Home & Away with Robert Walshe
www.robertwalshe.com
Holiday Hotspot – Miami Florida
Miami gets 3,200 hours of sunshine a year, on average. It has a wonderful tropical climate with extremely hot summers; but there are tons of other things to do besides going to the beach: various museums collecting a large variety of art and history, the largest and oldest zoological garden in Florida, a range of stores to satisfy any shopaholics needs, fine dining, ballet, art deco museums, and indulgent spas also make up the landscape of this south Florida city. Miami Beach is actually
a separate municipality from Miami. It is located on an island, connected to the mainland by a series of bridges. There are endless options for entertainment throughout various neighbourhoods here including a chance to explore historic art deco architecture on a self-guided walking tour through South Beach—an area filled with more than 800 buildings exemplifying the modernism of the 1930s. Miami’s Art Deco architecture derives its stylistic roots from the streamlined and eclectic visions of the cosmopolitan North. Ocean Drive transforms into a street market of vendors selling vin-
Hyatt Regency Miami Guest Room.
tage goods and while there be sure to pop into the opulent Versace Mansion, Casa Casuarina to see where the legendary Italian fashion designer once hosted lavish galas for glamorous guests including Madonna, Elton John, and Princess Diana. Little Havana is home to Hispanic culture and honors its Cuban roots along Memorial Boulevard, located on 13th Avenue off Calle Ocho. Bayside Marketplace is a large outdoor style mall with more than 150 specialty and tourist shops, numerous cafes and restaurants, and daily live entertainment. Visitors will find some well known chain stores as well as many unique, one of kind places. The marketplace draws locals as well as tourists. The American Airlines Arena is the home of the NBA’s Miami Heat. It is also the main venue for large concerts and other special events, including top name singers and performers. The Miami Seaquarium has long been a favorite fam-
(074) 9131018 ily attraction on Florida holidays. The most notable features are the daily shows featuring dolphins, killer whales, seals and other ocean inhabitants. Hyatt Regency on the riverfront is adjacent to the Miami Convention Centre and a six minute walk from Bayfront Park. Club rooms have access to a lounge with free continental breakfast and afternoon snacks. Art Deco Dist rict South Be Suites add sepaach Miami. rate sitting areas. There’s a very good restaurant that serves American and Latin cuisine, a cafe, and a sophisticated cocktail and beautiful presentations. lounge with river views. The www.mandarinoriental.com hotel also has a heated out- My preferred car rental comdoor pool, an exercise room pany on this trip was Avis & and more than 100,000 sq pick up is available in downft of meeting space. www. town Miami or at the airport. hyatt.com “La Mar” at Man- When you join “Avis Predarin Oriental features the ferred”, you receive fast track acclaimed Peruvian cuisine service at the rental counter of celebrity chef Gaston Acu- to beat the queues. The more rio in a high-energy setting you rent, the higher you can with dramatic water views of climb through membership Biscayne Bay and the Miami tier levels – unlocking benskyline. A foodies dream, efits such as upgrades and location, location, location free weekend rentals. www. with quality ingredients avis.com The Miami Interna-
www.keeshotel.ie
tional Airport services most major carriers, with flights from Dublin via several cities in the United States on the award winning Aer Lingus. www.aerlingus.com Robert Walshe is a travel broadcaster with Q Radio Network and Travel Editor for River Media newspaper titles across the island of Ireland. He is also a regular contributor to the Irish News travel section www. robertwalshe.com