Miami holidays

There’s no shortage of Caribbean-like sands in Miami. In fact, it’s got around 35 miles of shoreline to its name. With a lively boardwalk, ivory sands and every kind of watersports going, South Beach is the heavyweight here. But the beach scene doesn’t stop there. The further south you head, the party-hard stretches give way to peaceful patches.

This belt of sand, found at the southern tip of Miami Beach, is instantly recognisable. It’s starred on the silver screen countless times, boasts a unique Art Deco backdrop and is packed with tanned exhibitionists. There’s no place quite like South Beach. Action aside, there’s a reason it’s so popular. The soft white sands are complemented by cyan-blue seas and swaying palms.

Key Biscayne is just south of Miami Beach, but while tourists flock to the latter, the former manages to slip below the radar. This means the beaches are much more do-not-disturb. For a small entry fee, you can tread the sands of Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. They’re backed by rugged grassland, a couple of running tracks and a historic lighthouse.

It’s all about designer names in Miami, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay top dollar. Hit up discount stores, like Sawgrass Mills and Marshalls, where you’ll find clothes and outlet shops from the likes of Nike, Gap and Ralph Lauren. Just be prepared to rummage to find your bargain.

Lincoln Road has a real pick ‘n’ mix of shops, bars and restaurants. The pedestrian-only strip is packed with jewellery stalls, multi-storey clothes stores and souvenir shops. So, it’s a great place to snap up take-homes on the cheap, as well as roaming Forever 21, Lacoste and H&M.

Tiffany & Co, Prada, Saks Fifth Avenue. It’s easy to see why Bal Harbour mall is regularly nicknamed Miami’s Rodeo Drive. But that’s where the comparisons end. This al fresco centre has been designed in true extravagant Miami style, with palms, marble fountains and koi ponds.

One thing Miami’s certainly not lacking is bars. The glitzy mega-clubs might be the most attention-grabbing, but laid-back lounges are where it’s at. These haunts promote cocktails and intimacy over shots and shouting. Watch the sun turn pink from a swanky rooftop bar or sink speciality cocktails in a moody cocktail den.

Will Smith sang about Miami’s all-night party scene – and he wasn’t wrong. You’ll find bustling clubs pumping out Latin-infused grooves and basslines like an LA earthquake. From hipster bars and al fresco beach clubs to high-life haunts with A-list DJs and giant martini glasses, there’s a night scene to suit everyone.

The Cuban equivalent to an American hamburger, the frita is a Miami must-try. The tender patty is a mix of beef and chorizo, topped with shoestring potatoes, onions and ketchup.

Cubans like their sandwiches as much as any New Yorker, but they’ve added their own twist. Roasted pork, Swiss cheese, mustard and pickles are piled high in between crispy, toasted Cuban bread.

From October to May, Miami seafood restaurants come alive with deliveries of stone crabs. The meaty claws are a speciality here, and they mostly come chilled with a mustard dipping sauce.

You can’t visit anywhere in south Florida and leave without trying a traditional Key Lime pie. It’s made from the fruit of the Key Lime tree, which gives it its half-sweet, half-tort flavour. And it’s usually finished off with a dollop of whipped cream.

The CoronaRita takes cocktails to another level. With two bottles of beer turned upside down into a giant-sized margarita, you don’t get much more Miami than this.