Why we love Miami

Some of our favorite things about Miami

Miami–a place where snow and ice don’t exist. Need we say more? Get out your flip-flops, retire your long underwear and enjoy walking on the beach in the sun all year long–even when your friends in the north are shivering. Read on to learn why you should consider serving with City Year Miami.

What’s a polar vortex?

Imagine winter days without frozen toes or wiping out on sidewalk ice–in Miami you can go outside all winter long in a t-shirt. We’re talking about daily temperatures that during December, January and February often reach into the 70s–yes that’s 70 degrees Fahrenheit–can you even remember what that feels like? Living closer to the equator makes the day longer, too–so when you get out of work, there’s still plenty of daylight left to go have some fun.

Marlins or Dolphins?

Are you a sports fan? When you’re not out in the sun playing basketball, baseball or touch football with your friends, why not pick up some tickets to go see the famed Miami Heat, the World-Series-winning Miami Marlins or the indomitable Miami Dolphins? Do all of those dolphins and marlins make you feel like doing some ocean-related activities after the game? You’ll have plenty of daylight to swim, learn to jet ski or drive around the waters off Miami in a speedboat like Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs–the 1980s version, of course!

Your frozen coffee is the only ice you’ll see

Remember shivering during the cold blasts of winter? Now think about how much fun it is in the summertime to hang out with friends with an icy coffee in your hand. In Miami, a relaxing get-together in the sun can be any day of the week. Take your friends to your favorite Cuban eatery and dive into some delicious and sweet fried plantains, some crispy croquetas, or if you’ve worked up an appetite from snorkeling earlier in the morning, dig into a classic Cuban sandwich made with braised pork coated in melted cheese. Afterwards you can get your caffeine on again with a bracing cafecito–and be ready to tackle the city’s vibrant nightlife and meet people from all over the world.

Archipelago anyone?

When you feel like getting out of the city, why not spend a weekend exploring the Florida Keys, the string of tropical islands that stretch into the jewel-green waters of the Caribbean? Drive over the Seven Mile Bridge and explore inlets where dolphins swim and butterflies flutter. When you get as far as Key West–where locals have included literary giant Ernest Hemingway–go on a sunset cruise and sip champagne to celebrate the fact that you haven’t seen a blizzard all winter. There are too many parks to count within striking distance of Miami including Everglades National Park, where you can ride an airboat and see alligators! Miami also has loads of free access to paved parks for running, jogging and biking with views of rivers and beaches.

Art deco and gangsters

Maybe architecture, design and art are your thing. So after you spend the day basking in the sun on the wide, welcoming sands of South Beach, why not stroll down Ocean Drive and check out the colorful Art Deco buildings–even the post office nearby has cool murals and gleaming post office boxes unlike any you’ve seen. Or go out into the bay on a tour boat to check out the baby-blue mansion that was once owned by Prohibition-era mobster Al Capone. And when you want to be surrounded by creativity, head over to the Wynwood Arts District and go on a walking tour–or just stroll with your friends, take cool photos and show off your new flip-flops.

We would argue, however, that there are thousands of even better reasons for moving to Miami for a year or two.

There are 354,172 students in Miami who need and deserve our support. You could be part of an AmeriCorps team that shows up for students every day, making a difference in their lives and in their futures.

Get fired up and learn more about City Year Miami.