Miami and Miami Beach have rich and diverse cultures and histories. It is a municipality that conducts official business in three languages in order to better facilitate that diversity. Our visitors and residents are the beneficiaries to the unique experiences offered as a result of the various influences that made Miami what it is today.

The Adler’s moved here in 1957 and live 7 blocks from that first home. At that time it had been cultivated by train passengers along the eastern corridor and more recently by air transportation. The Boston Post Road which became Interstate 95 also brought many and still does. You will find I95 a very convenient asset and several routes in Miami Beach are tributary to I95. The MacArthur Causeway I395 is 5th street, Venetian Causeway is at Dade Boulevard, the Julia Tuttle Causeway I195 is at FSR112 or 41st street, the 71st street, JFK Causeway. 96th Street (Kane Concourse) at the Broad Causeway.

BRIDGES

We are on an island. These routes will get you to and from Miami Beach. Some have draw bridges that open on the half hour in a tiered structure. Bridge openings can cause distress if one plans to arrive on the other side at a particular time. For some openings there is the ability to predict the openings. They happen every half hour either on the hour and half hour or at a 15 minute to 45 minute after the hour. Such as the Broad Causeway bridge.

The Venetian East Bridge is not one of these predictable bridges. Here is the official notice: “The draw of the East Span of the Venetian Causeway bridge, between Miami and Miami Beach, shall open on signal; except that, from November 1 through April 30 from 7:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Monday through Friday, the draw need not be opened. However, the draws shall open at 7:45 a.m., 8:15 a.m., 5:15 p.m., and 5:45 p.m. if any vessels are waiting to pass. The draw shall open on signal on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Washington’s Birthday. The draw shall open at any time for public vessels of the United States, tugs with tows, regularly scheduled cruise vessels, and vessels in distress.”

Miami Beach gets 1.2M visitors a year and has a population of 80K. The streets are designed for the resident population which means tourism, particularly peak tourism creates traffic density. As an island there are few work arounds. As a result one is advised to plan for the worst, relax its Miami – we’re used to it, and tourists keep us income tax free. More traffic less taxes.

The Neighborhoods