Twenty malls or major shopping centers exist in the area, including the Bal Harbour Shops, Cocowalk and the Miami International Mall. Dining options are plentiful and diverse. The warm weather tends to whither even the heartiest appetites, so most restaurants offer a large selection of salads, frozen drinks and light grilled dishes. Fresh seafood finds its way onto most menus. The high season here is October through January, when tens of thousands of people flee cold winters and take up residence for the season in Miami Beach.
Spring break is also a wild time.
One of most remarkable features of this port city is its cultural mix. Although US officials might say that English is still the official first language, more than half the population speaks Spanish. It is extremely common to hear someone rattle off an entire litany in Spanish - only to have them switch to perfect, lyrically accented English a moment later. Everyone has a different opinion of Miami. The city first became a famous vacation spot in the 1940s, when entire families came to enjoy the sun, sand and exotic Latin culture.