The Aviation Department operates three Information Centers within the terminal. They are located at Concourse E, Level 2 adjacent to the hotel lobby, Concourse J, Level 3 in the customs arrival hall and Concourse H, Level 2 across from the security checkpoint.

Information inside the MIA Airport is available by using the white courtesy phones, visiting the Information Center in the Central Terminal, Concourse E, Level 2, 6am to 10pm, or by calling 305-876-7000.

Miami International Airport has three terminals, North, Central and South. These are arranged in a house shoe shape off the major access road for pickups and drop offs. The major parking areas are located in the centre in close proximity to the terminals entrances.
The North Terminal contains concourse D, in is a major hub for American Airlines.
The Central Terminal contains concourse E, concourse F and concourse G
The South Terminal contains concourse H and concourse J. The South Termianl is home to the SkyTeam alliance and Star Alliance.
All terminals have a full array Shops and services including WIFI Access, Mobile connections, ATM machines and toilets. Information for travellers with special requirements is listed in the more detailed information below.

The airport is served by three parking facilities: a two-level short-term parking lot located directly in front of Concourse E, and two seven-story parking garages (Dolphin and Flamingo) located within the terminal's curvature and connected to the terminal via overhead walkways on Level 3.

Luggage

Travel light. Smaller bags are easier to carry and stow and mean shorter waits at baggage claim and easier security/customs inspections.
Plan to pack more in your checked luggage and less in your carry-on bag.
Don't carry or pack anything for anyone else or agree to watch a stranger's bag.
Remove old claim checks to avoid confusion.
Identify luggage inside and outside with your name, business address and telephone number. Inside, include a copy of your itinerary.
Check your luggage early to ensure your bags make your originating and connecting flights.

Carry-On Bags

TSA recommends passengers be allowed one carry-on bag plus a personal item, such as a purse or briefcase, but exact limits are set individually by each airline.
Typically, the maximum size for a carry-on bag is 45 linear inches (height+width+depth).
Check with your travel agent or airline for information on carry-on luggage restrictions.
Pack prescription drugs (in original containers with a copy of the prescription), personal hygiene items, passports and important documents in your carry-on bag.
Pack valuable items, such as jewelry, cameras, cell phones, pagers and laptop computers, in your carry-on bag.
Do not wrap gifts to carry-on.
Consider packing small loose items in clear plastic zip-type bags.

How Much Time Needed

Call your airline to confirm flight before arriving at the airport.
Allow extra time for parking and shuttle transportation.

Unless you specifically are told otherwise, plan to check in at the airline ticket counter.
If you are traveling with an e-ticket and only a carry-on bag, ask your travel agent or airline if you can proceed straight to security. Standards vary, but typically, to do this, passengers with e-tickets will need a picture I.D. (driver's license/passport/government-issued I.D.), plus one of the following documents displaying a ticket number: copy of an e-ticket receipt; airline-generated itinerary confirming an e-ticket; or travel agency-generated itinerary and e-ticket confirmation. You may also need to show the credit card you used to purchase your e-ticket.
All adult passengers must have a picture I.D. (driver's license/passport/government-issued I.D.). When making reservations, use the exact name appearing on the I.D. you will present at the airport. If your name has changed and the name on your ticket and your I.D. differ, bring documentation of the change (e.g., a marriage certificate or court order).
Non-U.S. citizens boarding international flights are required by the TSA to show evidence of admission into the United States, such as a visa, I-94, parole letters or alien resident card.
For passengers traveling to and from Mexico without a passport, be aware that airlines are requesting that your ID be officially notarized. LAX's Tom Bradley International Terminal has a notary public available daily from 5:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. (PST).

Watch Your Bags!

In an effort to prevent an unattended bag from becoming a "suspicious bag" at the airport, please watch your bags at all times. Unattended bags will be confiscated.

Going to Your Gate

Have your boarding pass in hand and be prepared to show a valid photo ID at airline ticket counters, screening checkpoints, and at boarding gates.
Only ticketed passengers are allowed through security. Appropriate ticket documentation is required: a paper ticket, a boarding pass, or documentation of an e-ticket (check with your travel agent or airline). The TSA requires that all such documentation include ticket numbers.
Parents meeting unaccompanied minors and person accompanied by healthcare assistants or guardians should contact their airline in advance to make special arrangements.
Do not joke about bombs or firearms. Don't discuss terrorism, weapons or explosives.
Always cooperate fully with all airport security personnel, other airline or airport staff and law enforcement officers.

Security Screening

Please remove all metal objects such as keys, coins, pens and pencils from your pockets and clothing and place them in your carry-on bag.
For travelers carrying metal souvenirs, please place these objects in your checked luggage.
If you have a laptop computer or video camera, please remove it from its case.
Expect questioning about your luggage and hand-searches of carry-on items.

TSA 3-1-1 Tips
TSA websiteProvided by the Transportation Security Administration

We’d like to provide "3-1-1 information" to help you get through the security checkpoints smoothly and quickly.

TSA’s 3-1-1 program means:

LAX Liquids, aerosols and gels must be in containers three ounces or less,
LAX Items must be put in a one quart, clear plastic zip-top bag, and
LAX Only one zip-top bag per passenger.

Additionally:

Do not wrap gifts. If a security officer needs to inspect a package they may have to unwrap your gift. Please wrap gifts after arriving at your destination.

Apply 3-1-1 to gifts. 3-1-1 isn’t just about shampoo and toothpaste. Food items such as jams, salsas, sauces, syrups and dips will not be allowed through the checkpoint unless they are in containers three ounces or less and in the passenger’s one quart zip-top bag. This applies to gift items including lotions, creams, scented oil, liquid soaps, perfumes, and even snow globes, that are in excess of three ounces -- even if they are in sealed gift packs. We suggest you ship these items prior to your trip or put them in your checked baggage.

Any of these items WILL be allowed on the plane IF you purchase them after the security checkpoint. TSA allows liquid items purchased after the checkpoint onto planes because these items have been previously screened.

Know what items are prohibited on planes. A gift you plan to bring in your carry-on bag might be on TSA’s Prohibited Item list. These items delay the screening process for you and other passengers. If you’re not sure which items are allowed, click here to see the list of prohibited items.

Arrive on time. Check with your carrier for suggested arrival times. You must have a boarding pass and valid government photo ID to enter the security checkpoint. Give yourself adequate time to check your baggage and move through security.

Dress the part. Metal in your clothing may set off the walk-through metal detector. Pack coins, keys, jewelry, belt buckles and other metal items in your carry-on bag. Shoes must be removed and screened by TSA, so wear shoes you can easily take on and off to speed the process. Winter coats, blazers, suit jackets and bulky sweaters also must be removed and put in the bin for screening. Learn more about the screening experience, dressing the part, and what to expect.

Be considerate and save jokes for after the checkpoint (or don't make them at all!). Our security officers are working to keep bombs off of airplanes. Please follow their directions. Belligerent behavior, inappropriate jokes and threats will not be tolerated, and will result in delays and possibly missed flights.

Banking / ATM
Two full service Bank of America branches are located at Concourse D, Level 4 and Concourse J, Level 2. Automated Teller Machines (ATM’s) are located at the full service locations
and in the Terminal at Concourse E, Level 2, Concourse G, Level 2 and Concourse J, Level 3.

Foreign currency exchange booths are located on all three levels thoughout the terminal. The booth in Concourse E, Level 2 operates with extended hours from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Business Center - Located past security between Concourses H & J, Level 2, the International Currency Exchange (ICE) Business Center
features computers with internet as well as printers, fax and photocopy machines. A conference room to accommodate
up to 10 people is available for business meetings. Currency exchange service, cell phone rentals and pre-paid US &
international calling cards

Although most restrooms at Miami International Airport can accommodate wheelchairs, the Miami-Dade Aviation
Department has commenced a $10 million renovation project which will make all restrooms within the Terminal building
comply with ADA accessibility requirements. Telecommunication devices for the hearing impaired (TDD) are available at
the Miami International Airport Hotel - 7th floor. On the second level, instruments can be found at the Information Center on
Concourse E, between Concourses G and H, and at midpoints inside every Concourse. The installation of additional TDD’s is
under way and the units will be readily accessible throughoutthe terminal facility. Parking for individuals with disabilities is
available in the Dolphin and Flamingo parking garages on the third level, close to the moving sidewalks and bridges
9 that connect the garages with the main Terminal Building.

Wheelchairs
Wheelchair service is offered through your air carrier upon request. To ensure availability and timely service, it is strongly recommended that this service be reserved in advance. However, wheelchair assistance may also be requested at airline ticket counters.

Security Restrictions
Security measures at MIA restrict public access beyond passenger screening points to ticketed passengers only. However, the individual airline may grant permission for persons with special needs to be accompanied by a health care assistant or guardian. If someone wishes to accompany an elderly or disabled person to or from an aircraft gate, they must obtain permission from the airline.

Service Animal Relief
MIA has animal relief areas located at the arrival level at Concourses D, E and J.

Public Telephones
MIA has TTY telephones at selected telephone banks throughout the terminal. At telephone banks where there is not a TTY, you will find directions to the closest TTY location. For additional TTY information, please call 305-876-0594. Passengers may also dial 7-1-1 from any phone to contact the Florida Relay Service.

1. If you arrive at MIA on an international flight and connect with a US domestic flight, you must claim your baggage prior to clearing Customs.
2. If you arrive on an International Flight to connect on to another International Flight, check first with your airline that your baggage will be transferred automatically on to your destination.
3. If you arrive at MIA on a US domestic Flight check first with your airline that your baggage will be transferred automatically on to your destination.

Taxis, shuttle services, limousines, and rental cars are currently available within the airport. Taxis and shuttles provide flat rates to popular destinations within Miami, such as the beaches or the city center.

Departures

Prior to Getting to the Airport

If you are departing from Miami International Airport (MIA), please call ahead to your airline to confirm your flight and departure time, concourse and gate.

Curbside Parking Restrictions

Curbside parking in front of the terminal is restricted to vehicles that are actually loading or unloading. Due to TSA Security Regulations, all vehicles left unattended at the curbside will be towed at the owner's expense. Please do not leave your vehicle unattended.

Parking Garages and Moving Walkways

If you are parking in the Dolphin North and Flamingo South garages, airlines in concourses D-E are closer to the Dolphin North Garage and airlines in concourses F-H are closer to the Flamingo South Garage.

Prior to getting on the elevator, stamp your parking ticket. The information stamped (garage name, level and aisle) will help you find your car upon your return. There are also terminal maps displayed along the skybridges and moving walkways to show you the location of your airline.

International Departures

If you are departing on an international flight, be sure and arrive at least two hours early.

Arrivals

Domestic Arrivals

When arriving on a domestic flight or from Canada or the Bahamas, you will need to walk down your concourse to the terminal. You will be on level 2 and must take the elevator or escalator to level 1 to baggage claim. Ground transportation is immediately available outside the terminal on Level 1. Ticket counters and departures gates are on upper level 2.

International Arrivals and Federal Inspections

Except for passengers arriving from Canada or the Bahamas, International arriving passengers will proceed to U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s passport control. After clearing passport control, passengers will proceed to collect baggage and clear U.S. Customs. The Interline Lobby is directly outside U.S. Customs, where passengers may re-check baggage if having a connecting flight.

International Arrivals at Customs “E”
After exiting U.S. Customs, you will be on level 1 of the Central Terminal E. Here passengers will find ground transportation. To connect to other airlines, take the elevator to level 2.

International Arrivals at Customs “J”
After exiting U.S. Customs, passengers will be on level 3 of the South Terminal J. To find ground transportation, take the elevator to level 1. To find other airlines take the elevator to Level 2. Parking garages can be accessed thru the second level of the terminal.

Cell Phone Parking Lot
The use of a 60-space cell phone lot is provided by the Airport, free of charge, for private vehicles waiting to pick up Airport passengers. The lot is located just west of LeJeune Road and N.W. 31st Street and is accessible from either northbound or southbound LeJeune Road. The Cell Phone Lot is restricted to daytime use only.

Valet Parking - The valet parking entrance is on the ticketing (departure) level, across from Concourse D. This location allows passengers
to drop off their vehicle and walk directly across to the north terminal, or take the moving sidewalk to the concourses at the central and south terminals. Passengers are provided with a telephone number that alerts valet parking attendants of your flight’s arrival so that your vehicle will be ready upon your return. Valet parking is available to the public 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The cost is: Short term stay (0-3 hours) - $18.00, Overnight parking (24 hours) - $30.00 and each additional day - $30.00. For additional information, call (305) 876-0118.

MIA has a dedicated Rental Car Center - 3900 NW 25th St. - Miami, Fl 33142 - It is accessable via The MIA Mover
At the RCC, MIA passengers find one-stop shopping for all their rental car needs. The new RCC, just one-mile east of MIA, houses 16 rental car companies in one stunning new 6,500 vehicle facility. All major Rental Car Companies use this facility.

For excellent on and off airport car rental deals try CarHire4lower.com

Miami International Airport has direct public transport links to Miami-Dade Transit's Metrobus network, free shuttles are also provided to and from the Miami Airport and Hialeah Market Stations on the Tri-Rail commuter rail line.

Both stations are close, within a 5 minute drive from the main terminal. The Miami-Dade Aviation Department is currently constructing the MIA Mover, a link to the airport by people mover, to the upcoming Miami Intermodal Center which already opened its Rental Car Center (RCC) in July 2010 and provide access to car rentals. Soon to follow will be a new airport Metrorail station, a relocated Tri-Rail station, and an Amtrak station located within the Miami Central Station, scheduled to open in late 2011/early 2012. A consolidated shuttle service will run to-and-from the terminals at MIA and the RCC for approximately one year until the MIA Mover begins service. Once the MIA Mover is in service, car rental desks and shuttles will disappear from the airport's arrivals level.

Quick facts for foreign visitors about driving in the United States

1. An International Driving Permit (IDP) translates information contained on your driver's license into 10 languages so that officials in foreign countries are able to interpret your license. An IDP supplements a valid government-issued license--it does not serve as a replacement for a license. If you are stopped by law enforcement, you will most likely be asked to produce both your IDP and your official driver's license. The United States does NOT issue International Driving Permits to foreign visitors, so you will need to obtain this document before traveling to the U.S.

2. If you are going to reside in the U.S., you can get a U.S. driver's license once you are in the U.S., but it may take several months to obtain a U.S. driver's license.

3. Foreign visitors who become U.S. residents can only obtain a driver's license from the state in which they reside (not from the federal government). Each state has its own driving rules and regulations. Check with your state's motor vehicles department to find out how to apply.

4. Once you receive your U.S. driver's license from a state motor vehicles department, you will be permitted to drive in all other U.S. states. The laws in each state vary from one to another. It is your responsibility to know and obey the laws of that state while driving.

5. The residency requirement for obtaining a U.S. driver's license varies with each state. Consult the motor vehicles department in your state for more information.

6. If you are a foreign student coming to the U.S. to study, contact the university or college you will attend, as most institutions provide students with additional driving information.

7. The U.S. government has issued warnings about Internet vendors of worthless international driver's licenses/permits. It is important to educate yourself about the dangers of these costly and illegal operations. See International Driver's License Warning from Federal Trade Commission.

The airport was opened to flights in 1928 as Pan American Field, the operating base of Pan American Airways Corporation, on the north side of the modern airport property. After Pan Am acquired the New York, Rio, and Buenos Aires Line, it shifted most of its operations to the Dinner Key seaplane base, leaving Pan Am Field largely unused until Eastern Air Lines began flying there in 1934, followed by National Airlines in 1937.

In 1945, the City of Miami established a Port Authority and raised bond revenue to purchase the airport, which had meanwhile been renamed 36th Street Airport, from Pan Am. It was merged with an adjoining Army airfield in 1949 and expanded further in 1951. The old terminal on 36th Street was closed in 1959 when the modern passenger terminal (since greatly expanded) opened for service.

Air Force Reserve troop carrier and rescue squadrons also operated from Miami International from 1949 through 1959, when the last such unit relocated to nearby Homestead Air Force Base, now Homestead Air Reserve Base.

Pan Am and Eastern remained Miami International Airport's main tenants until 1991, when both carriers went bankrupt. Their hubs at MIA were taken over by United Airlines and American Airlines. United slowly trimmed down its Miami operation through the 1990s, and eventually shut down its crew base and other operations facilities in Miami. At the same time, American expanded its presence at the airport, winning new routes to Latin America and transferring employees and equipment from its failed domestic hubs at Nashville and Raleigh-Durham. Today, Miami is American's largest air freight hub, and forms the main connecting point in the airline's north-south oriented international route network.

For many years, the airport was a common connecting point for passengers traveling from Europe to Latin America. However, stricter visa requirements for aliens in transit (a result, in part, of the September 11, 2001 attacks) have lessened MIA's role as an intercontinental connecting hub. In 2004, Iberia Airlines ended its hub operation in Miami, opting instead to run more direct flights from Spain to Central America. Air France still has flights to Port-au-Prince using Airbus A320 aircraft.

AeroSur, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, American Eagle, Gulfstream International Airlines, Sky King Airlines, and Vision Airlines all operate regular flights between MIA and several airports in Cuba, the one of the few direct airlink between the two nations. However, these flights must be booked through agents with special authorization from the Office of Foreign Assets Control, and are only generally available to government officials, journalists, researchers, professionals attending conferences, or expatriates visiting Cuban family.

20 Things To Do In Miami

1. Indulge in sheer pleasure on South Beach

South Beach, surf capital of Miami is the place to enjoy yourself. The scene certainly lives up to the stereotype of Miami. You'll find surfers catching the waves in a turquoise ocean, models sauntering along golden sands and rollerbladers gliding down Ocean Drive. Hyper-tanned celebrities rub oiled shoulders with hipsters in the sidewalk cafés, designer boutiques, lounge bars and dusk-til-dawn clubs. They make this a perfect place for chilling out after browsing through the World Erotic Art Museum. Among the quintessential hangouts are the Nikki Beach Club and the Opium Garden, while great restaurants include Joe's Stone Crab, which is known for its legendary lime pie.

2. Feel like a flapper on Art Deco Ocean Drive

Forget the sand: take a stroll around the art deco buildings on South Beach to catch its golden era of architecture. Here you'll find a glamorous array of hotels, which grew up when a theatrical style swept the design world in the 20s. Crowded along Ocean Drive are the best of these giddy individuals. Park Central Hotel and the Imperial, designed by New Yorkers Henry Hohauser and L Murray Dixon, feature bold bands of colour and window 'eyebrows', characteristic of this flamboyant style. This is the ideal place to start off exploring the Art Deco District, which contains over 800 buildings from the 1930s and '40s. Visit the Art Deco District Welcome Center for self-guided audio tours.

Miami Car Rental

3. Spruce up your home decor in the Design District

If you fancy giving your home a facelift, then the Design District is the place to visit. Once a pineapple grove, the area evolved into Decorators Row during the building boom of the 1920s, when home-design stores occupied this space. Among the high-end showrooms is Holly Hunt (3833 NE 2nd Avenue, at NE 38th Street, 305 571 2012), with deluxe furniture and interior designs by Rose Tarlow, Christian Liaigre and Wendell Castle. And European kitchen-cabinet maker Bulthaup (3841 NE 2nd Avenue, at NE 38th Street, 305 573 7771) sells reproductions of mid-century modern classics here. Making the most of the Design Art trend are a number of galleries. Established names include Daniel Azoulay (3900A NE 1st Avenue, at NE 39th Street, 305 576 1977) and Barbara Gillman (414 NE 2nd Avenue, at NE 41st Street, 305 573 1920), which show internationally acclaimed artists.

4. Light up your Cubans in Little Havana

Visit Little Havana for a taste of Cuba. Miami Cubans are incredibly proud of this neighbourhood, even if they don't live there. Calle Ocho (SW 8th Street) and the surrounding area are testimony to the American dream followed by the hundreds of thousands of Cubans who fled to Miami after Fidel Castro came to power in 1959. Here, you'll find many restaurants and shops that are replicas of their ones back home. The Mediterranean-style houses with rocking chairs on the porch, fragrant air of tobacco wafting from cigar stores and hum of Latin music from record shops collude to maintain the illusion.

5. Have a Sex and the City moment

For those jaded by the preening crowds on Ocean Drive, the hippest place to visit is Lincoln Road Mall. Designed by iconic architectural guru Morris Lapidus in the 1950s, when it was dubbed the 'Fifth Avenue of the South', it's now simply known by locals as the 'Road'. Wall-to-wall sidewalk cafés, clubs and cultural venues stretch along its length (from Washington Avenue to Alton Road), looking glamorous thanks to a $16-million facelift. You could imagine the girls from 'Sex and the City' clicking their heels around its stylish boutiques. Among the best cafés are the Van Dyke and Balans. Highlights include the glam gay nightspot, the Score, the Lincoln Theater, home of the New World Symphony, and the Regal South Beach Stadium 18 movie theatre.

6. Step into a fairytale at the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens

The sight of the Italian Renaissance-style Vizcaya Museum & Gardens on the Biscayne Bay is straight out a fairytale book. It's bizarre to discover a European-style palace in this beach lovers' paradise, but visiting it is like entering a wonderland. Built for Chicagoan industrialist and Europhile James Deering in the 20th-century, the extravagant architecture conceals an opulent interior. Full of European antiques and decorative works from the 16th to 19th centuries, and complete with original fittings, it will whisk you away to a golden age. It's a popular wedding destination.

7. Dine in style at a classic Miami restaurant

In a city of glamour, the beautiful people need a grand stage on which to eat, so you can enjoy some fantastic dining experiences. The 19th-century Parisian façade of The Forge conceals a glitzy interior that is a rococo lover's dream. The steakhouse once hosted the likes of Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra and Richard Nixon. It still has an 1822 Château Lafite Rothschild worth $150,000 to prove its star quality. Decadent wines accompany steak and fish dishes, and there's a healthy spa menu for the calorie conscious. The Wednesday night club scene at this venerable place calls to mind the soap opera 'Dynasty'.

8. Plot your great escape at Key Biscayne

The Key as the locals call Key Biscayne may not be as pretty as Miami Beach or attract as many beautiful bodies, but it compensates for this lack of superficial beauty with its serenity. The northernmost island in the Florida Keys, its life began as an exclusive resort in the early 1900s and it attracted the US president Richard Nixon in the 1970s, when he bought a home here. Despite rising property prices, it has maintained a tranquil air. With little nightlife or shopping, the lure for visitors is nature: there are pristine beaches, two waterfront parks, a cycling path and gorgeous views of Miami. On the east Crandon Park has barbecue and picnic areas for family trips, while at the tip of the island there is good swimming in the 400-acre park of Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area.

9. Get real with funky, fresh food

There's more to American food than 24-hour diners and burgers in Miami. Here, you'll find unique restaurants serving fresh American food. In the South Beach area, Barton G serves fabulous cuisine funked up with presentations that include popcorn shrimp and grilled sea bass in a brown paper bag. A superb Caesar salad comes complete with a cheese-grater and for the grand finale, a plume of cotton candy reminiscent of Dame Edna's wig is served. For those who prefer a light meal, the hip hangout Segafredo is a great option. Here, you can eat tasty sandwiches, salads, carpaccios and desserts while lounging on comfy upholstered chairs and listening to a soundtrack of cool lounge music all day long.

10. Loosen those purse strings at designer shops

In Miami, you'll find great shopping malls, with designer stores and boutiques to cater for every fashion whim. South Florida's newest upscale mall, the Village of Merrick Park has three open-air storeys with 115 shops and boutiques, including the area's only Burberry, plus Diane von Furstenberg, Etro, Gucci, Jimmy Choo and Sonia Rykiel. The best all-rounder Aventura Mall has all the big department stores, such as Bloomingdale's and Macy's. To purchase top-end T-shirts with grand embellishments visit Rebel. Long Island hipsters flock here for jeans and other items from Ya-Ya, Juicy Couture, Vince and Sass & Bide.

11. Go wild at the Carnaval Miami

Miami needs no excuse to party: from the traditional to the tacky, the city is fast on its feet when it comes to celebrations. For ten days each spring (in early March), Latino Miami struts its stuff with a vibrant array of beauty pageants, sports, concerts and international foods at Carnaval Miami (www.carnavalmiami.com). There are culinary competitions, galas and an upscale Latin jazz festival. The grand finale is Calle Ocho, a 23-block street festival in Little Havana, which is the largest block party in the world. Over a million watch live entertainment on 30 stages featuring salsa, merengue and Caribbean music.

12. Shop with the stars

In Miami, you can spot celebrities shopping for designer gear and pick up items in vogue with the stars. When Janet Jackson heard that Beyoncé was shopping at Poltrona Frau in the Design District she made a beeline for some Peter Marino sofas. At Bal Harbour Shops, Jennifer Lopez has been known to walk into Gucci and splash a few thousand dollars on goods. You're most likely to see Britney Spears and Paris Hilton splurging in South Beach stores such as Atrium. Further south, rappers like Diddy, Usher and Kanye West might park their Rolls-Royce Phantoms in front of Intermix to buy some Stella McCartney threads.

13. Cure your ale-ments

Are you sick of sipping on candy-coloured martinis in glitzy bars and restaurants? Do you fancy spending a low-key evening chatting to locals over a pint of beer? Then, why not go back to basics at the hole-in-the-wall turned microbrewery, Abbey on South Beach. It offers European imports as well as several own-made beers. Despite its upgrade to a brewery, it still has the soul of a class dive-bar. This place has tons of atmosphere, a dartboard and is teeming with locals who you can try and chat up. Watch out for drunken arrowists.

14. Buff up at the beach

In Miami, why waste time in the gym when you can enjoy the outdoors while getting buff on the beach? With the sun, sea and scenery, sandy sports might not even seem like exercise. For an easy workout, grab a paddleball set or Frisbee at any store on the South Beach, join a game of soccer or round up a volleyball team. For the thrill of wave riding, hire an instructor at Florida Surf Lessons (www.floridasurflessons.com). Kick up the power a few notches at the South Beach Bootcamp, where a personal trainer will take you through a rigorous programme. But if that's too intense, then mellow down at a sunset yoga class.

15. Glam up for clubbing

Miami often gets a reputation for its cookie-cutter nightclubs. But there are a handful of glamorous, individual bar-clubs on South Beach, where you can live it up well into the night. The dusky, chandelier-lit Florida Room mixes old-school décor with the aesthetic of a swanky cruise-ship, attracting everyone from young hipsters and chic sophisticates to Golden Girls clones on a fancy night out. Cameo is a renovated art deco movie theatre that's a premier venue for superstar DJs. It's popular with a mod squad of glamazons and scenesters. Dress to get noticed here.

16. Listen to the grape vine

A city hasn't arrived until it can boast a selection of swanky wine bars and Miami has certainly embraced its inner wino. Cefalo's is a wine emporium with a difference: it's a chilled Coconut Grove hangout run by a former Dolphins player, which sells 2,000 wines by the bottle and around 40 varieties for sampling. As well as the bar and shop, it hosts tastings and classes, and its eaterie serves Italian cuisine. The first wine bar to open on the beach was Vino Miami, a sleek lounge with a sophisticated wine list and moreish menu of cheeses. For an intimate venue head to W Wine Bar in the chichi Design District or go by the reviews and stick to Wine 69, voted the city's best wine bar by the Miami New Times.

17. Live your reel life dreams

South Florida has the stuff of cinematic fantasy: neon glamour, quasi-tropical vistas and buff bodies. It's no surprise that those in the dream business, film-makers, adore making movies here. Since the days of 'The White Rose' in the 1920s, the motion picture industry has engaged in a heady love affair with the city, and you can spot clues to its movie stardom. The nightlife of Miami Beach has appeared in several films, including the 1964 Bond outing 'Goldfinger', and its gangsta-rapping features in Brian De Palma's remake of 'Scarface'. A hair-raising scene from 'There's Something About Mary' is played out at the Cardozo Hotel, and there's a big starring role for the Carlyle Hotel as a gay club on the flamboyant South Beach in 'The Birdcage'.

18. Release your inner child

For those with children, and fun-loving adults, the Miami Children's Museum is the ideal place to visit. With a futuristic design by the stellar architecture practice Arquitectonica, it's an exciting playground with many interactive displays. You can discover a colourful, mosaic-tiled sandcastle, a teddy-bear exhibit and a television studio. Children under-five can have an adventure in a sea room and enjoy more mundane exhibits: a bank with teller stations and fake cheques, a supermarket with checkout lanes and police motorcycle and fire truck. A visit here will be an endless source of delight for young ones.

19. Get to the art of the matter at Art Basel Miami Beach

Miami Beach is better known for kitsch than fine art, so it seemed odd that organisers of Switzerland's sophisticated Art Basel would choose Miami for its first American sortie. And yet it has been an amazing success: it draws galleries and dealers from around the globe, and showcases the work of more than 1,000 artists and over 200 galleries in the main fair alone. Being in Miami, this is an art fair with a difference: showbiz culture and celebs are part of the equation. Spotting stars buying art and seeing them again at exclusive galas adds to the fun. There are a number of satellite fairs including the NADA fair, Pulse and Design Miami. Galleries hold special shows, South Beach clubs host art parties and restaurants offer specials. This event is all about drinking cocktails on the sand while chatting about alfresco art. For information, visit www.artbaselmiamibeach.com.

20. Discover a rustic paradise

If you've had enough of the sun and surf, the farm fields around Homestead make for a bucolic break. The Fruit & Spice Park is the only garden of its kind in the United States, a 30-acre park exhibiting over 500 varieties of fruits, veggies, spices, herbs, nuts and exotic edibles. An old schoolhouse and coral rock building chart Florida's pioneer life. Another throwback to the fruit farming of old is Robert is Here, which started life in 1959 when the shop's namesake, then six, began selling the family's cucumbers from a small stall. Since then, it has grown into an exotic emporium of fruit and veg. In the lovely setting you can drink fruity milkshakes and buy sweet gifts.