Miami FYI - Languages Spoken, Climate, Transportation, Universities & The History of Miami
Here we will cover important information that is relevant to anyone visiting Miami for the first time. Please scroll down for information on transportation options (including
highway system) the languages spoken in Miami and the climate of the Miami-Dade area. We have also included information on the universities and colleges in the Miami area as well as
a brief history of Miami's beginnings.
Languages - Spoken
In Miami
Miami is called a international cultural and
financial center of
the world. This is due to the
various ethnic groups that call
Miami home. It is also due to the
influx of South American and
European tourists. The three
"official" languages spoken in Miami
are English, Spanish, and French
Creole. English and Spanish are the
two most prevalent throughout Miami. Spanglish, a combination of Spanish and English, is also spoken.
Here is a list of the other
languages used in Miami:
|
|
|
|
|
Miami Climate
Miami
's weather is tropical due to the
city's proximity to the equator and
the warm gulf waters of the gulf
stream which is just 15 miles
offshore. By tropical we mean
that the summers are hot and humid
(like the Caribbean) and the
winters are warm and dry.
Most
of the year in Miami is hot and
humid with the average monthly
temperature for ANY month (including
the cold season) being 65 degrees.
The lowest temperature recorded was
30°F (-1 °C) with the highest
temperature coming in at 98 °F (37
°C).
Paralleling the rainy season in
Miami (May - September) is the
hurricane season. The last hurricane
to hit Miami was Hurricane Cleo in
1964. The summer heat is
usually offset by afternoon rain
showers or the sea breeze off the
Atlantic.
|
|
|
Transportation To
and From Miami
Miami International Airport - MIA is
served by over 60 airlines listed
here with phone numbers
http://www.miami-mia.com/airlines.html
. Please be aware that MIA is
one of the world's busiest airports
and that you should allow plenty of
time for check-in. MIA handles many
international flights. There is a
hotel connected to the airport along
with numerous shops and restaurants.
There is also free shuttle service
to the Tri-Rail which connects to
North Miami, downtown, and to
Metromover and Metrorail. A taxi or rental car may be preferred
if your stay is not located close to
a Metrorail station.
Fort Lauderdale International
Airport - FLL handles less
international flights and is not as
busy as MIA. The airport is
only 30 minutes to one hour from
Miami depending on traffic.
Many smaller, low cost airlines use
FLL such as Southwest Airlines.
I have flown in and out of FLL
several times and found the
experience to be good with no
hassles. In fact, I would
recommend using this airport if
possible. A free shuttle is provided
here to the Tri-Rail station which
will deliver you to downtown Miami.
Again a taxi or
rental
car may prove to be more
convenient. The website for Fort
Lauderdale International is
http://www.broward.org/airport/
.
Note
Here: Currently, at
MIA, construction of the new Miami
Intermodal Center, is slated to
become Miami's Grand Central station
with hub connections of Amtrak,
Metrorail, Tri-Rail, taxis,
Metrobus, and all car-rental
facilities. The M.I.C. is expected
to be completed around 2009/2010.
Amtrak - Amtrak's
Silver Service
offers travel to and from Miami ending or beginning in New York City and
stopping in major cities of the east in between.
Highways into Miami - The three
major highways coming into Miami
are:
-
I-95 - This interstate runs
along the Atlantic coast from
Maine to Miami.
-
I-75 - This interstate comes in
from the Midwest USA running
through Atlanta and Tampa
terminating in Miami.
-
Florida's Turnpike - This is a
toll highway reached usually by
I-75.This highway runs
through the Orlando area.
There is an extension through to
the Homestead area
- US Highway 1 - This is the only
southbound highway from Miami
and runs to the end of Florida
Keys.
|
|
|
|
There are several ways to
get around in Miami and the
Greater Miami Area.
The one you choose will be
dependent of your location,
budget and where you want to
travel in the area. Of
course you may use a
combination of any of the
Miami transportation
services that suit your
needs.
Miami Dade Transit
- Bus -
Miami's bus system is
quite large and connects
to the bus system in
Greater Fort Lauderdale.
Traffic can affect bus
schedules but there are
generally enough buses
running the routes that
this is not a huge
issue. The website
for Miami-Dade transit
is http://www.co.miami-dade.fl.us/transit/
and their phone # is
(305)770-3131.
- Metrorail -
Miami-Dade County's 22-mile,
elevated rapid transit
system runs from Kendall
through South Miami, Coral
Gables, and downtown Miami;
to the Civic Center/Jackson
Memorial Hospital area; and
to Brownsville, Liberty
City, Hialeah, and Medley in
northwest Miami-Dade, with
connections to Broward and
Palm Beach counties at the
Tri-Rail/Metrorail transfer
station. The 22
accessible Metrorail
stations are about one-mile
apart, providing easy access
for bus riders, pedestrians,
and passengers dropped off
and picked up. Parking is
available at 19 Metrorail
stations, including the new
Palmetto Station. For more
information visit
http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/metrorail.asp
or call (305)770-3131
-
Metromover
-
is a free
automated people-mover
system that serves
downtown Miami from Omni
to Brickell and connects
with Metrorail at
Government Center and
Brickell stations. There
are 20 conveniently-located wheelchair-accessible Metromover stations, one about every two blocks. Metromover links many of downtown Miami's major office buildings, hotels, and retail centers, the Stephen P.
Clark Government Center, the Cultural Plaza (Miami Art Museum, Historical Museum, Main
Library), and the Brickell business district. With Metromover cars arriving frequently, getting
around downtown is fast
and convenient. The
website for Metromover
is
http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/moverusing.asp
or call (305)770-3131.
Note: An
expansion for the Metrorail
system is under way
including a connection to
Miami International Airport
to be operating by 2010.
Further expansion to the
north toward Dolphin Stadium
(the home of the NFL's Miami
Dolphins) is expected to be
operating by 2012. A light
rail line to Miami Beach is
also under development, as
well as the Miami Streetcar
connecting Downtown Miami to
the Media and Entertainment
District as well as Midtown
Miami.
Miami Taxi Cab Services
Taxi's can be an
expensive way to travel
Miami and the surrounding
areas. Special rates
are based on the popular
barrier islands of Miami
Beach and other beach areas
like South Beach Nightclubs.
These higher rates apply if
going from or to the
mainland (city) but do not
apply if you are traveling
within the city or beach
area. The cabs
have price lists for
transportation
displayed based on location.
Another thing to consider
is when your cab ride may
take you into a different
county. Taxi service
covers Miami-Dade, Broward,
Palm Beach and Monroe
counties. Normal rates
apply for these counties.
It is suggested that you ask
for a rate quote before
transporting outside these
areas and you must
inform the driver first.
Pricing can usually be
negotiated.
There are literally
hundreds of Taxi Cab
companies in the Miami area.
You should of course locate
one that is in the location
you are. You will
usually have to call a taxi
service for pick-up.
Taxi companies do not allow
for random pick ups for
safety and legal reasons.
Although some individual cab
drivers will do random
pick-ups if you wish to try
and hail a cab. They
will of course transport
from MIA, Port of Miami, and
the train stations.
Dade county in
conjunction with the
surrounding counties, keeps
up with the taxi business,
so it is uncommon to hear of
crimes involving unlicensed
taxi services. All
taxi drivers must have a
valid operating license and
you should check the license
before accepting the ride.
This informational license
will include the name,
license number and cab
number. It is not
recommended that you accept
a taxi ride from an
individual that does not
have this information
available and up to date.
|
Rental Cars
Ah, the
freedom of having your own
transportation! This
alone may give cause enough
for you to rent a car for
your stay in Miami. No
waiting in lines, no set
time schedule to
follow...just get in and go.
Perhaps a city map would be
useful or I'd say necessary.
But armed with the map and a
planned route to your
destination it should be a
cinch.
If you plan
to travel the city or to not
stay in a location that is
convenient for public
transportation, a rental car
may be the best option for
you. The roads in
Miami and surrounding areas
are easy to navigate as most
road numbers are based on
their distance from the
center of the city. For
instance 8000 NE 40th Street
would be close to the
intersection of 40th street
and 80th road.
Miami also
has some of the lowest
rental car rates in the US.
Also if you plan your trip
on line you may save money
on a rental car especially
if it is booked with your
accommodations. |
|
|
|
Miami Area Colleges and Universities
Miami-Dade County is the home to
a number of colleges and
universities, both public and
private:
- University of Miami - The
largest private university in
Florida.
- Miami Dade College - This is
a public College.
- Florida International
University - This is the largest
public university in Florida.
- Barry University - This s a
private Catholic university.
- Florida Memorial University
- This is a historically black
private university.
- St. Thomas University - This
is a private Catholic
university.
- Johnson and Wales University
- This is is private university.
- Carlos Albizu University -
This is a private university.
- Miami International
University of Art and Design - A
private university.
- Talmudic University - This
is a private Jewish university.
- Keiser University - A
private university.
- Le Cordon Bleu College - A
private college teaching
culinary arts and hospitality
management.
The Miami area consists of
several areas. These are discussed
in the links under Miami Scenes on the left of the
page. The city of Miami is not to be
confused with the city of Miami Beach.
Miami Florida is the largest city
in the south eastern United States
and the only city founded by a
woman, Julia Tuttle. Ms. Tuttle was
a citrus grower who's crops survived
the great freeze of 1894.
She convinced Henry Flagler , a
railroad tycoon, to build a railway
down the state of Florida to Miami
after all the Florida citrus crops,
excluding Miami's, were destroyed in
the freeze.
Miami was incorporated as a city
on July 28, 1896 with a population
of just 300 people. This soon
changed as people flocked to the
area in the 1920's. But the exodus
of people slowed during the Great
Depression and did not start again
until WWII. This being because of
the strategic location of the city
during the war.
Another population boon was in
1959 when Castro took over Cuba and
caused a large influx of Latin
peoples into the area. The Cuban
exodus to Miami began again in the
1980's with the Mariel Boatlift
which brought 150,000 Cubans to the
area. During the 1980's Miami saw an
influx of Haitians to the city and
south Florida area. Miami continues
to see a steady growth of population
in the city and surrounding areas.
Miami is known as a world
cultural city and as a gateway to
the Americas due to the above
factors and also due to the close
ties that the city has with South
America, Cuba, and the Caribbean.
Another reason this is true is due
to the Port Of Miami which is one of
the world's largest and busiest.
Miami International Airport is also
one of the largest in the world.
It can be truly said that Miami
is one of the major southern
gateways of the United States to the
world. The name Miami comes from the
Mayaimi tribe who lived in the Lake
Okeechobee area during the 17th to 18th centuries. Article adapted from :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami%2C_Florida
and http://www.wikitravel.org
|
Gofindsolutions.com - Helping you find your way online!
|
|
|
© Copyright 2007- 08
Gofindsolutions.com
All pictures / photos and content are copyright protected. |
|
|
|
|
|
