Miami Beach Boardwalk

Stretching from 5th Street to 60th Street, the Miami Beach boardwalk is a raised two-mile-long promenade that hugs the beach on one side and offers a lush, tropical park on the other. Popular with joggers, rollerbladers, strollers, and people-watchers, the boardwalk is a great place to get your exercise while watching the models, actors, and "wannabes" of South Beach. Early mornings and early evening are the popular times here.

The boardwalk is just steps away from the many cafes, boutiques, and nightclubs along Ocean Drive. You can stop off for a cup of coffee or browse through a cutting-edge apparel shop. South Beach is the movie and fashion center of Miami. If you're lucky, you might just see a fashion shoot or a film being made.

The Sights along the Boardwalk

The boardwalk snakes along beautiful natural and man-made scenery. In addition to the lovely and graceful Art Deco hotel facades, colorful Art Deco lifeguard shacks dot the beach. Also on the boardwalk are the Welcome Center and the Beach Patrol Station, a classic Nautical Moderne building complete with ship's railings and porthole windows.

The South Beach end of the Miami Beach boardwalk is home to the Amsterdam Palace, one of the few non-Art Deco buildings along this stretch. This former home of Gianni Versace is still a private residence, but the marvelous architecture is viewable from the boardwalk. Further north on the boardwalk is Lummus Park, a gathering place for Miami Beach's Jewish community. All in all, there are many things to do on the boardwalk, and all of them can provide you with a true taste of Miami.