Located on the northern corner Miami Dade County, Sunny Isles Beach is a city that covers just 1.78 square miles. It lies next to an island that borders the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. Sunny Isles Beach is known for its laid-back way of life. The locals are friendly and welcoming and like to spend most of their days out in the sun.
It is also one of the ritziest cities in the US, one of two areas in the north of Florida that is slowly replacing South Beach as the coastal luxe living capital of the state. Where South Beach is hectic, Sunny Isles Beach is serene. It has more residential condominiums than hotels, which contribute to the “community feel” of the place, says the New York Times.
The city was originally founded in 1920 when a private investor by the name of Harvey Baker Graves purchased the land and turned it into a tourist resort he named Sunny Isles. It was not until the 1950s that the first houses were built here.
Attractions in Sunny Beach
As you would expect, activities in Sunny Isle Beach revolve largely around the sun, the sea, and the sand. The city caters to residents and tourists, with several upmarket hotels and resorts to be found. These are mostly located on the beach front.
Other attractions include:
- Oleta River State Park
Locals and tourists that want to get away from the city often head here. The park occupies more than 1,000 acres with a variety of mountain bike trails. The nature trail will get you close to some of the area’s inhabitants, including ospreys or sea hawks and manatees or sea cows placidly swimming in the river. The Oleta River estuaries also provide marvelous opportunities to go canoeing and kayaking. - Newport Fishing Pier
Anglers, this is your spot. First erected in the 1930s, Miami-Dade County’s only fishing pier was rebuilt after Hurricane Wilma destroyed the original structure in 2005. As well as fishing and sightseeing, the pier is also home to the kitschy Beach Bar. Here, you can enjoy the freshest seafood and down craft cocktails as you relax and take in the view. - The Dezer Museum
There are 1,200 cars on display in this museum, the highlight of which is the James Bond Collection featuring a car representing each the first 23 movies – including 007’s famous Aston Martin. In fact, the museum calls itself the place “where James Bond parks his cars.” One of the museum’s non-Bond attractions is the Batmobile.
Real estate in Sunny Isles Beach
When it comes to luxury living, nothing compares to Sunny Isles Beach. Once a funky seaside retreat with budget accommodations, the area was transformed when the city commission allowed developers to erect taller buildings in the late 1990s.
Since then, Sunny Isles Beach has been a magnet for those wishing to pull out all the stops when it comes to luxury residential buildings. Top name architects and designers are redefining what it means to be ultra pampered. And world-famous names associated with luxury goods are lending their names to high-profile developments.
Some of the top real estate properties for sale in Sunny Beach include:
- A 4-bedroom, 7-bath oceanfront penthouse with 360-degree views of the Miami and Fort Lauderdale skyline furnished by Fendi Casa. It includes a million-dollar glass-bottomed pool that allows you to look down.
- A brand new 2-story duplex at the Porsche Design Tower with a 3,130-square-foot wraparound balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows providing panoramic views from all 3 bedrooms. A car elevator will bring your vehicle up to the residence, which has built-in parking spaces to fit 2 cars.
- You can also opt for a one-of-a-kind palace in the sky with Old World luxury appointments, 11-foot ceilings, ocean and Intracoastal views, and a staff room separate from the unit’s 4 bedrooms.
Sunny Isles Beach has more than a thousand housing options for those who want to live in the lap of luxury. Let me and my team help you. I am Connie Cabral, and you can get in touch with me at 305-776-0899 or send an email to Connie(at)ConnieCabral(dotted)com.