SOUTH BEACH. The streamlined buildings that comprise this district reflect the architecture of the '20s and '30s, when wealthy vacationers made Miami the resort destination of choice. The area, after its initial heyday, experienced a period of neglect, and tenants were largely retirees. Reinvigorated in recent decades, the pastel-hued neighborhood is again in vogue, mixing old and new with aplomb. The Art Deco Welcome Center provides a great introduction to the area and carries maps of notable structures. Tours of the district can be arranged through the Miami Design Preservation League.

DOWNTOWN. Overlooking the magnificent Biscayne Bay in downtown Miami, this vast shopping complex offers a wealth of boutiques for men, women, and children of all ages. More than 150 shops are conveniently housed in an upscale, attractive shopping environment. Favorites include Gap, Guess, and Wilson's Leather. When your shopping is complete, entertainment, nightlife, and dining choices abound, with options such as Miami's Hard Rock Cafe and a spacious international food court. Performers often take the stage in the numerous plazas built into the marketplace, and you can even take a boat tour for great views of the bay.

CORAL GABLES. During its early years, the Biltmore made a name for itself hosting such notables as Ginger Rogers, Bing Crosby, Al Capone, and the Roosevelts. During WWII, it served as a military hospital and continued in that capacity until 1968. Not until 1987 did a thorough renovation restore it to luxury hotel status. Today, this National Historic Landmark hotel offers only the best in accommodations and services, and it still attracts an array of celebrities and dignitaries from around the world. On-site facilities include a golf course, fitness center, full spa, tennis courts, and the largest hotel swimming pool in the Continental United States. 275 rooms. Event space for 1500.

LITTLE HAVANA. Sightseers interested in Cuban history should not miss a stroll down this monument-filled street. Heroes who fought for Cuban freedom are memorialized and celebrated with monuments and statues. At the end of the two-block strip, the Eternal Torch is dedicated to those anti-Castro activists who were killed during the Bay of Pigs invasion.

DOWNTOWN. This dramatic tower, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was designed in the style of a famous Spanish building, the Giralda bell tower located at the Cathedral of Seville. Just as the Statue of Liberty is known for its position welcoming incoming European immigrants, the Freedom Tower is known as the place where numerous Cuban transplants were registered during the 1960s. It is currently owned by Miami-Dade College and is used as exhibit space.