Miami

Picture a city where the daytime sparkles and the nightlife sizzles. Miami has it all, 24/7. Located on the Miami River between the Atlantic Ocean and the Florida Everglades, the city is ideal for sun and surf lovers. Miami is also renowned as the southeast epicenter of high fashion, bold architecture and the trendy hot spots of South Beach. There's a diverse and exotic culture here, with a large Latin American population and the economic ties of an international hub.

City Snapshot. Miami is the county seat of the largest metropolitan area in the southeastern U.S., with a metro population of 5.4 million. It's also home to one of the nation's largest and most influential ports, the Port of Miami.

Places to Live. The City of Miami has 13 distinct neighborhoods, each with its own full service parks, fire and police stations, and a Neighborhood Enhancement Team center. You'll find a range of affordable apartments and other housing, both in the city and in surrounding suburbs.

Places to Relax. Miami offers miles and miles of beautiful sun-drenched beaches. You'll also find a world of exciting dining experiences, both Alfresco and indoors, featuring International, Caribbean, New World and Floribbean cuisines. The nightclub and music scenes flourish here. And Miami is the only metro area with two national parks - Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park, featuring the only living tropical reef within the continental U.S.

Major Attractions. Miami Seaquarium, a world-class marine life entertainment park; Homestead-Miami Speedway, featuring the Richard Petty Driving Experience; Miami Art Museum; Jungle Island walk-through attraction of wildlife and plant species; Everglades airboat tours.

Pro Sports. Marlins (baseball), Dolphins (football), Heat (basketball), Panthers (hockey)

Places to Get Away. Many Miamians find the multitude of beaches and two national parks perfect getaways, right at their doorstep. But you'll also have just a one- to three- hour drive to reach all of the Florida Keys, including the quirky fun of Key West.

More Info. To learn more about life in Miami and South Florida, go to cityguide.aol.com/southflorida, www.miami-florida.com, www.ci.miami.fl.us