Turquoise waters, boundless shores, round-the-clock fun: this is Miami, a city where design, arts, and visionary architecture have more than one moment in the sun. Occupying the southernmost three miles of Miami Beach is gorgeous South Beach, with its hundreds of dazzling pastel-coloured 1920s and 1930s Art Deco buildings. By night, Ocean Drive becomes one of the liveliest stretches in Miami. If this is too much for you, head a block west of the beach to Collins Avenue or to Washington Avenue, with fashion shops and cool coffee bars. For more shops, restaurants and cafés, head for the Lincoln Road Mall (between Alton Rd and Washington Ave), a pedestrianized zone where you can stroll and graze. North of downtown the Design District, hemmed in by 36th and 41st streets between Miami Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard, is also worth a visit, crammed with hip restaurants. Miami does Cuban food best, and it’s not limited to the traditional haunts in Little Havana. You’ll also want to try Cuban coffee. Cuban cooking is complemented by sushi bars and American home-style diners, as well as Haitian, Italian and new Floridian restaurants, among a handful of other ethnic cuisines. Coral Gables, South Beach and the Design District are best for upmarket cafés and restaurants. Seafood is abundant. Stonecrab claws (served Oct–May), are another South Florida speciality.
Car
Day 3 — Miami → Key West
The Overseas Highway with its countless bridges is the only connection between these long, narrow Atlantic islands and the Gulf of Mexico. The Keys are a chain of coral islands stretching almost 200 km, with the most eastern tip - Key West - just 150 km from Cuba. They are not a beach vacation destination, as the beaches are modest and the sea is not very suitable for swimming; but the islands are fascinating for their nature and human environment.
Car
Day 5 — Key West → Everglades National Park
The Overseas Highway with its countless bridges is the only connection between these long, narrow Atlantic islands and the Gulf of Mexico. The Everglades park is a sub-tropical reserve, the only one in North America. Its swamps and canals are home to alligators, manatees, spoonbills, white herons, and a myriad more animals – birds, reptiles, mammals and insects. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Other
Day 6 — Everglades National Park → Naples
Naples, on the western coast of Florida, is known for its white sandy beaches, luxurious homes and shops, art galleries, and excellent dining options. The city is surrounded by mangroves and nature reserves, offering great opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and golfing.
Car
Day 7 — Naples → Sarasota
In front of Sarasota, a string of barrier islands with incredibly white beaches stretches for tens of kilometers. The city is not lacking in non-marine attractions, such as the aquarium, the spectacular museum founded by magnate John Ringling and rich in world-renowned artworks, the unique Circus Museum, and the Ca' d'Zan, a residence in Venetian Gothic style. For shopping, there is the large St Armands Circle mall.
Other
Day 8 — Sarasota → Crystal River
a different and surprising day in the "other Florida". After a stop in Tarpon Springs, a Greek community famous for sponge fishing, you visit the Crystal River spring, a source of turquoise waters surprisingly clear and inhabited by friendly manatees. Crystal River, a source of surprisingly clear turquoise waters, is the gem of the so-called Nature Coast. During the colder months (from November to March), dozens of manatees hibernate in the crystal-clear waters of Three Sisters Spring and King's Bay, creating an impressive spectacle. Visitors can observe them through boat or kayak excursions and even swim with them, accompanied by experienced instructors.
Other
Day 10 — Apalachicola → Pensacola
Pensacola is located in Florida, but only 30 minutes from the Alabama border. It directly faces the Gulf of Mexico and is famous for the US Navy base, as well as its magnificent white beaches and emerald-colored waters.
