Best of Miami Beach in 7 Days

Day 1
Grab your lotion and head to the ocean, more specifically Ocean Drive on South Beach, and catch some rays while relaxing on the white sands. Afterward, take a guided or self-guided tour of the Art Deco District to see what all the fuss is about. Keep the evening free to socialize at Ocean Drive cafés.

Day 2
Drive through Little Havana to witness the heartbeat of Miami's Cuban culture on your way south to Coconut Grove's Vizcaya. Wrap up the evening a few blocks away in downtown Coconut Grove, enjoying its partylike mood and many nightspots.

Day 3
Head over to Coral Gables to take in the eye-popping display of 1920s Mediterranean revival architecture in the neighborhoods surrounding the city center and the majestic Biltmore Hotel; then take a dip in the fantastic thematic Venetian Pool. That night have a fine meal in Coral Gables.

Day 4
Make a visit to the beaches of Virginia Key and Key Biscayne. Take a diving trip or fishing excursion, learn to wind surf, or do absolutely nothing but watch the water.

Day 5
Step back to the 1950s with a cruise up Collins Avenue to some of the monolithic hotels, such as the Fontainebleau Hilton and Eden Roc; continue north to the elegant shops of Bal Harbour; and return to South Beach for an evening of shopping, drinking, and outdoor dining at Lincoln Road Mall.

Day 6
Experience to the full the multicultural, cosmopolitan, tropical mélange that is Greater Miami and its beaches. Use the Miami Metromover to ride above downtown Miami before touring the streets (if possible, on a tour with historian Dr. Paul George). Take time to visit the Miami-Dade Cultural Center, home of art and history museums. Or go check out the Miami Design District's art galleries, which showcase up-and-coming local and international artists amidst a hip, urban setting of decorator showrooms, antique stores and hideaway nightclubs. The nearby Wynwood Art District is also worth exploring. In the evening check out the shops and clubs at Bayside Marketplace.

Day 7
Visit South Miami, site of Fairchild Tropical Garden and the Shops at Sunset Place. Keep the evening free to revisit your favorite nightspots. (Copyright fodors.com)