Visitors | Getting Here | Weekend | 7 Days | Kids | Facts
Need some quick tips for the city that never sleeps - or stops sweating? Here's our cheat sheet to all the basics - transportation, toiletries and all the rest.
The Weather
No surprises here - Miami Beach is hot, hot, hot. Summer's stifling heat and humidity last increasingly long (thank you global warming), but peak from June through September, when temperatures average 86-87. If you're visiting then, come prepared to sweat and change clothes a lot.
The heat typically breaks around mid-October, with cooler temperatures lasting through March. Daytime temps average 75 (perfect beach weather) while evening dips into the 60s. Odds are you'll never need to pack more than a light sweater.
Transportation: Skip the Car
A word to the wise - skip the car rental to save a bit of money and a whole lot of sanity. We Miamians are notoriously bad and hostile drivers (worst road rage in the country two years running). Unless you plan on leaving the Beach, stick to taxis or the South Beach Local, the city's best kept public transportation secret. The bus is clean, cheap ($.25), reliable (runs every 15 minutes) and makes a perfect loop from South Pointe Park to Lincoln Road. If you do decide to rent a car, come prepared with defensive driving skills and lots of quarters – meter maids are everywhere here.
Emergencies/Medical
24-hour pharmacies abound in Miami. If you're staying on the Beach, check out the Walgreens at 1835 Alton Road (305-531-8868) or CVS at 1421 Alton Road (305-538-1571). Both chains also have 24-hour locations off-island. If you need to visit a hosptial, Mount Sinai is the big one on Miami Beach.
Beach Etiquette
Beach-going in Miami is a full-time sport. The ocean runs all along the eastern side of the island and has a great boardwalk perfect for walking, rollerblading or biking. A few things to keep in mind before you hit the sand.
- Most hotels offer beach chairs and umbrellas. If yours doesn't, consider renting one - the sun is pretty powerful.
- People watching is a prime-time sport around South Beach (Ocean Drive from 1 to 12 street). Come ready to gawk and be gawked at. Odds are you'll see lots of skin (topless tanning is common), many a thong bikini (men and women) and a hefty supply of public displays of affection. If you've got kids you're worried about, stick to mid or north beach (21st street and up) or consider sticking to the hotel pool.
- Beware dangerous surf conditions. Each of the beach's 29 lifeguard stations flies a surf flag every day - green (dive in), yellow (exercise caution), yellow with black jellyfish (Portugese man-of-war warning), purple (dangerous marine life), red (strong surf & currents) or red with line crossing out swimmer (water closed).
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