Miami for Art Lovers - Miami Offers More Than Sun and Sand

By Carlos Giraldo

It may be famous for sun and sand, but Miami also has a thriving arts community. Whether you prefer performing arts, fine arts, or historical treasures, you’ll find world-class arts just around the corner.

Film fans know that Miami is the place to see groundbreaking films. The most famous is the Miami International Film Festival, a star- studded showcase for Latin American, North American and world cinema. If you prefer live theater, Miami offers a range of venues, with the Coconut Grove Playhouse, Actor’s Playhouse, and the Jackie Gleason Theater as the most well- known. Music lovers will enjoy the incredible variety in Miami, including performances by the Florida Grand Opera, the Miami Symphony Orchestra, the Murray Dranoff International Two Piano Competition, and the Miami Bach Society, as well as contemporary performances by the biggest stars in the entertainment and music world. Dance lovers will enjoy the world-acclaimed Miami City Ballet and the contemporary Dance Now! Ensemble.

Fine art enthusiasts will find galleries, festivals, and studios throughout the city of Miami. The Coconut Grove Arts Festival is one of the largest and most prestigious outdoor fine arts and crafts festivals in the United States. Art Basel Miami Beach is a new type of cultural event, combining an international art show with an exciting program of special exhibitions, parties and crossover events that include music, film, architecture and design.

Historic treasures, from local to international, can be found at the cultural and art museums in Miami. The Miami Art Museum presents international art of the 20th and 21st centuries. Permanent exhibits at the Lowe Art Museum include Italian Renaissance and Baroque, Greco-Roman Antiquities, 17th-21st century Art of the Americas and Europe, and Asian, African and Native American art. The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is an extraordinary European-inspired estate and National Historic Landmark, which includes a house filled with art and furnishings, and ten acres of gardens on Biscayne Bay.

If you are traveling to Miami, CRSHotels.com has the ideal hotel for you. Choose the Winterhaven, the Colony, the Kent, the National, the Palms, or the Bentley Beach. Stay at the Shelborne Beach Resort, Hotel St. Augustine, the Richmond Hotel, or the Clinton Hotel & Spa. Enjoy the Bentley, the Blue Moon, the Sovereign Oceanfront, the Best Western Atlantic Oceanfront, or the Beacon. Try the Essex House, Haddon Hall, the River Park Hotel & Suites, the Clevelander, or the Hotel St. Michel.