Family Vacations: Little Havana

The heart of Cuban life in Florida is the vibrant commercial strip in Little Havana called Calle Ocho, or Eighth Street. This bustling neighborhood is southwest of downtown Miami between 12th and 17th avenues.

Calle Ocho is the epicenter of an ethnic explosion that includes immigrant communities from around the world. One of the many highlights is the authentic Cuban cuisine. Restaurants serve up seafood paella, succulent marinated pork, and hearty beans and rice.

Visitors can also sample the cuisines of Peru, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and myriad other Latin lands. Tourists and locals alike dote on the neighborhood's trademark hand-rolled cigars, merengue and salsa music, and chess and dominoes games. Then there are the celebrations!

The last Friday of each month is known as Viernes Culturales, or Cultural Friday. This Latin street party showcases Cuban music, dancing, street performers, food, and local artists. In March, the Calle Ocho Festival is one of the world's largest free festivals, drawing more than one million people.

Little Havana Information

Address: Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau at 701 Brickell Ave.,

Ste. 2700, Miami, FL

Telephone: 305/539-3000 800/933-8448

To learn more about family vacation destinations, see:

Family Vacations: Learn about hundreds of family vacations in destinations all over North America.

Miami City Guide: Find out where to stay, what to do, and where to eat when you visit Miami.

Florida State Guide: Learn about Mobil Travel Guide-rated hotels and restaurants in Florida, as well as other recreational activities.

Scenic Drives: For those who think that getting there is half the fun, we have compiled more than 100 of the most scenic drives throughout the country.