Now far away in my new neck of the woods, the Morbihan Breton, reminds me again of my Florida, The old Central and South Florida of my family and birthplace of my 3 sons, and I am nostalgic enough to tell you about other towns fond of us over the years. After doing the trajects America ,Europe, America , and back to Europe, I found me a picture in my cd rom vault that should be in my blog for you and me, I like to remind myself of Miami Beach, my first visit to Miami in 1974 my aunt and cousins took me here which did not look at all like it does now ! Therefore, here is my take on this is Miami Beach !!! Hope you enjoy it as I.
The City of Miami Beach is located in Miami-Dade County, in the state of Florida, USA. It faces the city of Miami separated from it by Biscayne Bay while its shores are bathed by the Atlantic Ocean. Its Art Deco architecture along Ocean Drive and its expansive beaches make it an internationally renowned destination. Established as a “town” on March 26, 1915, Miami Beach became a “city” on May 1, 1917. It is a common misconception that Miami Beach is a neighborhood of the city of Miami; in reality, they are two distinct cities ok.
Lincoln Road,(see pic) was my favorite for walks, eating and shopping much prefer than the southbeach side, This street runs between 16th and 17th Streets, a nationally renowned destination for outdoor dining and shopping, featuring galleries showcasing the work of well-known designers, artists, and photographers. Lincoln Road is a street that stretches across 14 city blocks, running from east to west between the ocean and Biscayne Bay. The section between Alton Road and Collins Avenue is a pedestrian-only zone, lined with shops, restaurants, and art galleries. Regarded as the starting point of the South Beach hub, it is the oldest commercial thoroughfare in Miami Beach. With its Art Deco buildings, it is an unmissable destination during any visit to Miami Beach! By day, the atmosphere is pleasant and family-friendly; the fountains, trees, and small outdoor terraces make it a truly delightful place. In the evening, the street becomes livelier, filled with music and street performers. Restaurants and bars fill up, and the area grows more crowded. For a stunning view of Miami Beach, I recommend heading to the 5th floor of the parking garage located at 1111 Lincoln Road, a structure that is, in itself, an architectural work of art designed by Herzog & de Meuron. Built from glass and concrete, this entirely open-air building offers a 360-degree view of the city. The complex also houses luxury boutiques and an upscale restaurant.
The Art Deco District is the world’s largest collection of Art Deco architecture, comprising hundreds of hotels, apartment buildings, and other structures constructed between 1923 and 1943. The district features examples of Mediterranean, Streamline Moderne, and Art Deco styles. This historic area is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Lenox Court , 6th Street , and Dade Boulevard running along the Collins Canal. South Beach aka SoBe or simply the Beach is the area stretching from Biscayne Street aka South Pointe Drive, one block south of 1st Street, up to approximately 23rd Street is one of the most popular parts of Miami Beach. There is much to see here; my favorites over the years living near were the Bass Museum, Eden Roc Miami Beach Hotel, Fontainebleau Hotel, Versace Mansion (Casa Casuarina), Lincoln Road, Miami Beach Architectural District, Miami Beach Botanical Garden ,Ocean Drive, South Beach , and South Pointe Park
A bit of history I like tell us that inhabited in the distant past by the Tequesta Native Americans, the once-swampy and inhospitable strip of land where Miami Beach now stands was not permanently settled until the end of the 19C. Before the name Miami Beach became the standard, the area was sometimes referred to as Ocean Beach. Miami Beach encompasses a long, narrow barrier island located 4 km off the coast, along with 16 smaller islets scattered throughout Biscayne Bay. Furthermore, in 1905, the government commissioned the dredging of a waterway at the southern tip of the island to connect Biscayne Bay to the Atlantic Ocean; the resulting severed portion was named Fisher Island (very upscale and still home of my boss of many years), In 1870, father and son Henry and Charles Lum purchased land on Miami Beach for 75 cents an acre. The first structure built on this uninhabited oceanfront was the Biscayne House of Refuge, constructed in 1876 by the United States Life-Saving Service through an executive order issued by President Ulysses S. Grant, at approximately 72nd Street, and i was destroyed in the 1926 Miami Hurricane and never rebuilt. Miami Beach began constructing a coconut plantation along its shore in the 1880s, One of the project’s investors was agriculturist John S. Collins, (see Collins ave today) who achieved success by buying out other partners and planting different crops, notably avocados, on the land that later became Miami Beach.There were bathhouses and food stands, but no hotel until Brown’s Hotel was built in 1915 (still standing, at 112 Ocean Drive).Carl Fisher was the main promoter of Miami Beach’s development in the 1920s To accommodate the wealthy tourists, several grand hotels were built, among them: The Flamingo Hotel, The Fleetwood Hotel, The Floridian, The Nautilus, and the Roney Plaza Hotel. In the 1920s, Fisher and others created much of Miami Beach as landfill by dredging Biscayne Bay; this human-made territory includes Star, Palm, and Hibiscus Islands, the Sunset Islands, much of Normandy Isle, and all of the Venetian Islands except Belle Isle (very thought out residences today). The Miami Beach peninsula became an island in April 1925 when Haulover Cut was opened, connecting the ocean to the bay, north of present-day Bal Harbour. The great 1926 Miami hurricane put an end to this prosperous era of the Florida Boom ,By the 1940s and 50s, an increasing number of Jewish families built hotels. The first skyscraper was the 18-story Lord Tarleton Hotel built in 1940 , After Fidel Castro’s rise to power in 1959, a wave of Cuban refugees entered South Florida and dramatically changed the demographic make-up of the area, indeed,
The Lincold Road in Miami Beach: https://lincolnroad.com/
The City of Miami Beach and things to do/see: https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/visit-miami-beach/
The Miami and the Beaches tourist office on Miami Beach : https://www.miamiandbeaches.fr/l/ressources-affaires/ville-de-miami-beach/16357
The local French District gear to the French expats and visiting in French : https://frenchdistrict.com/floride/articles/que-faire-a-miami-beach-visiter-activites-incontournables/
There you go folks , now you more of this off the beaten path City of my Florida, We fondly remembered the Sunshine State, and love it. We made a decision to move to France and we do not regretted either as it has been a roller coaster of fun and memories. My dear late wife Martine love it too,and never to be forgotten. Again, hope you enjoy this nostalgic post on this is Miami Beach !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
