Our advice to parents is, “Get Ready To Relax!” We’ve done all the leg work to make sure you can stretch out and enjoy a few days in Miami on foot or out on the road. We’ve started in the heart of South Beach, the area between South Pointe Park at 1st Street and the open-air pedestrian mall Lincoln Road just 17 blocks to the north. The city can be easily navigated on foot or utilizing our 25 cent South Beach Local bus line which provides access to all of the area’s attractions for an attractive price.

Your first South Beach decision is choosing a family friendly hotel. While most of the older, restored Art Deco properties are charming and authentic, the rooms tend to be smaller and the resort amenities nonexistent. For parents with little ones in tow, the beach-front resorts along Collins Avenue offer the best of all worlds. Some hotels will even take the kids off your hands for a while so you can spend some vacation time recapturing that honeymoon tingle that faded away once you traded up to a mini-van.

Check out the Loews Miami Beach Hotel at 1601 Collins Avenue where children (and pets) are a priority. From the moment you check in, your kids are welcomed with an age appropriate gift. Guests who reserve one of the special pet-friendly rooms also receive a pet bowl and treat at the front desk along with a dog walking map and a list of local services including grooming and veterinary information. It’s a great help to travel weary parents to know that connecting rooms are available as well as junior suites with a pull out couch to suit the kids in the living room. There are eleven ocean-front tower suites featuring over 750 square feet of living space, which can accommodate 2 rollaway beds in the area, adjoining the king-sized bedroom. Older kids have the option of borrowing portable DVD players, raiding a stash of age-appropriate movies and signing out Game Boys at the front desk too. Loews features five different family dining options including the American steak house Preston’s, Lure Fishbar, Sushi SoBe and the more casual Nautilus pool-side grill and SoBe coffee bar.

All restaurants provide kid’s menus and offer individual table-side personal DVD players to keep kids happy while their parents dine. SoBe Scoops is a kid-tastic ice cream and candy shop with cones, shakes and Starbucks too! Loews fitness program includes both indoor and beach-front training options as well as a KidsFit class for youngsters interested in health and nutrition.

At the southern end of Ocean Drive, the South Beach Marriott Stanton at 161 Ocean Drive offers families the option of a pull out couch for kids staying in their parent’s one bedroom suite. There are only 8 such rooms available at this ocean-front property, but no adjoining rooms on site. Newly renovated guest-rooms feature 32 inch flat panel televisions with WebTV and high speed internet access. There are no organized children’s programs available at this time, but the hotel has an activities center with movies and Game Boys available for rent. One mom-friendly feature this Marriott has that can’t be beat —Starbucks! Right downstairs.

The second Marriott facility on South Beach is the Marriott Courtyard at 1530 Washington Avenue. This hotel is two blocks from the ocean and much closer to the pedestrian mall Lincoln Road and the Miami Beach Convention Center. This smaller property offers family travelers the option of connecting guest rooms or 4 suites with a separate living area with a pull out couch. While there are no children’s programs available, the rooftop pool offers visitors a bird’s eye view of the city below. The stroller set will find access to the nearby shops and cafes of Washington Avenue and Espanola Way – a real convenience.

The Hilton Hotels include the Hilton Bentley directly on the ocean and the Grand Vacations Club at 1430 Ocean Drive. This jewel box classic Art Deco renovation is located at the northern end of Ocean Drive, just across the street from Lummus Park and the ocean. An all suite property, this 52 room hotel feels quite intimate in scale. Families can select from a one bedroom option suitable for 4 people, or a two bedroom suite with a pull out couch in the living room area that suits up to six. Because this hotel is a smaller, 3 level conversion, there is no hotel pool, just a Jacuzzi-style hot tub at the roof level sun deck.

Two seaside options include the recently renovated Surfcomber at 1717 Collins Avenue and the chic Sagamore Hotel at 1671 Collins Avenue where guest suites and poolside bungalows are perfect for families seeking a little extra room. Offering an ideal location just north of the hubbub of Ocean Drive and a 2 block walk to the Miami Beach Convention Center, these two options are perfect for a seaside South Beach Escape.

Once you’ve decided which hotel fits your family and your budget, it’s your option to hire a rental car and venture out on the highways of South Florida or to spend a few days exploring the area on foot. South Beach has so many interesting places to play and dine; most people leave the driving to taxis and busses. You simply need to decide if this trip will involve a few quiet days enjoying each other in the sun and surf, or if you’re the sort of family that’s happier “On the Go…”

The streets of South Beach are stroller-friendly and easy to navigate on foot most of the time. You can pile your luggage into a taxi at the airport and not see the inside of a car again until it’s time to head back home. Cabs offer a flat fee to South Beach so the entire family can transfer from the airport for just under $40. The shops, cafes and bars in the area south of 23 Street are simple to sort out and you’ll soon find all you need to make the trip a relaxing escape. The $2.65 Airport Flyer Bus travels from Miami International Airport to South Beach making stops along Collins Avenue from 41st Street south to 17th Street and then along Washington Avenue from Lincoln Road Mall south to First Street.

Your plan of action for a vacation without a rental car might include a morning walk on the strand called Lummus Park, which runs along the beach on Ocean Drive. This tropical green space attracts the area’s bike and in-line skate enthusiasts so proceed with caution. A great family-friendly adventure, the Baywalk surrounding the city is fun to explore with a stroller, skates or on bicycles.

Start your day at the Front Porch Cafe at 1437 Ocean Drive and treat the kids to an alfresco breakfast that will please even the most finicky eater. If you decide you’d like to try a tropical bike ride or you think you can still get up and running on skates, stop by the Miami Beach Bicycle Center at 601 Fifth Street or check out Fritz’s Skate Shop at 1620 Washington Avenue. Get the gang rolling along the Art Deco wonder that is Ocean Drive and then take a break and check out the beach a while. Be certain to pop some cool drinks into your beach bag and always remember to keep everyone protected with a healthy dose of sunscreen.

Later in the day, you’ll find that Lincoln Road Mall is a wonderful place to spend time with the family. This open-air pedestrian mall offers a full range of dining and shopping options from the most familiar mall stores to the more esoteric galleries and antique shops. On Sundays in the Fall, you can check out the Farmer’s Green Market stalls featuring local produce and tropical plants. There are crafts on sale and even a balloon-twisting clown to entertain the kids at the Euclid Avenue circle. On alternate Sundays at the west side of the mall, the Lincoln Road Antique and Flea Market gets going well before dawn and offers a wealth of vintage treasures until 5pm. Even if your suitcases are already filled to the brim, you’ll find that people watching on the Mall is an inexpensive way to spend a few hours soaking up a little local color.

Best dining options for a busy family on Lincoln Mall include Segafredo Cafe at 1040 Lincoln at the Lenox Avenue intersection. After a busy stroll to the western end of the promenade, choose from an eclectic collection of overstuffed chairs and tiny cafe tables set up around a sparkling fountain. Settle in for a quick drink, a strong espresso and a few panini sandwiches to fortify your brood. This hang out for exhausted local shoppers and savvy tourists is a hub of activity day and night. Your kids will meet new friends and discover the tiny pampered dogs everyone brings to South Beach. You’ll get a chance to rest your tired dogs as well and sample the light bites on the menu or a reasonably priced cocktail from the full bar. There’s always music playing and enough activity to keep everyone distracted while you catch your second wind.

Feeling less bohemian and more like a burger? Kids love the Shake Shack at 1111 Lincoln Road, one of the first Florida locations of this popular New York restaurant chain. Yardhouse Bar & Grill recently opened just across the street serving sandwiches, salads and dozens of draft beers. While some locals complain that the charm of the Mall has faded with the opening of chain restaurants, Pottery Barn and the Gap, it’s sometimes a comfort to see a few familiar spots in the mix. Serendipity 3 is also part of the New York dining experience and the 1102 Lincoln Road location boasts the same sweet treats Manhattan kids love. Pizza Rustica at 667 Lincoln sells pizza by the slice with your choice of topping so every member of the family can sample a favorite.

To sample a little of the local Cuban cuisine, grab the gang and check out Havana 1957 at 819 Lincoln Road. This breezy sidewalk cafe can feed a family to bursting with savory Latin clasics. Try their delicious Arroz Con Pollo, a chicken and yellow rice entre that’s big enough to share. There are plenty of kid friendly options and a delicious Bistec Empanizado, a breaded thin cut steak that’s best with a hearty side of black beans and rice. If you’re running low on energy after such a filling meal, try a thimble-sized portion of cafe Cubano, which is jet fuel in a cup for those unused to the sugary espresso that keeps Miamians hopping.

Dining out on a budget is easier than you might imagine on Miami Beach. Start the day at A la Folie cafe on the rustic enclave known as Espanola Way. This tiny French bakery at 516 Espanola serves as a morning respite for many a South Beacher. If you’re heading for the beach and want to bring along a delicious sack lunch, La Sandwicherie is just east of Espanola at 229 14th Street. This stand-up lunch counter packs a mean baguette (or fresh baked croissant) with freshly sliced deli meats, healthy salads and hoagie combos that are sure to please. Healthy eaters might like something from their juice bar including fresh fruit smoothies and veggie options as well. If your kids like pizza, at 731 Lincoln Road Mall the pizza restaurant Spris has a “Beat the Clock” menu from 5:30pm – 7pm with kid-friendly pizzas discounted to the time you order. Get a plain, olive or spicy salami pizza at 5:30pm for $5.30, at 6pm the price is $6 (regularly priced up to $10).

Five Guys Burgers at 15th and Washington has juicy burgers and the greatest fries in town with toppings from traditional to international. For a great night out, take everyone to the south end of town and check out the back patio at Smith & Wollensky which faces the waterway where Miami’s magnificent cruise ships steam out to sea around 5pm. This classic steakhouse at 1 Washington Avenue offers burgers, salads and sandwiches at lunchtime making this an affordable option. Follow your lunch with a walk along the boardwalk through South Pointe Park to the tiki bar Monty’s Sunset at the Miami Beach Marina where there’s a full-sized swimming pool in the middle of the restaurant!

Got a Sweet Tooth? One of the best things about making your way around South Beach on foot is the sheer number of great ice cream options from the basic chocolate and vanilla to the sublime green tea sorbet crafted by the Frieze Ice Cream Factory at 1626 Michigan Ave. This little hole-in-the-wall supplies fresh-made delights to Miami’s top restaurants, but offers all flavors by the scoop day and night. Further north at 1855 Purdy Avenue, check out the cakes Oprah declared “Best in America” at the Ice Box Cafe. Opened for brunch, lunch and dinner, the sidewalk dining option is perfect for families.

If the day is warm and your kids are feeling energetic, take everyone to Flamingo Park to experience South Beach’s unique under water playground at 11th Street and Jefferson Avenue. This well-maintained public park at the heart of the city’s residential area offers gym, tennis and sporting activities all day long. For just $4, non-resident kids can frolic in just 15 inches of water at the interactive play pool. There are locker rooms, showers and concession stands on site to make the day a breeze for visitors from 8:30am until sundown. Flamingo Park’s aquatic facilities are a great option for families staying at smaller hotels without a pool. Be sure to check out the shady playground area and the Bark Park, a dog run where all of South Beach meets and greets fellow dog enthusiasts.

If you decide to expand your South Florida experience beyond the South Beach neighborhood, there are lots of great attractions to visit, and your first stop should be Watson Island and the tropical zoo called Jungle Island. Located just off I-395 and the MacArthur Causeway, the park is home to tropical birds, monkeys, wild cats and a 40 pound lizard named Godzilla! Your kids have the option of getting up close and personal with the animals or sitting back to watch hourly shows at the park pavilions. Presentations of just 20 minutes duration feature Winged Wonders, Reptile Giants, and Wild Encounters. Afterward, there’s an opportunity to feed tame animals and even get a photo taken holding some of the friendlier species. The park’s flamingo filled Lakeside Cafe has a few kid sized meals including burgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers and grilled cheese – all under $5.

For a more aerobic adventure, take the family to Sunny Isles Oleta River State Park where bikes, kayaks and canoes are available for hourly rental. Just 5 minutes west of the Ocean, this tropical inland waterway is best known for off road bike trails, beautiful mangrove forest preserves and 1,200 feet of sand beaches for swimming and saltwater fishing. The Blue Marlin Cafe at 2500 NE 163rd Street offers a full seafood menu and also features environmental displays of the park’s ecosystem. Kid’s options including pizza are available for under $7 plus a range of fruit juices, milk slammers and Good Humor Ice Cream bars.

For landlubbers on the go, the nearby Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park at 1725 NE 135th Street in North Miami has 2 playgrounds, 22 acres of nature trails and supervised horse back riding from dawn to dusk. Ponies are saddled up and ready to go or simply available to pet and feed for kids too shy to ride. South of town at 15980 SW 248th Street in Homestead, the Knauss Berry Farm is a popular spot for visitors on their way to Monkey Jungle or the Florida Keys. Just across the street from the Redlands Middle School, this fruit stand is owned and operated by German Baptist farmers who wear traditional garb and specialize in delicious freshly picked strawberry milkshakes and gooey cinnamon swirl breakfast buns. From the end of January through early April, guests are welcome to pick their own strawberries and tomatoes. The stand is opened from 8am-5:30pm, Monday through Saturday and closed from April through Thanksgiving.

Nearby and worth a visit is the famous Monkey Jungle at 14805 SW 216th Street in Cutler Ridge. Founded in 1933 as a study habitat for primate behavior, this wildlife park now welcomes thousands of visitors who wander through caged enclosures while the monkeys roam free. The gift shop sells raisins for brave young visitors to feed the hungry monkeys via little snack cups dangling from chains. Be aware that the monkeys will reach through the enclosures for a hand out – so keep an eye on the little ones. Be sure to check out the Amazonian Rain Forest Exhibit and the Wild Monkey Swimming Pool. Trainers are on site to answer questions and provide a training demonstration called, “Hangin’ With Orangs.”

Not Pooped Yet? Miami’s Zoo is open 365 days a year from 9:30-5:30 just off the turnpike at SW 124th Avenue. For visitors who’d rather take public transportation, the Coral Reef Max bus leaves the Dadeland South Metrorail Station for a 20 minute ride out to the park. Zoo Miami will show kids how animals build their homes, hide from their predators, attract their mates and even send messages to each other. The interactive exhibits teach kids all the wonders of nature with photos, 3-D models and audio labs that allow kids to listen to an animal’s distinctive calls. Also at the zoo, kids can learn all about the animals at a Wildlife Show at noon, 2pm and 4:30pm. There are hourly Keeper Talks at exhibits around the park where trained handlers demonstrate the care and feeding of the wart hogs, tigers, rhinos and more. To learn about the delicate ecosystem in South Florida, kids are encouraged to feed injured resident pelicans on the mend at the Pelican Feeding Encounter.

If you’ve traveled this far south and still crave adventure, it’s just another hop, skip and jump from Miami to the Florida Keys and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park – America’s First Undersea Park at mile marker 102.5 in Key Largo. Established in 1963, this marine sanctuary encompasses 178 nautical square miles of coral reefs and mangrove swamps. Treat your family to a glimpse at the only living coral reef in the continental United States. Visit the ranger station to learn about guided nature walks, environmental programs and the hundreds of animals who make their home at the park. The visitor center welcomes guests from 8am-5pm daily and features a spectacular 30,000 gallon salt water aquarium. Activities on site include camping, fishing, swimming at Canon Beach, and a glass bottom boat tour at 9:15am, 12:15 and 3pm.

For those visiting with older children who are strong swimmers, John Pennekamp Park offers both snorkeling and scuba tours on wheelchair-friendly dive boats at 9am, noon and 3pm. A two-hour dive highlights the living, shallow-water coral reefs under the watchful eye of trained park staff members. All equipment is available for rental including wet suits during colder months. A four hour sailing and snorkeling tour on the catamaran Salsa can be arranged along with PADi scuba certification courses at the Camp Dive Shop.

After a long day’s dive, treat everyone to a dockside dinner at the Islamorada Fish Company. Located in the heart of the Upper Keys at 81576 Overseas Highway, the complex includes a massive Bass Pro Shop with a giant salt water aquarium, a life sized replica of Ernest Hemingway’s fishing boat “Pilar,” and outdoor gear for the entire family. Visit the marina office if you decide to spend a day fishing the back-country flats, charter an offshore fishing boat or take a sightseeing ecotour of the nearby reefs. The popular outdoor restaurant serves brunch, lunch and dinner and features a few non-seafood items on their kid’s menu.

Visitors can make a day trip to the Upper Keys or book a night’s stay at any number of independent resorts. Cottages and suites from 1 to 3 bedrooms are available at Islamorada’s Pines and Palms Resort where all rooms come with fully equipped kitchens to have snacks and treats on hand for the kids. This ocean-front lodge at 80401 Old Highway features a freshwater pool as well as two swim ladders off 125 foot docks. The property has single and double kayaks available for offshore exploration as well. There are barbecues to make a picnic dinner on the beach and laundry facilities on site so the sand doesn’t follow you home.

Finally, as you make your way due north to Miami, stop for a minute at the Mutineer Restaurant at the entrance to Florida City – US-1 at Palm Drive. This funky roadside attraction is a favorite for locals who briefly pause in the parking lot to feed resident goats and waterfowl living at the man-made lake. Pick up a box of crackers at a near by convenience store and treat the kids to a quick rest stop before the hour and a half turnpike ride back to the Beach…

Before you know it, you’ll find yourself back in Miami and off on your final adventure. Spend your last memorable day out on Biscayne Bay aboard one of the kid-friendly tour boats circling Miami. The most novel approach to organized sightseeing is the amphibious motor coaches operated by the Duck Tours South Beach. Quirky and well-informed tour guides offer a great deal of information about the highlights of the city and then Whoosh! The coach descends into the Bay and turns itself into a boat. The 90-minute tours originate at the Visitor’s Center near Lincoln Mall and also Downtown at the Bayside Marketplace.

Second only to the Duck Tour is the El Loro Pirate Ship which sets sail daily from Bayside Marketplace in downtown Miami and thrills young passengers with a Pirate’s Eye View of the city. The bright red pirate ship sails for just over an hour through the Venetian Islands and the waterways behind celebrity mansions. Once you disembark at Bayside, treat the kids to a quick snack at the second floor food court or enjoy a lovely dinner at Los Ranchos Latin style steak and seafood grill. Hearty portions of skirt steak, fajitas and baby back ribs are suitable for sharing, or kids can enjoy beef or chicken nuggets or mozzarella sticks for just $6. The burger and salad crowd still flocks to the Hard Rock Cafe, 401 Biscayne Boulevard, where vintage music memorabilia lines the walls and classic rock music fills the air. Try not to wince when your kids are entirely unmoved by bands you knew and loved… one man’s Elmo is another man’s Elvis. There will be plenty of time to bridge the generation gap on future family vacations. Meanwhile, enjoy your time together in sunny Miami Beach.

What started out in the early 1920s as a meeting place for the wealthy—a destination for dining and dancing in the streets—has come full circle, and along the way, Espanola Way has seen the sun rise and set over vastly different iterations of Miami Beach than the one that exists today. From legendary tales of gangsters running gambling organizations on the street to the ’80s boom of the area as a popular backdrop for numerous films and TV shows like Miami Vice, the infamous stories of Espanola Way are as colorful as the area’s Art Deco architecture.

Conceived by N.B.T. Roney (of Roney Palace) and William Whitman (the father of Stanley, the owner of Bal Harbour Shops), The Historic Spanish Village, better known as Espanola Way, was modeled after artistic and romantic Mediterranean villages in Paris and Spain. While the area was originally intended for Miami Beach’s high society, the 1920s brought about rough conditions as gangsters like the infamous Al Capone used the Clay Hotel for gambling.

In the 1930s, the scene moved more toward its original vision, and Espanola Way became known for its rumba beat. But the happy-go-lucky vibe of the street faded over the decades, and the 1970s ushered in a very different era. Instead of street parties and all-night affairs, Espanola Way became a dilapidated disaster, as did much of its Art Deco surroundings.

But in the early 1980s, efforts of pioneers like Linda Polansky helped shape Miami Beach as we know it today, particularly Espanola Way. “Miami Beach was absolutely at the bottom. I met a lady named Barbara Capitman and she had this vision of restoring all of these dilapidated buildings. We freaked out about the possibility and the potential of renovating and restoring this area,” Polansky says.

During the process, Polansky bought the entire south side of Espanola Way, extending from Washington Avenue down to the end of Drexel Avenue. She set her sights on making the Clay Hotel the crown jewel of the area. As well, she transformed the hotel into a partial hostel. ‘metaphorically, “I feel that I came in and turned on the light. The place was in absolute darkness. Nobody really understood the beauty,” Polansky explains. “Everyone was painting their buildings beige or brown.”

Polansky’s radical idea to give the Clay Hotel a peach hue occurred at nearly the same time Mel Bourne happened to the area. As the production designer of the new show Miami Vice, Bourne showed an intense interest in Espanola Way. After scouting the area, Bourne returned with Michael Mann and Don Johnson. The team sat down with Polansky and told her about their idea. “They explained to me what Miami Vice was going to be. At the time I wanted to paint my building peach and since Bourne was the set designer, I asked if there were some peach colors he would like to recommend,” Polansky exclaims. “He gave me a book with 1,000 different colors of peach!” Soon afterward, the group quickly became friends and Espanola Way became the site of the first and last episodes of the show, as well as 10 episodes in between.

With the creatives behind Miami Vice showing such interest in the area, Espanola Way assumed an edge. The area had been discovered by Hollywood and would go on to appear in numerous films like Chains of Gold with John Travolta and The Birdcage. It would also serve as a background in product advertisements like Dunhill and music videos by Elton John and Miami Vice’s Johnson. “Those were exciting moments,” Polansky admits, “when other people were discovering the beauty we had already seen.”

Today those who pass by the strip discover the charm of Espanola Way time and time again. On any given Saturday or Sunday, a leisurely stroll down Espanola Way lends to the sights and sounds of a marketplace. Vendors selling flowers, handmade semi-precious stone jewelry, sunglasses and light-weight dresses hawk their wares on the street.

Bohemian outdoor cafes like A La Folie are abuzz with patrons indulging in crepes and chatting at sidewalk tables. The restaurant’s owner Olivier Corre, who opened the French cafe three and a half years ago, hails from Paris. He says he chose Espanola Way for its character and charm. “my place is more like a cafe than a restaurant, so people can go there and just sip coffee and read magazines. I’m also the only authentic French place and one of the most relaxing, also one of the most affordable,” Corre explains.

Authentic cuisine at restaurants like A La Folie adds to the sights, sounds and flavor of Espanola Way. Other eateries like the Italian Hosteria Romana, the Spanish flare of Tapas & Tintos and the authentic Mexican of Oh! Mexico add culture to the cuisine.

Art galleries like Espanola Way Art Center and Marcel Gallery expand on the subject of culture by bringing art to the street. After 19 years in the same location, Marcel Gallery has endured the many changes of Espanola Way. Artist Pierre Marcel came to Miami Beach in 1986 to paint murals for a cafe on Lincoln Road. After a successful stint in the renovation and faux finish business, Marcel transitioned into fine art. Since then, his gallery has existed solely on Espanola Way. Originally chosen for its character, color and charm, owner Howard Levine suggests the gallery is practically an historic landmark on the street because “every other retail venue, with the exception of the Clay Hotel, has passed through many incarnations, while the gallery has endured.”

Those numerous incarnations lead to a rich past, and each space carries its own unique history. The shaded cozy nook on Espanola Way where Synergy Yoga Center stands was once the art studio of well-known artist Kenny Scharf. Seven decades before it was his studio, the secluded spot was a private residence. ‘someone stopped by once wanting to see it. They had lived there in the 1930s and 1940s,” explains October Rose, one of the owners of Synergy. Since 1996, Synergy has been a house of meditation, offering a variety of yoga classes like ashtanga, vinyasa and power yoga. October Rose and the center’s founder, Gaia Budhai, confess the atmosphere of their location is what truly drew them in. “We love it, because it is the most charming street in Miami Beach, with its Mediterranean look and the fact that you can find anything here.”

Considering the many businesses on Espanola Way, each location embodies the bohemian culture of its surroundings. At Contesta Rock Hair, you can view a one-of-a-kind piece of art and get a rock-n-roll-inspired doo.

At Miami Beach Cinematheque and Gallery, guests can take in art films sponsored by the Miami Beach Film Society, which brings film festivals and independent features to the area. And while shoppers try on colorful, lightweight, free-flowing garments at Debbie Katz South Beach, they can find out just how the designer got started on Espanola Way. “Debbie Katz started making and selling her clothes in the outdoor market here six years ago,” co-owner Judith Ozer says. As time progressed and the popularity of Debbie Katz’s dresses grew, she decided to open her own space. “She chose Espanola Way as the place to open Debbie Katz because the clothes were born on Espanola Way in concept and production. They were originally manufactured upstairs on this street until the end if last year. It’s the most historical and charming street in Miami Beach, and it’s perfect for boutique-style outlets,” Ozer says.

Like many of the shops on Espanola Way, the area’s vibe is unique. “It’s just a very relaxed funky, fun-filled atmosphere,” Ozer states. “We get people from all walks of life and from all over the world.” This broad span of visitors is something Linda Polansky attributes to the architecture. “Architecture is highly important because it is the foundation on which everything else is built. You can try to build a great vibe in a brand new shopping center and maybe you will succeed in some areas, but some people like to experience the history in a way that they can really feel it happened,” Polansky says. “Espanola Way really embodies the history of Miami Beach. It was one of the first [group of] buildings built, and it’s been lovingly restored over 25 years.”

Remaining a draw for both tourist and locals is something Espanola Way’s preservationists put their heart and soul into. Says Ozer, “We must keep our historical places sacred or they will disappear. So much of Florida’s history has blown away in storms or been bulldozed. Whatever is special to our past should and must be preserved.” Polansky agrees. “I knew that when I bought the building it was the architecture that was important to save and develop,” she says.

And development is something the area will see a lot of. In addition to the recent $900,000 streetscape renovations Espanola Way underwent, there are plans to connect Espanola Way to Lincoln Road via Drexel Avenue by creating a 10-foot walkway for pedestrians. There are also plans to build a fountain in the Plaza de Espana. The fountain will come as a gift from the South of Spain, where Miami Beach has its sister city. These changes, as Ozer points out, are something the community is embracing. “There’s a lot being done to promote and bring more people here so they know how special this little alcove is in Miami Beach.”

Luckily, Tom Ford is alive and well, even if he is fighting with the suits over that silly contract thing. One thing is for certain though, his departure from Gucci marked the end of an era, and quite possibly the end of glamour—Tom Ford’s brand of glamour, anyway—at one of the world’s most prestigious fashion houses.

Even if the name Tom Ford doesn’t register, you’re probably familiar with the elegant look he singled-handedly createdover the past decade.Picture this: It’s the early ’90s and we’re in Paris during the Louis Vuitton runway extravaganza, patiently waiting—in a seat that true fashion devotees would extort, pillage and plunderto have—for the designer du jour to take his final bow. Finally, Tom Ford emerges clad in tailored jeans and jacket, an unbuttoned white shirt, facial stubble, and sipping a martini as he takes his much-anticipated bow. The crowd goes insane.

It’s hard to say if Ford always had this kind of affect on the general population—although it’s easy to picture little girls on the playground twirling endlessly in their frilly dresses to get his attention (nowadays big boys do the same thing).

Tom Ford is known as the epitome of New York chic, but he didn’t bless the city with his presence until he enrolled at NYU as (get this) an art history major. But it wasn’t long before he dropped out and took up interior architecture at Parsons School of Design. He later moved on to finish his studies at Parsons in Paris.

In the years to come he made the transition to Perry Ellis where he took on the position of Design Director and eventually joined the Gucci team as Women‘s Wear Designer. He was appointed as Creative Director of Gucci after only two short years.

Early in 2000, the Gucci Group acquired Yves Saint-Laurent Couture and Sanofi Beaut? As Creative Director of Yves Saint Laurent Couture and its perfume products, Ford also worked with the many creative teams of YSL to define and maintain the overall image and positioning of the brand.

His visionary look of the fashion industry has been the center of attention for as long as most of us can remember and he has won countless awards like VH-1’s Best New Designer in 1995, CFDA’s International Designer of the Year in 1996 and a Commitment to Life Award from AIDS Project Los Angeles for Gucci’s charitable work in support of people with HIV and AIDS.

Ironically, Maurizio Gucci wanted to give Ford the old heave-ho back in the early ’90s because he thought the young designer was “too trendy.” Turns out Ford’s brilliant overhaul of Gucci?$200 million in revenue magically bloomedinto a $3 billion global fashion empire—was just the beginning. He also set the goldstandard forbrand-building. It was just after his Fall/Winter 2004-05 show in Paris that Ford hung up his hat at Gucci and the aforementioned chasm of the fashion world was created.

In a world infatuated with celebrity and status—epitomized by the likes of South Beach—the fundamental idea behind Ford’s work was “Wear Gucci and Be a Superstar.” Devotees around the globe awaited each new season with baited breath to see what the new “It” item was going to be. It was a season-defining, photographed-to-death trend.

When he designed a dress, it was photographed for every magazine, paraded down a red carpet by an A-list celebrity, photographed some more and then knocked off before it even made it into stores.

Every trend worth following appeared on Tom Ford’s runway first. The wildly popular (please won’t they finally just go away) hip-hugging, thong-revealing pants, sleekly tailored suits, jersey dresses, beaded jeans, sheer baby-doll tops, stovepipe trousers, mod mini-dresses—all can be traced right back to Ford.

He aided in the invention of the metrosexual by introducing American men to the slightly more flamboyant and creative way of dressing that his European counterpart has enjoyed for decades. He even showed the masses how make the impossibly stuffy, borderline nerdy blazer and jeans combo chic.

But Ford’s influence surpassed slickly tapered suits, slinky dresses and seasonal It bags, affecting the business of fashion in a way that no designer before him ever has. Don’t believe it? Well, in the last decade it was his logo-covered accessories that defined style and his big-business marketing skills that were mimicked by everyone in the industry. He also raised the standard for designers, not only in their work, but the consumer came to expect designers to be as photogenic and glamorous as Ford (and the celebrities they dress).

Paradoxically, it was easy to see a finer hand at work in Ford’s final collections for both Gucci and YSL. By recycling his most sought after styles of the past 10 years he in turn perfected them. In a way he seemed freer—working as though he had nothing to lose. It’s this creative freedom—one known to a select few—that set his iconic status in fashion history stone. Ford once said, “Real fashion change comes from real changes in real life. Everything else is just décoration.”

At 42, Ford is taking a break from fashion—at least for now. “With fashion, I feel that I’ve done it,” Ford said. “That doesn’t mean that I couldn’t do it more and I couldn’t do it better, that I couldn’t do it longer. But I feel like I’ve been very successful at it. But I do feel that perhaps I should challenge myself in a new way.”

Numerous rumors circulated concerning who would take his place at the helm of the Gucci Group. Names like Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney werethrown out as possible candidates, but in the end, John Ray was selected to fill the creative director position.

Ford hasn’t wasted much time making his mark elsewhere, most notably in Hollywood. A few months back, 800 of his closest friends (Hollywood personalities with whom he has built up a personal following over the years) gathered to watch as he was presented the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Award.

As of May 2004, he joined the infamous auction house Sotheby’s in Paris where he will advise on a broad range of topics such as business and marketing opportunities.

While Ford is the first to admit he’s never sure what’s next on his already impressive agenda, he has announced he’ll be directing a remake of the epic film,Spartacus, to be filmed at Cinecitta Studios in Rome, according to La Repubblica. He also has an acting part in The Great New Wonderful World, which is in post-production now and is due out in 2005.

Still, no need to pin Tom Ford as the next Joel Schumacher (another fashion-world dropout-cum-movie director) because as Ford announced toWomen’s Wear Daily,he has his own fashion line slated for unveiling next year. And with that pronouncement, the fashion world uttered a collectively sigh ofrelief.

We’ll all just have to wait and see what Tom Ford will do next.