Miami and the Keys are the cultural and geographical gateways to the United States; where Latin America gracefully blends into North America, and land embraces the sea. This unusual guide leads you along the fulcrum that is Miami and the Keys, laden with world-class architecture, sandy beaches, pristine waters, nightclubs, and trendy hotels. Beneath the well-polished surface lies a history and culture that strays far from the conventional, bubbling up through unexpected places, like a coral fortress built for a spurned lover, a divey laundromat that serves the sweetest cafe con leche you've ever had, or an enclave of houses built on stilts in the midst of the ocean. Lose yourself in a glass rainforest. Glide over the mysterious waters of the Everglades. Visit your own desert island. Drink the sweet nectar of the Cuban coffee gods. Venture into the "other" Miami, beyond the glitz and glamour, steeped in natural beauty and deep-seeded tradition. See why Ernest Hemingway called the Keys his home. Though teeming with tourists, there are still plenty of hidden gems to be unearthed, you just have to know where to look... AUTHOR: Gordon Streisand is a third-generation Miami native whose family has called Miami and the Keys home since the now-dwarfed courthouse was the tallest building in the city. A graduate of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Gordon has been a sportswriter and columnist and enjoys sharing the lesser-known wonders of his hometown with visitors of all types and ages. SELLING POINTS: . The ultimate insider's guide to Miami and the Keys; go off the beaten path to discover the hidden places, stories, and neighbourhoods that reveal Miami's true character, history, and flavour . Nearly 14 million people visit Miami and the Keys every year 111 colour illustrations