The 15 Coolest Things Coming To Us Cities In 2017
Miami, Florida
A global art destination lands a high-speed rail.
For too many, a trip to Miami means heading straight to South Beach. But the actual City of Miami – that is, the gleaming skyline across Biscayne Bay from South Beach – has turned itself into a world-class destination that needs nothing from its beaches-and-bottle-service neighbor to the east.
For starters its Wynwood Arts District, home to some of the best street art in America, has grown into a burgeoning scene of bars and restaurants that includes Alter, a new restaurant many consider Miami’s best of the decade. But add to that the forthcoming permanent home of Miami’s Institute of Contemporary Art – a 37,500sqft museum girded by a 15,000sqft sculpture garden – and you’ve got yourself a legitimate world art destination.
Perhaps Miami’s signature 2017 upgrade will be the Brightline train, a high-speed rail that’ll connect Miami with Orlando (via Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Cocoa) in just three hours. So a trip here can be a gateway to all that’s great in Southern Florida, and hopefully allow you to explore Miami with significantly reduced traffic. The downtown station, dubbed MiamiCentral, will be more than just a train depot, bringing with it the city’s first legitimate food hall, Central Fare, plus bars, restaurants, and other attractions that continue to make mainland Miami the center of the action.