Miami Beach has no shortage of attractions – from glamorous Ocean Drive and the soft, powdery sand of South Beach to the Art Deco houses of the Historic District. But hardly any tourist knows South Pointe Park at the southern end of this coastal city. Opened in the 1980s, the park underwent a 22 Million Dollar facelift in 2009 and presents itself more beautiful today than ever before. Locals love to come here for jogging, boat watching, fishing on the pier and soaking up the South Florida sun. With so many things to do, it is high time to take a closer look at South Pointe Park.

SOUTH POINTE PARK – INFORMATION FOR VISITORS

South Pointe Park is one of those places people fall in love with at first sight – no wonder thanks to the lush palm trees and grassy hills against the backdrop of turquoise Atlantic waters. The 17 acres area provides ample opportunities for walking, jogging, cycling and rollerblading. Other visitors spread their yoga mats on the well-maintained lawn. The park is still a hidden gem and far from being overcrowded. This is apparent in the laid-back atmosphere. Tall trees provide shade, and on a stroll along the coast you can watch the ocean liners on their way to exotic destinations.

In South Pointe Park you find pavilions in the shade, water dispensers and toilets, as well as barbecue and picnic areas. The observation deck with sun chairs and splendid ocean views is perfect for relaxing. And do not forget to pack swimsuits for your children, as there is a Wet Playground with fountains to cool off. Dogs are welcome in the park, as long as they walk on the leash. There is also a designated dog park for them to run around freely. On the boardwalk, you can watch some of the most beautiful sunsets that Miami Beach has to offer – only rivaled by the sparkling skyline in the distance.

SOUTH POINTE BEACH & PIER

Just a stone’s throw away lies South Pointe Beach – considered one of the city’s best beaches by many. Powdery sand, excellent cleanliness and crystal clear water awaits you here. South Pointe Beach is equipped with toilets, showers, sun chairs and umbrellas as well as snack bars for hungry beach-goers. Lifeguards are on duty around the clock. Besides relaxing and swimming, you can play beach volleyball or watch the scenery from above while parasailing. Guests who do get enough of strolls on the beach can walk the whole east coast of Miami Beach, make detours to the many restaurants and shops on Ocean Drive, and chill out in green areas like Lummus Park.

Situated at the southern most point of Miami Beach is South Pointe Pier, a popular spot for fishermen. But the water is not only teeming with fish. Sometimes Florida’s iconic manatees visit this coastal area. In the distance you can see the vacation island Key Biscayne. And if you love romantic sunsets, you have one more reason to visit the pier in the evening. The relaxed atmosphere makes South Pointe Pier a perfect place for the free meditation and yoga classes that are held here every week. Another sight awaits visitors who turn their head southward: Fisher Island, America’s most exclusive vacation spot, is home to famous celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Demi Moore and Oprah Winfrey.

Historically, the vicinity of South Pointe Park has been strongly influenced by the Jewish Community of Miami Beach. If you want to broaden your horizon after swimming and sunbathing, you should visit the Jewish Museum of Florida less than 1 mile from the beach. Here you find exhibitions highlighting 200 years of Jewish history in Florida.

RESTAURANTS IN SOUTH POINTE PARK AND THE SURROUNDING AREA

No matter if you prefer local or international cuisine – no visitor has to go hungry in South Beach.

Only one restaurant is located directly in South Pointe Park: the Smith & Wollensky. This restaurant is famous for its fresh seafood and tender steaks. If you want, you can dine outdoors with excellent ocean views. Additionally, the park also houses a café and a snack stand.

The award-winning Lobster Shack at the beginning of Ocean Drive attracts seafood lovers with its lobster creations, fresh shrimps, crabs and oysters.

Other culinary choices in the area include:

• Santorini by Georgis: a tavern serving traditional Greek specialties
• Lilikoi Organic Living: healthy dishes made with organic ingredients
• Big Pink: good old American cuisine in epic servings
• Rossella´s Kitchen: Italian delicacies at reasonable prices
• Sandwich Qbano South Beach: your top pick for Cuban Sandwiches in the area
• Joe´s Stone Crab: a popular sea food restaurant that celebrated its 100th birthday in 2013.

Besides its restaurants, South Miami Beach sports a multitude of cafés, cocktail bars and wineries.

SOUTH POINTE PARK – LOCATION, DIRECTIONS, PARKING AND OPENING TIMES

South Pointe Park is open daily from sunrise to 10 pm. You can access the boardwalk until 2 am, while South Pointe Pier is open from 7.30 am to 6 pm.

You can park your car next to the park for 2 USD/hour during the week. Parking on the weekend is more expensive. So why not leave the car at home and go by bicycle? This is easier than ever before thanks to the Sharing stations of Citi Bike. You can return your rental bicycle at any Citi Bike station you choose. Another popular transportation option is the free South Beach Trolley of Miami Beach.

What comes to mind when people hear the word Miami Beach? Soft, powdery sand, turquoise water, the tanned bodies of Florida’s super-rich, boardwalks lined with palm trees, luxury boutiques and night clubs? Or the Art Deco buildings immortalized by the 80s TV series Miami Vice?

Miami Beach features all those things, and much more: Scenic parks are perfect for outdoor activities with the whole family, galleries and museums present the works of famous artists, and countless restaurants take you on a culinary trip around the world. Add an abundance of shopping opportunities and the cultural heritage of the Jewish community, and you have a city that captivates beach-goers, architecture fans und culture lovers alike.

THE DISTRICTS OF MIAMI BEACH

Even though most visitors only associate Miami Beach with trendy and up-scale South Beach, the city consists of three districts, all with their unique flavor and interesting sights.

NORTH BEACH

If you want to get away from tourists and enjoy the quiet side of the city, North Beach is the ideal place for you. Party-goers seldom venture here. Instead, North Beach is popular with couples and families. Its status as a well-hidden gem comes with other perks: It is in North Beach that you find many budget accommodations for less than 100 USD per night.

Secluded from the big hotels stretches North Shore Open Space Park, an idyllic beach with adjacent green areas. If you want, you can start the famous Miami Beach Walk here. Hiking paths and boardwalks lead a whole 10 miles along the coast to the southern end of the island.

Surfside is another well-kept secret of North Miami Beach. Here you find charming ice cream and frozen yoghurt shops, art galleries and miles of beach complete with boardwalks. The area is also known for its many Jewish restaurants and delis.

MID BEACH

This trendy district stretches along the coast from 63rd Street to the city center.

Swimmers and sunbathers should visit Indian Beach Park with its immaculate sand, turquoise waters, playgrounds, excellent cleanliness and relaxed vibes. A hotspot for shopping fans is Collins Avenue, known for its many fashion boutiques and hotels in the Art Deco style. Most famous among them is the Fontainebleau. In its heyday superstars like Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley performed here. Expect to pay at least 200 USD a night. For this price, however, you will get the VIP treatment – just like in the nearby 4 Star hotel Riu Plaza Miami Beach.

If you want to dance the night away on Collins Avenue, look no further than the “Basement“. There is more to this underground club than meets the eye, as the Basement comes complete with its own bowling alley and even an ice-skating ring. If you are looking for peace and quiet, take a stroll through Collins Park with its pavilions, picnic tables and playgrounds. Art connoisseurs, on the other hand, should take a look at the sculptures and paintings in the “Bass“ Museum.

Fans of the TV series Miami Vice who always wanted to cruise the streets of Miami Beach like their onscreen heroes can fulfill their dream with the organizer “City Tour in an Antique Car“. And if you want to improve your handicap on the green, you should take a detour west to the Miami Beach Golf Club. This picturesque course designed by golfing legend Arthur Hills satisfies beginners and pros alike.

SOUTH BEACH

Pastel-colored buildings, promenades under palm trees, upscale shops and luxurious mansions – South Beach is THE epitome of coolness in Miami Beach and houses some of Florida’s most famous sights.

South Beach, which bears the same name as its district, stretches for miles along the coast. Here you can swim in the pleasantly warm water, walk on powdery soft sand and enjoy the view of the colorful lifeguard huts.

Next, take a trip from the perfectly tanned bodies at South Beach to the luxury cars on Ocean Drive. The city’s most famous street runs all the way to the southern tip of the island. Here, you can gaze at more than 800 Art Deco houses as well as the mansions of celebrities like the late Gianni Versace. In the evening, there is no shortage of nightlife options, as restaurants, bars and clubs of every kind advertise their promo offers. No doubt: If there is one place to paint the town in Miami Beach, it is Ocean Drive. But of course, you can always just relax, grab a cocktail to go, bask in the neon lights and admire the sports cars.

For all those who want to keep fit, Lummus Park is the perfect spot. Here you can go jogging, cycling and rollerblading under the shade of the palm trees – or pump iron at the park’s Outdoor Gym. Children enjoy themselves on the playground, and if you are looking for relatively cheap accommodation in South Beach, some hotels in the vicinity are available for less than 100 USD per night.

Worlds apart from the party folk on Ocean Drive lies South Pointe Park. Here, at the southern tip of Miami Beach, guests relax under tall trees, watch the ocean liners and direct their view from South Pointe Pier to Fisher Island, the vacation getaway of America’s super-rich. Next to the pier stretches the beautiful South Pointe Beach.

MORE SIGHTS IN SOUTH BEACH

• Flamingo Park: scenic green spaces with sports facilities and a water playground
• ARTECHOUSE: a museum for interactive and experimental high-tech art
• Art Deco Museum: vivid exhibitions about the architecture style Miami Beach is most known for
• Soundscape Park: Artfully designed gardens with free broadcasts of the New World Symphony Orchestra
• Miami Beach Holocaust Memorial: impressive and emotional memorial site, most famous for its 43 feet bronze sculpture
• Miami Beach Botanical Garden: exotic plants and Japanese gardens
• Wolfsonian-FIU: a museum housing artworks, furniture, inventions and many other items from the years 1885 to 1945
• World Erotic Art Museum: erotic artworks from several centuries.

Hungry visitors are in for a treat, as South Beach boasts a wide variety of restaurants. Burgers, steaks, seafood, Italian trattorias, Greek, Mexican and Asian restaurants as well as vegan and organic choices make this district a foodie´s heaven. Of course, prices on trendy Ocean Drive are higher than average. If you are on a budget, Lincoln Road and Espanola Way with their many Latin American restaurants are your top pick.

Of course, South Beach is also a perfect shopping destination. A multitude of international boutiques like Armani, Tommy Hilfigger and Victoria’s Secret grace the famous Ocean Drive. If small, independently owned shops are for you, there is always a bargain to be had on Washington Avenue. And if you still have not found what you were looking for, the Lincoln Road Mall with its over 400 stores has you covered.

LOCATION, DIRECTIONS AND GETTING AROUND IN MIAMI BEACH

Guests coming by airplane best arrive at the Miami International Airport, just 20 minutes from Miami Beach. Of course you can haul a taxi there, but this will easily cost you 40 USD. A cheaper alternative is the Airport Flyer Bus. One way tickets are available for 2 USD.

There are many car rentals at the airport, so you can drive to the hotel yourself. Exploring the city by car provides a great sense of freedom. But beware: Parking spots get more and more expensive the further south you go. In South Beach it is not uncommon to pay 4 USD per hour. If you want to save money, just take the South Beach Trolley. This bus serves all tourist areas in South Miami Beach as well as other districts. On weekdays the bus is in operation from 6 am to midnight. On Sundays it is 8 am to midnight.

For all those who want to explore Miami Beach the eco-friendly way the company Citi Bikes is worth a try. Rent your bicycle at stations scattered across the city and return it at any station you like. This way you can easily combine public transport, bicycle trips and walks to explore Miami Beach at your own leisure.

WEATHER AND BEST TRAVEL TIME IN MIAMI BEACH

Before you start packing your swimsuits and sunglasses, the question remains: What is the weather like in Miami Beach?

There is good news for beach-goers: Temperatures in Miami Beach range from warm to hot all year round. On average, you can expect 7 hours of sunshine a day. Even during the coldest month, in January, the water still has 71.6 °F.

While the winter months are dry and pleasantly warm, temperatures reach up to 91.4 °F in the summer. Precipitation increases during that time. Most showers are strong but quick, clouding the sky only for a short time before the sun appears again. However, many visitors find the high levels of humidity hard to bear. What is more, the summer months, particularly August and September, bring with them tropical storms. This does not seem to deter too many people, so summer is still considered the main season in Miami Beach. Prices spike accordingly.

To sum up: Miami Beach is a destination that can be visited all year round – be it for a swim in the ocean, a stroll on the beach or a sightseeing trip. If you like it moderately warm and want to avoid rain and masses of tourists, the low season between November and April is the perfect travel time for you.