Southwest® flights from Chicago-Midway to Miami from $186

Miami is on the scene when you deplane at Miami International Airport. Don’t get us wrong—Chi-town’s got it going on, but Magic City has an energy you can’t get anywhere else. A trip to Miami is about more than fun in the sun—hop on a bus or train, call a rideshare, or rent a car and start exploring. Whether you’re planning a group trip to say, “thank you for being a friend,” a romantic getaway for two, or a whole-family outing, there’s something for every visitor in this eclectic oceanside city.

Dive right into learning about Miami and greater Florida with a visit to HistoryMiami, the largest history museum in the state. Here, you’ll find a permanent exhibit that traces 12,000 years of the area’s history, making it a jam-packed way to spend an afternoon of your visit. After you’ve had your fill of historical context, take a bite of something else that makes Miami unique: Floribbean cuisine. An organic fusion of Caribbean, Hispanic, and Asian cuisines brought to the region by large immigrant communities, Floribbean cuisine relies on fresh seafood and assertive spices. Hungry for something else? Seek out a Cuban sandwich, which some believe originated in town rather than elsewhere in South Florida.