Calle Ocho and Little Havana

Cuba in the heart of Miami
Noteworthy for: Little Havana is the most famous Cuban exile community where daily life revolves around cigars, coffee, and dominos.

Word to the wise: Cultural Fridays, on the last Friday of each month, offers a fair with musical performances, art shows, and more.
Strolling along Calle Ocho is akin to walking in retro Havana with colorful murals adorning building facades, infectious salsa music blasting from cigar shops, and the aroma of Cuban coffee wafting through the air. Little Havana got its name during the 1960s with the influx of Cuban immigrants, and these days elderly men are still playing dominos and discussing politics at 'Dominos Park.'

Around the corner is Paseo de las Estrellos (Walkway of the Stars), which is modeled after the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Miami’s version has stars for Latin American actors, writers, artists, and musicians like singer Gloria Estefan and salsa star Willy Chirino.

On the corner of 13th Avenue is a memorial park with monuments to Cuban heroes like revolutionary Jose Marti and a memorial flame for the failed 1959 Bay of Pigs invasion. Be sure to sample Cuban fare, sip café con leche and smoke hand-rolled Cuban cigars.