Will Smith welcome to Miami
‘Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah, Miami, uh, uh, South beach, bringin the heat’ were the words on everyone’s lips in 98, thanks to a certain Mr. Will Smith.
But just how truthful was the future Oscar nominee with his tales of Mardi Gras, club bouncing, half-dressed women and all round lavishness?
We’ve picked out some of the most boastful lyrics to see if they match up to expectations:
1. ‘Every day like a Mardi Gras, everybody party all day’
So are all day parties the norm in Miami? Apparently so. With hotels on every corner there’s pool parties galore; starting at various times in the day, and lasting until the early hours of the morning. Party like a superstar at Shore Thing at The Shore Club or Privileged Sundays at Delano. Then there’s Highbar at Dream South Beach, which runs until 7pm so you can party before preparing to hit the town.
2. ‘Every different nation, Spanish, Haitian, Indian, Jamaican, Black, White, Cuban and Asian’
Miami is indeed a melting pot of cultures from across the globe. With such an eclectic mix you’ll hear multiple languages such as French, Spanish, English and Haitian Creole spoken side by side. You’ll also experience an exciting blend of cuisines, with everything from Latin American and Caribbean dishes to American and Cuban. Food here has become known as Floribbean cuisine.
3. ‘Miami the city that keeps the roof blazin’
Day and night in Miami are pretty similar when it comes to partying. After hitting the beach or pool parties during the day, make sure you check out some of the amazing clubs. Offering glitz and glamour by the bucket load with all night parties, chilled cocktails and some of the best DJs around, clubs like Tree House, Story, Haven and BED are places to be. It helps to ask the hotel concierge how to get on the guest list too.
4. ‘All night, on the beach till the break of dawn’
In case you haven’t noticed, if you were heading to Miami in the 90s, Will was the guy to go with. The beach is no different to the clubs or the pools, and Miami Beach, offers amazing clubs and bars, filled with neon lights and trade mark art deco, keeping you entertained all night long. The Southern area, or South Beach, is the place to check out for glamour on the sand; with Nikki Beach Club being a particular champagne swilling hotspot.
5. ‘We flow to this fashion show’
A fashion capital for many reasons, you can shop like the A-list with luxury boutiques and designer stores for as far as you can see. Aside from the obvious glamour of celebrity style, Miami hosts the largest fashion week in the world for Latin American and Caribbean designers. Take a trip to Wynwood, a fashion district created by Korean entrepreneurs, for a true feel of Miami’s fashion culture.
6. ‘Water so clear, you can see to the bottom’
Yes you can indeed see to the bottom, but do this in style with one of the amazing water activities on offer. These include aquajet experiences, the rocket man water jet pack, water flyboard experiences, sightseeing cruises and water sports adventures. If you want a different type of thrill in the water, check out the parks such as Big Thunder and Rapids Water Park.
7. ‘It’s about to reach, five-hundred degrees’
Ok, so this one was a bit of a lie. Although it does get very, very hot in Miami, reaching over 30 degrees, it doesn’t quite hit the heights of Will’s estimates. Sorry guys.
If you want to see what all the fuss is about (maybe you’ll even catch up with Big Will) it could be time to check out Miami holidays for yourself.