The Gold Coast – the Magnificent Beaches of Florida
Florida's Gold Coast is one of the most intense migration destinations in the USA over the past fifty years. The Miami metropolitan area grew from wilderness and swamps at the beginning of the twentieth century into a vast urban space home to more than six million people. From Miami to West Palm Beach, hundreds of cities and towns (basically sprawling suburbs with incredible quality of life) were built, enjoying Florida's perfect weather and the stunning barrier island beaches along the coast. The Gold Coast offers a ton of attractions and vacation spots, as well as visits to major and important cities like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and Palm Beach.
How many days do you need for a trip to Florida's Gold Coast?
To explore the Gold Coast of Florida, from the Everglades south of Miami to the Treasure Coast north of West Palm Beach, you'll need at least a week. The trip includes visits to major cities like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and Palm Beach, with numerous other towns and cities offering plenty of attractions and retreats.
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10 Must-See and Do Things on Florida's Gold Coast
- Party at Ocean Drive clubs in South Beach at night and relax on the stunning beach during the day
- Shopping under the shadow of Downtown Miami's towers at Bayside Marketplace
- Luxury shopping on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables
- Shopping with the celebs in the heart of Coconut Grove Village
- Flamingo Gardens in Davie
- Shopping (only for those who can afford it) on the ultra-luxurious Worth Avenue in Palm Beach
- The charming beach of Red Reef Park in Boca Raton
- Alligators, swamps, and stunning nature in the Everglades
- The Morikami Japanese Gardens and Museum in Delray Beach
- Fun and shopping on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale
There’s so much to do in South Florida…, so here are 14 more things and attractions worth visiting in the Golden Coasts
- Lunch and fun on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach
- The Great Gravity Clock at the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale
- Gold medal memorabilia in the International Swimming Hall of Fame
- The stunning gardens of Bonnet House in Fort Lauderdale
- Turtles and a massive aquarium at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
- Visit the magnificent Biltmore Hotel Palace in Coral Gables
- The historic pseudo-Spanish village of Boca Raton Resort
- The grandeur of Villa Vizcaya in South Miami
- Boating and fishing at Lake Okeechobee
- Shopping at Plaza Real and art at the Boca Raton Museum of Art
- The lavish lifestyle of tycoon Henry Flagler at Flagler Museum in Palm Beach
- The grand history of the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach
- The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse on the Treasure Coast
- Butterfly World at Coconut Grove
What is Florida's Gold Coast?
- Florida's Gold Coast is the southeastern tip of the long peninsula
- Along the coastline stretches the enormous metropolis of Miami, home to more than six million residents
- Technically, Florida's Gold Coast extends from the Everglades and the Miami-Dade at the southern end, on the boundary with the Florida Keys, and up to Jupiter at the northern outskirts of West Palm Beach
- The Gold Coast is an immense and modern urban stretch, which began to develop at the start of the last century and has since undergone rapid development.
- This is a very affluent area, including various types of residences. Among them are vast beachfront estates, mostly owned by wealthy individuals using them as winter homes, condominium towers for residence, and endless developments of cities and towns with suburban features of large single-family homes or duplexes, many in what are called Gated Communities.
- The Gold Coast is the main migration destination of the Sunbelt, with millions of Americans (a significant number of whom are of Jewish descent) leaving their homes in the New York metropolitan area at retirement age and moving to Florida. This legendary migration is an important part of American and Jewish culture and a significant part of Florida's identity.
- Along the Gold Coast, there are many tourist attractions such as vibrant cities like Miami, historic resort towns like Palm Beach, and intriguing cities like Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton.
- Along the endless sandy barrier island beaches, there are countless accommodations from luxurious resorts to vacation rentals, beach condos, motels, and great beach hotels.
Map of the Gold Coast – From Miami to Palm Beach
How to reach Florida's Gold Coast?
How to fly to Florida's Gold Coast?
Miami International Airport (MIA) Miami International Airport – The main gateway to Florida and the southeastern part of the USA, although Orlando's airport is busier throughout the year. The airport is accessible from nearly every corner of the world and the USA, including a direct line from Ben-Gurion.
The massive airport has three terminals and no less than 130 gates. The largest operator at the field is American Airlines, with numerous regular routes within the USA, as well as to most of the Caribbean Islands and Central and South America. The field is just a fifteen-minute drive away from downtown Miami.
Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) – The Fort Lauderdale airport is a great option for arriving directly in the city, as long as you're coming from within the US. This airport has 4 terminals and mainly serves American low-cost airlines. From the airport, there are flights to all major airports in the US and Canada, as well as to many Caribbean destinations. It is located right in the center of the city, just south, a 5-minute drive from Las Olas Boulevard – the heart of the city.
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Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) – This small municipal airport is the most efficient solution for those who want to get directly to the legendary city and island. It's located just south of Downtown West Palm Beach, only a ten-minute drive from the city center and Palm Beach. The airport is relatively active and well-connected with all major airports in the USA and Canada, both on the East and West coasts.
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How to reach Florida's Gold Coast by car?
- The main transportation artery of the Gold Coast and the Miami metropolitan area is I-95
- The legendary highway that crosses all of America from north to south ends near Downtown Miami. It runs from downtown about a kilometer from the Atlantic coast, seamlessly connecting all the thousands of communities along the Gold Coast.
- Parallel to the I-95 to the east, usually close to the beach, is the route of Highway 1. This is not a freeway, it's signalized and slow. This road, in much of the coastal cities and towns, is defined as the main shopping street and bears a wealth of different names within the cities as an avenue.
- The most fascinating (and slowest) road among the Gold Coast's transportation routes is the A1A, which runs along all the barrier islands from Las Olas Beach in Fort Lauderdale to Palm Beach.
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When is the best time to visit Florida's Gold Coast?
- The best time to visit the Gold Coast is in the winter and spring when the weather is incredibly stable and pleasant????
- The winter in Florida is probably the most perfect weather in the entire western world. Winter temperatures are very pleasant, around 20 to 25 degrees Celsius, and there isn't much rain. For this reason, many tourists flock to the Keys to enjoy Florida's warmth and sunshine during the winter months
- Unlike the enjoyable winter, summer in Florida can be quite harsh. The temperatures in the summer are high, and the humidity is simply dreadful
- Although the summer weather is tough, Miami in the summer is one big celebration. As the scorching sun sets and the afternoon rains subside, the city lights up with neon, turning parts of it into one giant street party
- As August approaches, the humidity rises, and around 3:00 PM, heavy rain begins, lasting for about an hour, which helps break the humidity
From late spring to fall, significant tropical storms can occur in this part of Florida, including occasional hurricanes that notably impact the Atlantic coastline. The Gold Coast is the most vulnerable area in the USA for hurricanes making landfall due to storm movements in the Atlantic Ocean.
How to plan a trip to Florida's Gold Coast?
- The itinerary on the Gold Coast is linear, from south to north (usually, it can also be reversed), along the main route between Miami in the south and West Palm Beach in the north
- Near the I-95 are all the cities, towns, amusement parks, and attractions of the Gold Coast. You might also want to hop from Miami to the giant Everglades nature reserve or from West Palm Beach to the tranquil Lake Okeechobee
- You can head north from Palm Beach towards Disney World Parks in Orlando or to the Treasure Coast, where Cape Canaveral, Daytona Beach, and the historic city of St. Augustine
- From Miami, you must head south on Highway 1 towards Key West and enjoy all the fun of the Florida Keys
For planning a trip route on Florida's Gold Coast and professional consultation, click here…
Trip Itinerary in Miami Beach ????
The Miami Beach tour is relatively simple and includes a mix of driving and walking. The main thoroughfare of the city is Lincoln Way, a shopping promenade full of entertainment spots and shops, where it's also worth stopping for lunch. Another highlight of the city is its long, sandy beach.
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- It's recommended to drive along the grand boulevards like Ocean Drive and Washington Avenue to admire the city's unique Art Deco buildings
- In South Beach, there are attractions like the Jewish Museum and the Wolfsonian Museum
- In the Lincoln Way area, other attractions include the Holocaust Memorial and the Bass Museum
- It's also worth heading north to Magen Island towards Hollywood to experience the beautiful beaches and resort areas in the northern part of the city
A travel route in Downtown Miami and its Satellites
The Miami itinerary is best started at the financial center of the city, amidst the towering skyscrapers of downtown. Miami's port area has been developed, mainly around the Bayside Marketplace, which has become the main entertainment hub of downtown.
- Not far from the open-air mall overlooking the boats and yachts, you'll find museums such as the Frost Science Museum and the Pérez Art Museum
- Nearby the mall is the home stadium of the Miami Heat and Bayfront Park
- South of downtown is the Brickell neighborhood, and to the west is Little Havana, a taste of Cuba in America
Apart from downtown and its nearby neighborhoods, to the south on the Atlantic coast is the area of Coconut Grove, the trendy spot of Miami. There you'll find Vizcaya Villa and south of it, Dinner Key, home to the Miami City Hall. Adjacent to it, Coconut Grove Village is undoubtedly the most fun and glamorous hangout spot in Miami.
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Tour Itinerary in Fort Lauderdale
The tour itinerary in Fort Lauderdale is divided into two:
- A tour in the city center, around the vibrant section of Las Olas Boulevard
- A tour along the coastline of the Fort Lauderdale barrier island and the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean
The trip in the center of Fort Lauderdale focuses on the vibrant Las Olas Boulevard. Near the central part of the boulevard, between 6th Avenue (Route 1) and 11th Avenue, are some of the city's most interesting sites such as the Stranahan House, the NSU Art Museum, and the Museum of Discovery and Science.
The beach trip in Fort Lauderdale centers on Las Olas Beach (the beach at the end of the main boulevard), including the Tennis Hall of Fame, Bonnet House, and Hugh Taylor Park.
Itinerary in Boca Raton
- The trip in Boca Raton is exclusively car-based. Both in driving between the attractions worth reaching and a road trip for the sake of the trip itself
- It's recommended to travel on the coastal road A1A which in Boca is called the Ocean Boulevard (like in all city centers where the road passes through)
- Most of the sites are along Ocean Boulevard on the barrier island such as the Boca Raton Resort by Lake Boca Raton and Gumbo Limbo
- The Boca Art Museum is located on Federal Way, the main road of Highway 1 within the city
- It's also worth jumping over to the Lynn University campus, west of I-95
Palm Beach Itinerary
The town of Palm Beach is a must-visit spot for those traveling in southern Florida. It's situated on a protective island west of the larger city in North Miami Metropolitan – the city of West Palm Beach. The South Florida itinerary includes a visit to the town along the travel route between Miami and Orlando and Cape Canaveral.
- The tour in the town itself is quite simple. It involves visiting the prestigious Worth Avenue and from there popping north to the Society of the Four Arts, the Henry Flagler Museum, and then to the luxurious Breakers Hotel
- It's also worth driving along South Ocean Boulevard, possibly the most prestigious residential avenue in Florida, lined with extravagant mansions.
Everything You Need to Know About Staying at Florida's Gold Coast
Accommodations and Hotels in Miami
Staying and vacationing in Miami is an intense and fun experience. In Miami Beach and near Downtown Miami, you will find an astonishing array of accommodations, from luxurious resorts on the most golden beaches to four- and three-star hotels with an urban vibe offering a more affordable city experience.
On Ocean Drive of Miami Beach, the further south you go towards South Beach, the closer you get to the heart of the city's almost legendary nightlife scene that awakens after sunset in the summer (as it's too hot during the day!). Along the coast to the north, you’ll find luxurious resorts and beachfront vacation hotels.
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Here are 5 areas we think are the best to stay in Miami:
- Ocean Drive in Miami Beach – The entertainment and nightlife strip of Miami
- Brickell and Downtown Miami – Established and large institutions in the heart of the city
- Bal Harbour – Pure vacation on the beach or by the pool
- Sunny Isles Beach – Ocean tranquility at wonderful beachfront hotels
- Coral Gables – Vibrant urban atmosphere just outside Miami
Map of Accommodation Areas in Miami
Accommodation and Hotels in Fort Lauderdale
Accommodation in Fort Lauderdale is divided into several tourist options depending on the nature of the trip. The city has four major clusters of hotels, each with its unique hotel character:
- Beachfront hotels for a seaside vacation in Fort Lauderdale
- Downtown hotels near Las Olas Boulevard
- Motels along Route 1 (6th Avenue) or a bit further from downtown along the I-95 path
- Hotels of Fort Lauderdale International Airport
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Fort Lauderdale's beach hotels are classic Florida vacation spots. These are large hotels with pools and immediate access to the stunning golden sandy beach they sit on. The beach hosts many international hotel chains, including luxury resorts like the Ritz-Carlton and the Four Seasons, or 4 and 3-star hotels from Westin, Marriott brands, and IHG brands.
Downtown Fort Lauderdale hotels are a comfortable lodging option close to the lively entertainment avenue, offering an excellent choice for nightlife experiences, especially in the summer months.
Airport hotels and motels are a great lodging solution as well, mainly due to their affordable prices.
Florida – The Gold Coast
The Everglades National Park
The vast and famous nature reserve of Florida is located south of Miami, covering a massive area that spans the entire edge of the state. It's an enormous region of marshes and unique wildlife. It teems with alligators swimming in the thousands of pools, ponds, and marshes of the area. Almost all of the park's territory is inaccessible to humans, and in terms of size, it is the third largest park in the entire USA.
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The only road in the reserve is the Main Park Road, which reaches Flamingo, a massive research and camping site at the edge of the state. From Flamingo, you can embark on motorboat cruises across the marshes and lakes and witness the stunning nature of Florida.
Miami
Miami is the largest and most important urban center in Florida. The city is the heart of the massive metropolis stretching along the Gold Coast up to Palm Beach. Miami is a vibrant city with a blend of Latin and Jewish chic, expressed purely on Ocean Drive in South Beach. This part of Miami Beach is filled with clubs and is bustling all day (on the stunning beach) and night. Around Miami, there's plenty more to see, like Little Havana, Coconut Grove Village, and the cool Miracle Mile of Coral Gables.
Miami Beach
South Beach in Miami Beach is one of the most beautiful and vibrant beaches in southern Florida. The southern neighborhood is a fun travel destination for party and club enthusiasts, especially in the leisure areas of Ocean Drive.
Just a bit to the north, the vibrant pedestrian street of Lincoln Way sits at the heart of Miami Beach, with several attractions and interesting museums nearby. Miami Beach is a city that combines leisure with intriguing sites, highlighted by the captivating Holocaust Memorial, symbolizing the importance and centrality of the Jewish community in the city.
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Miami – Downtown, City Boroughs, and Coral Gables
The center of the city, Miami, is packed with places and sites worth visiting. Besides Miami Beach, the downtown area of Miami and the surrounding neighborhoods are full of fascinating spots. Little Havana, located to the west of downtown, is the heart of Cuban life in the U.S.
South of downtown lies the Coconut Grove Village district, the trendiest area in the city. To the west of downtown is the fascinating city of Coral Gables, home to the Miracle Mile, the legendary shopping street.
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Hollywood
Hollywood is one of the largest cities in the Miami metropolitan area. It is located north of Miami, less than a half-hour drive from downtown. As its name suggests, the city's roots trace back to California when its founder Joseph Young arrived from there and named the city after the Hollywood district in North Los Angeles. Hollywood is a continuation of Miami Beach's northern coastal towns and is adjacent to Sunny Isles Beach. The strip of hotels continues through Hollywood and extends north on the city's barrier island towards Fort Lauderdale Beach.
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The center of Hollywood is Young Circle Park, surrounded by a few streets of shopping, restaurants, and hotels. Across the city, there's a range of large casinos such as the historic Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, now operated by the Hard Rock network, The Big Easy Casino south of downtown, and several others.
There are also casinos in the northern neighboring city of Dania Beach, which is wedged between Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale. Dania Beach is a pleasant beach town with plenty of natural spaces. On the oceanfront is the Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, a long natural beach of the barrier island, and on its southern end, the Dania Beach Pier, a delightful spot to stroll along the ocean waters. Slightly to the south in West Lake Park, there are plenty of options for canoeing on the lakes and canals in a tropical atmosphere.
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Flamingo Gardens
The famous zoological and botanical park north of Miami is located in the city of Davie, west of Fort Lauderdale. The garden opened in 1927 as a green escape for residents of the new cities built along the coastline north of Miami. In addition to the garden, vacation homes were also opened as part of the complex.
In a large and well-planned complex, there's a stunning representation of Florida's nature, including tropical trees and swamp vegetation, along with the state's famous birds, led by flocks of flamingos. In the large park, there are paths where you can ride golf carts and explore the wildlife and flora.
Address: S Flamingo Rd. 3750, Davie
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Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is a chill version of Miami, just a bit north of the bustling downtown. The city blends Miami’s hot qualities from the south with the relatively peaceful vibe of the Golden Coast cities heading towards Palm Beach in the north. The city's main strip, Las Olas, buzzes with an urban spirit and is packed with restaurants, bars, and entertainment spots. Fort Lauderdale Beach is also a great place for a stroll and relaxation, with several interesting sites nearby.
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Butterfly World
Similar to Flamingo Park in Davie, Butterfly World also combines the planned green nature of a park with the attraction of a multitude of butterfly species inhabiting the park. The park is located in the suburb of Coconut Creek, west of Pompano Beach. It's a lovely stop with the kids when driving on the nearby Florida Turnpike. The place blends tropical vegetation with thousands of butterflies of all kinds collected from around the world. There are additional displays of small reptiles and other rare insects.
Address: Tradewinds Park – South, 3600 W Sample Rd, Coconut Creek
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Boca Raton
Boca Raton is one of the legendary places for sun migration to Florida. The city has become a well-known cultural concept and appears in popular culture as a central migration destination for Jewish retirees from the New York metropolitan area who come to enjoy the sun and lifestyle of Florida. Boca is a new city, without a city center but with some interesting attractions and mainly a lot of residential construction projects alongside canals, lakes, and the Atlantic Ocean shoreline.
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Delray Beach
Delray Beach is one of the most fun resort towns in Florida. It lies between Boca Raton and Palm Beach, with its center being the expansive Atlantic Avenue that leads directly from I-95 to the city's bustling oceanfront. As you approach the beach, the avenue becomes more vibrant with shops, restaurants, and small resort hotels.
West of downtown lies the beautiful attraction of the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. This museum is entirely dedicated to Japanese culture and is famous for its stunningly landscaped gardens.
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Palm Beach
The resort town of Palm Beach is one of the most historically luxurious places in South Florida. Henry Flagler, the owner of Standard Oil and the father of the Florida East Coast Railway, settled on the barrier island. From his home in Palm Beach, he practically managed the construction of all of Florida.
Today, Palm Beach is a millionaire's mansion town between the Atlantic Ocean beach and the Lake Worth Lagoon. Amidst the vast golf courses and big estates, you'll find some fascinating sites that are must-visits like the historic Breakers Hotel of Flagler, the upscale shopping street Worth Avenue, and the Flagler Museum. The large neighboring city to the east is West Palm Beach.
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Juno Beach and Jupiter
Palm Beach and West Palm Beach mark the northern border of the Gold Coast. At the outskirts of the big city begins technically the Treasure Coast, stretching northwards towards Cape Canaveral. It is also the demarcation between the northern settlers of the sun migration from the Northeast, and north of West Palm, you enter the deep south of the USA.
Juno Beach and Jupiter are two towns combining original Southern population, yet they're part of the West Palm Beach construction boom. Amid the string of small cities are attractions like the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum, which you can visit, and the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, where you can observe how giant sea turtles are treated. To the north are the stunning beaches of Jupiter Island, where luxurious mansion homes are currently being built.
Lake Okeechobee
The Great Lake (literally translated from the Seminole Indian language), Lake Okeechobee is the largest lake in Florida and the tenth largest in the United States including Alaska. It's the largest lake in the eastern United States outside the Great Lakes system, which are significantly larger. Unlike other lakes in Florida, in the Everglades or south of Orlando, Okeechobee is a clean lake, not a massive stretch of swamps. There are quite a few small fishing towns around the lake and some opportunities for recreation.
The town of Pahokee is located on the southeastern part of the lake, a one-hour drive from West Palm Beach. Tourist cruises depart from the Pahokee Marina on the waters of the great lake. The largest town on the lake is Okeechobee, located on the northern part of the lake. It's a 45-minute drive from Port St. Lucie. On the lake's bank, south of the town, there are several lakeside hotels.
