Wednesday November 16, 2011 at 2:51PM from Wolfgang G.
Things to do in spare time,

Stroll along South Beach or check out Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road to find an array of boutiques, art galleries, museums, restaurants, bars and clubs. On the downtown waterfront, Bayside Marketplace offers shopping, dining and entertainment options.

The cageless Zoo Miami is considered one of the nation’s best. Spend a few hours at Miami Seaquarium on the Rickenbacker Causeway or Parrot Jungle Island, in the same area, to get a close look at marine life and tropical birds.

The 50-acre Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, centered around a 1916 European-style mansion, is a quiet retreat in the heart of Miami that provides a glimpse of life in turn-of-the-century South Florida.

Bargain hunters should plan a trip to Sawgrass Mills’ factory outlet stores, a 30-minute drive north of Miami. But you’ll find shopping options all over the city, too. Dolphin Mall, 7 miles west of the airport, has more than 240 stores and restaurants. Miracle Mile, in Coral Gables, offers more than 170 upscale shops and gourmet eateries. The Miracle Mile area is also a great place for a late afternoon walk.

At the end of the day, catch a smoldering Miami sunset on the outdoor patio bar at Smith & Wollensky. With an icy mojito in hand, watch locals stroll by with their dogs while giant cruise ships float to and from the port.

If you have extra time and a car, venture out to the Florida Keys and the Everglades National Park, a public park with 1.5 million acres of swamps, saw-grass prairies and sub-tropical jungles on the southern tip of Florida.