Greater Miami and the Beaches:Isn't It Romantic?If they had the chance, Cupid, Venus, Eros, and Aphrodite would all pack their bags and head to Miami when they yearned for a passionate tryst. A room with a view, a table for two, moonlit strolls on the beach, and an aura of sensuality where travel fantasies easily become realities are all what make Greater Miami and the Beaches an ideal destination for a romantic getaway.
Along with offering specially priced vacation packages for two, hoteliers roll out the red carpet for couples because in Greater Miami, everyone loves lovers. Beginning with chauffeur-driven limo service from the Miami Airport, the luxuries to look forward to are private balconies, ocean views, Japanese tubs, matching terry-cloth robes, massage oils, love poems, chocolate treats, tropical fruit baskets, and champagne on ice. In the privacy of their hotel rooms, couples can sip rum punch on their terrace and listen as the sweet sound of a Brazilian chanteuse floats up from the street below. Vicariously view sunbathers from a window telescope. Tinkle the keys of a baby grand piano. Slip into the bubbles of a marble jacuzzi. And order round-the-clock room service from white-gloved servers. To get in the mood for love, couples can easily relax, refresh and recharge at the many first-class spas in the area. Among the healthy pleasures available are: full-body massages for two, seaweed scrubs, aromatherapy, yoga, Tai Chi, Swedish saunas, herbal body wraps, loofah rubs, milk-and-honey baths, authentic Russian steamrooms, aqua aerobics, reflexology, Shiatsu and Reiki, therapeutic facials, French manicures and pedicures. Gourmet TreatsPassion fruit, amazingly sweet and locally grown, is just one of the many exotic gourmet treats couples can choose from in Greater Miami. Coconut kisses, brown sugar and coconut rolled into bite-size balls, is another. As is the white rum, lemon juice, triple sec and brandy cocktail impishly known as Between-the-Sheets. Oysters on the half-shell and Italian white truffles can also be found on many menus, should an aphrodisiac be needed. Dining out is one of the area's greatest pleasures and the assortment of restaurants is staggering--from the fine New World cuisine of the area's trendiest eateries, to the European classics of elegant restaurants, and the fun and intimacy of small, ethnic bistros. Hungry couples can wake up to guava pastries and strong Cuban coffee, indulge in a lively Sunday Gospel brunch, nibble on Spanish-style tapas and fruity Sangria at an outdoor cafe, cool off with a mango ice-cream cone, have luscious stone crabs delivered to their hotel rooms, drink fresh coconut milk out of the shell, pick ripe strawberries right from the field, take a picnic lunch to the beach, sit down to a leisurely seven-course dinner, snack on a late-night Cuban sandwich called media noche. And for those who want to take a taste of Miami back home with them, Johnson and Wales University offers gourmet cooking classes for visitors. The Great Outdoors
A Walk on the Wild SideCouples with an urge for adventure can take a walk on the wild side of Greater Miami, and unleash the carefree spirit and secret desires of their souls. For those who've always wanted to learn how to dance but were too embarrassed to try, Miami offers salsa in six easy lessons. And, mambo, ballroom, tango, and lambada. Couples can also enroll in intensive Spanish or Portuguese language classes to go along with the dances. The more daring lovers and honeymooners can shop for satin and lace fashions at one of the many boutiques throughout the area. Go sunbathing on a secluded beach where nudity is allowed or skinny-dip in a private pool. And for those who want to cement their commitment to adventure, Miami wedding services can arrange marriages on the beach, on cruise ships and even underwater. On the Town
For more sophisticated entertainment, there's Opera Night at the Biltmore Hotel, regal performances by the Miami City Ballet, concerts by the New World Symphony, Broadway plays, and evening gallery walks through the area's most prominent art communities, such as Coral Gables, Lincoln Road and the Design District. Shop Till You DropIf they're in the mood to search for some local treasures, couples can amble through the many distinctive shopping districts in Greater Miami. Some of the unique finds in the area include: hand-rolled cigars, Art Deco antiques, swimwear and tropical fashions, Haitian paintings and iron sculptures, aloe products, sea shells, coral jewelry, antique maps and nautical charts, Miccosukee Indian patchwork fabrics, electronic gadgets and vintage clothing. Romantic Rambles
At Fairchild Tropical Garden, an 83-acre expanse of exotic plants and flowers, couples can sit under the shade of a ylang-ylang tree and inhale the sweet scent of their blossoms, the primary ingredient in Channel No. 5 perfume. And at Coral Castle, a mammoth configuration of coral rock stones, witness the unrequited love story of Ed Leedskalnin, a heartsick Latvian who spent 28 years building this monument in honor of the beautiful 16-year-old girl who deserted him on their wedding night. At Flamingo Lodge Outpost & Marina Resort deep in the heart of breathtaking Everglades National Park, enjoy a sunset cruise on Florida Bay or stroll hand-in-hand under a dazzling star-lit country sky. For More InformationThe Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau: Edited by Stacey Brown |
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Without the intrusion of televisions, fax machines and annoying phone calls, couples can indulge in the sweet captivity of intimate hideaways designed exclusively for those who want to get away from it all. Greater Miami's assortment of lodgings for lovers includes sprawling resorts, small historic inns, grand old hotels, private homes, plush ocean-view suites, and the Art Deco jewels of Miami Beach. 
With year-round perfect weather, the great outdoors always beckons in Miami and provides a stunning setting for a little sun and fun frolicking. Couples can rent a sporty convertible and cruise around town with the wind in their hair. Charter a sailboat and go for a moonlit sail. Go for a rollicking rickshaw ride through Coconut Grove. Tour downtown Miami by horse-and-carriage. Pedal a bicycle-built-for-two past towering banyon trees and patches of bougainvillea. Go windsurfing on Key Biscayne. Zoom around the Intracoastal Waterway on jet skis. Build castles in the sand. Snorkel or scuba at Biscayne National Park. Play volley ball on the beach. Take in a game of tennis. Watch pink flamingos come home to roost at Everglades National Park.
When the sun sets in Greater Miami, couples have a plethora of choices for a splendid night on the town. Glamorous Latin floor shows with sequins and feathers are a dazzling sight. So are the Middle Eastern belly-dancers who shimmy and shake, and the quick heeled precision of Spanish Flamenco performers. Frenetic dancing late at night under pulsating lights is an option, as are slowly swaying cheek-to-cheek in a jazz cafe, listening to some of the hottest Cuban singers this side of Havana, and feeling the Afro-Caribbean rhythms of Haitian drummers as they jam on South Beach's Lincoln Road.
Scattered throughout Greater Miami and the Beaches are several truly unique romantic spots that are sure to set a heart on fire. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, an Italian Renaissance-style mansion with 10 acres of formal gardens, is one of Miami's most romantic settings and a favorite site for local weddings. The Venetian Pool in Coral Gables is a lushly landscaped coral rock lagoon with flowing waterfalls, Spanish porticos and concealed caves for hidden kisses.