What's New

Miami

Miami is a city on the verge -- of everything. Whereas supermodels were once the city's cottage industry, today condo models are all the rage. Look at the skyline and you'll see what we mean. Despite the shaky real estate market and predicted bust, the city remains as photogenic as ever. Still beautiful, especially at night and during sunset, the photogenic Miami skyline is peppered with cranes working hard to raise swank, zillion-dollar condos and hotels -- or, for the really trendy, condo-hotels for which buyers plunk down millions to live like Eloise in a bona fide hotel. A cash crop of hyperluxe hotels and restaurants have proven that, yes, people will spend thousands of dollars per night on a hotel room and $30 for a drink. Today there's more culture than what is dubiously found inside the city's nightclubs. The nearly $500-million Carnival Center for the Performing Arts (now the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts) is finally done and ready for its own close-up -- despite the fact that, in typical Miami fashion, they forgot to build a parking lot. But that's another story.

Where to Stay -- Miami Beach's famed Eden Roc Renaissance Resort and Spa (tel. 305/531-0000) closed in April 2007 for $110 million worth of renovations. In the multimillion-dollar makeover, the hotel plans to add a second tower with 283 rooms.

Fontainebleau Hotel & Resorts (tel. 800/548-8886 or 305/538-2000) is still in the throes of a 2-year, $500-million reconstruction/expansion of the original resort. Gone are all the Art Deco details and new will be 11 restaurants, nightclubs, spa, 825 ultra-modern rooms -- and a 70% increase on room rates. During the construction period, the new 37-story, stand-alone Fontainebleau Suites hotel is fully operational.

The Tides South Beach (tel. 800/439-4095) unveiled a distinctive new look in July 2007 by trendsetting designer Kelly Wearstler. The 45 guest rooms received a makeover with new colors and lush fabrics. An exclusive new entryway greets guests, and signature poolside cabanas will enhance the pool.

Regent Bal Harbour (tel. 800/545-4000), opened in early 2008, has 17 stories, panoramic views of the Atlantic, and 1,650-square-foot guest rooms.

New York's hot Meatpacking District Hotel Gansevoort has taken over the old Roney Palace Hotel on South Beach, as Gansevoort South. It opened late 2007 as a 332-room boutique hotel with a rooftop pool, upgraded oceanfront pool deck, spa, beach club, and a block of upscale shops and restaurants including STK and Philippe.

Nearby, at 2201 Collins Ave., the W Hotel chain plans to take over an old Holiday Inn and turn it into a 25-story hotel/condo with 511 units, trademark Bliss spa, two pools, and a Rande Gerber-owned hip hotel bar. Completion is slated for mid-2009.

Giuseppe Cipriani of the famous Italian hotel and Harry's Bar plans to transform the Deco Saxony Hotel into a 170-room luxury condo/hotel. The Cipriani Resort and Residences South Beach is expected to open in 2009.

Where to Dine -- Some major upsets occurred in 2007 when Norman Van Aken closed his Coral Gables eatery in favor of a move to Key West; Jonathan Eismann was forced to close his Lincoln Road mainstay, Pacific Time, because the rent was too high; and Johnny V South Beach closed after disappointing reviews.

New to Miami dining is Danny DeVito's latest production, DeVito South Beach, 150 Ocean Dr. (tel. 305/531-0911), a pricey Italian chophouse where steaks -- and checks -- are bigger than the diminutive actor himself.

The newly opened Angler's Boutique Hotel, La Maison D'Azur, 660 Washington Ave. (tel. 305/534-9600), is where St. Tropez meets South Beach over a flute of champagne and some seriously spectacular seafood.

Former Nemo chef Michael Schwartz introduced Michael's Genuine Food & Drink, 130 NE 40th St. (tel. 305/573-5550), which debuted to raves in the ever-emerging Miami Design District in early 2007. The unpretentious yet hip eatery showcases the former Nemo chef's trademark new American cuisine at prices designed to encourage frequent dining.

Nearby in the Design District are Domo Japones, 4000 NE 2nd Ave. (tel. 305/573-5474), a hip sushi spot and brick-walled lounge, and Brosia, 163 NE 39th St. (tel. 305/572-1400), a stunning, stellar Mediterranean-style indoor/outdoor eatery whose chef hails from Norman's. A newcomer to downtown Miami is the Oceanaire Seafood Room, 900 S. Miami Ave. (tel. 305/372-8862), a 290-seat restaurant, which is the 12th restaurant of Minneapolis-based Oceanaire, Inc., and the first to open in Florida. Right next door is Rosa Mexicano, 900 S. Miami Ave. (tel. 786/425-1001), where guacamole is prepared tableside and tortillas are tossed smack in the middle of the restaurant.

New at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club, 19999 West Country Club Dr. (tel. 800/327-7028 or 305/936-2929), is Bourbon Steak, a Michael Mina Restaurant, featuring a cutting-edge design and major cuts of meat.

Opened in the former private room of China Grill is a 50-seat South Beach branch of the über-expensive Kobe Club, where "flights" of meat cost upwards of $350!

After Dark -- Over the causeway, a burgeoning nocturnal buzz is still emanating from the once-desolate area of downtown Miami off Biscayne Boulevard. Newly opened nightclubs there include Parkwest Nightclub, 30 NE 11th St. (tel. 305/350-7444), and the White Room, 1306 N. Miami Ave. (tel. 305/995-5050), two massive, sprawling nightclubs featuring stereophonic, supersonic sound systems and all sorts of disco-diversions.

The masterminds behind Opium, Prive, and Mansion debuted SET, 320 Lincoln Rd. (tel. 305/531-2800), yet another den of hipster inequity where the likes of Britney Spears, Simon Cowell, and Ryan Seacrest have been known to lounge. PURE, the nightclub that revolutionized nightlife on the Las Vegas Strip, is en route to Miami Beach. PURE will open a new location at the freshly renovated and expanded Fontainebleau Miami Beach in 2008. New at the Delano is the Lenny Kravitz-designed Florida Room, 1685 Collins Ave. (tel. 305/672-2000), a subterranean speak-easy reminiscent of an old school, cruise ship lounge.

The Keys

The newest luxury resort to hit Key West, Beachside Resort & Conference Center, 3841 N. Roosevelt Blvd. (tel. 800/546-0885 or 305/296-8100), features hyperluxe one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites as well as king bedrooms, all adorned with oversize balconies with waterfront views, open gourmet kitchens, marble Jacuzzi tubs, and, on the third floor, private sun decks.

The Gold Coast

While the Gold Coast's beaches remain less congested than those in Miami, the area isn't impervious to development -- especially when it comes to resorts, restaurants, and nightlife.

Where to Stay -- Newly opened is Florida's first St. Regis (tel. 954/465-2300), a $135-million, 23-story luxe property in Fort Lauderdale with nearly 200 rooms, a gourmet restaurant, an air-conditioned walkway to the beach, a massive spa, and more.

As we go to print: The W Hotel (tel. 954/525-8133) is opening in fall 2008 on Fort Lauderdale Beach. The $220-million boutique-hotel-condominium features the usual W Hotel bells and whistles, including the signature bar and restaurant.

Donald Trump is converting a private condo on Fort Lauderdale Beach into the Trump International Beach Club. True to Trump's character, some of the 14-story building's suites will be available for purchase. Opening is slated for mid-2009. By the time we go to print, construction should be completed on the Trump International Hotel & Tower Fort Lauderdale, a 24-story building designed by world-renowned Michael Graves & Associates. The property will be composed of residences as well as hotel rooms, and its location will afford views of both the Atlantic Ocean and Greater Fort Lauderdale's Intracoastal Waterway. Trump Las Olas, a 95-unit resort on Fort Lauderdale beach, is scheduled for completion by fall 2008.

The Lago Mar Resort and Spa, 1700 S. Ocean Lane (tel. 954/523-6511; www.lagomar.com), received a $15-million addition that consists of a six-story wing of one- and two-bedroom oceanfront suites with individual balconies and larger luxurious bathrooms, as well as 24-hour concierge service. The 76-room project also includes a deck of native tropical landscaping and adds a 5,000-square-foot saltwater lagoon.

Fort Lauderdale's Holiday Inn, Sunrise Boulevard and A1A, is getting a chic makeover into the country's first Stay Social, a name with links to the Social restaurants in Miami Beach and Los Angeles, run by China Grill Management. LXR Luxury Resorts is investing $20 million into a conversion project that would transform the 38-year-old structure into a boutique hotel aimed at celebrities, fashion figures, and jet-setters. Date of completion to be announced. For more information visit www.luxuryresorts.com.

Refurbishments have been made to the tower and deluxe lanai guest rooms of the Regency Pier Sixty-Six Resort & Spa (tel. 954/525-6666; www.pier66.com), including luxurious retro-modern appointments. Lush landscaping has been added to the resort's lanai courtyard, and a spectacular three-pool waterfall oasis with an additional eight deluxe cabanas tops off this enchanting space.

In the midst of the most ambitious coastal redevelopment initiative in the State of Florida, with more than $120 million in public improvements and several private development projects in the works, Hollywood Beach has become a sought-after location for investors and visitors. With the first phase now completed, the Hollywood Broadwalk features Old Florida charm, dining, shopping, and a variety of accommodations, including several Superior Small Lodging properties.

Swedish meatballs anyone? Florida's first ever Ikea, 151 NW 136th Ave., Sunrise (tel. 954/838-9292), opened near Sawgrass Mills in late 2007. People actually quit their jobs and slept out to make the opening. We're not kidding.

The Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 E. Camino Real (tel. 561/447-3000; www.bocaresort.com), continues its remarkable $100-million renovation, becoming a culinary destination with South Florida's first-ever Gordon Ramsay eatery, Cielo.

Southwest Florida

Although Southwest Florida still rests on its natural laurels, it's not impervious to inevitable development, which has taken shape in the form of new museums, shopping centers, and hotels.

The Children's Museum of Naples (www.cmon.org) is scheduled to open in 2008 with a unique array of quality, interactive educational experiences for children. The museum is located in North Naples Regional Park, a new Collier County public park that will also have a water-park attraction, nature trails, and extensive team sports facilities.

The Naples Grande Beach Resort, 475 Seagate Dr. (tel. 888/422-6177), features brand-new boutique-hotel bungalow suites, a Golden Door Spa, poolside cabanas, and a branch of the bawdy, risqué steakhouse, the Strip House.

Marco Island Hilton Beach Resort, 560 S. Collier Blvd. (tel. 239/394-5000), has a brand-new spa that debuted in late 2007.

The Tampa Bay Area

The beloved Clearwater Beach Hotel has been taken over by a luxe hotel group and reopened in mid-2007 as the swanky Sandpearl Resort, 500 Mandalay Ave. (tel. 877/726-3111), a 253-room resort with views of the Gulf and situated on 5 1/2 acres of Clearwater Beach front.

The owners of the legendary Bern's SteakHouse have begun construction on the Epicurean Hotel (www.theepicureanhotel.com), a 75-room boutique hotel across the street from Bern's SteakHouse on South Howard Avenue in Tampa. The hotel, expected to open in late 2008, will include a rooftop pool and bar, a spa, and a parking garage. The hotel will also feature upscale wine and cooking demonstrations, classes, and wine tastings at the Bern Laxer School of Food and Wine. It will also feature a new 18,000-square-foot signature restaurant that will serve hotel and local guests from breakfast into the late night.

Busch Gardens Africa, 3000 E. Busch Blvd. (tel. 888/800-5447; www.buschgardens.com), reintroduced SheiKra to the world with a new twist: "floorless" cars that allow riders an unobstructed view of the 70-mph rush. Mechanically, SheiKra's track will remain unchanged, with its combination of drops, inversions, and a water-feature finale.

Psychologically, though, the effect of the floorless cars will be intense: SheiKra's cars will continue to seat eight passengers across, three rows deep, but riders will no longer be able to brace themselves against the floor of the car. With the front rail gone, passengers in the first row, especially, will be completely exposed as they come over the crest of SheiKra's signature 200-foot, 90-degree plunge.

Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Ave. (tel. 813/935-8552; www.lowryparkzoo.com), opened a planned expansion of the Safari Africa habitat area with a collection of new exhibits named after the Ituri Forest, a dense tropical rainforest in the northern part of the Congo River Basin. This area adds 1 1/2 acres of animal exhibit space and several new African species including cheetah, okapi, pygmy hippo, red river hogs, and shoebill storks. Also new: a colony of African penguins in a spacious new outdoor exhibit.

Walt Disney World (WDW) & Orlando

Disney World's recently revamped website (www.disneyworld.com) now offers "My Disney Vacation," a helpful online tool that enables you to plan every aspect of your Disney vacation. You can even create your own set of customized park itinerary maps (the process can take up to 4 weeks -- allow sufficient time when having them mailed to your home). They make a great free souvenir.

Where to Stay -- Universal Orlando's Hard Rock Hotel (tel. 407/503-2000) recently completed a multimillion-dollar makeover. Guest rooms now include flat-panel TVs, chic yet comfy new bedding, new carpeting, docking stations for iPods, stereo hookups for MP3 players, minibars, and more.

At press time, the fifth and sixth floors of Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (tel. 407/939-6244) were being transformed into Vacation Club Villas, which opened in late 2007. Additional villas are being built adjacent to the lodge and will be completed by 2009.

Disney's All-Star Music Resort (tel. 407/939-6000) recently unveiled a number of two-room family suites; they include upgraded amenities, minikitchens, a separate master bedroom, and flat-screen TVs.

One hotel warning: Looking for Disney brochures at your hotel? Don't bother unless you're staying with the Mouse himself. Brochures have been pulled from area hotels and businesses and are only being distributed to the WDW resorts, WDW's "official" and "good neighbor" resorts, and the Walt Disney World theme parks.

Where to Dine -- Recent additions to Orlando's dining scene include Tommy Bahama's Tropical Café & Emporium (tel. 321/281-5888), featuring island-inspired cuisine, a Mediterranean-style interior, and an inviting patio for outdoor dining. Those eating at Maggiano's Little Italy (tel. 407/241-8650) will appreciate the authentic home-cooked Italian fare and warm atmosphere. The Capital Grille (tel. 407/370-4392), an elegant and sophisticated establishment, combines a menu filled with dry aged steaks, chops, and seafood with an extensive wine list of more than 400 selections. All of the above new entries are located in Point Orlando along 9101 International Drive.

The NASCAR Sports Grille at Universal Orlando's CityWalk, 6000 Universal Blvd. #743 (tel. 407/224-7223), replaces the NASCAR Café. Its redesign includes several upgrades, the most noticeable of which are the open-flame grill, a new, more sophisticated menu, and an interactive video system at each table.

On a general dining note, in an effort to promote healthy eating habits, area theme parks are revising their menus and meals. Kids' meals at WDW now come with milk, juice, veggies, and fruits rather than the usual fries and soda (though fries and pop are still available upon request). Also, all WDW restaurants are in the process of becoming completely trans-fat free. Universal Orlando is following suit by offering healthier menu items and snack options throughout its theme parks. SeaWorld has also stepped up to the plate, revamping the menu at Mama's Kitchen, which is now dedicated entirely to healthy dining options.

Exploring Walt Disney World -- Nemo is making a big splash at Walt Disney World. At Epcot, the Living Seas pavilion has transformed and been renamed the Seas with Nemo & Friends. Gigantic "Clamobiles" take riders past undersea scenery that makes it seem as if the animated characters are swimming right alongside the aquarium's live inhabitants. Additional renovations include the enlargement of Crush's theater, home to the very popular Turtle Talk with Crush. At Disney's Animal Kingdom, Nemo takes center stage in Finding Nemo-The Musical, Disney's most impressive theatrical theme park production to date. It's a combination of creative costumes, a talented cast, one of Disney's most popular storylines, and a moving musical score.

At the Magic Kingdom, an array of live interactive entertainment has been added to the already impressive lineup. Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial (Adventureland) encourages pint-size pirates-to-be to engage in swordplay (wooden, of course) and other swashbuckling silliness with none other than the great captain himself (and believe me -- you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference!). Let's Have a Ball! The Happily Ever "After Party" (Fantasyland) is a dance party of royal proportions -- and guests get the party started when they join in on the Lord and Ladies Limbo, Lucinda's Freeze Dance, Simon Says, and more. Prefer to parade about town? March right alongside Disney characters, marching bands, and floats in the Main Street Family Fun Day Parade.

Exploring Universal Orlando & SeaWorld -- SeaWorld has announced the addition of an innovative eco-themed water park. Now scheduled to open in 2008, the yet-unnamed park is set to feature an array of unique interactive experiences that combine the ecological themes of SeaWorld, the naturalistic setting of Discovery Cove, and the fun and excitement of a water park.

The comedy, music, and multimedia theatrics of the Blue Man Group have come to Universal Orlando -- permanently. This dynamic and rather unique group now performs at Universal Studios in a new theater accessible from both Universal Studios Florida and CityWalk.

At Islands of Adventure, the High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride (Seuss Landing) is finally clonking and zonking along its track after years of sitting still. This kid-friendly ride, its track suspended high above Seuss Landing, takes you past several Seussian scenes and a slew of colorful characters before coming to a stop.

Northeast Florida

Amelia Island Plantation, 6800 First Coast Hwy. (tel. 888/261-6161; www.aipfl.com), has introduced the Royal Amelia Golf Club. The acquisition of Royal Amelia allows the resort to offer golfers a total of 72 championship holes as part of the unsurpassed experience of Amelia Island Plantation. Royal Amelia is renowned as one of the best-conditioned courses in the area with incredibly smooth TifEagle greens, sculpted around a forest of majestic live oaks, sable palms, pines, and wax myrtles. This par-72 track, designed by Tom Jackson, plays to a yardage of 6,823 from the back tees and is always in pristine shape with well-manicured rolling fairways, smooth bunkers, and greens that challenge all skill levels.

Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, 225 E. Coast Line Dr. (tel. 904/588-1234), has completed all the renovations to their 966-room hotel. The $15-million project revealed extensive changes to the guest rooms and suites, the four restaurants and bars, the rooftop pool area and health club, the lobby and front desk area, as well as the front drive. Modifications to all 966 guest rooms included the addition of the Hyatt Grand Bed, a Hyatt standard that consists of a Sealy Posturepedic 720 Series pillow-top mattress, 250-thread-count triple sheeting, a plush down comforter, and six restful down-filled pillows.

Jacksonville Marriott, 4670 Salisbury Rd. (tel. 800/962-9786), finished a multimillion-dollar renovation of the entire hotel. The new "Revive Collection" sleeping rooms include new bedding with down comforters and pillows as well as 100% blackout curtains. Each room also has new furniture with modern hardware throughout the bathroom and sleeping area and includes Bath & Body Works products.

The Radisson Riverwalk Hotel, 1515 Prudential Dr. (tel. 904/396-5100), has changed hands to become a Wyndham hotel. The 322-room hotel will get new restaurants and updated bathrooms, as well as the installation of new technology throughout the hotel. New Serta Presidential Beds with 250-thread-count sheets and a new bedding package are now featured in each guest room. Cordless telephones, ergonomic desk chairs, and an upgraded shower with a rounded shower curtain and deluxe shower massager heads provide all the comforts of home.

The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village, 200 Registry Blvd. (tel. 904/940-7800), has kicked off a multimillion-dollar renovation that includes the complete remodeling of guest rooms, restaurant, bar, entry, and lobby which will sport a new Colonial/Asian theme.

Northwest Florida: the Panhandle

The much beloved Josephine's French Country Inn, 38 Seaside Ave., Seaside (tel. 800/277-8696), is now known as Inn By the Sea by Vera Bradley, and has been completely redone in bright fabrics and decor chosen directly by lifestyle guru Bradley herself.

Construction continues on Hotel Saba (tel. 800/310-5768), a 56-room boutique hotel in Rosemary Beach's Town Center. Completion is expected in 2008.