There are beaches, and there are Miami beaches.

Here, the cityscape ends dramatically right where the sand begins. And then you walk to the beautiful ocean water, solidly above 80 degrees in August, warmer than the average temperature of the nighttime air.

Beach sports end only with the imagination. Typical activities include body surfing, wind surfing, boating, sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, kite flying, sandcastle sculpting and just plain laying around!

Certainly, some of the distinction is owed to the people who play here. And this may be most true in South Beach, “America’s Riviera,” where the sand, sidewalks and cafes are speckled with the rich, famous and good looking. Clothes fit loose and limp or tight and wet. And if you don’t have the coin for expensive threads, just take ‘em off. Put on a bathing suit, some oil and head for the water -- there’s no better look. And, you know what they say, “there’s no shape like judo shape.”

About an hour drive south of Miami is Key Largo, the first you'll reach in a chain of about 1,700 islands known as the Florida Keys.

It is also where you find some of the best diving in the United States, world class sport fishing, boating, snorkeling, and sightseeing like nowhere else.

The crescent stretch of jade-green islands are threaded by a remarkable roadway and bridges called the overseas Highway, (US Highway 1).  Included in this drive is the Seven Mile Bridge, which crosses nearly that distance between two islands in the Middle Keys.  Funky and fun communities, some with comfortable accommodations, dot the islands and highway.  About a third of the Keys' 79,500 people live in Key West, a city near the westernmost tip of the island chain.

Oh, my.  This is going to be tough.  Where to start.

Better just dive in.  Or perhaps you should do some careful planning, peruse some webguides, inquire at the hotel desk ...

As with anything else in Miami, there is tremendous variety here, from outlet shopping to upscale boutiques.  Look and you'll find it.

Known as "America's Riviera," South Beach has become one of the coolest, trendiest communities in the nation, with a see-and-be-seen parade of wealthy and well known glitter that is unmatched.

This is the home of Miami's famous Art Deco District, much of it from the 30s and ablaze in the signature neon shades - this is a great destination for shopping, dining, nightclubbing, and of course, people watching.

Attractions?  Like beaches and restaurants and coral reefs?

No, there's more, and lots of it!

Miami is home to a zoo where you can pet giraffes, an aquarium where you can splash around with dolphins, an alligator farm, a monkey jungle, a children's museum and still more, all of it excellent for kids.  Check out the links for locations, times, and prices.

Swimming in Everglades National Park is NOT recommended.

You guessed it: crocodiles, alligators, water moccasins, and snapping turtles flourish in the fresh water, while sharks and barracuda enjoy the saltier habitat.

This is one of those day trips from Miami that illustrates just how wildly diverse life is in Southern Florida.  And while you may wisely forgo that swim, there are a number of popular hiking trails near the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center less than a 40 minute drive from Miami.

December to March is the busiest season for tourists, partly because it is the slowest season for mosquitoes - that's a hint if you're thinking about going in August.  But armed with a can of bug spray and a good eye for big lizards, you can't miss with this one.

Do it.

Miami culture begins with the city itself, including the Art Deco District.  And within the city are a number of museums and theaters that share with residents and visitors alike a broad spectrum of aesthetic and cultural experience.