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12th Avenue has 2 sides; the one North of Flagler St and the one South of Flagler Street.

Around NW 7th Street and NW 12th Ave, cross over the little bridge over the Miami River into Jackson Memorial Hospital and a Medical district. Find the 112 Airport highway right along this route.

Head further North and find yourself going in to the NW's neighborhoods, low income housing, more warehouse properties, and newer housing mixed with regular housing even more North away from the city limits. The metrorail runs parallel to 12th Avenue at one point (Civic Center district), making it easy and convenient to travel to from different parts of the city. Although it may look like the neighborhoods are a little dangerous; try not to be wondering around at late hours if you don't know what you are doing.

Historic sites on this road are Fidel Castro's Miami-Home back in the 'old days'. A coral-built small building, barely noticeable, now a discount dollar store rests between Flagler Street and NW 2nd Street on 12th Avenue: look for it on a corner right off the Ave.

Head South on 12th Avenue and it's SW 12th Avenue. This road will lead you to "the roads", "the gables", and a hop away in to US1 and all the different options that it offers at this point. Local small markets (bodegas) along the way and small businesses with plenty residential land.

Preferrable to commute during the day. Not because of the crime, but because there's really nothing to do after dark unless you live or know someone around this area, or need to catch the Dolphin Expy(836). There is an exit on the Dolphin Expy 836 coming from the beaches.
* (No westbound entrance to 836 off 12th Avenue [only Eastbound off 12th Ave], use 17th Ave for W)*
[TIP] - (Last exit on 836 Eastbound before heading into the beach is Exit NW 17th Ave, not 12th Avenue)

Use 12th Ave as an option to jump onto 395 to The Beachesor from The Dolphin Expy E(836).

Get lost on 12th Avenue? Just head South to US1 at the end of SW 12th Ave, and hop onto I95 (although if you're lost, you should really be looking at a map and orientate yourself logistically also).

See reviews on I95 to find out your options on this highway and to figure out your different routes around the city.

Long before 8th Street became developed as much as it is now with residential properties, it was the road to the swamps, and Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve. It still is the way!

Westward on 8th Street, passed 87th Ave 107th Ave and all those shopping centers and neighborhoods, you have an old historic road called Tamiami Trail. It's an excellent road to take to see the vast Preserves of South Florida as it will lead you all the way West and back up North towards Naples, Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, and Florida's Gulf Coast. Although not a preferred street of the locals as it's mostly agriculture and preserves. Also, find Miami's Miccosoukee Casino west on 8th Street from Central Miami.

A little further East toward Miami's center and East Coast, cross through the Little Havana district, now inhabited by many more mixed ethnicities. Cruise down the famous Calle Ocho and still see hints of the Cuban influenced landmarks, stop at a cafeteria and grab a "cafecito"(expresso) and a Tostada! See some Cuban historic sites such as Jose Marti landmarks and Parks, small businesses, and head East to Downtown.

Highway Junctions off 8th Street: East - Catch I-95 by Downtown & West - Catch the Palmetto or Florida's Tunpike Northbound and Southbound.

17th Avenue has two sides.

One of them is North from Flagler street and the other one is South from Flagler Street. This is primarily why 17th Avenue is either called NW 17th Avenue or SW 17th Avenue.

North of Flagler on NW 17th Ave, you really don't have much to see other than an entrance to one of Miami's main junctions and highways, the Dolphin 836, and on 17th Ave and NW 7th St, Miam's historic Orange Bowl site, (see how close to the residents the Hurricanes and Dolphins used to rock it!), and the Miami River. Further North it's just neighborhoods, several commercial properties, some ghettos, and more residential housing, very few local markets and restaurants.

South of Flagler on SW 17th Ave, you have mostly residential areas with some local flavorful restaurants you may want to look for, with a mix of latin cuisines and residential miami housing. SW 17th Ave crosses over Coral Way (SW 22nd St) where you can find more of the many local restaurants, gas stations, and "bodegas".

Head further South on SW 17th Avenue and cross over US1 with all it's routes and junctions, and over into the Viscaya area for some Museum and Planeterium fun, or keep going all the way down to S Bayshore Dr and make a right directly into the beginning of Miami's Coconut Grove district.

Here we have one of those streets that at one certain point, it can confuse the hell out of you without some proper thinking and planning ahead.

It's most confusing point is heading Northbound or Southbound around the Miami International Airport, where one can easily spend a good time circling the airport before getting stopped and asked what are you doing. If you stick to the center and follow the signs aorund the Airport area, you can easily avoid hopping on the airport's terminal lanes.

North of the airport you have what is known as City of Hialeah, a mostly industrial and residential area (with warehouses, factories, store mini outlets, etc.) which was first inhabited and developed in the latter stages of Miami's developed, boomed with the Cuban Invasion, and now rests with a mix of different ethnicities. LeJeune Rd. converts into E. 8th Avenue, as it crosses this sub-city with it's own street sign grid. The neighborhoods are mostly old single family homes and multi-unit building housing with worn down construction and very little Brand New development. In Hialeah, shop at the many mini-outlets or spend a day at the Horse Races.

In Hialeah, just dont get caught in it's horrendously frustrating morning and afternoon traffic jams, as the streets are very old and small and the local very aggressive when the flow is disturbed.

South of the airport, you head toward what is known as the "SW" part of Miami while you cruise through part of "NW" Miami on your way south. On NW 7th Street, see the famous OB Center and Movie plex, one of Miami's good old places that first had Movie Theaters (and still does) in the development boom of the 80's. See hints of the 80's lifestyle in this building's architecture.

Keep heading South on LeJeune and you will soon cross through the beautiful "Gables". Stop by Miracle Mile or visit many other sites of The Gables on your way.

Even further south on LeJeune you can also find US1 with it's many junctions and routes to other important key points of the City of Miami.

Beginning almost by the Bay, way east in the south of Miami, it heads inland west in to what is known generally as Kendall.

At one point it crosses over US1. This cluster could be confusing at first, with the Snapper Creek Expressway a wrong turn ahead and the intersection to continue up Kendall and to Dadeland Mall on the other side of US1.

Kendall, on the west side of US1 in this area, is continually 88th St from that point on as you head up the Avenues. As you head up, you pass many shopping centers, businesses, and lots of residential areas from houses to condominiums. It is one of the gateways in to Kendall, and leads to and from the Palmettto Expw and the Florida Turnpike along with it's many other highway junctions.

Take it east from Kendall to get back to the center of the city, just be careful around that area on the other side of US1, as it can get pretty tricky without proper thinking and planning ahead. However, many options at this point where 88th Street meets US1.

3rd Avenue is called Coral Way at one point. Let's start here. If you take US1, whether coming from North or Southbound, you may turn in on 16th Ave or 17th Ave and make your first right, and it will lead you to the part of Coral Way where it is called 3rd Avenue. This specific cluster of roads, is a bend that the road takes as it wiggles from avenue to street and so on, weaving through the parts of the city and Coral Way which are "so confusing".

Learn this and you'll be fine.

The explanation is Coral Way begins all the way East to Miami's financial district, and in this area it is 13st, and here it's parallel to the rest of the city's 'street' grid.

At one point heading West on Coral Way from downtown, Coral Way crosses through a residential area called "The Roads". Here the streets take a temporary diagonal course before straightening back into a street and becoming parallel to the city's street grid again.

Coral Way does this a couple more times as you head West on it (here's why everybody freaks out about the numbers changing), as it has to cross through an even more complex neighborhood with major commercial and residential zones. It does the diagonal wiggle again after "The Gables" from 22nd Street to 24th Street and so on as it weaves through the city, "so don't get too confused!"

The 3rd Avenue Part of Coral Way is a busy cluster, as you have access to US1 and them to/from I95 Highway, acces to Key Biscayne (Seaquarium, Hotels, Dining, Residential, etc.), Viscaya and the Viscaya Metrorail Station down the bend, a Cassola's Pizzeria for a Nice Huge slice of New York style pizza for under $5.00, and a gateway towards the part of the city called "NW" by via 12th Ave North like to travel to and from the Airport, or a Scenic Route if going IN TO the Gables or SW area of Miami after getting off the Dolphin Exressway and the 836 Expressway. From 12th Ave, just make a right on Sw 3rd Avenue to Head into the Gables or a left on 3rd Avenue to head into downtown and have a nice stroll.

Mostly residential.

It'll take you from inside the gables all the way out towards the East. It's a central street for all the local businesses in the area.

This street will take you through one of Miami's greatest jewel, "The Gables", and although it was developed so that the streets are all confusing intentionally, if you need to get from west to east, this is not a bad way to take.

It eventually turns into Biltmore Way and back into Andalusia Ave, where you have a Publix to shop at for groceries, banks for financing needs just on an upcoming left or right, Chocolate Fashion, Sub Serious for some Nice Delicious Philly Cheesetake or Cheesburger Subs made fast and hot, or park at one of the municipal parking garages and Walk Around (for travelers or for fun). It also houses the old Miracle theater, now converted into the Actor's Playhouse and going on 20 years of delightful theater entertainment.

Why not see some performances on a weekend, make it a cultural one? Start with a matinee at the Biltmore's Gablestage (Theater) and after, head down ANDALUSIA AVE out through Biltmore Way all the way down to the garages of Miracle Mile, grab some food at California Pizza Kitchen or Houston's (if you got money to blow), shop and get those vitamins at GNC, take a break at Jamba Juice or for Java-Lovers, Startbucks, before catching your next show at the Actor's Playhouse at the Miracle Theater. What a delightful way to end a cultural, enlightful Saturday or Any Day!

So you're traveling around town and decide to stroll by one of Miami's jewel's, Coconut Grove, but are afraid to get lost?

Don't worry, set your Navigation to Virginia St. Take it in to "the Grove" directly from the Northbound lane of US1, south of 27th ave. A short but effective road, it will lead you right to the heart of Coconut Grove, where you can park in garages, valet, or find meter parking once there.

Shop at the Streets of Mayfair with plenty of restaurants to eat at like The cheesecake Factory and Johnny Rockets, Miami Subs, and many Fine Dining restaurants and bistros.

Soak in the sun during the day and take Virginia St to S Bayshore Dr, where you can enjoy a nice walk along the bay and go boat watching at the many Marinas in the Grove, beautiful residential buildings along with hotels like the Ritz-Carlton, Double Tree, Marriott, and more. Watch for events, art festivals, conventions, and boats show within these city blocks.

Parking garages right off of Virginia Street are right under the Grove. Take the elevators from the garages right to street level and you are now ready to enjoy to different movie Cinema compounds, shops and restaurants, and enjoy an excellent night out by enjoying Fat Tuesdays, Hooters, bars and clubs right in the Grove!

Virginia St leads you in and out of the Grove from US1 all the way to Grand Ave where you can continue to other sub levels of the Grove. It runs parallel to 27th Avenue, another good street to use in accordance to calibrate location. 27th Avenue also take you into the grove, but by the outer skirts of the the main part of Coconut Grove. Virginia Avenue puts you right in the middle and gets you out!

Want to get around Miami, but maps and highways are just not what you need? Choose FLAGLER Street.

Flagler St is basically Street # 0. It's the street that splits North from South and that leads from Downtown by the Bay/Coast all the way deep within the city westward to other important locations.
Take Flagler all the way East and you are in Downtown. Pass Miami Ave on Flagler and now you are in the East Side of Downtown and right along the edge of Biscayne Bay. Hop on Biscayne Boulevard and take it North from Flagler to find the entrance to the beaches, Miami's design district, and another route around the city from there if you need.

Flagler is how you tell where you are in Miami.
Anything below (south of) Flagler is considered South and anything West of Miami Ave (Downtown) on Flagler is considered SW Miami. *This is extremely important knowledge if you are traveling around the city.

If you can think of a cross in the letter "t" position, Flagler St would be the line that goes left to right and Miami Ave the one that goes up and down, and where the two lines intersect is the center of Downtown. The Miami Museum, the Library, Bayside, routes to the Beaches and around town to Arenas, shuttles for concerts, businesses, shops, and bus and train terminals, all intertwine in this area.

Follow Flagler St West and the avenues start increasing. Now you are moving through the heart of the city. Heading west inland on Flagler, you have North Miami to your right and South Miami to your left.

Need to get around Miami quick, but want to take the inner streets? Well SW 27th Avenue is your way!

Head North on it, and it takes you into the heart of Central Miami, passing SW 8St ("Calle Ocho") and Flagler St., Miami's main street from E to W which divides Miami into NW and SW, taking you from the heart of Downtown all the way West into the city neighborhood.

Head South on 27th Avenue, and you hit US1, another Major Street in Miami, taking you all the way from the highway (I-95) all the way South to Miami's Deep South (Multiple & Various places to eat, shop, and do almost everything up and down Miami's US1!)

Keep going passed and accross US1 on 27th Avenue and now you are heading to one of Miami's jewels, Coconut Grove (Google Miami's Coconut Grove for History and Places To Go).

SW 27th Avenue is definitely a magical transit street for Miami locals. A nice quiet drive through Miami's central neighborhoods along the Ave, with occasional shops, cafeterias to grab a Spanish "colada"(expresso), a Big Lots to grab some quick bargain goodies, Calle Ocho and Miami Dade College's Interamerican Campus, the Metrorail Station on US1 and "The Grove" where there's fishing, restaurant and bars, nightlife and clubbing, Movie Theaters, museums and galleries, Coral Gables....WOW!!

Yep! 27th Avenue- definitely a very important key, under-rated and not well-known, Miami-local Avenue-Street!