Miami's Best Photo Spots

In 1995, three years after Hurricane Andrew, architectural firm William Lane was commissioned to design some very charmingly outlandish lifeguard towers. Each one is unique with vividly painted hues. The bright colors such as magenta, cyan, lime green, and sunflower yellow are a stark contrast to the natural ecru of the sand. Bring your beach gear and head out for a walk along the coastline! 

St. Bernard de Clairvaux Church was a medieval Spanish monastery cloister built in the town of Sacramenia in Segovia, Spain in the 12th century. How did it get here you ask? The monastery was dismantled in the 20th century and shipped to New York City and eventually reassembled at 16711 West Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach, Florida. Now it's an Episcopal church and tourist attraction. The church is call...

Today's art is all about digital technology that immerses you in an interactive experience. This location is one of three, the other two being in D.C. and NYC. Digital artists, Adrien M. and Claire B., invite you to surround yourself with 10 digital landscapes, each one bearing a different theme. Admission is around $25 per person and is open from 10 AM to 10 PM. New sessions start every 45 minutes. (Sub...

There's a little neighborhood in Miami that caters to the bohemian-spirited. Wynwood Walls used to be a bunch of decrepit warehouses until the early 2000s when real estate developer Tony Goldman turned it into a mecca of folk and graffiti art. Today it is a colorful maze of murals painted by people from all over the world who bring their own cultures and experiences to the artwork you see there.

Located in the heart of the Art Deco District, this museum utilizes its collection to illustrate the history of erotic art. You'll find drawings, paintings, and photographs ranging from folk art to well-known artists and their artwork. Rembrandt, Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Fernando Botero, Robert Mapplethorpe, Helmut Newton, and Bunny Yeager are only a few named out of 4,000!

Innovative, progressive, and modern describes this Miami neighborhood. This is a haven for art lovers with over 130 galleries, antique stores, and creative services. Two of the most noteworthy sculptures are a geodesic dome designed by Buckminster Fuller and the giant statue of architect Le Corbusier. The area also offers haute couture such as Prada, Christian Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent. Not bad for wh...

Previously known as Villa Vizcaya, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is the former villa and estate of businessman James Deering of the Deering McCormick-International Harvester fortune. The estate includes: extensive Italian Renaissance gardens, native woodland landscapes, and historic village outbuildings. Miami-Dade County owns the Vizcaya property which is now known as the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. It...

This interactive zoological park was formerly known as Parrot Jungle but moved from another location to its present location in 2007 and was renamed to Jungle Island. Jungle Island features: Jungle Theatre where visitors can encounter wildlife from the world round that includes a liger (a cross between a lion and tiger), a trained bird show at the Parrot Bowl, and reptiles and other animals at the Serpen...

The Bacardi Building in Miami is at its most beautiful when lit up against the nighttime sky. It was built in 1963 by Cuban architect Enrique Gutierrez and the citizens of Miami are campaigning to make this building a historical landmark. One of the most amazing features of the building are the tower murals constructed from 28,000 hand-painted and glazed tiles.

Nicknamed "The Historic Spanish Village," the Old World and the New World collide beautifully here. Trees and bougainvillea are nestled between restaurants and shops. The development was started in the 1920s as an artists' colony. It took its inspiration from the villages of Spain and France. Boutiques and cigar shops do business alongside national chains such as Forever 21. Shops stay open late and so d...

Azúcar is the Spanish word for "sugar" and is an important ingredient in frozen desserts! Freshly made Cuban style ice cream and sorbets are whipped up and scooped into waffle cones, but the crowning flavor is the Abuela Maria. Loaded with guava chunks and Maria biscuit crumbles, the Abuela Maria is touted by customers and critics alike. Try other unique varieties such as "balsamic strawberry" or seasona...

A rectangular hotel makes a giant splash of color on the 13th Street side. It almost reminds you of the SMPTE color bars on TV sets. 124 rooms are appointed in an elegantly minimalist way. Or, if you're in the market for housing, take a look at the residence tower which contains 7-figure condos for sale. 

This 30-acre wildlife park was established in 1933 for the study and exhibition of endangered monkeys in their semi-natural habitats. The park hosts near 500 primates of 18 different species running free and guests can walk through a series of tunnel cages, hence their tagline: "Where the humans are caged and the monkeys run wild." The park also includes an Amazonian rainforest.

Golden sun, beige sands, and aquamarine waters are what characterizes Miami Beach. As one of the most popular tourist destinations, it's fitting that a "Welcome" sign would be erected. It's on the left shoulder of the road as you take the exit off the 195 for the 907. As this is a busy highway interchange, have the passenger snap a shot while you're driving by!

When Castro came to power in Cuba in 1959 many of the exiles came to this enclave of Miami. Thus, the Cuban flavor of the neighborhood is strong--ingrained in the architecture, restaurants, shops, and music. Before 1959, the area was settled and developed by Jewish people. And not to be excluded, people from Honduras, Nicaragua, and South American countries also added to its unique culture. Painted on th...

One of the most famous neighborhoods of Miami has a mixture of Cuban, Jewish, Honduran, Nicaraguan, and many more communities lending their flair. Nearby on Calle Ocho, you can take pictures of artistic wall murals that depict the multicultural and Cuban experience in Little Havana. Find many brochures for the different places to learn, shop, or eat. You can also buy plenty of souvenirs here. For current...

A tribute to Miami's favorite pastime, this giant red-and-white set of dominoes overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway. The "M" shape of the slanted pieces memorialize, albeit controversially, the late real estate developer, Jose Milton. Albert Pallot Park with its great ocean views is a clean green area, wheelchair accessible and family-friendly. (Submitted by Pam Moran)