Straight from the mouth of the Miami master himself, Will Smith: “Party in the city where the heat is on, all night on the beach, til the break of dawn – welcome to Miami!” That pretty much says it all, and if you can’t trust the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, whom can you trust? That being said, Calvin Klein helped a lot. He came to South Beach to shoot his wildly successful and controversial underwear campaign in the early 80s with Brooke Shields. The images he created convinced tons of fashion industry execs that this was an ideal location for photo shoots: excellent weather, colorful eye-catching buildings and, of course, the beach. The designers came, and along with them came leggy models and sexy photographers. Next came the ban wagon of chic restaurants and bars, trendy sidewalk cafes, boutiques, and nightclubs, and the omnipresent “concept hotel.” In a fashion-minuet, South Beach became the coolest place on earth –it even scored a devastatingly hip acronym: SOBE, for South Beach, likening itself to New York’s SOHO on the brink of its own cultural revolution. Madonna came, as did Sylvester Stallone, and perhaps fashion’s most prolific designer of the 90’s, Gianni Versace. With culture blossoming on all artistic fronts, South Beach was fast becoming a sort of American Riviera. Add its beautiful beaches and life-loving patrons to the equation and you’ve got what we refer to today as “St. Tropez in the good old US of A.” Miami’s vibrant subtropical setting rich with Latin and Caribbean influences fuses energy and nightlife with culture and beautiful people. It is truly a lavish hotspot that will take you away from your current situation, alleviate your anxieties, lighten you up, and allow you to cut loose. If this is the type of vacation you need, with beach resorts and luxuries abound, there is truly no place like South Beach. It’s a 24-hour-a-day playground, where you can get your tan on, go for a dip, satisfy your taste buds, and dance the night away. South Beach is literally a coastal magnet for hedonists around the world, and it’s been bumping for years. Fashion, TV and movie shoots, big-time parties and a general atmosphere of bright and breezy beach time fun have characterized South Beach for decades - ever since the birth of rollerblading. Things have modernized, but there is still an otherworldly feel to this destination; it’s as if there are cameras constantly rolling and everyone is eager to attract attention. In other words, bring your trendiest attire as well as a readiness to indulge in merriment. Grab a book, an iPod, plenty of protection (SPF gals – get your mind out of the gutter, we only DRINK sex on the beach!) and lounge in the sun for a while, taking in the quintessentially relaxing sight of first-class surf and sand. If you crave the true essence of Miami however, indulge in its pre-Calvin history and take a tour – yes, a tour through the city’s Historical Art Deco district. Do it; it’s good for you. As for passionate shoppers, South Beach won’t disappoint. The Lincoln Road Shopping District, for example, is a vintage maven’s dream-come-true. Pedestrian-friendly shops, five-star restaurants, sidewalk vendors (offering everything from fresh flowers to fresh squeezed lemonade) and premier Galleries make this city a cultural hotbed as well as bed-decision magnet.
That being said, one of the best ways to enjoy South Beach is to let it wash over you: do nothing other than stroll along Ocean Drive in a cosmopolitan haze. After all, when do you ever get the chance? Welcome to Miami, girls –you’re gonna love it here.
