Resorts Magazine

On one s ide, the ocean s t retches endles s l y in deep blue, i t s gent le waves washing over sof t , pale sand. On the other , jus t a few s teps f rom the shore, l ies the Ar t Deco Di s t r ict , wi th i t s pas tel -colored bui ldings , clean l ines , ret ro detai l s , and that t imeles s atmosphere that recal l s the 1930s . The Ar t Deco Di s t r ict i s the cul tural hear t of Miami Beach. Born between the 1920s and 1940s , when the ci ty was beginning to t rans form into an internat ional tour i s t des t inat ion, thi s archi tectural s ty le was adopted to gi ve the shorel ine a modern and elegant ident i ty. Today, more than 800 protected bui ldings make up the larges t Ar t Deco di s t r ict in the wor ld: an open-ai r museum where symmet r ical geomet r ies , v ibrant color s , and mot i f s inspi red by the sea capture the opt imi sm and glamour of an era. Ocean Dr i ve looks l i ke a mov ie set : neon s igns , crowded ter races , and the mus ic spi l l ing out f rom the clubs . By day i t i s ruled by a br ight , dazz l ing l ight ; by night i t reveal s i t s mos t glamorous s ide, made of cocktai l s , laughter , and Lat in rhythms . Here i s where the ci ty shows i t s t rue es sence: a blend of sea, archi tecture, and night l i fe that has def ined i t s al lure for a century. 77 R ESORTS M AGAZINE