Miami, 305-644-1127. Gallery/Museum/Arts Area Walks and Tours These tours usually coincide with the opening of exhibits, special events and include participating shops and restaurants. Please call for more information.

Lowe Art Museum-University of Miami
1301 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables, 305-284-3535.

Miami Art Museum
101 West Flagler Street, downtown Miami, 305-375-3000.

Miami Museum of Science & Planetarium
3280 S. Miami Avenue, Miami, 305-646-4200.

Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
"Jazz at MOCA": Free concerts on the last Friday of the month at 8pm in front of the museum
770 NE 125th Street, North Miami, 305-893-6211.

"Salty's Pirate Playground"
This new children's wet/dry playground consists of a two-level pirate ship, located at the center of a shark-filled moat. The ship, featuring water blasters, cargo nets, punch bags, padded areas and a spiral slide, will be geared to entertain kids ages two through twelve. Miami Seaquarium, 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, Virginia Key, 305-361-5705.

South Beach

From 1st Street to approximately 23rd Street, from the ocean on the east side to Biscayne Bay on the west.

South Beach, the coolest red-hot destination...warm, azure waters gently lapping against white beaches, rollerblading along Ocean Drive, balmy tropical evenings at an open-air caf, sizzling non-stop nightlife.

Whether you want to worship the sun, sand and sea on the area's award-winning beaches, shop in fashionable boutiques, feast in a culinary hot spot or party the night away in a jazz lounge or heart-pounding dance club, you surely can do it in South Beach.

Local denizens, celebrities and visitors come together in this two-square mile area on the tip of Miami Beach. Seen around town . . . Cindy Crawford, Chayanne, Will Smith, Jennifer Lpez, Cameron Diaz, Robert De Niro, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, P. Diddy, Lenny Kravitz, Rosie O'Donnell- to name a few. Add to that the host of international supermodels, film crews, music industry mavens, artists, established residents and young trendsetter's, and you have the colorful mix that fuels the feverish South Beach energy level. You'll find everything and everyone from rollerblading to dog walking, from bare-chested muscle-bound men to women clad in everything or almost nothing.

Arts & Culture:

Home to the Miami City Ballet, the New World Symphony, The Colony Theater, Lincoln Theatre and the Jackie Gleason Theater, South Beach is the locale for world-class performing arts. Museums include the Wolfsonian/FIU, the Jewish Museum of Florida, and the recently renovated Bass Museum.

Shopping:

There are several areas in which to do your part for the demand side of supply and demand. On Collins Avenue, Washington Avenue, and Ocean Drive, you'll find designer and one-of-a-kind boutiques, national chains, salons, makeup and cosmetic stores- all part of a variety of hip shopping. Lincoln Road, the pedestrian-only mall runs east-west from Collins Avenue to Alton Road, Miami Beach. No vehicles can drive east-west on this street. Lined with a variety of shops from national chains like the Gap, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn and Victoria's Secret to an eclectic mix of boutiques, art galleries and restaurants, a gym, a multi-screen cinema, a theatre, all in an atmosphere of casual chic. On Sundays, Lincoln Road has a Farmer's Market.

Restaurants:

Miami Beach restaurants offers a virtual culinary world-map that inhabits the area. French, Italian, Seafood, Mediterranean, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Pan-Asian, Cuban, Latin American, Caribbean and of course, American- all provide a cornucopia of epicurean delights, sure to please your palate. The gastronomic artistry captivates the spirit and creativity of South Beach.

The colorful backdrop is pure South Florida sub-tropics: gentle aqua ocean, pale sandy beaches, verdant swaying palm trees. Adding to the lighthearted fun of this color palette are the pastel-painted Art Deco hotels, the landmark of the historical area. With the largest concentration of 1920s and 1930s architecture, the Art Deco District has earned a listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

It's an area that should be included on your itinerary!

Outdoor Markets:

Lincoln Road Farmers Market
Located on Lincoln Road between Alton and Washington Avenues. Every Sunday from 9am to 7pm, 305-538-0038 Within the market, on the 1000 block, Miami Beach Delicious Natural and Organic Market featuring organic produce and natural salad dressings, oils, nuts, homemade pastas, breads and Miami Beach Delicious Jams and Jellies.

Espaola Way Weekend Festival
Located on Espaola Way from Washington to Pennsylvania Avenues including the beautiful new streetscape, The Plaza de Espaa. Friday, 7pm to midnight; Saturday, 10am-midnight; Sunday, 10am-6pm. This market includes crafts, art, candles and other gifts, as well as the Saturday and Sunday Neighborhood Green Market, with plants, produce and juices and organic raw food snacks. The Jewelry Bazaar adds sparkle to this market all summer long. Hand-crafted gold and silver jewelry, beadwork, leather and gemstone jewelry, wearable art; magic shows and family fun; lectures and demonstrations. 11am-5pm, Saturdays and /Sundays. Convenient parking on 16th Street between Washington and Collins Avenues. Valet parking at The Clay Hotel, 1438 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach. For more information, please call 305-538-0038.

Normandy Village Marketplace
Located on 71st Street at the Normandy Isle Fountain along Rue Vendome in North Beach, 305-538-0038 Saturdays, 8am-6pm. This community markets sells everything from smoothies to art to bamboo, from herbs and flowers to jams and jellies.

Aventura Mall Market
Aventura Mall, 195th Street and Biscayne Boulevard, through October, 305-538-0038. Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 9:30pm and Sundays from noon to 8pm. Fresh flowers, plants, snacks, jams, jellies, crafts, silk flowers and more.

Sabor de Sbado (Calle Ocho)
In Little Havana along Calle Ocho (SW 8th Street) between 14th and 15th Avenues, 305-538-0038 Every Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Fresh flowers and plants, lucky bamboo, empaadas, snacks, fresh breads, honey, jams and jellies, as well as crafts, home accessories including crystals, candles and seasonal decorations, special foods.

Coral Gables Farmers Market
405 Biltmore Way (between Coral Gables City Hall and Merrick Park), 305-460-5311. Saturdays, 8am-1pm. Vegetables, fruits, plants, art and prepared foods.

Coconut Grove Farmers Market
Grand Avenue and Margaret Street, Coconut Grove, 305-238-7747. Saturdays, 10am-5:30pm. This market features mainly organic produce, prepared foods, smoothies, olives, spreads, butters.

Park Recreation Areas:

North Shore State Recreation Area
A pristine nature preserve and open beach area in Miami with lifeguards and a picnic area for those not looking to get wet.

Oleta River State Recreation Area
The largest urban park in the state measuring 993 acres. The Oleta River is the park's most famous natural feature and has many canoe trails. The park also offers miles of bicycle trails, a sandy beach, shaded picnic areas, and a fishing pier. Other park recreation includes mountain biking and jogging.

Other Things to Do in Miami Beach!

Use our online reservation system, or call us at (305) 865-6661 or Outside Florida 1-800-331-9346

Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel Dezerland Beach & Spa
8701 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida 33154
Phone: 305-865-6661
Fax: 305-866-2630

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