Miami Beach takes its name from the Mayaimi people who inhabited the area, combined with its distinctive Atlantic Ocean beachfront location on a barrier island. The area was largely developed by automobile pioneer Carl Fisher, who built luxury real estate properties and hotels along the beachfront in the early 1900s, transforming mangrove swamps and coconut plantations into a resort destination. Miami Beach was chartered as a town in 1915 and became a city by 1917. Buildings were initially constructed in Mediterranean Revival style during the early-to-mid 1920s real estate boom. The Great Miami Hurricane of 1926 left 25,000 people homeless, followed by the Great Depression, halting development. The city's resurgence in the 1930s aligned with the rise of Art Deco architecture, with influential architects including Albert Anis, L. Murray Dixon, and Henry Hohauser designing hotels, theaters, restaurants, and residential structures that created Miami Beach's signature aesthetic. After World War II, many Art Deco buildings fell into disrepair, but in 1979, community activist Barbara Baer Capitman led a preservation movement, co-founding the Miami Design Preservation League. The Art Deco District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, preserving over 800 properties built between 1923 and 1943, creating the world's largest collection of Art Deco buildings.
The beach features miles of white sand along the Atlantic Ocean with swimming, sunbathing, and water sports including jet skiing, parasailing, and paddleboarding. South Beach, the most famous section, stretches from Government Cut to Dade Boulevard with lifeguards, volleyball courts, and vibrant beach culture. The Art Deco Historic District along Ocean Drive provides architectural tours showcasing pastel-colored buildings with geometric shapes and tropical motifs unique to Miami Beach's interpretation of the style. Lummus Park Beach offers wide sandy beaches with palm tree-lined promenades ideal for walking, jogging, and cycling. The beachfront recreational path extends for miles, connecting various beach access points. Water activities include swimming in warm Atlantic waters, with designated swimming areas monitored by lifeguards. Beach equipment rentals provide chairs, umbrellas, and water sports gear. Lincoln Road Mall, a pedestrian shopping street, features boutiques, galleries, and outdoor dining. The beach attracts international visitors year-round with consistent warm weather, creating a diverse, multicultural beach atmosphere. Nightlife centers on Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue with clubs, bars, and live music venues that have made Miami Beach synonymous with entertainment and celebrity culture.
Dining on Miami Beach ranges from casual beachfront cafes to upscale restaurants along Ocean Drive and throughout South Beach. A Fish Called Avalon offers modern American seafood with Mediterranean influences, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Ocean Drive, and live Caribbean, Latin, or jazz music. Pelican Restaurant serves traditional Italian food crafted from time-honored recipes with handmade pasta and oceanfront views at 826 Ocean Drive. Meet Dalia provides Mediterranean cuisine with New American flair steps from the water, serving breakfast, brunch, happy hour, and dinner daily. Cafe Americano at Victor's Hotel on Ocean Drive offers comfort food with a Latin twist for all meals. Joe's Stone Crab, a Miami Beach institution since 1913, serves legendary stone crab claws with mustard sauce and hash browns from October through May. Prime Italian features truffle pasta and branzino in an upscale setting, while Smith & Wollensky provides classic steakhouse fare with views of Government Cut and the cruise ship channel.
