South Beach is known for its racy brand of day and night fun. For many travelers, South Beach seems like a hangout for young partiers; college-aged kids who are on the prowl and have just popped some pill or other that is going to make them stay awake all night. True, many clubs cater to younger patrons on the lookout for a wild time.



But there is a classier side to South Beach. Look hard enough and you can find low-key wine bars, cool cocktail joints, and dance floors where you don't have to worry about people trying to grind up against you.

Latin dancing is the name of the game on South Beach. Some clubs have lessons, while others have live bands and spacious dance floors. Singer Gloria Estefan owns a restaurant called Lario's on the Beach. Visitors can catch dinner before hitting the large dance floor. Like most Latin club/restaurants, Lario's books live bands for the weekend.

There are plenty of live music venues gracing South Beach's streets as well. Chilled out neighborhood bars like Finnegan's have live local and regional acts on weekends. And there are some cool jazz spots.

For nightlifers who don't want their moves to be accompanied by a thumping beat, Latin dancing is the obvious choice. Mambo, Salsa, even Tango. Even if you are not in the mood to groove, these dance clubs, most of which double as restaurants, are great places to watch people who really know what they are doing on the dance floor.

During the day, there is the beach, of course. But if muscles, tanning oil, and skimpy swimwear are not your thing, try a guided tour of the nearby art deco district. These buildings are great examples of the style. They create an atmosphere that makes it easy to imagine what it must have been like to live in Miami during its initial heyday.