Natural beauty, beaches and the best of stays in America can be experience at Miami. The year 2014 saw over 14 million visitors enjoying the sun and sand here. Without doubt it is amongst the top places internationally.

Discover romantic hotels and resorts in Miami – The Shepley

Welcome to Shepley a cocoon of style and comfort. It dates back to 1938 when the famous architect from New York Henry Hohauser designed the stunning Shepley. Recently this boutique hotel was enhanced by designer Pablo Chiappori for its vintage charm. The hotel is strategically located stone throw away from the crowd pullers of Miami Beach and the impressive ocean. Guests get to choose from its 29 well appointed rooms – The Shepley Full, The Shepley Suite and The Shepley Queen. The staff here adds to the reputation in a big way by being happy to help the guests. As per feedback it is quiet a value for money especially because it is on the south beach which offers fun day and night.

For the romantics looking for a vacation often end up being in Miami. These holiday makers are from US and overseas alike. The foreign nationals who intend to visit the country must apply for obtain a valid tourist visa before planning their itinerary. Citizens of select countries who are under the Visa Waiver Program can travel with just the ESTA visa authorization.

It is located at the Collins Avenue; this makes it even more popular. Lummus Park Beach or SoBe is just a block away. It runs for along Ocean Drive and offers great tan and of course tons of entertainment. it makes a picture perfect backdrop for photo shoots. It remains a gay friendly area and hosts the annual Gay Pride Festival. The key attractions include parks and clubs here like Washington Park, Lummus Park, Flamingo Park, South Pointe Park, South Beach Park, Maurice Gibb Park, Miami Beach Golf Club and the Collins Park,. For those into historic sites visit to the Art Centre in South Florida, Bass Museum, Jewish Museum of Florida, Miami Holocaust Memorial, World Erotic Art Museum Miami and Wolfsonian can be arranged.

Miami is a happening place all year around with its many festivals and events. The Miami Marathon takes place in January, the February sees Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival. March has many celebrations like the Miami International Film Festival, then the Miami Fashion Week and the Winter Music Conference. Spring is the time for White Party. Event calendar has the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Miami scheduled for July. The popular art exhibition – Art Basel Miami is hosted in December. Other great times to be here include the Urban hip-hop festival, Memorial Day weekend and the Urban Beach Week. All in all it can be safely said that for sine memory making holidays in Miami couples and the romantics can visit The Shepley and other art deco hotels and resorts in Miami. Shaking a leg at the nightclubs is also recommended.

With favorable weather for the better part of the year, Miami is easily one of the top destinations globally. I made my maiden trip to Miami in November. The number of festivals held in November made for a great Miami mini-vacation. I like to think I am a petrol-head, so when I learnt that the NASCAR race is held in November, I made effort to grab my tickets to the event nice and early. As a fan, I opted to purchase the Pre-Race Pit Pass which gives access to the pit road as well as the front of the Speedway, making for an enthralling experience (although my pocket wasn’t nearly as excited).

I also got the chance to attend the Miami International Car Show, and what better place to learn the latest advancements in auto-technology? The car enthusiast that I am was thrilled by the grand display of trucks, and made a note to schedule my next visit to Miami.

The South Miami Art Festival is also a must-attend for anyone who makes time to visit Miami in the month of November. Held in the first week of the month, the festival showcases painting, display of sculptures made from different materials including wood, clay and glass as well as jewelry. The festival also displays creative photography, something which I enjoyed immensely as it allowed me to learn a few skills to hone my photography. When my mini-vacation came to an end, I could not help but be thankful for the great experience in Miami. In order to plan my trip better, I took time to research other festivals held in Miami in different months.

The Martin Luther King Jr Day Parade in January is held to honor the strides made in dealing with racism. The parade ends with a festival held at the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial park.

For art lovers, the Coconut Grove Arts Festival held in February gathers the best artists in their craft from all over the world, and is held over a period of three days. So, whether it is painting, drawing or sculpture work, this festival is a sure inspiration in the heart of Miami.

What is a trip to Miami in March without attending the Carnaval and Calle Ocho Festival? The festival is held to celebrate the Latin community in Miami, and is certainly full of life and energy on the streets.

The Great Taste of the Grove Food and Wine Festival held in April is also worth checking out. Think cooking contests, tantalizing food, carnival rides for the children and wine and beers for the adults: there is more than enough reason to make your way to the Coconut Grove every April when in Miami.

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Think of Miami and a picture of white sandy beaches and a thriving nightlife comes to mind. Miami offers something for everyone.

I stayed at the Fountainebleau hotel situated on the South Beach which is one of the best hotels I have stayed at. The service was unbeatable and there was a variety of food including Chinese, Italian and Mediterranean. My favorite was Italian.

As a beach lover I found it hard to drag myself away from the sun kissed beach with beautiful clear water but managed to go and explore all the city had to offer. A lot of my time was spent on the famous Lincoln road as there is something for everyone whether you want to go shopping, eat or catch an outdoor movie. To eat I recommend the Van Dyke cafe which offers a mixture of American, Mediterranean and middle eastern food. Upstairs you will find the locals enjoying a live jazz band after 9pm every day. This road was always busy whether I went morning or night.

Michigan Avenue is another favorite. Here at ice cafe you can get the cake ‘The Bomb’ which Oprah Winfrey has listed in the best of the world. For sushi lovers I recommend sushi samba.

When the sun goes down the city comes to life. I liked the club Liv at the fontainebleau hotel. They do have a strict door policy so dress smart and be prepared for a Que unless you book a bottle service. Another trendy club was Wet and Wall located at the W south beach hotel and the wet referring to the outdoor poolside lounge and the wall being the dance club. There are also many clubs and bars on Washington Avenue.

South beach is home to art deco so make sure to go and see the beautiful buildings. Another must see if you appreciate architecture is the Vizcaya museum and gardens on the Biscayne Bay. For a taste of Cuba head over to Little Havana with the many shops and restaurants with a background sound of latin music.

If you are a fan of wildlife and nature the Everglades park will be of interest to you which is home to many endangered species including the Florida Panther and the West Indian Manatee. Other places to visit are the Zoo Miami, Seaquarium, and Jungle island to name a few.

I stayed at the South Beach district which has a beach front location and a bustling nightlife. Another popular district is Downtown Miami.
As you can see there is so much to see and do in Miami that it would be impossible for me to name everything so why not experience it for yourself. I loved Miami and am already planning my next visit.