The lovely Miami, Florida, USA

Miami is a global city in South Eastern Florida, in the United States. The United Nations estimated that in 2007, Miami had become the fourth largest urbanized area in the country, behind New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Miami is ranked as a global city for its importance in finance, commerce, media, entertainment, arts and international trade. The city is home to many company headquarters, banks, and television studios. It is an international center for popular entertainment in television, music, fashion, film, and the performing arts. The city's Port of Miami is known for accommodating the largest volume of cruise ships in the world and is home to many cruise line headquarters. Miami is also home to the largest concentration of international banks in the United States.

So here is a map that show exactly where Miami is in Florida, take a look:

Miami has a true tropical climate with hot, humid summers, and warm, dry winters. The city does experience cold fronts from November through March. However, the average monthly temperature for any month has never been recorded as being under 64.4 degrees F (January averages 67 degrees F). Most of the year is warm and humid, and the summers are almost identical to the climate of the Caribbean tropics. In addition, the city gets most of its rain in the summer (wet season) and is relatively dry and cool in winter (dry season). The wet season, which is hot and humid, lasts from May to October, when it gives way to the dry season, which features mild temperatures with some invasions of colder air, which is when the little winter rainfall occurs - with the passing of a front. The hurricane season largely coincides with the wet season.

Top 12 things you should not miss once you are in Miami:

South Beach: South Beach is the section of Miami Beach, Florida that encompasses the southernmost 23 blocks of an island separating the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay.  This area was the first section of Miami Beach to be developed, starting in the 1910. South Beach is the best Miami hot spot. From shopping to partying, this area of Miami Beach is well-known for being a trendy place to be and be seen. So why not show off the product of months in the gym to others!

Guess what? At South Beach isn't topless bathing is permitted! The beach is located on Ocean Drive, across the street from many of Miami Beach's famous nightclubs. South Beach is legendary filled with energy, nightlife, celebrity sightings and of course beautiful people. So why not take a drive and enjoy all the different things you get to see.

Also, South Beach offers luxury condos, penthouses and apartments, with breathtaking views of the Atlantic and downtown Miami. It's great just to go for a drive and see all these wonderful houses. I always look into their gate to see if l can see anything in, or anyone, you just never know!

Miami Metro zoo: Miami Metro Zoo is the largest and oldest zoological garden in Florida. It has over 1,200 wild animals and is the only subtropical zoo in the continental United States. Sanctuary for endangered, rare and threatened animals including tigers, crocodiles and the infamous Komodo Dragon, plus special animal education programs geared for children of all ages. So why not pack a picnic and take the whole family and enjoy the day out. The Zoological Society of Florida and Miami Metro zoo's mission is to encourage an appreciation for the world's wildlife and to help conserve it for future generations. What a great motto.

Seaquarium: The Miami Seaquarium is an aquarium located on Virginia Key in Biscayne Bay near downtown Miami, Florida, USA. In addition to the marine mammals fish, sharks, sea turtles, birds, reptiles and manatees can de seen.. On a 38-acre tropical paradise with spectacular skyline views lies a South Florida attraction like no other. Miami Seaquarium, is a place where dolphins walk on water and killer whales fly through the air., you can your kids will love the shows.. Enjoy a world-class marine-life entertainment park with eight different marine animal shows and astonishing daily presentations. As their slogan says "Miami Seaquarium is a place of inspiration, education - and fun!"

Hit the Beach! Miami's beaches offer a great opportunity to get some exercise or just enjoy some time in the sun! Have a look at a few famous beaches, including a couple of lesser-used spots where you'll be able to avoid the tourist crowd, if that takes your fancy.

Virginia Key Beach is one of the most interesting beaches in South Florida. It's located right off the Rickenbacker Causeway (on both the north and south sides) near the Miami Seaquarium. The location makes for easy access and some areas become crowded, but there are plenty of secluded spots (such as the one shown in the photo) if you're willing to explore a bit. Don't be surprised if you see me when you visit. I love to take my black lab for a walk/swim on the only area beach that allows leashed dogs.

Haulover Beach, located on Miami Beach between Sunny Isles Beach and Bal Harbour, is known around the world as Miami's only legal "clothing optional" nude beach. If you're skittish about shedding your swimsuit, never fear. The beach offers traditional sunbathing as well and the nude beach is clearly marked to avoid accidents! Haulover Beach is also a fantastic surfing spot and l mean the surfing you do and the waves, lol!

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park: It can be found on the south end of Key Biscayne, and is home to the famous Cape Florida lighthouse. The park provides sunbathing, swimming and history in the same spot! You can spend some time on the beach and enjoy a guided tour of the lighthouse. Fishing is also allowed from the seawall. The park also hosts Boater's Grill, a full service restaurant, yummy!

Everglades: Experience South Florida's delicate ecosystem with an exhilarating air boat ride through the Everglades! See alligators, birds, crocodiles, and other exotic wildlife in their natural habitat! Fun and educational experience! Discover alligators, crocodiles and other exotic creatures. Learn about the conservation and preservation of one of the world's most delicate and vital ecological systems and its inhabitants.

Take home a memorable photo holding Snappy, the alligator, for a true personal experience. You can also see over 100 alligators on their own "Island Resort" basking in the sun, swimming, or just plain hanging-out. As you stroll around the winding Jungle Trail (have your camera ready) you could spot exotic birds, reptiles and flora. Continuing onto the elevated Observation Platform where you will experience breathtaking views overlooking the Park and the Everglades.

Miami Museum of Science:  Interesting exhibits, a wildlife center and a planetarium make this a worthwhile adventure. The Miami Museum of Science & Planetarium features current and upcoming exhibits. The Wildlife Center at the Miami Museum of Science is a facility committed to ecological research, rehabilitation, and release of injured birds.

The Planetarium is home to Jack Horkheimer's Star Gazer, a weekly television series on astronomy and a SPITZ "Space Transit Planetarium" star projector. The Miami Museum of Science & Planetarium also features surround sound, video projection, lasers and multi-media imagery. The Weintraub Observatory offers two Meade telescopes for viewing on Friday nights from 8:30 p.m - 10:00 p.m. A must see.

Miami Children's Museum: There is a place in Miami that is made for kids of all ages. MCM invites you to explore 2 floors of interactive exhibits, so much fun for all. The museum offers interactive exhibits, programs, and learning materials related to arts, culture, community and communication.

Parrot Jungle Island: It's a jungle out there! That couldn't be more true for those living in Miami. There is a jungle right in their own back yard. Parrot Jungle Island located on 18.6 acres between downtown Miami and South Beach is home to more than 3,000 exotic animals and 500 species of plants. A visit to Parrot Jungle Island is an adventure that includes animal stage shows, one-of-a-kind aviaries, plant nurseries, jungle trails, a petting farm and educational exhibits. The magic of Parrot Jungle Island really comes alive at the 1,200-seat Parrot Bowl, where visitors delight in the park's world-famous bird shows, featuring the hilarious and amazing antics of trained parrots, cockatoos and macaws. Now that's great!

Miami Sky Lift: The Miami Sky Lift is an interesting new attraction located in downtown Miami's Bay front Park. You'll gain an interesting perspective on our city when you ride 500 feet into the air in a helium balloon suspended above the park. The ride lasts about 15 minutes and includes a narrated description of Miami as you ride. The Sky Lift opens at 11AM, 365 days a year. It closes at 10PM on Friday and Saturday nights and 7PM on other evenings. Note that the lift will not operate in inclement weather, including high winds.

The Miami Sky lift, which, when it opens, will take people on a 15-minute, $15 dollar, 500-foot high tethered balloon "ride" in Bay front Park. (Here is the rendering of the balloon in operation, and here is the discussion of whether there'll be anything worth looking up there.) It's opening in "Fall 2007," which means "sometime soon, we really don't know." Seems like something worth trying once. But I was interested to learn that there is a degree of controversy about the location, the Mildred and Claude Pepper Fountain, designed by the Japanese artist Isamu Noguchi in the late 80s as part of a reworking of Bay front Park. Michael Lewis laments the decision to shut down the fountain, and provides some history.

If you've ever wanted to go bananas, Monkey Jungle is the place for you! Monkey Jungle is home to almost 400 primates most running free on a 30-acre reserve and has a variety of tropical exhibits including a real working Amazonian Rain Forest, the only one in North America! Other exhibits at Monkey Jungle include "Hangin' with the Orangs" where you can watch a training session with the orangutans, the "Wild Monkey Swimming Pool" where some of the 30 species of monkeys like gibbons, spider monkeys and more come to swim and relax; and that's not even the half of it!

Monkey Jungle has so much to discover and with all the exhibits, shows and learning centers, you'll agree it's more fun than a barrel of monkeys! In the gift shop, kids squeal "Monkeys!!!" in anticipation, unable to contain their delight. And when you get inside, the monkeys are there, capering, grubbing food, engaged in all manner of natural monkey-business, it seems, to entertain you. Monkey Jungle began in 1933!

Unlike Parrot Jungle, which has gone upscale and downtown, Monkey Jungle remains pretty much as it always has been, out on the edge of nowhere, more or less true to its original intent. Children and co-workers may often seem monkey like, but spend an afternoon here and you'll realize that scampering, screaming, genuine monkeys are far more satisfying.

Coral Castle: One of Florida's oldest operating attractions, Coral Castle is a monument to unanswered love. In 1923 an eccentric Latvian immigrant, Edward Leed skalnin, began hauling tons of coral onto his property. He carved it into a house and all the furniture he needed. For seven years he worked alone building this tribute to 'Sweet Sixteen,' a young girl who jilted him back in the old country. An interesting 25-minute audio tour guides you through the spot, now in the National Register of Historic Places. Although Coral Castle is overpriced and under maintained, it's worth a visit when in the area, which is about 37 miles from Miami.

Inside the house, visitors can view Leedskalnin's bathtub, bed, reclining chair, and other creature comforts he knocked out of coral blocks. According to the tour brochure, his most outstanding achievement is the 9-ton coral gate. The brochure says it can be moved with one finger. The biggest curiosity is how the spurned lover was able to move these several ton objects without using modern hauling equipment. Leedskalnin said he knew the secrets used to build the ancient pyramids. He must have had some special power to create this monument himself.

Vizcaya: A National Historic Landmark overlooking Biscayne Bay, the Vizcaya Museum is among the best-known historic sites in Miami. Originally the winter home of industrialist James Deering, the Miami Vizcaya Museum was designed to resemble a centuries-old Italian estate. Since its completion in 1916, the Italian Renaissance-style villa has influenced the architecture of the Miami area.

The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is also notable for its impressive collection of art and furnishings dating from the 15th through the 19th centuries. Visitors are allowed to tour much of the house along with 10 acres of formal gardens and fountains. Also open to the public is the Vizcaya Museum Cafe and Shop, which serves sandwiches, salads, desserts and other light fare. The Miami Vizcaya Museum is located in Coconut Grove, a mile or so from downtown Miami. It is available to host such special events as weddings and corporate functions.

Public transportation in Miami is operated by Miami-Dade Transit and SFRTA, and includes commuter rail (Tri-Rail), heavy-rail rapid transit (Metro rail), an elevated people mover (Metro mover), and buses. Miami has Florida's highest transit ridership as about 12% of Miami's population uses transit on a daily basis. Miami's heavy-rail rapid transit system, Metro rail, is an elevated system comprising 22 stations on a 22-mile (36-km)-long line.

Whether you're into sports, sunshine or salsa, Miami sizzles all year long with exciting entertainment venues and attractions, world-class hotels and restaurants, great beaches and a nightlife that never sleeps. While South Beach, chock full of hip nightclubs and pastel-hued buildings, gets all the press, other sections of Miami are just as hot and offer culture, recreation and more. Spend the day soaking in the sights and sounds of Little Havana or soaking up the rays at Haulover Beach Park. Explore the Art Deco District or take the kids to the zoo. At the end of the day, chill out at any of the area's cool bars and nightclubs. In Miami at night, the day is just beginning.

(Source: tripadvisor.com, miami.about.com)