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Miami Welcomes Gay and Lesbian Visitors
An article by the Greater Miami Convention and
Visitors Bureau welcoming gay and lesbian visitors
to Miami Florida.
One of the hottest spots in the gay universe for its hospitality
and sexy, sun-splashed vibe, Greater Miami has been famously rolling
out the welcome mat for gay men and women from around the world for
more than a decade.
Circuit Parties and Special Events
Sophisticated and seductive South Beach rocks with a sizzling array
of very gay-friendly and specifically gay-oriented lodgings,
restaurants and nightspots. And it all shifts into overdrive when
Miami hosts three of the planet's foremost "circuit" events: late
November's White Party, March's Winter Party, and Aqua Girl Weekend in May.
Beyond South Beach
Yet beyond all the glitz, glamour, and partying till dawn, Miami
boasts a sophisticated, multi-faceted scene in both South Beach
and beyond. Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Little Havana and Bal
Harbour vie with South Beach and downtown Miami to offer up a
head-spinning mix of world-class dining, culture, shopping and
eco-tourism.
Multi-Ethnic Dining
No class of offerings is more diverse and sometimes exotic than
the dining scene. The birthplace of Nuevo Latino cuisine, Miami
is home to some of America's hottest chefs, who dish up award-winning
fare. For budget-minded visitors, August-September's "Miami Spice
Restaurant Month offers special prix fixe prices. And though
heavily Latin-flavored, Greater Miami's multi-ethnic gumbo lets
visitors galloping-gourmet their way around the world on any budget.
Theaters and Art Museums
Turning to sustenance for the soul, drama aficionados will love
quality theaters such as the Coconut Grove Playhouse and there
are scores of other performing arts venues for every conceivable
taste and pocketbook, from salsa to symphonies and blues to
ballet. The abundance of art galleries and institutions can
hold its own with those of most major American cities. You
could spend the better part of a week just prowling through the
likes of Miami Beach's Wolfsonian and Bass museums, the Lowe
Museum of Art in Coral Gables, downtown's Miami Art Museum,
and the Museum of Contemporary Art off Biscayne Boulevard on
Miami's increasingly hip (and gay) "upper East Side." In late
2006, the Miami Performing Arts Center is scheduled to debut
in downtown Miami, featuring the finest performing arts,
including the Concert Association of Florida, Florida Grand
Opera, Miami City Ballet and the New World Symphony.
Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
A significant chunk of the culture is specifically oriented
to gay and lesbian audiences, such as April's annual Gay and
Lesbian Film Festival. The festival showcases groundbreaking
world cinema, and also holds special screenings throughout the
year. Venues like the Shores Performing Arts Theatre in Miami
Shores regularly feature gay-themed works by lavender footlights.
Fabulous World Class Shopping
Also raised to an art form in Miami is America's true national
sport - shopping! From the funky, sometimes outré shops of
SoBe to the chic boutiques of the Grove and the Gables,
there's something for every taste and wallet. And don't pass
up a visit to the classic Bal Harbour Shops, America's
top-grossing shopping center. It boasts nearly 100 upscale
retailers, along with special events and fine dining. Meanwhile,
interior deign enthusiasts will get a charge out of the Miami
Design District just above downtown, with 18 blocks of showrooms,
boutiques, and art galleries that span just about every taste
and time period.
Beaches and Outdoor Activities
Then, of course, the great outdoors comes in all shapes, sizes,
and speeds in America's most sun-worshipping big city. The gay
scene at SoBe's 12th Street Beach has been celebrated far and
wide, but 20 minutes north, the gay section of Haulover Beach
Park is just as popular with locals, if not more so (maybe
something to do with the clothing-optional stretch?). Meanwhile,
20 minutes south on Key Biscayne, the beach at Bill Baggs State
Park is more low-key and romantically picturesque, complete with
lighthouse. Or avoid sand in your suit at the Gables' lush,
romantic Venetian Pool, where a strong gay contingent frolics
amid the waterfalls and grottoes along with everyone else.
Don't forget, too, that you can combine the outdoors with
culture by taking a number of cool biking and walking tours of
South Beach's Deco District and other colorful parts of Miami.
Active Sports and Eco Tours
For the more active, there's volleyball on SoBe's gay beach, but
also windsurfing and snorkeling off Key Biscayne, zooming along
the Intracoastal Waterway on wave runners, canoeing near
Vizcaya (the elegant mansion that is the site of the White
Party itself), plenty of golf and tennis and, of course,
skimming across the Everglades in an airboat. Take it to the
next level with a new series of expert-guided eco-adventure
tours, which lets you hike, bike, kayak, and snorkel through
the area's top nature sites.
World Famous Nightlife
Finally, when it comes to nightlife, Miami Beach offers many clubs
which cater to every taste and style -- but don't overlook the
wealth of goodies across the causeways from South Beach. Lots
of mixed or mostly gay nightspots are peppered throughout downtown
out to the heavily Latin areas to the west and south. You'll get
a taste of a bigger cross-section of gay Latinoamérica than
anyplace else in the hemisphere, and a guaranteed blast even if
you don't habla español.
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Related Links
Miami for Gay and Lesbian Visitors
Miami for Other Visitors
Miami for Local Residents
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