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