It was once a main producer of lemons for the world, and has even been featured in a video game, Grand Theft Auto . Today, Miami’s Little Haiti is a culturally rich and fascinating place, where residents celebrate and honor their Haitian heritage. It’s fairly close to the Miami Design District, which has caused a lot of gentrification in recent years, but it’s still a thriving place, and a lovely haunt for visitors with an interest in Haitian culture.

A local organization, Miami’s Cultural Community Tours , has it as one of their main spots for visitors interested in knowing more about the local scenes in the city. Food, art, and music are always a big draw for tourists in any area, and Haiti has rich traditions in all of these areas, making it a very worthwhile activity for an afternoon.

One of the spots not to be missed is the Little Miami Cultural Center . It opened last year, and is a 20 million dollar complex, complete with its own 270-seat theater, as well as a highly regarded art gallery. The work of Haitian artists has gotten a great deal of attention in the world art communities, but never as much as it truly deserves. The art here is work by 25 Caribbean artists, and the work is presented in a variety of media. Painting, sculpture, photography, and video are all included, to make a fantastic and complex interrogation of a cultural identity that is always in flux.

The cultural communities are some of the most exciting parts of the city. Many travelers opt to enjoy all the usual things that the city can offer, such as a wonderful night club scene, excellent world-class restaurants, and the legendary Miami five star hotels . All these things suggest many splendid reasons for visiting the city, where there is always more than meets the eye, and more than one can see with just one visit.

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