Tourist4Life > Miami, FL > South Beach

South Beach, Miami FL

Park Central Hotel, built in 1937 and designed by Henry Hohauser

When you think of South Beach, most often, beautiful beaches filled with celebrities and the rich and famous come to mind.  The one-of-a-kind architecture and art-deco design is another spectacular reason to visit and photograph South Beach Miami.

Art-Deco District
The Art-Deco District is an area of South Beach noted for its concentration of over 800 Art Deco buildings all within one square mile. Make sure you take the time to see these white and pastel colored stucco buildings beautifully restored to their former splendor.  Take a long walk down Ocean Drive during the day and then come back at night to see the same buildings lit up by neon lights and wonderful cultural lighting.  The scene is unique, so make sure you bring a camera to capture the scene (turn your flash OFF to capture the scene best!)

South Beach At Night
We admired the view of the Star Island mansions and the million dollar yachts in the water below as we drove across the causeway to Miami Beach.  South Beach was packed and consequently, finding a parking spot took a long time.  After circling the blocks we finally found a spot to park and then headed right for "the strip" on Ocean Drive.  A glow of neon and bursts of music greeted us while we walked down Ocean Drive.  You could really feel the energy here - the streets and sidewalks were gridlocked with people dressed in every sort of chic fashion. 

Luxury cars and packs of motorcycles dominated the street.  People of every culture and class roamed the sidewalks in front of the historic buildings and trendy nightclubs.  Likewise, Lumus Park - a narrow grassy-palm-treed strip between Ocean Drive and the beach, was full of passers-by.  Indeed, the night was alive!

South Beach By Day
Coming back during the day, we strolled down South Beach, hypnotized by the surreal blue waves gently crashing on the beach.  A stiff wind kept the beachgoers cool on what would have normally been a very hot day.  Looking back over your shoulder you could make out part of the Art-Deco District and Downtown Miami beyond that.  Small propeller-driven planes flew overhead towing large advertising banners behind them.

Walking down the strip you will see quaint sidewalk cafes and small lounges nestled in between the stoic hotel buildings.  Two blocks back from the beach, on Washington Avenue, there are rows of curio stores and fashion boutiques intermingled with locally delicious eateries -- we saw everything from Sushi to Cuban to Italian Gelato to the ubiquitous neighborhood pizzeria. 

The Tides hotel, 1220 Ocean Drive, offer some of the loveliest views available of the expansive waterfront at South Beach. Interiors at these properties range from bold, bright colors to cool, off-white walls.

Versace Mansion
Further down Ocean Drive, adjacent to all the historic architecture and facing the Atlantic Ocean is the former Versace mansion.  This home has now been turned into a museum and you can tour the extravagant establishment after paying admission.  To add to the opulence was a shiny Bentley parked out front of the mansion.

In recent years, this oceanfront strip has been revitalized, transforming it from a ghetto of decaying hotels and non-existent nightlife into a vacation hotspot for locals, celebrities, and travelers from around the world.