A treasure in Biscayne Bay: Miami's Bayside Marketplace

One of Florida's most popular cities, among both tourists and locals, Miami has been immortalised in popular culture in a number of violent films: Bad Boys, Miami Vice and Scarface, amongst others, have done much to propel the image of the city into the national spotlight, though not always for the right reasons. But Miami remains a popular tourist destination, and one of its most celebrated highlights is the Bayside Marketplace.

Located on the fabulous Biscayne Boulevard, overlooking Biscayne Bay, the Bayside Marketplace is one of Miami's primary retail centres in its downtown shopping district. Located over 16 acres, it includes over 150 shops, restaurants and outdoor cafes, and features a pedestrian link to the American Airlines Arena, Miami's hottest concert destination that has played host in the past to the likes of Mariah Carey, Eric Clapton and Madonna.

The Bayside Marketplace is home to a large number of American and international retail stores, including; Gap, Claire's accessories, the Discovery Channel Store, the Disney Store, Foot Locker and Sunglass Hut; so Bayside Marketplace clearly caters to a variety of retail styles. Its eclectic mix of restaurants and cafes include: Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Los Ranchos, Chilli's and Hard Rock Café. In addition, Bayside Marketplace also offers live music events, hiring regular bands like Gypsy Heart and Brazilian Explosion, and making the retail experience offered by Bayside Marketplace much more original and exciting.

However, the unique nature of Bayside Marketplace means that it doesn’t just offer retail outlets and a multitude of tasty restaurants; it also organises different clubs and groups for members of the Miami community to join. For example, programs include: El Loro (pirate ship), Heritage of Miami (Tall ship/Sightseeing) and Captain Jimmy's Fiesta (Party Cruise).

Boasting "the best food, fun and shopping Miami has to offer", the Bayside Marketplace is clearly a hub of activity, a stone's throw away from Miami Beach and other key Miami attractions, such as the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve and the Miami Children's Museum. It is also located close to many affordable and comfortable Miami hotels, like the Doubletree Grand Hotel Biscayne Bay; so, visitors to Bayside Marketplace can stay in Miami for longer and visit attractions further away from Biscayne Bay, like the Art Deco district, Everglades National Park and the Metro Zoo. Bayside Marketplace is also not far from Miami International Airport, so is an interesting place to while away the time if you're on an extended stop-over in Miami.