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Miami Beach
Miami Beach is as much a state of mind as a real place. For some that state of mind means South Beach, for others the Art Deco district, for still others the miles of condos on the beach. For a lot of its residents it’s the best, most diverse place in America to combine living and leisure, however you individually define it. Real Estate is expensive here, but if you want that Miami Beach state of mind, then only this place will do.
First some of the basics, then some high level generalizations, or at least my perspective on some of the things that might help someone like you decide to live here.
Some of the Basics
The City of Miami Beach encompasses only 7.1 square miles of land and 10 miles of water! And of course it’s surrounded by water. It lies just east of Miami across Biscayne Bay and is accessible by causeways. City boundaries extend from Government Cut to the south, where the big cruise ships come in and out, to 87th St. in the north, or most of the barrier island. Biscayne Bay is to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

Miami Beach is subtropical in foliage, which is rich and lush. The weather is consistently beautiful, sunny, warm and humid. You can swim all year, because there’s an average ocean water temperature of 74 degrees. The population is just under 95,000.

Miami Beach is divided into three sections: South Beach (from South Pointe Park to Dade Blvd and Collins Park, or about 1^st-21^st streets); Middle or Central Miami Beach (22^nd or 23rd St. to 41st St.); and North Beach (41st St. to 87th St.).

South Beach is the frenetic area of Ocean Drive and its sidewalk cafes, bistros, general daytime Scene, and nonstop nightlife, the photo shoot location known as The Promenade from 5^th to 15^th , the 1-sq-mile pastel-hued Art Deco historic district, designer shops on Collins, Lincoln Road Mall, art galleries, Espanola Way, the Bass and Wolfsonian art museums, and Lummus, Flamingo, and South Pointe Parks. To many, South Beach is Miami Beach.
Central Miami Beach is all about a hotel-rich Miami Beach of glitz and glamour of 50 years ago, and now some of that faded glory has come back as heavily high-rise residences and new hotels crowd in. This section ends at Arthur Godfrey Road (41^st), kosher and Jewish deli central. Beachside it’s a bit longer: The Miami Beach wooden boardwalk runs along the Ocean between the beach and the hotels from 21^st street all the way to 46^th.
North Beach is so heavily high-rise residential that it’s often called Condo Canyon along Collins north of 41^st Street, while streets to the west and especially North Bay Road are lined with wealthy homes and mansions.

Still farther north, beyond 87^th where the city of Miami Beach ends, but still on the same barrier island, are three more towns: the heavily French-Canadian community of Surfside, the extreme upscale Bal Harbour area, and the seemingly ever-changing community of Sunny Isles, as well as the everything-available, everything-goes Haulover Beach. There’s a town called North Miami Beach, but it’s on the mainland and has nothing to do with Miami Beach.

Why Miami Beach? The City as Trendsetter
Today’s Miami Beach stands out as a major trendsetter, from fashion, to the Arts to its world famous restaurants and hotels. All of this has made Miami Beach one of the most desirable destinations for tourists, residents and the rich and famous.
Arts and Culture
The City of Miami Beach is rich in opportunity for cultural exploration. The Bass, Wolfsonian-FIU, and Ziff Museums have distinct collections. The Art Center South Florida, Miami City Ballet, and New World Symphony offer world-class visual art, ballet, and symphonic music respectively. The Jackie Gleason and Colony Theaters host varying shows from Broadway style to new works. The City’s Arts Council sponsors over 50 cultural organizations leading to film, theater, dance and music festivals, as well as many performances and exhibits.
Outdoor Recreation
An island surrounded by the sparkling Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, Miami Beach offers a really diverse array of recreational activities. One can jog and bicycle along serene bayside or oceanfront paths, play tennis at a charming area park, swim or dive in the cool waters of the Atlantic Ocean, sail or cruise along Biscayne Bay, rollerblade down Ocean Drive, or enjoy Miami Beach’s lush golf courses.

Although Miami Beach is a relatively small island, recreational amenities abound, including the Miami Beach Marina which offers boat slips and restaurants. Nearby, boat rental outlets provide yachts, cabin cruisers, sailboats, powerboats and catamarans. The City of Miami Beach contains four beautiful large parks: Flamingo, South Pointe, Lummus, and North Shore Open Space. There are three city-owned golf courses: Bayshore, NOrmondy and Par Three.

And it’s not just one-size-fits-all huge beach. There are eight different City beaches, with different “feels” to them, providing plenty of public access to the sand and water all the way up the strip, from the beaches in South Beach to 85^th Street and the communities beyond.

Anyway, this is just a short list of some of the things that keep me and my friends coming here -- and coming back! Read some more of what the City says about itself in this informative link: http://www.miamibeachfl.gov/newcity/depts/econdev/visitors%20Profile.asp
Unique Ambience
lived in Miami for several years and on weekends would go to Miami Beach to take in its international flavor. It’s easy to imagine being in a major South American city or on the French Riviera here.
So if you like life at a fast pace and then if you want to cool off, wander about 100 yards and enjoy the beaches, this is the place.
Another nice thing about Miami and Miami beach is that you’re less than an hour from the Everglades, which is about as good as it comes in an outdoor experience.
Transportation and Other Living Stuff
The cost of living is high here, but everything is relative. It’s high mainly because of housing. Food, personal goods and services are at, a little less than, or just over the Florida state average. (eFlorida.com) Of course, eating out a lot, etc. and enjoying the Miami Beach lifestyle could change that in a hurry!

And health care is well above the state average – but then you’ve got some of the best health care facilities in the world, right here in Miami Beach and Miami.
As to housing. Since this is such a destination point ( over 3.5 million tourists a year), and since lots of people would like to live here who can’t, and since the people living here on Miami Beach love it and aren’t in a hurry to leave, prices are high. Still however if you compare the prices to a brownstone or condo in New York, you’re definitely in the ballpark of affordable.
For more specifics about transportation etc, go to the Miami general information links.