The town's busiest street and one of its most popular tourist areas, Ocean Drive is the center of all that is Miami Beach. Full of Art Deco buildings, upscale shops, international eateries, and lots of beautiful people from all over the world, this main drag through town is quintessential Miami Beach.
In the 60s, 70s, and much of the 80s, Ocean Drive, which is just a block from the Atlantic, was typical of many other parts of Miami and Miami Beach. The area had become rundown and most residents and visitors would not frequent the neighborhood, especially after dark. Crime was rampant and drugs were readily sold on street corners.
However, several visionary entrepreneurs were able to reinvigorate the area. Beginning with the opening of the News Caf, in 1988, Ocean Drive gradually saw boarded up stores and restaurants become profitable places of business and tourists began returning to the area. Soon, the area's Art Deco hotels were being painted, neon signs were being repaired, and people were recognizing Ocean Drive as a prime tourist area. When Gloria Estefan stepped in and joined in the regentrification efforts, others jumped on the bandwagon and by the mid-1990s, Ocean Drive - and the rest of South Beach - became a much sought-after destination for international travelers.
It also became Miami Beach's headquarters for the modeling industry. It's not unusual to view several photo shoots along Ocean Drive during the course of just one day, and many well-known modeling agencies have obtained offices along this costly expanse of real estate.
Ocean Drive, however, is more than just a place for people watching, though it is an excellent place to view South Beach's trim and fit population. The boulevard is an important part of Miami Beach's Art Deco Historic District, lined with kitschy hotels with bold neon lights and typical art deco ornamentation like oversized palm trees and cruise ship motif. Many are painted in sparkling pastels like peach and sea green. Some are designed for budget travelers while others are among the most expensive in Miami Beach.
Office buildings and other commercial properties also boast Art Deco touches, and the local Miami Design Preservation League, with offices on Ocean Drive, eagerly offer guided tours of the area's best examples of Art Deco architecture which - in Miami Beach - is known as Streamline Moderne. Tours are affordable and offer great insight into the town's unique architectural gems.
The rest of Ocean Drive consists of mainly stores and restaurants. This north-south thoroughfare, which runs from 1st to 15th Street, is lined with boutique shops offering mostly pricey wares and is also home to some of the city's finest restaurants. Clubbing is a big part of the Ocean Drive scene as well and the area is especially crowded during Spring Break week, when the clubs cater specifically to college students who party until the wee hours of the morning.
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