Miams city life revolves around its waterways and beaches, but it also offers museums of art and history, theatre, dance and music. The Miami Seaquarium, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens (on the estate of industrialist James Deering), Bayside Marketplace and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County are among the area’s popular attractions. Scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking and sport fishing are popular outdoor activities.
The city is less wealthy than some other metropolitan areas and has high volumes of poverty stricken neighborhoods. These neighborhoods have been impacted by the economic downturn and crime statistics have increased as families struggle to pay bills. With fewer resources and less income available many families turn to illegal activities for a source of cash.
The University of Miami has a wide range of educational facilities. Other institutions in the city include Florida International University, Barry University in Coral Gables, St. Thomas University, Miami-Dade Community College, and the International Fine Arts College. In addition, Jackson Memorial Hospital and Baptist Health are prominent hospitals. The city is also a center for marine study and has the University of Miami-affiliated Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.
The city’s political climate is bifurcated between Cuban Americans petrified of socialism and college-educated liberals who are terrified of autocracy. But the partisan fury is tame, even as the city grapples with climate change and inequality.