Miami Beach is divided into North Miami Beach (above 25th Street), and the hippest, hottest part, known as South Miami Beach, or just South Beach (25th and below).

In the tradition of SoHo, SoCal and others, South Beach is frequently shortened to SoBe.

Getting Here
South Beach is about ten miles east of the Miami International Airport. In your rental car, exit the airport, following the blue "#2" signs toward the beaches.

After a 50-cent toll, the road will become Interstate 195 and eventually the Julia Tuttle Causeway. Stay to your right and exit Alton Road south.

Or, tell your taxi driver you want to go to South Beach and for a flat rate of $24 he or she will do the driving while you sit back and enjoy the view.

The Weather
After all, that's why we're here. Okay, that's why I'm here.

The weather, in general, is beautiful. That said, there are a few things to keep in mind. While winter is glorious and temperatures are just about perfect most days, the summer can be a bit warm, not to mention humid, so keep that in mind when packing.

Temperatures generally range from 63 to 88°F (17 to 28°C). Finally, be aware that hurricane season runs from May to November. While the chances of having your trip disrupted by one of these swirling tropical phenomena are small, you will likely notice lower rates on everything from airfare to hotel rooms. So that's a plus for you bargain hunters.

Transport
To rent a car, or not to rent. Basically, it depends on what you want to do while you're here.

If you want to spend most of your time in the cafes, nightclubs, and sitting on the world-famous beaches, renting a car is probably not worth the expense and hassle. Parking in the Art Deco district can be very difficult, and it will cost you.

If you do want to go to the mainland, out to the keys, or somewhere else that would make a cab unfeasible, consider renting a car for a day or two. There are several rental agencies right in South Beach.

Money
You can spend as much money as you want on a vacation in South Beach. That's probably not what most folks are interested in doing, though.

For those of you looking for something other than the $2,200 a night penthouse at the Delano, there are some less expensive options.

If hosteling is your thing, there are a couple:

If you want to be as informed as the locals during your visit, check out the following events going on in and around SoBe during the month of May:

Bud Light Beach Volleyball Series
May 20 and 21, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This is a two-day, pro-am beach volleyball tournament. It's in Lummus Park, which is between 8th and 9th Streets on highly fashionable Ocean Drive. If you'd like to enter, the cost is $50 per two-person team, and you can contact Todd Howell at (561) 241-3801 for more info. Otherwise, just show up, kick back, and watch the teams battle it out!

South Beach Watersports Festival
May 5 to 7, at the Oceanfront Auditorium, located at 1001 Ocean Drive.
Admission is free to this three-day watersports festival. Events include an underwater treasure hunt, ocean kayak races, and the first "TriAquathlon," a three-sport athletic competition. You can breathe underwater in a pool (with lots of dive instructors nearby!), try out a kayak or two, and meet representatives from several organizations, including the Miami Beach Reefbuilders, an environmental group dedicated to building and preserving local reefs. Friday's festivities run from noon to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 to 10, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more info call (305) 672-1270.

Memorial Day Celebration
If you'd like a little more than your usual picnic this year, stop by the Centotaph at the Miami Beach Police Headquarters from 10:30 a.m. to noon for the American U.S. Legion's Memorial Day Celebration. The Police Headquarters is located at 1100 Washington Avenue in South Beach. For more info, call Jim Donelin (305) 674-1450.

Jam Miami
On Thursday May 18, 2000, the Jackie Gleason Theater hosts Jam Miami, a premiere musical event starring Arturo Sandoval and featuring 30 of the hottest Latin jazz stars like Chick Corea, Tito Puente, and more, all on one stage. The concert will be recorded for a live album on Concord Records and a TV special. Proceeds benefit ARTEC, a program designed to prepare students for technical careers in the arts and entertainment industries. The concert is at 7:30 p.m., and tickets range from $25 - $75. 1700 Washington Avenue in South Beach. For more info call (305) 535-0255.

Holocaust Remembrance Day
Miami Beach is home to one of the world's largest populations of Holocaust survivors. May 2 is Holocaust Remembrance Day, and the Greater Miami Jewish Federation will have a Memorial Service from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the Holocaust Memorial, located at 1933-1945 Meridian Avenue in South Beach. Even if you don't attend the service, you'll want to be sure and see the Holocaust Memorial during your visit to South Beach. The Memorial is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily and offers self-guided tours, free of charge. The Memorial is easily located because of its 42-foot sculpture of a human hand reaching skyward. Parking is available nearby. For more info call (305) 538-1663.

Arts and Culture

The Bass Museum
This museum always has something interesting, and for the first half of May, it has Andy Warhol - not to be confused with another Warhol exhibit that appeared at the Miami Art Museum last month.

Andy Warhol: Portrait of Miami - Features painting, graphics and ephemera that relate to Warhol's visit to Miami in 1980. Includes portraits of Miami celebrities and socialites as well as paintings and prints of "Ten Portraits of Jews of the 20th Century." This exhibit will run until May 14th.

Face to Face: The Portrait - The anonymous and the famous come face to face with works including painting, sculpture, works on paper, video and textiles. Runs until May 14th.

Masterpieces of Latin American Art: The Costantini Collection - Features over 150 paintings by artists such as Frida Kahlo, Roberto Matta, Tarsila do Amaral, Wilfredo Lam and Amelia Pelaez. This is your last opportunity to see these paintings before they are permanently housed in Buenos Aires! Runs until May 28th.

The Bass Museum is located at 2121 Park Avenue, one block west of Collins and Wolfie's, directly behind the public library. For more information on exhibits call (305) 675-7530.

The Wolfsonian Museum
The Wolfsonian is located at 1001 Washington Avenue in South Beach. Admission is $10 for the general public. For hours of operation and other info, call (305) 535-2645. The museum has several exhibits that visitors can view during May. Among them are:

Art & Design in the Modern Age - This exhibit runs until August 1; it consists of a selection from the Wolfsonian collection and is updated periodically throughout the season.

Leading "the Simple Life:" The Arts & Crafts Movement in Britain 1880-1910 - One hundred works from the museum's collection, including furniture, architectural elements, and an authentic reproduction of a Glencrutchery living room, all representing the Arts and Crafts movement's philosophy of embracing the countryside and handcrafted objects.

Lincoln Road Antique & Collectibles Market
Come purchase furniture, objects d'art, a unique Mother's Day gift, or just browse this open-air market where local dealers display thousands of fascinating items. The market has gotten so large that shoppers are now provided with maps to help them get around. The market takes place on alternate Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and you can visit it in May on the 14th and the 28th. For more info call (305) 672-7251.

Outside South Beach
The following events don't take place in South Beach itself, but they're interesting enough that you might try and catch them if you venture off the beach.

Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra
Come dance to the music of Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Benny Goodman and more! May 1 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets $25 - $75. The concert will be at the James L. Knight Center, 400 SE Second Avenue in Miami. For more info call (305) 372-0929.

Coconut Grove Bed Race
Yes, it's a race - in beds! A hilarious and quite silly annual race that is a wonderful fund raiser for charities. The race runs from Peacock Park through the streets of Coconut Grove. Sunday, May 14 at Noon. Peacock Park is at 2820 McFarlane Road, Coconut Grove.
Note: At press time the race was still scheduled, but there has been some unfortunate talk of canceling it. If you're in town and want to attend, check the local newspapers closer to the event date, or try calling the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce at (305) 444-7270.

The 17th Annual Great Balloon Race
A delightful assortment of hot-air balloons grace the sky in this annual sunrise race. There is also food, children's activities, carnival rides, musical performers and a pancake breakfast. Admission is free. 5:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., May 6, at the Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport, 12800 SW 137th Avenue in Miami. For more info call (305) 275-3317.

Restaurants
If you've attended even some of the events above, you're no doubt ready to sit down to a nice meal. This month's restaurant recommendations relate to Miami goings-on in the month of May.

El Rancho Grande
1626 Pennsylvania Avenue in South Beach
(305) 673-0480
If you're looking for some authentic Mexican food for your Cinco de Mayo celebration, or any other time, for that matter, this is a good place to go. Just off the fashionable Lincoln Road Mall, this restaurant is even popular with locals. The atmosphere is relaxing and vaguely reminiscent of a cantina. While some of the fried dishes can be a bit heavy, just about everything is good, and the selection of Mexican beers is excellent. Meals range from less than $10 to about $15.

Joe's Stone Crab
227 Biscayne Street in South Beach (305) 673-0365
I had to do it. Stone crab season ends the middle of this month, and Joe's will be closing down for the season on May 14 (which also happens to be Mother's Day). This will be your last chance for fresh stone crab for several months. For those of you who don't know, Joe's Stone Crab has been around for 80 years, and it's as much of a South Beach institution as Art Deco architecture. In fact, the restaurant claims, "Before SoBe, Joe Be." They don't take reservations, so be prepared to wait, sometimes up to three hours. They do have a takeout window, with a shorter wait, if you're of a mind to picnic. Needless to say, if you go, order the stone crab. Prices are fairly expensive, with a plate of crab claws running about $25.

Night Life
You've had your stone crabs and quesadillas, and now Mom's ready to party. Here are a couple of the many options in the nightclub capital of the world that can entertain you until the not-so-wee hours of the morning:

Liquid
1439 Washington Avenue in South Beach (305) 532-9154
It's owned by friends of Madonna's, and yes, she's been spotted there on occasion, not to mention stars like Jack Nicholson, Stallone, DeNiro, and a long list of supermodels. Dress well. Very well. Monday is Fat Black Pussycat night, Sunday is gay night - the "official" one, anyway - and every night features intense, high funk music, with New York DJs.

Wax
1801 Collins Avenue in South Beach (305) 604-9944
As with most SoBe nightclubs, you'll want to show up at 11 p.m. or later. The DJs spin mixes of classic house, rare groove, R&B, and funk for a locals crowd, while various performance artists and entertainers often add a unique element to the dance floor. The VIP Room hosts a different celebrity every week. Past celebs include Oskar Orneles, host of MTV Latin America's MasterMix and Suzy Buckley, E! Entertainment's The Gossip Show.

Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our North America Insiders page.