Known as the "Magic City," Miami is located in Southeast Florida, in Miami-Dade County on the Miami River, between the Florida Everglades and the Atlantic Ocean. The city's nickname comes from the rapid growth it experienced in the last few decades. Winter visitors remarked that the city grew so much from one year to the next that it was like magic.

More than ever before, Miami parks have become a vibrant place for families to enjoy together. The summer programs, in addition to sports, have many options for kids with artistic talents. No other city in the United States is like Miami. Its population has been able to turn a tourist oriented city into a glowing, cosmopolitan and international metropolis.

Miami is one of the most important financial centers in the United States. It is a major center of commerce, finance, and boasts a strong international business community; several large companies are headquartered in or around Miami. Additionally, the city has the largest concentration of international banks in the country.

Tourism is also an important industry in Miami. Along with finance and business, the beaches, conventions, festivals and events draw over 38 million visitors annually into the city, from across the country and around the world. The historical Art Deco district in South Beach is widely regarded as one of the most glamorous in the world for its nightclubs, beaches, historical buildings, and shopping.

Miami's tropical weather allows for year-round outdoors activities. The city has numerous marinas, rivers, bays, canals, and the Atlantic Ocean, which make boating, sailing, and fishing popular outdoors activities. Biscayne Bay has numerous coral reefs which make snorkeling and scuba diving popular. There are over 80 parks and gardens in the city.