Situated in southeastern Florida on a marrow on a narrow neck of land and islands on the Atlantic Ocean, Miami Beach is separated from the city of Miami by Biscayne Bay but is connected to it by four causeways. Miami Beach stretches for about ten miles along a succession of renowned ocean beaches on the east; the site varies in width from on to three miles. The founder John Collins failed in an attempt to raise avocados on the lonely stretch of mosquito infested scrub palmettos, he built the world longest wooden bridge to the mainland with financial assistance Collins dredged sand from the bay and built land on the swamp. He sold the newly created properties and the resort he developed became one of the world's most popular. The long strip of ocean front hotels remains unsurpassed in their deco luxuriance.

In the 1920's the land boom was in full swing, mammoth hotels sprung up along the island. Gigantic hotels, sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay offer a degree of opulence that long has been a standard for luxury hotel accommodations. Hotels line nine miles of sand palm fringed beach. The Art Deco District contains 16 city blocks and is part of trendy South Beach area of clubs and restaurants. The principal attractions are the art deco district, which preserve the elegant architectural style that predominated in the area from the 1920s to the 1940s.

In 1984 the city furthered its accommodating reputation by building a boardwalk between 21st and 46th street allowing for comfortable strolls along the oceanfront. The boardwalk has become very popular for inline-skating and roller-skating, bicycling, and taking a stroll and watching people play in the water. The emerald green water draws many people, who have to play in water, bathe in the sun, build sand castles, or if you feel competitive you can take on the "King of Beach" in beach volleyball. Miami Beach has a vibrant nightlife that offers a little something for everyone.

The Art Deco District in Miami Beach is a showcase for the movement's characteristic architectural touches: porthole windows, geometric patterns, rounded corners, and glass block construction as well as walls bathed in fuchsia, turquoise, chartreuse and lavender. The Miami Design Preservation League offers a 90-minute tour of the area. For an interesting drive in Miami Beach is along Collins Ave. with it hotels and motel. Also of interest are the magnificent homes and estates, which run the architectural Samut from Spanish-Mediterranean to bold modern. Not open to the public these homes can be seen by driving around some of the private islands accessible from MacArthur, Venetran, North Bay, and Broad causeways.

Biscayne National Park has four biological systems: the mainland mangrove forest, Biscayne Bay, the upper Florida Keys and the underwater reefs. Shallow Biscayne Bay, which is between the coast and the northernmost Florida Keys has clear water and is home to sponges, crabs, dolphins, and manatees endangered mammals that favor the bay's warm water. The undeveloped upper Florida Keys are the result of many thousands of years of construction by the tiny animals collectively known as coral. The 20 mile of parks reefs were formed by more than 100 species of coral and harbor more than 200 different kind of fish, including brilliantly colored parrotfish, angelfish, moray eels and wrasses making this very popular for snorkeling and scuba diving.