| Miami Florida, a major city in Southeastern | | | | Miami is home to the Port of Miami, the |
| Florida is the largest city in the South | | | | largest cruise ship port in the world having |
| Florida metropolitan area, which includes 3 | | | | served 3,605,201 passengers in 2005. It is |
| neighboring counties, Miami-Dade, Broward, | | | | also one of the nation's busiest cargo ports; |
| and Palm Beach County. Miami is currently | | | | the port covers 518 acres and has 7 passenger |
| undergoing a major building boom with over 80 | | | | terminals. The top port imports are |
| high rise towers under construction and | | | | alcoholic beverages, concrete, bricks, tile, |
| worldwide, Miami currently ranks second for | | | | cement, clay, and stone. Most common exports |
| the most buildings under construction that | | | | are cargo, paper newsprints towels and |
| will be over 500 feet tall. | | | | textiles. The most imports come from China |
| | | | and the most exports go to Honduras. Eight |
| Miami was incorporated in July 1896. There | | | | cruise lines sail form the port of Miami: |
| were only 300 or so voters. By 1940 the | | | | Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, |
| population had grown to 172,172. Census | | | | Costa Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Norwegian |
| Bureau estimates for Miami proper and the | | | | Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Royal Caribbean |
| surrounding counties making up the larger | | | | International, and Windjammer Barefoot |
| metropolitan area was 5.4 million. | | | | Cruises. |
| | | | |
| Miami's population growth is described as | | | | Local Public transportation operated by |
| explosive and has been driven by internal | | | | Miami-Dade Transit includes Metrobus, Metro |
| migration other areas of the country and | | | | Mover, and Metrorail. Metrorail is an |
| immigration. Latin American and Caribbean | | | | elevated rapid transit system. There is also |
| islanders heavily influence greater Miami's | | | | Tri rail, a suburban rail system that |
| culture. Many of these residents speak | | | | connects the major cities and airports of the |
| either Spanish or Haitian Creole. | | | | South Florida metropolitan area. The |
| | | | Metrobus system is for those seeking |
| Miami is regarded as a world city. With | | | | destinations not served by main transit |
| cultural ties to all of the Americas and | | | | lines. There are several projects to expand |
| especially the Latin Americas, Miami is an | | | | the systems by funding from sales tax |
| important city in the Hispanic world. Many | | | | surcharge and a new light rail system is |
| other foreign countries maintain consulates | | | | proposed to connect Downtown Miami with Miami |
| in Miami. | | | | Beach. |
| | | | |
| Miami International Airport and the Port of | | | | The final station for Amtrak's Atlantic Coast |
| Miami are among the nation's busiest ports of | | | | services is located in the Miami suburb of |
| entry. Additionally downtown Miami has the | | | | Hialeah, Florida. Miami Dade County is |
| largest concentration of international banks | | | | served by four Interstate Highways ( I-75, |
| in the country. | | | | I-95, I-195, I-395) and several US Highways |
| | | | including U.S. Routes 1,27,41, and 441. For |
| Tourism is also an important industry. The | | | | the second year in a row Miami has been named |
| beaches of Greater Miami are beautiful and | | | | as having the rudest people in the United |
| draw visitors from all around the nation and | | | | States. |
| around the world. The Art Deco nightclub | | | | |
| district in South Beach is regarded as | | | | Miami has a significant place in pop culture. |
| glamorous. Visitors are also drawn to the | | | | Many television shows have been based in |
| climate. | | | | Miami. Nip/Tuck; CSI: Miami are currently |
| | | | filmed there. The Jackie Gleason show, Good |
| During the cold winter months many retirees | | | | Morning, Miami, The Golden Girls, and |
| leave the frosty and snowbound regions and | | | | Surfside 6 were all based there but none did |
| move into apartments or condos to spend the | | | | more for changing Miami's image to "cool" |
| winter basking the 70 to 80 degree average | | | | than Miami Vice. The popular Animal Planet |
| temperatures. Most of the year is warm and | | | | reality show Miami Animal Police is also |
| humid and summers are almost identical to the | | | | taped from there. |
| climate in the Caribbean tropics. There is | | | | |
| only one recorded day with a temperature in | | | | There are many production studios in town |
| triple digits. July 21, 192 had a record | | | | filming Latin television and movies. In |
| temperature of 100 degrees. High summer | | | | Hialeah and Doral there are many television |
| humidity often boosts the heat index to about | | | | programs filmed in Spanish. The most famous |
| 110 degrees. On January 20, 1977 Miami | | | | of these, S`bado Gigante, is a Saturday night |
| experienced the only recorded snowfall. | | | | variety show and seen through the U.S., South |
| | | | America, and Europe, Miami has been the |
| Miami's location between two bodies of water | | | | backdrop for several movies as well. From |
| makes Miami statistically the most likely | | | | lighthearted fare such as Ace Ventura, Pet |
| major city in the world to be hit by | | | | Detective to the scorching drama, Scarface. |
| hurricanes. Miami has suffered much from | | | | |
| Hurricanes Cleo (1964), Betsy (1965), Andrew | | | | The music scene is strongly influenced by the |
| (1992) Irene (1999) and Hurricanes Katrina | | | | Latin American immigrants who brought dances |
| and Wilma in 2205. But the citizens of Miami | | | | such as the rumba from their homeland. These |
| will not be defeated by wind and rain; they | | | | dances are very popular in American culture. |
| clean up and rebuild. | | | | |
| | | | The Latin American disco group, Foxy, KC and |
| The cultural base of Miami is rapidly | | | | the Sunshine Bad and Miami area natives |
| shifting. Non-Hispanic whites make up only | | | | George McCrae and Teri De Sario rose to |
| 11.8 % of the city's population with 40.9% | | | | popularity in the 1970 disco era. In the |
| Hispanic. 66% of Miami's populations speaks | | | | 1980's Gloria Estefan hit pop music with the |
| Spanish, 25.5% English and 5% French. | | | | Cuban oriented hits "Conga" and "Bad Boys". |
| Although English, Spanish and French Creole | | | | Most recently hip-hop made a big splash with |
| are the official languages, other languages | | | | artist including 2Live Crew, J. T. Money, |
| that are spoken throughout the city include | | | | Trick Daddy, Trina, and the late DJ Uncle Al. |
| Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Hebrew, | | | | Will Smith based the song "Miami" in his |
| Italian and Russian. While Miami is regarded | | | | "Big Willie Style" album The Latin star |
| as a city of mainly Hispanic and Caribbean | | | | Shakira was given the key to the city in |
| immigrants, the area is home to of the | | | | 2006. |
| largest Israeli and Russian communities. | | | | |
| | | | One of the most endearing attractions the |
| In addition to being home to major organized | | | | Miami area is the Seaquarium. If Dolphins |
| professional sports teams in Football, | | | | excite you then this is the place! Dolphins |
| Basketball, Hockey and Baseball Miami is also | | | | walking on water, sea lions, endangered sea |
| home to Paso Fino horses where competitions | | | | turtles make this a world class marine life |
| are held at Tropical Park Equestrian Center. | | | | entertainment center. There are eight |
| | | | different marine animal shows and a wonderful |
| Miami Dade Public Schools is the largest | | | | summer camp program allowing children to have |
| school district in Florida and the fourth | | | | educational activities and hands on |
| largest in the United Sates with a student | | | | interaction with Dolphins. |
| enrollment of 414,128. 52% of students are | | | | |
| Hispanic, 25% African American and 6% | | | | What may not be so well known about the |
| non-white of other minorities. This is one | | | | Seaquarium is that the beautiful facilities |
| of the few public school districts offering | | | | and ample field space offer an exciting |
| optimal bilingual education. Florida | | | | alternative venue to host convention group |
| International University and Miami Dade | | | | receptions, company picnics, and team |
| College are both public secondary schools in | | | | building affairs. |
| the city and University of Miami, Florida | | | | |
| Memorial University, Johnson and Wales | | | | The Seaquarium sits on a 38 acre tropical |
| University are private Universities. Barry | | | | paradise with spectacular views overlooking |
| University and St Thomas University are both | | | | Biscayne Bay and offers a wonderful Swim With |
| Private Catholic institutions. | | | | Dolphins adventure. Participants have a |
| | | | unique opportunity to take part in this |
| Miami International Airport is one of the | | | | exciting program, which is designed to teach |
| busiest international airports in the world. | | | | about the physiology, behavior and natural |
| They cater to over 35 million passengers a | | | | history of dolphins in an experience not |
| year. It is recognized as the single largest | | | | available through printed pages. |
| gateway for American Airlines. Miami is the | | | | |
| third largest international port of entry for | | | | Guests do not only see but also may touch and |
| foreign air passengers third only to New | | | | learn what the dolphin is all about. You are |
| York's JFK International Airport and Los | | | | invited to join the Training staff for an |
| Angeles International Airport, It is the | | | | exciting two hour program that offers an |
| seventh largest such gateway in the world | | | | insightful glance at dolphin behavior. |
| featuring non stop flights to over seventy | | | | Uncover interesting facts about these |
| international cities in North and South | | | | extraordinary animals then slip into a |
| America, Europe, and the Middle East. | | | | wetsuit and follow trainers into the water |
| | | | for a one on one interaction with a dolphin. |