( CNN ) -- When most people think of Miami , they think of South Beach , with its glorious sands , glamorous people and gorgeous Art Deco buildings . In the 1920s and 30s Art Deco was the style of choice for the developers intent on turning Miami into a tourist hot spot and the Art Deco Historic District includes hundreds of examples of the style . Take a tour of the Art Deco historic District . The Art Deco Welcome Center ( 1001 Ocean Drive ) is a good place to start , and no tour of the area would be complete without seeing the Marlin , Delano , National and Kent hotels in Collins Avenue , and the Crescent , Colony and Waldorf Towers hotels on Ocean Drive . Once you 're done with the Deco , stroll among the boutiques and cafes of Lincoln Road , Washington Avenue and Ocean Drive . For a dash of Latin flavor , head to Little Havana . Wandering along Calle Ocho , soaking up the sights and sounds , you could almost believe you 're in Cuba . Drinking a syrupy `` cafecito '' bought from a walk-up window will help you suspend your disbelief . Eccentric Coconut Grove is home to the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens ( 3251 S Miami Avenue ) . This beautiful building was created in the style of a 16th-century Italian villa by industrialist James Deering in 1916 . The 30-acre gardens include Florentine gazebos and a waterfront terrazzo that looks like it 's been towed straight from Venice . Inside , you 'll find Deering 's extensive collection of Italian art and antiques . What are your Miami must-see sights ? The Coral Gables neighborhood is known as `` The City Beautiful '' and has a wonderfully Mediterranean feel . Gawp at the opulent villas that abound and then make your way to the most lavish of them all , the Biltmore Hotel ( 1200 Anastasia Avenue ) . This palatial construction was built in 1926 , modeled on the Giralda bell tower in Seville , and beautifully captures the architecture of southern Spain . While you 're in The City Beautiful , take a dip in the Venetian Pool ( 2701 De Soto Boulevard ) . The ornate pool was transformed from a rock quarry in 1923 , and includes decorative canals , fountains , waterfalls and coral caves , while palm trees and porticos provide some welcome shade . In recent years , Miami has become something of a center for contemporary art . Sample the scene in Wynwood , an up-and-coming district that houses the Rubell Family Collection ( 95 NW 29th Street ) and the Margulies Collection ( 591 NW 27th Street ) . In Downtown Miami , the Miami Art Museum ( 101 W Flagler Street ) has an extensive collection of postwar art and some far out conceptual pieces . The Design District is , as the name suggests , a hotbed of art and design . The Moore Space ( 4040 NE 2nd Avenue ) is a vast gallery that showcases cutting edge art , while the façade of the Living Room Building ( 4000 Miami Avenue ) includes an open-air recreation of a gigantic living room . Sitting on its oversized couch is a photo-opportunity not to be missed . ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . Miami City Guide : . Where to stay | What to see | Where to be seen | Where to eat | Where to shop . Do you agree with our Miami picks ? Send us your comments and suggestions in the `` Sound Off '' box below and we 'll print the best .
Learn more about Miami Art Deco at the Art Deco Welcome Center . Take a stroll in Little Havana and soak up the beauty of old Havana . Spend an afternoon at the opulent Vizcaya Castle and Gardens . Wynwood is an up - and - coming area with some great modern art spaces .