Florida, knows as the Gateway of America and the world's number one producer of citrus products, has also became the leading center of trade and international finance.

In the last 10 years the population grew with at least 40% foreigners, welcomes approximately 60 million tourists a year from all over the word, mainly in the Orlando and Miami areas.

Miami, the 45th city of the United States and the 5th metropolis in the country, with more than 2 million residents in its agglomeration, is located in the Southeast of Florida in Miami-Dade County on the Miami River between the Florida Everglades and the Atlantic Ocean.

Located at the center of North & South America, its port is recognized as the "Cruise Capital of the World" and "Cargo Gateway of the Americas" and its two international airports with 150 airlines serving up to 180 destinations a day. Miami is the home of 120 banks, is positioned the 2nd financial city in the US and as a result, many major corporations have relocated their headquarters to Miami.

Miami counts 16 beaches along the Atlantic Ocean

• Bal Harbour Beach (Collins Ave. from 96th St. to Haulover Inlet)
• Bill Baggs State Recreation Area (1200 S. Crandon Blvd.)
• Crandon Park Beach (4000 Crandon Blvd.) Key Biscayne
• Haulover Beach Park/Nude Beach (10800 Collins Ave.)
• Miami Beach — Mid Beach (Collins Ave. from 21st St. to 46th St.)
• Miami Beach — North Beach (Collins Ave. from 46th St. to 78th St.)
• Miami Beach — South Beach (Ocean Dr. from 1st St. to 12th St.)
• Sunny Isles Beach (Collins Ave. from 157th St. to 193rd St.)
• Surfside Beach (Collins Ave. from 88th St. to 96th St.)

Miami also offers 15 museums, 2 major opera companies, countless restaurants and night spots, and several malls throughout the city. The Art Deco District in South Beach attracts tourists and nostalgias of the 30s. Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue and Lincoln Road are still some of the hot areas to visit.

Miami boasts tropical weather all year round with temperatures averaging 70°F to 85°F during the winter and 98°F to 100°F in the summer. Its last snow fall was in January 1977.

High season starts on Thankgiving at the end of November and the population doubles for the next 6 months when North Americans escaping the winter cold South Americas and Carribianites escaping the heat, better known as snow birds, invade the city. Low season starts in April making the summer quiet and less populated during which time hotel restaurant, cars rentals and other tourist services are more economical.

Florida, and especially Miami, is also well know for the hurricane season from June to October, the most famous being Cleo (1964), Betsy (1965), Andrew (1992), Irene (1999) & of course hurricanes Katrina and Wilma (2005).