Miami Beach lies on a narrow 12-mile-long stretch of barrier islands nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, 3 miles from Miami. Originally a mangrove wilderness, it's now a famous resort that has had more facelifts than most movie stars.

Today, Miami Beach is divided into three distinct areas, each catering to a different type of tourist. Along South Beach, at the extreme southern end, rows of restyled art deco buildings, containing avantgarde art galleries and progressive clubs, have become the chic gathering places for artists, writers, and other creative types. Hollywood starlets headed north to Central Miami Beach in the 1950s, creating Miami Beach's glamorous image that still lives on today. Farther on, North Miami Beach splits into several distinct communities favored by European package tourists.