The sand is so beautiful and white here. The water is so clear also. I love miami's beaches. Super clean

South Beach is a fun place to take out-of-town guests, after all, what is a trip to Miami without going to South Beach? But if you're looking for a more family friendly or quiet spot to soak up the sun, go about 90 blocks north into Bal Harbour to Haulover Beach. In my time going to both South Beach and Haulover, the water is much clearer and there are less people at Haulover Beach. If you are a modest type, stay on the southern end of the beach though, because the north end is a nude beach. Unfortunately, all the snack bars are up north, too.

Though South Beach is a must-see for those visiting Miami and South Florida, there are beaches a little further north that offer all the beauty and less of the glam. South Beach is more a people watching spot than a beach to enjoy with family or spouse. But go 20 blocks north, or even better, 80 blocks north, and you'll find the best beaches on the East coast. There are metered parking lots, showers to rinse off and many restaurants to stop at after a morning or afternoon in the sun, right on Collins. The best thing Miami's beaches have going for them is the water: generally calm, always temperate and most of the time clear as the Caribbean sea.

Visited South Beach in December-January. Could not go in the water because of a strong rip tide and jellyfish near shore. Found rusted bottle caps, cigarette butts, and other debris (!?) on and in the beach. The street scene along the beach is no different than other beach resorts--lots of young adults and curious tourists walking back and forth with nothing much to do. The big "draw" was the closed up Versace place where people tried to poke their heads between the wrought iron fence posts. People trying too hard to be noticed by others trying too hard to be notice. Restuarants and nightclubs were overpriced.

There's no place up and down the Atlantic or Pacific coasts of the U.S. than South Beach. Sand white beaches; Beautiful hustle and bustle that is Ocean Dr and Collins Ave; Water so blue you would think the sky fell into the ocean; Art Deco hotels that bring you back to origins of the scene back in the 1920's and 30';Food and Drink a plenty from the different cultures that is Miami: Cuban, Jewish, Caribbean, and Puerto Rican; Clubs, Restaurants, and Shopping that would make folks from Chicago, New York, and L.A. blush; and The Keys are so close that you could watch the sunset go down into the Gulf of Mexico. Weather: Hot, Sultry, and Sexy. Trust me, you don't want to leave. Psst! Go down during the off season. My girlfriend and I got a boutique hotel room for $24 a day off a discount travel website! Paradise!