The beach is great but you haven't seen south Florida properly until you've taken an airboat tour through the Everglades. Take the Tamiami Trail west out of Miami until you reach one of the numerous airboat operators - Coopertown is one of the best - then drive on to Shark Valley in the National Park.

You won't believe how close you get to the alligators, but tread carefully. Excellent for bird-watchers too, and only $10 for a car and all occupants, which gives you a full week's admission to the Everglades parks.

There's a guided tram tour for a few extra bucks, but it's well worth the expense. Thankfully, the recent hurricanes didn't cause too much damage.

About 25 miles west of Miami along US41 (Tamiami Trail);
www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm

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One of the very finest restaurants in Miami, in one of its swankiest hotels. Blue Door is expensive but if you can afford it, it's worth the money. If you're lucky you might find a movie star on the next table. Robert de Niro was chomping on a mushroom truffle when we there (if it wasn't him, the guy could make a fortune as a double).

1685 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; www.delano-hotel.com

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