Miami
Miami is an international and diverse metropolitan city immersed in latin culture with year round warm, tropical weather. Miami-Dade county is home to more than 2.7 million people, making it the most populous county in Florida. The Miami International Airport (MIA) is an international hub and the closest airport. Miami hosts many cultural events, concerts, and sporting events throughout the year and is home to the Miami Heat, Miami Dolphins, and the Miami Marlins. There is a robust nightlife, and diverse culinary experience.
Fort Lauderdale is just a short 30 minute drive north on I-95. Just a short drive southwest from downtown sits the Everglades National Park, a nationally protected swampland of mangroves where visitors can see alligators and other wildlife. The Florida Keys is a 1 hour drive south, and a 4 hour drive to the southern most point in the continental US, Key West.
Living in Miami
Our fellows and faculty get to enjoy the year round warm weather and many offerings in our great metropolitan city. There are year round events and activities to enjoy and participate in no matter what your interests are.
Popular Places to live in Miami
Downtown Miami – Downtown Miami has been revitalized over the past 2 decades now with emblematic high-rise condos on the bay and the Miami River. It is home to the American Airlines Arena, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Perfoming Arts Opera and Symphony halls, the Perez Art Museum, the Frost Science Museum, Bayside Marketplace and Bayfront Park. Many events including concerts, sporting events, performing arts, dance, music are all within walking distance and occur year round. Downtown is conveniently located just a few minutes east from the hospitals, is accessible via Metro, and less than a 15 minute drive from the Health District.
Brickell – Brickell sits just South of dowtown Miami, over the Miami River and across the Brickell Avenue bridge which dates back to 1929. Along the bridge, a 53-foot bronze sculpture, “The Pillar of History and the Tequesta Family” commemorates Miami’s first inhabitants, the Tequesta indians. Brickell is bordered on the east side with ocean views of Biscayne Bay intermingled with the Financial District, high-rise hotels, condominiums and apartment buildings. It is a popular area for young professionals to live, work, and play. Brickell has a plentitude of dining and shopping options including Brickell City Center, and the shops at Mary Brickell Village. Only a short drive, or metrorail ride away from the medical complex, Brickell remains one of the favored areas for residents and fellows to live in. Brickell avenue also provides some picturesque walks/runs or bike rides, particularly across the bridge towards Key Biscayne, or the jaunt around Brickell Key.
Coral Gables – Coral Gables, the City Beautiful, is the home to the undergraduate campus of the University of Miami. Historical landmarks include the Biltmore Hotel, Merrick House and Venetian Pool. Dowtown Coral Gables is dissected by Miracle Mile, a pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined street spanning Coral Way from Le Jeune Road (42 Ave) to Douglas Road (SW 37th Street). The business district is filled with Mediterranean architecture and boasts more than 350 merchants, restaurants, art dealers, boutiques, and lively cultural venues. Giralda Plaza was recently transformed into a vibrant experience with the installation of the Umbrella Sky Project. Coral Gables remains a sophisticated destination to live, shop, play and work. A variety of housing options and lower-rise condos and apartments are available. For those looking for a little more room, one-family homes are also available for rent. Coral Gables remains a short 15-20 minute drive from the hospitals, and is also accessible via the Metrorail line.
Doral – Incorporated in 2003, the city of Doral lies just west of Miami International Airport and remains one of the fastest-growing cities in South Florida. A large Venezuelan community provides loads of Hispanic flavor, and Doral boasts a world-class golf course where the Blue Monster hosted the Doral Open on the PGA Tour from 1962 to 2006. The myriad of restaurants, shops, and parks continue to grow in Doral. Doral provides a nice sub-urban lifestyle with quick access to the airport and the hospitals via the 836 expressway.
Miami Beach – Miami Beach extends from South Pointe Park at the southern tip of South Beach, northwards towards Mid beach, North Beach, Surfside and Bal Harbour. South Beach, a.k.a SoBe, remains one of the top vacation destinations of the world. It offers many nightclubs, restaurants, hotels and boutiques. Beyond the hustle-and-bustle of South Beach it is still possible to find some tranquility and enjoy jogs along the beach in some quiet ocean-side communities. Areas of interest include: Lummus Park, Lincoln Road and the Art Deco Historic district with pastel-colored buildings along the iconic Ocean Drive. Free outdoor concerts and movies are a popular draw at the New World Symphony. From a living perspective, while the high-rise, all-inclusive buildings are usually outside a fellow’s budget, many smaller duplexes, apartments, townhouses, and condominiums still provide a variety of options to choose from. No mass transit public transportation from the beach to the hospitals exists. However, it is a quick commute across the Macarthur Causeway from the beach to downtown Miami and the Hospitals. The drive itself is an eye-opening experience along the causeway alongside the cruise ships on one side and multi-million dollar celebrity homes on the other.
Events in Miami
Miami Spice Month – August 1 – Sept 30 2020 – Showcases the best of diverse cuisine in Greater Miami & the beaches featuring 3 course meals at reasonable prices ($23 for lunch/brunch, and $39 for dinner)
Art Basel Miami Beach – An annual international art fair with private collectors and directors, curators, trustees and patrons of nearly 200 museum and institution groups.
Coconut Grove Arts Festival – Feb 13 -15 2021 – An annual 3-day outdoor event held every President’s Day weekend in charming Coconut Grove which celebrates fine arts, live performances and local flavors
Miami International Boat Show – Feb 11-15 2021 – For boating enthusiasts, an annual internationally renown boating show will take place on Virginia Key
Places to visit in Miami
Adrian Arscht Center for the Performing Arts – The Performing Arts Center located in Downtown Miami is one of the largest performing arts center in the United States and is located at the site of a former Sears Department Store, an Art Deco building from 1929. The Arscht Center hosts a wide variety of events including music concerts, symphony, opera, ballet, dance, Broadway shows, and other live performances events.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens – A magnificent botanical garden with walking paths surrounded by a large variety of tropical plants, and natural beauty. During a visit to Fairchild, you can walk a self-guided tour, learn from experts who provide talks on horticulture and conservation science, and experience butterflies in the Conservatory. The Garden includes many collections, classes, and natural habitats. There are also various exhibits and special events throughout the year.
Perez Art Museum – PAMM is a modern, contemporary art museum dedicated to collecting and exhibiting international art of the 20th and 21st century.
Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science – Recently opened in 2017, the Frost Museum has quickly become a kid-friendly, favorite activity in Miami with a Planetarium, Aquarium and Science Museum all in one.
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens – A National Historic Landmark, Vizcaya, is a breathtaking remnant from the Gilded Age. The estate is the former home of John Deering, has 34 decorated rooms, and sits on Biscayne Bay surrounded by ten acres of formal gardens. From its mangrove shoreline and rockland hammock, there is an iconic view of Biscayne Bay. It is a favorite site for weddings, photo shoots, and other events throughout the year. Tours and educational classes for adults and children are offered as well.
Wynwood Walls – Wynwood Walls is the outdoor museum highlighting the works of some of the world’s greatest graffiti and street art genre artists in Miami.