MIAMI SAVES

What It’s Like in Miami’s Glamorous South Beach Neighborhood

December 30, 2021 Admin

South Beach is part of Miami Beach, a nine-mile barrier island divided into three neighborhoods. South Beach is the most popular, according to the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.

a beach scene in Miami with buildings in the background on a partly cloudy day — A beach scene in the Miami neighborhood.

Source: Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau

The neighborhood is home to the Art Deco Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Art deco buildings in Miami's South Beach neighborhood — Scenes from Miami’s South Beach neighborhood.

Source: Insider

I recently made my first visit to South Beach and I can’t wait to go back.

The author poses for a picture in front of Miami's South Beach neighborhood — The author poses on the rooftop of a building in South Beach.

Lonely Planet called South Beach one of the most colorful destinations in the US, and after my visit, I certainly agree.

Shops and restaurants in Miami's South Beach neighborhood — Colorful streets in the Miami neighborhood.

Source: Lonely Planet

The vibrant buildings are even more alluring at night with neon lights that add a saturated glow to the streets.

Miami's South Beach during the day (L) and at night (R) — A hotel in South Beach during the day and at night.

But it wasn’t always like this. South Beach used to be a coconut plantation, The Miami Herald reported. Around 1900, Quakers converted it into an avocado grove, according to the same source.

A shady park full of palm trees between the beach and Ocean Drive in Miami — A view of Ocean Drive from the beach in the Miami neighborhood.

Source: Miami Herald

After World War I, the neighborhood became a beach destination, leading to the construction of hundreds of streamlined Art Deco apartments and hotels, according to The Miami Herald.

A street in Miami's South Beach neighborhood — A street in Miami’s South Beach neighborhood.

Source: Miami Herald

The Art Deco look is so integral to Miami, that new building owners can’t change or remove this distinct architectural style, according to past reporting on Insider.

A yard between two art-deco buildings in South Beach, Miami — Colorful facades in South Beach.

Source: Insider

The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau suggests that the best way to appreciate all the preserved history is to take an architectural tour of the neighborhood starting at the Art Deco Welcome Center on Ocean Drive.

An art center in Miami's South Beach Neighborhood — The Art Deco Welcome Center in Miami.