For history & culture, South Beach is hit or miss.
The beach itself is genuinely beautiful — wide, warm, that improbable turquoise water — and the energy is electric day and night. The honest catch: Ocean Drive is a tourist gauntlet of aggressive hosts, $18 cocktails, and mediocre food, and the scene can feel more about being seen than relaxing.
South Beach's Lummus Park is a free, 74-acre public oceanfront park between 5th and 14th Streets, open 24 hours, with lifeguards and the famous 9th Street 'Muscle Beach' outdoor gym. · miamibeachfl.gov
The beach fronting Ocean Drive lies within the Lummus Park stretch; the sand and water are free, with restaurants and cafes lining adjacent Ocean Drive. · en.wikipedia.org