Miami is where the United States softens into the Caribbean. Turquoise water washes up on white-sand beaches lined with pastel Art Deco hotels, Cuban coffee is stronger than espresso and cheaper than a bottle of water, and the city runs on a late-night Latin rhythm you don't find anywhere else in the country.

Each neighborhood has its own accent. South Beach is the classic — Ocean Drive at night, Lincoln Road for shopping, and beach clubs that stay open until sunrise. Wynwood turned an old warehouse district into an open-air street-art museum surrounded by craft breweries and taco spots. Little Havana on Calle Ocho is unapologetically Cuban, with domino parks, cigar rollers and the best cortadito in the city. Design District and Coconut Grove pull the sophisticated crowd.

The natural side is closer than most visitors realize. The Everglades and Biscayne National Park are both under an hour from downtown, and the drive down to Key West is one of America's great road trips. Add Miami Beach hotels, waterfront dining, and easy nonstop flights from most of the country, and it's the most consistently warm major-city getaway in North America.