Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bayfront Park
PARK
Few American parks can claim to front such a lovely stretch of turquoise (Biscayne Bay),
but Miamians are lucky like that. Lots of office workers catch quick naps under the palms
at a little beach that does you the favor of setting out 'sit and chill' chairs. Notable park
features are two performance venues: the
Klipsch Amphitheater
, which boasts excellent
views over Biscayne Bay, is a good spot for live-music shows, while the smaller 200-seat
(lawn seating can accommodate 800 more)
Tina Hills Pavilion
hosts free springtime per-
formances. Look north for the
JFK Torch of Friendship
, and a fountain recognizing the
accomplishments of longtime US congressman Claude Pepper. There's a huge variety of
activities here, including yoga classes, trapeze classes and, we hear, flying-trapeze yoga
classes (seriously).
Noted artist and landscape architect Isamu Noguchi redesigned much of Bayfront Park
in the 1980s and dotted the grounds with three
sculptures
. In the southwest corner is the
Challenger Memorial
, a monument designed for the astronauts killed in the 1986 space-
shuttle explosion, built to resemble both the twisting helix of a human DNA chain and the
shuttle itself. The
Light Tower
is a 40ft, somewhat abstract allusion to Japanese lanterns
and moonlight over Miami. Our favorite is the
Mantra Slide
, a twisting spiral of marble
that doubles as a playground piece for the kids.
American Airlines Arena
BUILDING
Just north of the park, and resembling a massive spaceship that perpetually hovers at the
edge of Biscayne Bay, this arena has been the home of the Miami Heat basketball team
since 2000. The Waterfront Theater, Florida's largest, is housed inside; throughout the year
it hosts concerts, Broadway performances and the like. A giant airplane is painted on top
of the arena; you may spot it (it looks like the shadow of a plane from afar) when you fly
out of the city, or if you're Superman.
HistoryMiami
MUSEUM
Fri, from noon Sat & Sun)
