Historic lifeguard station is painted to match South Beach's famous Art Deco architecture

When the last scrimmage has ended and the final buzzer of Super Bowl XLIV has sounded, sports fans will find no lack of things to see and do in the greater Miami area. One of these is South Beach, the famous ribbon of sparkling sand that runs from 23rd Street to the southern tip of Miami Beach, on the barrier island that lies just across Biscayne Bay from downtown Miami.

Boardwalk parallels the entire length of South Beach

Just walking along the boardwalk that parallels the beach is a feast for the senses. Roller bladers and tourists on Segways expertly weave between pedestrians. South Beach residents promenade pampered pets, bejeweled and beribboned, between the beach and their glitzy hi-rise condos. On one side of the boardwalk, tourists stream endlessly between sidewalk cafe tables, lured by offers of half-price meals and free giant mojitos hawked by Latina servers in skin tight leopard-striped pants.

Latina beauties, dressed to lure customers into their sidewalk cafe

On the other side of the boardwalk, sweeping sands are framed by the Atlantic Ocean, shimmering a dozen shades of turquoise. The beach is one of the best places to people watch. Model thin sun-worshipers in the skimpiest of bikinis mingle with stocky Midwestern families that have fled frozen landscapes for a week of well-deserved vacation. From the oiled and tanned lifeguards manning the historic lifesaving stations to the rippling muscles of body-builders, South Beach is a site well worth a visit, if only to enjoy the eye candy.

Body builder eye candy

Photo credit: Barbara Weibel
Article by Barbara Weibel of Hole In The Donut Travels