Miami
The local area
Luxury City Apartment and Property Investment In Miami, Florida
Regardless of the motivations of entering the luxury second home market - as a business investment or purely for pleasure - there's no doubt that having access to a selection of international properties is synonymous with success and a jet-set lifestyle. Our Members enjoy exclusive access holiday homes all over the world, including our beautiful luxury city apartment in Miami, Florida.
With its blue skies and crystal-clear waters, Miami has forever been an American paradise. Its year round tropical climate boasts sunny days and breezy tropical nights, making it the perfect location for a beach holiday at any time of the year. Surrounded by the warmest ocean temperatures in the United States, gorgeous beaches and azure blue water, our luxury city apartment is the ideal home away from home with which to explore this vibrant city.
Our luxury apartment is set within the exclusive The Carillon Hotel and Resort, with a beachfront location and just minutes from the vibrant nightlife, boutique shopping and the world-class dining of hip South Beach. From the extravagant to the elegantly simple, there is something for everyone in the rich and rewarding city of Miami.
The History of Miami
A little over a century ago, the area of modern day Miami was called the Biscayne Bay Country. An area of wilderness that didn't gain much interest until the Great Freeze of 1984 when the regions crops were the only ones to survive throughout Florida. Encouraged by the fertile land, a railway and a small population of just over 300, the city quickly expanded and the speed of its growth gave it the nickname, the Magic City.
The City was incorporated in 1896 and named of "The City of Miami". Finance for homes, streets, water, power systems and a resort hotel quickly followed, and canals were created to drain water from the everglades that covered much of the land. Surrounded by tropical beaches and a beautiful climate, it was no surprise that Miami soon became an instant tourist attraction, becoming a popular retreat for the rich and famous that is still apparent today.
As the tourism industry grew the city experienced an economic boom with more hotels, shops, nightclubs and the Dixie Highway, connecting the mid-west with the lower states. This sudden surge of activity lasted until a hurricane in 1926 destroyed many of the buildings, and the following re-development gave way to the Art Deco architecture that has now become synonymous with the city.
After Fidel Castro came to power in 1959, hundreds of thousands of Cubans fled to Miami and their influence survives today in the neighbourhoods of Calle Ocho and Little Havana. Characterized by its street life, fragrant tobacco scents wafting from cigar stores, dominos in Maximo Gomez Park and the hum of Latin music all contribute to the area's authentic Cuban charm.
Since the late 1960's Miami continued to become a mix of cultural influences, and in more recent times the city is experiencing something of a cultural Renaissance, with millions of dollars being invested into the arts and culture, ensuring that there's never been a more exciting time to visit this amazing and unique city.
What to See and Do in Miami
As anyone who has visited Miami before knows, there are countless things to do other than relaxing on the beautiful beaches.
For nightlife, South Beach is the go-to area for the high-end nightclub experience. Standout clubs such as Haven and Baoli bring in a variety of events, and include every amenity you could wish for when experiencing the more vibrant side of Miami. You can venture out for world-class culinary delights, hear amazing DJs, and rub elbows with the many celebrities that make their way through Miami, all within easy reach from our luxury city apartment.
North America's foremost international modern and contemporary art fair has also called Miami its home since 2001. Held in early December, the "Miami Beach Art Basel" event attracts an international crowd of artists, gallerists and collectors. The fashionable crowd include designers and magazine editors who throw a series of events ranging from luxury retailers in the Design District, to the rooftops of chic boutiques in South Beach.
There's also the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami, Bass Museum of Art, and The Wolfsonian is the Pérez Art Museum Miami, a $220 million public contemporary art museum that overlooks Biscayne Bay, confirming Miami's status as a global home for fine art.
There's also a budding art scene in Wynwood, where the street art can often be just as spectacular as that inside the galleries. A selection of converted warehouses and decaying urban structures have become canvases for Miami street artists, whose masterpieces span multiple blocks, often taking months to complete.
For a spot of retail therapy, Miami's Design District is the place to go. With a $1 billion expansion aimed at making it the Rodeo Drive of the East Coast, the former "Decorators' Row" (a term coined from the proliferation of home design stores in the 1920's) has expanded into a hub for vanguard architecture, fashion and art.
You can also head to Aventura Mall for custom-made men's Louis Vuitton footwear (a service that does not exist elsewhere in the US) or head over to the uber-chic Bal Harbour Shops where stores such as Stella McCartney, Prada, Gucci, and Lalique will help keep you on-trend.
If all this is too much, then Key Biscayne (locally known as "the Key") is the perfect antidote for consumer attractions. The northernmost island in the Florida Keys offers pristine beaches, two waterfront parks, a cycling path and gorgeous views of Miami, perfect for a spot of serenity and seclusion away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Food and Drink in Miami
Miami's varied and delicious South American and Caribbean cuisine provides some of the finest eating in the United States.
One of the most fantastic dining experiences in the city can be found at The Forge restaurant. This deluxe steakhouse has hosted the likes of Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra and Richard Nixon. Behind the 19th-century Parisian facade is a glitzy interior that's breathtakingly beautiful. Decorated in interesting and unexpected ways, The Forge still has an 1822 Château Lafite Rothschild worth $165,000 to prove its star quality. With some of the world's most sought-after vintage wines, it's the ideal venue for a special occasion and its legendary reputation is well deserved.
For fans of the 1940's, there's The Regent Cocktail Club and the world famous Joe's Stone Crab. Every year, people wait in high anticipation for mid-October when stone-crab season officially begins after a five-month hiatus. And with 100 years of tradition locally sourced produce, Joe's has welcomed everyone from J. Edgar Hoover and Al Capone, to presidents like Bill Clinton.
