By Carlos Giraldo
The fashionably-attired who stroll Ocean Drive and frequent the hip clubs of Miami don't have to trek to New York for their chic clothing and accessories. In addition to its beautiful beaches and classic art deco architecture, Miami is also a fashion paradise, with an abundance of specialty shops, familiar stores, and unique boutiques.
The best shopping in South Beach is on a two-block stretch of Collins Avenue or in the Lincoln Road area. Among the high-profile shops on Collins Avenue (between 6th and 9th Ave) you will find Kenneth Cole, Nicole Miller, Armani Exchange, Polo Sport, Club Monaco, Guess, Sephora, Banana Republic, and Urban Outfitters. Lincoln Road (between Washington Avenue and Alton Road), is a mix of familiar stores, like BCBG Max Azria and Anthropologie and funky boutiques like Agora, Chroma and Neo Accessorio, where celebs shop for their hip accessories.
The famous Miracle Mile in Coral Gables (Coral Way Avenue, between 42nd Ave and Douglas Road) is home to more than 100 shops along a wide, tree-lined boulevard. The shops range from bridal boutiques to jewelers to furniture and household fashions. The Village of Merrick Park (358 San Lorenzo Ave), with luxury retail stores set in an urban garden, is also nearby.
Miami boasts over a dozen malls. Bayside Marketplace (401 Biscayne Boulevard) is a 16- acre shopping and entertainment area on Biscayne Bay, with specialty shops, food and entertainment, including a Hard Rock Café. Heading south from Miami Beach, the three-floor Coco Walk (3015 Grand Ave) in Coconut Grove is a great place for people-watching, with nearly 40 specialty shops plus kiosks, restaurants and clubs. The Shops at Sunset Place (5701 Sunset Drive) in South Miami is family-oriented, with a 24-screen cinemaplex, IMAX theater, Virgin Megatore, NikeTown, and GameWorks. Also on the south side of town, close to the Dadeland North and South metrorail stations, is the Dadeland Mall (7535 N Kendall Drive), with popular retailers that include Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor plus 175 specialty stores and 17 restaurants.
Heading north, Bal Harbour Shops (9700 Collins Ave, north of Miami Beach) is the ultimate chic shopping spot featuring Hermes, Gucci, Armarni, Dior, Bulgari, Tiffany, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Lalique, and Neiman Marcus. Also to the north is the Aventura Mall, with a 24-screen Cineplex, Lord & Taylor, Bloomingdale's, and Macy's in addition to specialty stores such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor, J. Crew, Fossil, and Clinique, as well as several excellent restaurants. Head a bit farther north, to Sawgrass Mills (12801 W Sunrise Boulevard at Flamingo Road) for top-of-the-line bargain stores.
If you are headed to Miami, CRSHotels.com has the perfect South Beach Hotel for you. Choose the Colony Hotel, the Clinton Hotel and Spa, the Beacon Hotel, or the Kent Hotel. Stay at the Suites on South Beach, the Lorraine Hotel, the Ocean Surf Hotel, the River Park Hotel & Suites Downtown Miami the Thunderbird Resort, the Greenview Hotel, Travelodge Monaco Beach Resort, the Shelborne Beach Resort, or the Bentley Beach Hotel, right on the ocean in South Beach. Play at the Best Miami Hotel, the Royal South Beach Hotel, or the South Beach Plaza Hotel or South Beach Plaza Villas. Enjoy the Hotel St. Michel in Coral Gables or the Mutiny Hotel Coconut Grove on the Bay.