But the 10-mile beach is wide enough that sunbathers can catch the rays in comfort. South Beach, or SoBe, has also become one of the most diverse communities in the country, with Cubans, Hasidic Jews, Europeans, and South Americans all mingling together. There is a promenade that runs roughly along the main South Beach strip that draws all kinds of activity such as in-line skating, bicycling, and just going for a stroll. Aside from the warm waters, the central attraction in South Beach is the Art Deco Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The district includes about 800 buildings in Moderne, Streamline, and Mediterranean Revival styles.
Guides explain what makes each an Art Deco design and give the history behind the structures.
The famed Gianni Versace residence, Casa Casaurina, with its Mediterranean Revival opulence, is also part of the tour. Visitors can also take a cassette walking tour or check to see whether there is a scheduled bicycle tour, which usually is available once a month in certain seasons. All guides are trained and certified by the Miami Design Preservation League. The league, a nonprofit organization, is also host each year to Art Deco Weekend, which falls this coming year on January 14 to 16, 2000. Artists and shoppers alike flock to the recently refurbished Lincoln Road Shopping District, a pedestrian expanse between 16th and 17th, starting at Washington Avenue and running to Alton Road.