GUIDE TO MIAMI, FLORIDA
Experience the beauty of Miami, the seat of Miami-Dade County, the second-most populous metropolis in the southeastern United States, with an inexpensive rental car that allows you to visit all the well-known attractions. With a population of around 5.5 Miami's metro area is the eighth-most populous and fourth-largest urban area in the U.S. It has many beautiful and wonderful people and places to get to know. Bask in the sun and enjoy the surf then drive your rental car from CompareAutoRentals.com to all the wonderful Miami sites.
HISTORY
Miami was first settled some 10,000 years ago by the natives who built settlements along the bay and named them Mayami. The Spaniards came in search of treasures and claimed the land until 1821, when the United States decided to create another state (to become Florida) and acquired the land from the Spaniards. The early settlers at the time were Bahamian seamen as well as the Seminole Indian tribe, which had been forced out of their land in neighboring states. Miami remained a wild tract of undeveloped land until its pioneering visionaries saw Henry Flagler’s railroad built in 1896 where soon after wealthy travelers came and saw the rise of the city soon thereafter. A killer hurricane in September 1926, led to a development and recovery in 1935 with the building of new hotels and new apartment buildings in what is today, the art deco district. Shortly after this, World War II erupted and the influx of veterans once again led to greater development and establishment of luxury hotels like the Fontainebleau and the Eden Roc.
Castro’s political coup in Cuba led to a wave of an estimated half million middle and upper class Cuban immigrants to Miami between the 60's to the 80's. This created a Latin flavor which was essential in transforming Miami into a wonderful international city. Subsequent waves of immigration from the Caribbean and Latin America further transformed the city into what many believe is a magical city. Today, Miami Florida is a multicultural city with its Little Havana, Little Haiti and Little Venezuela which has a growing economy based mostly on the tourism industry. Miami is a magical paradise with its beaches, attractions, hot nightlife, beautiful hotels, and vacation apartments for all its welcome visitors.
NAVIGATING THE CITY
Hop in your Miami rental car and visit what is thought to be one of the oldest building in the Western Hemisphere, the Ancient Spanish Monastery located in North Miami Beach. Built for Cistercian monks in Segovia, Spain in 1141, it served them well for over 700 years until a 1930s social revolution led to the seizure and conversion of this historic building into a granary and stable. William Randolph Hearst (Hearst Newspaper magnate) purchased the Cloisters and the monastery's outbuildings in _____, and had them dismantled stone by stone, packing the pieces into more than 11,000 wooden crates, to be shipped to the United States. Some 30 years later, Miami developers took on a labor of love and reassembled the monastery, stone by stone, where it stands majestically today as a testament to its beauty and rich history. Cruise in your rental car down Ocean Drive to the famous Art Deco Historic District, in Miami Beach which will leave you breathless. Take in the beauty of the art deco style and breathe in its crisp lines and white facades framed with beautiful and sleek neon lines. Don’t forget to visit the beautiful Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, once a winder home to agricultural industrialist, James Deering, it is now a National Historic Landmark and home to many weddings and society functions. Take the steps down the magnificent gardens to the water, and wonder at the amazing Gilded Age the mansion still embodies with its European antiques and art throughout the house and inviting tropical gardens of the property. If you can, set aside some time to see, the Deering Estate at Cutler, another beautiful landmark home, built in the roaring 20s by Charles Deering, brother to James. Located on Biscayne Bay, the vast estate offers a more outdoorsy experience with its 444 acres of natural preserve on the Bay. You can rent a canoe for the day, go on a guided nature walk and picnic by the sunny waters of Biscayne Bay. Looking for a place to cool off as you plan your next adventure, stop by the Venetian Pool, a historic landmark and swimming pool carved out of Florida coral rock and adorned with scenic waterfalls, stone bridges and breezy little alcoves. Feeling a little nostalgic and eclectic, drive south on Old Dixie Highway and back in time to the charming Cauley Square Historic Village. Lunch at the Village Chalet Restaurant and the Tea Room, filled with delicate china, crystal and lace. Bask in the whimsical as you leisurely saunter among the lovely curving pathways and specialty antique shops and boutiques. Want some excitement, go west to the Everglades to experience the vibrant history and culture of the Miccosukee Tribe at the Miccosukee Indian Village & Boat Ride. Watch in amazement as the Tribe members engage in live alligator demonstrations, teach fun beadwork and basket weaving classes. More adventurous spirits can take scenic airboat tours through the Everglades.
WEATHER FORECAST –
Miami is a seaport city, home to hot, humid weather with occasional cooling breezes. Temperatures range between the 70s and 90s. The rainy season runs from May through October and drops the temperature somewhat but only to the 70s. But even so, July and August are the hotter months in Miami. Always check the weather report during these months to secure your umbrella but remember, it is usually only for a little while, until the splendor of the sun shines again.
RESERVE YOUR CAR IN MIAMI TODAY
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