There are several beaches in Miami, including South Beach, that are frequented by locals and tourists alike. A popular beach is at Crandon Park and is ideal for snorkeling close to the shoreline. Another state park, Bill Baggs, is also home to a beach and the Cape Florida Lighthouse. The city's 12th Street Beach is a small area designated a gay and lesbian beach.
Miami offers many opportunities to observe and interact with wildlife. Located in the heart of the Florida Everglades National Park is Everglades Safari Park, which offers narrated air-boat rides and an alligator show. Jungle Island is home to numerous birds, fish, reptiles and mammals. Alternatively, vacationers can get up-close and personal with 30 species of primates at Monkey Jungle. At the Miami Seaquarium, visitors can swim with dolphins or watch them perform in one of several marine mammal shows that also feature sea lions and killer whales. The cageless Zoo Miami, the only such institution in the continental United States located in a subtropical climate, allows visitors to feed giraffes, which are among the more than 1,300 wild animals that call the zoo home.
South Beach encompasses Miami's Art Deco Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Wednesday through Sunday, visitors can take a 90-minute walking tour of the neighborhood led by historians and architects. At the Miami Art Museum, which has more than 500 works in its permanent collection, modern art is the focal point. A must-see is the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, which is the winter home of the late industrialist James Deering and is a National Historic Landmark.
Miami, and South Beach in particular, are known for their nightlife. SoBe is a popular celebrity hangout spot saturated with boutique hotels, which has given rise to a wide range of restaurants, lounges and nightclubs. With a population that is more than 60 percent Latino, it is no surprise that Miami is also home to a number of salsa and Latin dance clubs. One notable hot spot is Bongos Cuban Cafe, owned by Cuban music industry moguls Gloria and Emilio Estefan; it overlooks the port of Miami.
