People who have never been to Miami often associate it with movies and TV shows they've seen it in: Scarface, Bad Boys, Dexter, Nip/Tuck, and, of course, the small-to-big-screen crossover Miami Vice. And residents never argue with the city's gritty, sexy onscreen image. Instead, they flaunt it, even adopting the moniker "Vice City."

Vice isn't the only thing this international metropolis on Biscayne Bay has going for it, though. It's also a hub of fashion, art, Latin media, and commerce. Port of Miami is the unofficial "Cruise Ship Capital of the U.S.," with approximately four million cruise passengers coming through annually. Neighborhoods are diverse and distinct—Coconut Grove, with its college crowds and ped-friendly main drag, seems a world apart from the up-and-coming Design District or ritzy Coral Gables. Downtown is the cultural and business hub—top tourist landmarks include Bayfront Park, Bayside Marketplace, and Brickell Avenue. Family-friendly attractions in the city include Jungle Island, Coral Castle, Miami Seaquarium, and the Miami Metrozoo. Everglades National Park borders the city on one side, Biscayne National Park on the other, and the Florida Keys are just a stone's throw away… so no matter how urban Miami seems, the vastness of nature is always right there waiting.