South Florida
Around South Florida
Photo: Radomianin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Florida · 6.5M people
South Florida
“Magic City”, “The 305”, “SoFlo”, “Gateway to the Americas”
Miami · Fort Lauderdale · West Palm Beach · Boca Raton · Deerfield Beach · Delray Beach · Doral · Jupiter · and around
Sun, sand, and a rhythm that never quits.
Miami Dolphins orangeMiami Dolphins aquaInter Miami CF pink
Welcome to South Florida, where the sun, sand, and salsa meet. Whether you're here for the beaches, the food, or the nightlife, you'll find your rhythm. Get ready for warm nights and endless energy.
Clubs for South Florida
No clubs for South Florida yet.
The room
One room for everyone around South Florida. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around South Florida. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- South Beach Iconic beach with pastel lifeguard stands and Ocean Drive.
- Art Deco Historic District Over 800 preserved 1930s buildings in pastel colors.
- Wynwood Walls Open-air street art museum with giant murals.
- Little Havana Calle Ocho's Cuban heart with cafecitos and cigar shops.
- Everglades National Park Subtropical wilderness with alligators and airboat tours.
- Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Italian Renaissance-style estate on Biscayne Bay.
- Outdoors Kayak through the Everglades
- Outdoors Bike along the Venetian Causeway
- With kids Visit Zoo Miami
- With kids Explore the Frost Science Museum
- Evenings Dance at a salsa club on Calle Ocho
- Evenings Cocktails at a rooftop bar in Brickell
- Locals love Waterfront parks
- Locals love Cafecito windows
Through the year
- Art Basel Miami Beach December Premier contemporary art fair with satellite shows across the city.
- South Beach Wine & Food Festival February Top chefs, tastings, and celebrity demos on the beach.
- Ultra Music Festival March Massive electronic dance music event in Bayfront Park.
- Miami Open March ATP and WTA tennis tournament at Hard Rock Stadium.
- Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show October One of the largest in-water boat shows in the world.
South Florida has a tropical monsoon climate with hot, humid summers and mild, dry winters. The best time to be out is from November to April when temperatures are pleasant and rain is scarce. Best: November to April
Talk like a local
- “Snowbird”
- Winter visitors from the north who flock here for the season.
- “Alligator Alley”
- I-75 across the Everglades, connecting Miami to Naples.
- “The 305”
- The 305 area code, used as a nickname for Miami.
- “La Florida”
- Affectionate Spanish-influenced name for Florida.
Getaways
- Key West Drive down the Overseas Highway for a quirky island escape.
- Naples Upscale beaches, golf, and the western Everglades.
- Port St. Lucie Quiet coastal town with spring training baseball.
- Southwest Florida (Cape Coral–Fort Myers) Shelling, fishing, and sunsets on the Gulf.
Local flavour
Teams
- Miami Dolphins NFL
- Miami Heat NBA
- Miami Marlins MLB
- Florida Panthers NHL
- Inter Miami CF MLS
- Miami FC USL Championship
- Fort Lauderdale United FC USL League One
- Miami Hurricanes NCAA Division I
- Florida Atlantic Owls NCAA Division I
- FIU Panthers NCAA Division I
Eat and drink
- Cuban sandwich Pork, ham, Swiss, pickles, mustard on Cuban bread
- Stone crab Claws served chilled with mustard sauce
- Key lime pie Tart and sweet dessert
- Cafe con leche Espresso with steamed milk
- Pastelitos Flaky pastries filled with guava or cheese
- Croquetas Fried breaded rolls with ham or chicken
- Arepas Corn cakes filled with cheese or meat
- Ceviche Fresh fish cured in citrus
Where people go
- Art Deco Historic District Pastel buildings and neon signs in Miami Beach
- Little Havana
- Wynwood Walls Street art and murals
- Everglades Swamp and wildlife
- South Beach Beach and boardwalk
- Palm Beach Upscale island town
- Marinas Yacht and boat docks
- Cigar lounges Hand-rolled cigars and lounges
- Salsa clubs Dance venues with live Latin music
Heritage and traditions
South Florida is proud of its vibrant Latin American culture, stunning beaches, and the Everglades' unique wilderness. It's a place where the world's cultures meet under the sun.
This time of year in South Florida
- Stone crab season Fall-Winter October to May, a local delicacy.
Say it like a local: “¡Oye, acere!” — A Cuban term for a close friend, used affectionately.
Festivals
- Calle Ocho Festival March Largest Latin street festival in the US, in March.
- Ultra Music Festival March Electronic dance music, March in Bayfront Park.
- South Beach Wine & Food Festival February Celebrity chefs and tastings, February.
- Art Basel Miami Beach December Premier art fair, December.
- Cuban Heritage Festival May Celebrates Cuban culture with music and food.
- Goombay Festival June Bahamian heritage in Coconut Grove, June.
Landmarks with a story
- Freedom Tower Helped Cuban refugees, now a museum.
- Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Italian Renaissance-style villa on Biscayne Bay.
- Bonnet House Historic estate in Fort Lauderdale, art-filled gardens.
- Stranahan House Oldest house in Fort Lauderdale, built in 1901.
- Mar-a-Lago Historic estate in Palm Beach, now a private club.
- Old Fort Lauderdale Village Recreated pioneer village with historic buildings.
Food traditions
- Cuban coffee Sweet espresso, a daily ritual in Little Havana.
- Stone crab season October to May, claws served chilled with mustard.
- Key lime pie Tart and sweet, a Florida classic.
- Cuban sandwich Pork, ham, Swiss, pickles, pressed in a plancha.
- Arepas Venezuelan and Colombian corn cakes, popular in Kendall.
Music and arts
- Cuban son and salsa Live music in Little Havana clubs.
- Hip-hop and reggaeton Miami is a hub for Latin urban music.
- Art Deco architecture Pastel buildings with geometric lines.
- Street art in Wynwood Colorful murals on every corner.
A little history
- 1896 Founded as a railroad town by Henry Flagler.
- 1959 Cuban exiles arrived after the revolution, shaping Miami.
- 1930s Art Deco district built in Miami Beach.
- 1960s Fort Lauderdale became a spring break hotspot.
- 1890s Palm Beach developed as a winter resort for the rich.
Rivalries
- Miami Hurricanes vs. Florida State Seminoles College football rivalry that splits the state.
- Miami Heat vs. Orlando Magic Florida NBA teams battle for state pride.
- Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning NHL rivalry for Sunshine State supremacy.
- Inter Miami vs. Orlando City MLS teams from the two largest Florida metros.
- Game day Miami Heat home games
- Game day Dolphins tailgating
- Outdoors Kayak through the Everglades
- Outdoors Bike along the Venetian Causeway
- With kids Frost Science Museum
- With kids Zoo Miami
You'll hear a lively mix of English and Spanish, often switching mid-sentence. Cuban Spanish influences pronunciation and phrases, especially in Miami.
Only here
- The only place in the US where you can see crocodiles and alligators coexist.
- Home to the largest concentration of Cuban Americans in the US.
- Art Deco District has over 800 historic buildings.
- The Everglades is the only place with both alligators and crocodiles.
New here? A few tips
- Learn basic Spanish; it's widely spoken and appreciated.
- Drive defensively; traffic can be intense, especially on I-95.
- Embrace the humidity; light clothes and AC are essential.
- Try a Cuban coffee and pastelito at a local bakery.
- Explore beyond the beaches: Little Havana and Wynwood are gems.
Make this page better
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Part of Miami area
Nearby
Every areaClewistonFloridaSweetness by the lake, where the cane grows tall.NaplesFloridaSunshine, sunsets, and sea breezes.Port St. LucieFloridaSalt air, river bends, and a slower paceOkeechobeeFloridaWhere the lake meets the cattle countryFort Myers–Cape CoralFloridaSalt breeze, canal sunsets, and a life on the water.Key WestFloridaWhere the road ends and the sunset begins.SebringFloridaWhere the race never ends and the lakes are always calm.Vero BeachFloridaSunrise over the Lagoon, where the river meets the sea.
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.