Florida - One day in Miami

CIao,
I will be landing in MIA on 2nd April, friday, and leaving by car the 4th in the morning heading Kennedy space center for the space shuttle launch. What are the must see on the city? Will it warm enough to go to the beach for a swim?
Thanks

Matteo

Probably will be too cold for a swim, but if you're hardy, give it a try. One day highlights for me, since you've not given any preferences.

Vizcaya- http://www.vizcayamuseum.org/ nice beachfront house built by an indolent heir to an industrial fortune. beautiful and interesting
Fairchild Tropical Gardens- http://www.fairchildgarden.org/ One of the most extensive collections of tropical plants in the world, and fascinating if you have the slightest interest in plants.
Biltmore Hotel- located in bucolic surroundings in mid-Coral Gables, a planned community bult in the 1920's, this hotel has what once was the largest swimming pool in the world and was built in a faux replica of Southern Spanish style. It is also home of an excellent golf course. http://www.biltmorehotel.com/ two minutes away is the Venetian Pool, built at the same time from residue of the hotel construction. http://www.coralgablesvenetianpool.com/

There is also a 12th century Spanish Monastery, rebuilt as a tourist attraction. This one is an only-in-Miami moment and is certainly worth a visit.
http://www.spanishmonastery.com/history.html

The majority of tourists seem to miss these places, but they are the highlights of Miami history, short as it is, for those who have interest. I lived there for nine years and visited all these places often.

Another house of interest is the George Merrick House in Coral Gables (with its own lush gardens). The house features coral rock, which gave the city its name:

http://www.coralgables.com/CGWeb/documents/historic_preservation_docs/MerrickHouse.pdf

One thing to remember is that (greater) Miami is a very young city - there was, for all intents and purposes, no permanent settlement until 1896. So even someone like Merrick was building only 30 years after the community's founding.

We spent more than one day in Miami. We really liked the Fairchild Tropical Botantical Garden. We also visited the low-key Barnicle House in Coconut Grove. Shark Valley in the Everglades was worth the short trip.

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