Florida Getaways of the Day

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Only in Florida would 60-year-old buildings be considered historic, but then South Beach isn't like any other place in the world. The American Riviera is hip, exotic, energetic and vibrant.

South Beach also is the home of 800 Art Deco buildings, many of them hotels, that form the largest such collection in the United States. In the past 14 years, most of the pastel beauties built during the 1920s to the mid-40s have been restored. Their renaissance has transformed Miami Beach from a decrepit town for the elderly to a playground for the young.

Typical hotels are cozy places of only three- and four-stories, with masonry construction and stucco finishes.

The Cardozo Hotel, for instance, contains 44 rooms in three stories, and was built in 1939. Owned by singer Gloria Estefan and her husband, Emilio, the Cardozo is painted a creamy color on the exterior and cream and terra cotta on the inside.

The Cavalier Hotel boasts a tropical vibe in its 45 rooms contained in three stories. The rooms of the 1936 structure feature earth tones. The three-story Chesterfield Hotel is funky and chic with its leopard and zebra furnishings and decor. The 50-room hotel was built in 1930.

You could spend hours on a walking tour, or perhaps more in keeping with the style of South Beach, a rollerblading tour.

-- Ken Clarke, Orlando Sentinel

For more information on South Beach, check out www.southbeach-usa.com and www.southbeachgroup.com.
(PHOTO COURTESY VISIT FLORIDA)

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