Miami - the gateway to Florida
Author: Isla Campbell
Category: Travel and Leisure
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The amount of Britons booking holidays to Florida took a nose dive just after the turn of the new century, as USA immigration officials made entry to the USA a difficult and time-consuming experience to any non-residents in the wake of the appalling September 11th terrorist attacks.
However, immigration procedures for entry to the USA have now been streamlined, so big queues and a distinct lack of courtesy at immigration desks are now old news. The removal of that inconvenience added to the fact that the pound is performing much better against the dollar means that Florida is once again a popular destination for Britons, offering a whole range of activities and destinations for families, couples and singles alike.
South Beach, Miami boasts a stunning collection of Art Deco buildings - many of which have been converted into trendy boutique hotels, chic restaurants and bars. This exclusive area continues to be a popular draw for many visitors, and is also the place 'to be seen' by many celebrities. Indeed, the paparazzi can often be spotted in pursuit of their A-list prey on Ocean Drive, the street which contains the majority of the area's art deco hotels.
For the outdoor types who want to get away from it all, big game fishing is a very popular activity throughout Florida. Many charter boats choose Miami, in particular Biscayne Bay, as their home port and they specialise in tracking down and hauling in fish such as marlin, sailfish and shark.
And although there is definitely enough to keep anyone occupied on any type of Miami Florida holiday, many visitors use the bustling city merely as an entry and departure airport as they go on extended travels throughout the State.
Heading south from Miami on Highway One, beautiful Key Largo is only 75 minutes drive away and, beyond that, the southernmost point of the continental USA at Key West can be reached in a further two hours. Due to their outstanding beauty, sunsets here are celebrated each evening and need to be seen to be believed. Ernest Hemingway enthusiasts will definitely have Key West on their agenda as it was here that the author lived for over ten years, with his old home now a museum that's open 365 days a year.
Alternatively, visitors to Florida can head north on I-95 from Miami and, given good traffic conditions, Orlando can be reached within four hours. Walt Disney World, which covers a massive 47 square miles, attracts millions of visitors each year, along with other major theme parks in the area including Universal Studios, Island of Adventures and Sea World.
Whatever their reason for visiting Miami, travellers inevitably leave with a plethora of enjoyable memories and a yearning to return in the very near future.
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Keywords: Miami, Florida Holiday, Miami Holiday, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Key West, Orlando
View Count: 60
Date Submitted: 5/27/2008
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