Shopping. One of South Florida's biggest draws is its incredible selection of stores and outlet malls. Many visitors from the Caribbean and Latin America come for the sole purpose of buying. From electronics to shoes and hardware to exotic grocery items, this is the place to shop. Bring the credit cards.

Cruising with the Top Down. Driving in a convertible over the causeways to any of Miami's wonderful islands is one of my favorite things to do, especially in the mild winter months from December through March. Tune the radio to a Latin station, catch the warm sun on your bare shoulders, and watch the water glimmer around you.

Lunching in Little Havana. Miami's Cuban center is the city's most distinctive ethnic enclave. Located just west of Downtown, Little Havana is centered around "Calle Ocho," SW 8th Street. Car-repair shops, tailors, electronics stores, and restaurants all hang signs in Spanish; salsa rhythms thump from the radios of passersby; and old men in guayaberas chain-smoke cigars over their daily games of dominoes. Stop for a big filling lunch, and top it off with a Cuban coffee to really get the day going.

Biking, Blading, or Walking Through the Art Deco District on Ocean Drive. The beauty of South Beach's celebrated Art Deco District culminates on the 15-block beachfront strip known as Ocean Drive. Most of the buildings on this stretch are hotels built in the late 1930s and early 1940s. You'll appreciate the architecture and the colorful characters as you go down this street--by bike, by in-line skates, or on foot.

Relaxing on the Beaches. Choose a spot on any of South Florida's many miles of white-sand beaches, edged with coconut palms on one side and a clear turquoise ocean on the other. Each beach boasts its own distinctive character. Don't forget your sunscreen.

Dancing Until Dawn. Choose your dance floor, from salsa at the Latin clubs to techno and house at European-style places to jamming at outdoor reggae bars.

Enjoying New World Cuisine. World-class chefs have discovered the richness of locally harvested ingredients, including tropical fruits and seafood. This culling of techniques and ingredients from the Cuban, Haitian, and Asian communities has created the now-famous "New World Cuisine."

Doing Whatever on, in, or Above the Water. One of the best ways to appreciate South Florida is from the water--on it, in it, or above it. Options include parasailing, jet-skiing, kayaking, sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, and windsurfing. Of course, you can always swim or ride the waves, as well.

Snorkeling in Biscayne National Park. The thriving reef system at Biscayne National Park, a unique ecological preserve that's mostly underwater, attracts thousands of scuba divers and snorkelers every year.

Canoeing Through the Everglades. Paddling through the unique ecosystem that is the Everglades gives you a chance to slow down and appreciate the natural beauty of South Florida. You're sure to see an alligator or two, and maybe even a manatee.

Drumming on a Full Moon. Barefoot drummers gather on the sands of Miami Beach each month to celebrate the full moon. Hundreds of locals circle the drummers and join in by dancing, clapping or simply sitting still in reverence to the celestial body. Just head down to the beach at 21st and Ocean Drive, and follow the beat of the drums.

Strolling Las Olas Boulevard. Fort Lauderdale's premiere shopping, eating, and people-watching promenade is fun by day or night.

Barhopping on Duval Street. From Mallory Square to the Atlantic Ocean you can walk or stumble (depending on how long you've been at it), to the dozens of bars and clubs that line this famously wild block of Key West. From Margaritaville to Sloppy Joe's and Louie's Backyard, there are bars for all types, whether you want to watch the sunset, feel a calm breeze, or listen to Jimmy Buffet wannabes.