With a collection of works from such artists as Robert Rauschenberg, James Rosenquist, Frank Stella and Ana Mendieta, not to mention some high-caliber traveling exhibitions, this relatively young modern and contemporary art museum (formerly Miami Art Museum) overlooking Biscayne Bay is worth a visit.

One of South Florida’s natural jewels, this 83-acre garden, named after renowned botanist and Miami resident David Fairchild, is filled with tropical splendor: a lush rainforest with a stream, a sunken garden, dramatic vistas, an enormous vine pergola and a museum of plant exploration. Fairchild is about the easiest, most scenic place to socially distance right now. And there are plenty of shady corners that provide respite from the Miami heat.

Miami’s number one attraction is a surreal Italian Renaissance-style villa in the middle of lush, laid-back Coconut Grove. Its meticulously landscaped gardens, sprawling bayfront terrace and, well, the house itself, make up a total of 43 acres. Vizcaya makes for the most fetching photo backdrop in the city (just ask the quinceañeras and brides roaming about) and its inimitable collection of European antiques and decorative works from the 16th to 19th centuries is truly breathtaking.

Frost Science is as state-of-the-art as it gets, featuring interactive opportunities, a 500,000-gallon Gulf Stream aquarium that houses all sorts of sea creatures and a planetarium dome that hosts frequent laser light shows. In total, the museum occupies four buildings—the Aquarium, the Frost Planetarium and the North and West Wings—features year-round exhibits and is ideal for curious minds of all ages.

Café La Trova is the delicious byproduct of a most fruitful partnership: James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein, her chef/restaurateur husband David Martinez, and nationally acclaimed cantinero Julio Cabrera. The old-Cuba style fits right in with Little Havana’s nostalgia-tinged nightlife scene, and Cabrera’s cocktail menu takes you back in time from pre-Revolutionary Cuba to present-day Miami.

Designed by iconic architectural guru Morris Lapidus in the 1950s, Lincoln Road Mall was once dubbed the “Fifth Avenue of the South,” though it’s now commonly referred to as “Lincoln.” Endless sidewalk cafés, lounges and cultural venues—such as the Colony Theatre—stretch along its length from Washington Avenue to Alton Road. The Herzog & de Meuron–designed 1111 Lincoln Road is quite possibly the world’s most glamorous parking garage and houses upscale retail on the ground level.

Built by James Deering’s similarly well-off brother Charles as his own sophisticated winter estate, the vast property encompasses several buildings, a mangrove boardwalk and a significant archeological discovery. Outdoorsy types will appreciate the guided nature walks and birding opportunities. Plus, the estate boasts a fossil pit of 50,000-year-old animal bones and 10,000-year-old human remains; the latter are Paleo-Indians.

The former Decorators’ Row has expanded into a hub for vanguard architecture, fashion and art. There are several multilevel, open-air shopping complexes like Palm Court in the vicinity, where you can shop for luxury fashion labels including Emilio Pucci and Giorgio Armani. If your pockets aren’t deep enough for the shops, there’s always the neighborhood’s growing number of galleries, a slew of public art and free museums. For a quick bite, Politan Row food hall offers up an array of global eats.

This self-proclaimed “most famous Cuban restaurant in the world” is arguably more popular than its palatial namesake in France. The Little Havana institution is the unofficial meeting place for the city’s Cuban community, who crowd the cafecito window 24/7 sipping on strong, espresso-style coffee. Stop in for toasted Cuban sandwiches and authentic Cuban pastelitos made the exact same way for 40-plus years, yummy arroz con pollo...shall we go on?

After many delays, a budget overrun and a few name changes, this spectacular $500 million César Pelli creation opened in 2006. The striking postmodern architecture alone makes it worth a visit. But the fact that it’s home to the Florida Grand Opera and the Miami City Ballet, and occasionally hosts the New World Symphony and Cleveland Orchestra, doesn’t hurt either. Touring Broadway shows, musicals, world music and children’s shows also feature.

To the unenlightened, this might seem like a patch of grass with some limestone benches but the Miami Circle is actually a national historic landmark smack in the middle of Brickell. The archeological dig preserves the history of Miami’s earliest inhabitants, the Tequesta Indians. A local developer discovered the site, which is believed to be somewhere between 1,700 and 2,000 years old. Today, it’s a dog-friendly, waterfront park where locals picnic and watch the boats go by.

This is the bar that started it all. Without the Broken Shaker, we’d still be ordering vodka-sodas and flavoring our drinks with cranberry juice. Miami’s OG cocktail bar is an idyllic place surrounded by greenery, dotted with lawn games and imbued with the tropi-cool vibes you can only get by hanging poolside at Miami’s OG cocktail bar. The daily seasonal specials are a fresh and wonderful boozy bang-for-your-buck.

This massive national park spans 1.5 million acres of wetlands. There’s no place in the world like it, and it’s within driving distance of downtown Miami. See alligators, cranes, turtles, manatees and even panthers roam their native habitat freely. With three separate entrances, visitors can explore on foot, on a bicycle and via boat. Have you ever zipped to marshes on an airboat? It’s the most exhilarating way to see the Everglades, and now’s your chance.

internationally recognized institution with hundreds of pieces within its multiple halls. The 1930s Art Deco building also has meeting areas and classrooms for family-friendly programming. The Bass’s permanent collections, as well as its traveling exhibitions, comprise art people actually want to see—and Instagram (the real reason we go to museums these days, right?). Think large-scale works made up of found objects that probe us and a site-specific work of LED signs that make you feel at home.

A throwback to Florida’s fruit stands of old, Robert is Here started in 1959 when the shop’s namesake, then six, began selling his family’s cucumbers from a roadside table. It has since grown into an emporium of exotic produce—and a huge tourist attraction. Robert’s boasts a lovely farm setting, a bevy of fruit—which you can ask to be whipped into a fresh milk shake—and an adorable petting zoo, making this spot worthy of the trek down (way) south.

Don and Mera Rubell’s eponymous museum houses nearly 7,200 works by more than 1,000 contemporary artists. From Basquiat and Warhol to Koons, the whos-who of 20th-century artists is well represented. It’s a former warehouse the couple turned into a sprawling exhibition space after outgrowing their Wynwood gallery of more than 26 years. With 53,000 square feet to play with, the Rubells have room to exhibit as well as engage the community via school partnerships and curatorial training programs.

A peaceful beach, picnic tables, bike trails and watersport rentals await in this 400-acre state park at the tip of serene, secluded Key Biscayne. It’s a great place for families thanks, in part, to the many lots with accessible parking close to the sand. Plus, Bill Baggs is home to South Florida’s only lighthouse. Take the kids and let them climb the 109 steps to the top of the lookout. Hungry? Seek out Boater’s Grill, tucked away in a far corner of the park.

Following an ambitious restoration project, which completely replaced the street's existing pavement and sidewalk, Española Way has been restored to its original grandeur as a true pedestrian-only strip. The classic Spanish street functions as an elegant, picturesque cousin to nearby Lincoln Road, with its Mediterranean flare and adorable sidewalk cafes. You won't find big-box stores nor large hotels, just quaint small shops and cozy, bilevel hotels that whisk you away to far-flung places.

This stunning rooftop bar that sits atop East, Miami, rewards those who venture up with 360-views of the city and Asian-themed cocktails. It’s a bougie crowd, so dress accordingly. While a rooftop bar on the mainland might not instantly seem like an essential thing to do in the city, Sugar is deserving of its spot on the list. At 40 floors, it’s the tallest bar in Miami and its secluded, storybook garden setting is like none other.

The city’s premier wildlife center is home to thousands of animals, from reptiles to mammals to birds. The sprawling facility spans across 750 acres and is the largest and oldest zoological garden in Florida. Due to the zoo’s sub-tropical temps, species native to Australia, Africa and other warm climates comfortably reside here. Forget a safari—Zoo Miami is where you’ll safely spot zebras, giraffes and lions. Hot tip: Hop on a Safari Cycle and see it all without tiring yourself out.

Launched during Art Basel, what began as a few commissioned murals to beautify the area has morphed into the city’s only outdoor street art park, featuring more than 40 murals from a roster of world-renowned artists, including Shepard Fairey, Ryan McGuinness, Kenny Scharf, How and Nosm, Faile, Retna, the Date Farmers and Liqen. The famed epicenter of the Wynwood Arts District is now known worldwide for its groundbreaking, ever-changing collection of curated street art.

LIV has been leading the pack in Miami’s club scene since it debuted in 2008 as the crown jewel of the Fontainebleau Hotel’s unprecedented billion-dollar renovation. With top-tier talent (Skrillex and Bieber once performed in the same weekend) and insane six-figure bottle service (Mark Cuban allegedly dropped more than 100 grand on a single bottle of champagne in 2013), LIV quickly showed the nightlife world that Miami’s best days are not in the past.

America’s only full-time orchestral academy, the New World Symphony grooms graduates from conservatories for careers in the symphony and other high-profile posts. Concerts range from classical to experimental, and the quality is high: guest teachers have included Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman, and past guest conductors have included Sir Neville Marriner and Paavo Järvi. Since 2011, the symphony’s home has been a Frank Gehry-designed showstopper in SoundScape Park, where they hold outdoor events.

The Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami debuted its extraordinary new museum in December 2017. Known for breaking fresh talent and giving primary museum exposure to under-recognized artists, ICA Miami presents contemporary works and site-specific installations across six galleries and a 15,000-square-foot sculpture garden in the heart of the Design District. Plus, admission is free.

E11EVEN is a big, bright, constantly gyrating machine with a lot of moving parts and even more options for its patrons. The 13,500-square-foot, 24/7 nightclub is among the most popular clubs in the country, stimulating the senses with high-flying theatrics, big-room EDM and topless dancers. Hungry? Head to the bar and order a breakfast burrito. Need some air? The rooftop—with its own private restaurant—is a great place to catch the sunrise.