The Miami skyline, as you'd expect, provides the ultimate setting: "The sort of glittering collection of high-rise buildings and super hotels that helped inspire a certain kind of boater to take to the water back in the 1980s," says Lonely Planet travel writer Adam Karlin.  Sailboats have become an established part of the scenery in Miami, and the largest city in South Florida offers access to dozens of marinas and thousands of berths. So where to begin? Coconut Grove  "Sailing hot spots tend to concentrate around Coconut Grove, a pleasant, middle-class-residential neighborhood that abuts yuppie chic Coral Gables," explains Karlin.  A charming walking village with tree- lined streets that lead down to one of the world's most beautiful sailing bays, Coconut Grove is home to the Miami Yacht Club.  "It has a huge harbor and is within easy walking distance to tourist attractions," enthuses Curtis Turker, from Sail Miami.  "It's also home to the Barnacle Historic State Park, which was built in the late 1800s by yacht designer and Renaissance man Commodore Ralph Munroe," he adds.  A short sail down the golden coast takes you to Biscayne Bay, which extends to the Florida Keys and is "a sailing paradise in its own right," says Karlin. "The waters here offer some of the best fishing in the USA, in almost any category you can think of."  If you dock near Biscayne, Jimbo's is a must-stop. According to Karlin, expect a "surreal collection of fishing shacks, bocce courts and beer bottles, a sort of bait shop/bar/smoked fish restaurant that attracts rednecks, yachters, fishermen and assorted loonies."  Still in Biscayne, sail past the Vizcaya Museum to marvel at its audacious architecture. Says Turker: "It's fashioned like an Italian castle, and by boat you can pull in and anchor there. It's a sight to see."
Part all-American, part Cuban, part Alice in Wonderland. The Miami area is a psychedelic mix of serious business and eccentric pleasures.Candy-colored Art Deco hotels sit against a backdrop of