The designers came, and along with them came leggy supermodels and sexy photographers. Chic restaurants began to emerge in hotel lobbies, as fashionable sidewalk cafes, boutiques, and nightclubs took form. The press caught on and "South Beach" became all the rage.

In a fashion-minute, 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, which was 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. A little SoBe reconstructive surgery resulted in what’s now referred to as the American Riviera. Personally, we like to think of it as a trace of “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 truly is a lavish hotspot that will take you away from your current drama, alleviate your anxieties, lighten you up, and allow you to let 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 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 a bit, 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 and impress their fellow revelers. 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, taking in the quintessentially relaxing sight of first-class surf and sand. The 10 mile long shoreline gives beach bums more than enough room to catch some rays.

But there’s much more to Miami than just the palm trees and miles of beaches. South Beach’s Historic Art Deco District truly sets the town apart from other beach towns, so after you’ve whet your appetite for swimming and sunning, reawaken your creative side through the Art Deco District. If you crave the true essence of Miami, indulge in its pre-Calvin history and take a tour – yes, a tour through the city’s historical Art Deco district.

For those of you who have a passion for shopping, South Beach won’t disappoint. Both Lincoln Road and Collins Avenue offer never-ending entertainment; they are pedestrian stretches full of shops, five-star restaurants, and sidewalk vendors who offer everything from fresh flowers to fresh squeezed lemonade. Galleries line the sidewalks where local artists display their artwork, making this city a cultural charm, as well as a shopping mecca.

In an area that has so much to offer, it's hard to say what's best. But we’ve been there plenty of times and we know how to do South Beach: just relax. Let it wash over you, and surrender to the temptation of doing nothing. Take a leisurely stroll along Ocean Drive, stop at a cafe and sip a cappuccino while you indulge in the latest Candace Bushnell must-read. Watch the world go by right before your cosmopolitan haze, and feel lucky! When we go down to SoBe, we whisper a mantra to ourselves: eat, drink, read, relax, and party — a little bit at a time. Try it; South Beach is the perfect setting.