North Shore - Miami Beach, FL

During its early days, North Shore was a quiet beach oasis, inhabited only by a coconut plantation and a Coast Guard station. However, in 1919, three brothers by the last name of Tatum began developing the land, planning for new residences and roads. When World War II ended, construction projects quickly escalated and led to the production of modern-style garden apartments.

While there are no actual museums in North Shore, the neighborhood has been designated as a National Historic District by the U.S. Government. The award comes as a result of the beautiful concentration of post-war style architecture known as Miami Modernism, or MiMo. Famous South Florida architects, including Norman Giller and Morris Lapidus, were responsible for the constructions of these artistic buildings.

The Littman Theater in North Miami Beach hosts many international, national and independent performances throughout the year. They include a variety of Broadway productions, ballets and concerts.

With hundreds of restaurants available to satisfy every taste bud, North Miami Beach has become a culinary melting pot, and North Shore is no exception. Discover a lively trend of fusion cuisine in this area, which combines American, Italian, French, Asian and Latin cooking with delightful - and reasonably priced - results.

If Tony Soprano lived in South Florida, you'd find him eating at Cafe Prima Pasta. This popular, bustling Italian venue on a busy street features soothing music, low lighting and intimate seating, making it a genuinely romantic spot. Every ingredient is house made, from the perfectly textured pasta to the fragrant rosemary butter, which goes great with the crab-stuffed ravioli or the squid linguine, served with fresh seafood and a secret recipe lobster sauce.

Las Vegas dishes out a comprehensive Cuban menu at a great value. The Vaca Frita is savory, accented with a squeeze of lime juice and raw onions. The chicken sauteed with garlic and the spiced pork pair up nicely with the sweet black beans. For a flavorful side, try the crisp ham croquetas.

The Varanda's Brasil Cafe may be small with a low-budget decor, but its food is extremely tasty. Try the muqueca de pixie, a fish simmered with sweet coconut sauce over white rice. Equally as good is the feijoda of pork and smooth black beans.

While the world-renowned nightlife of South Beach waits just a few minutes to the south, the North Shore neighborhood presents visitors and residents with a wide range of options. Lou's Beer Garden provides a hip and inviting atmosphere that encourages guests to kick back and relax. Tables surround the lighted swimming pool, where beer enthusiasts can sip on one of the 12 microbrews. If you're there past midnight, you might witness some of the free-spirited souls jump into the pool, but that's welcomed at Lou's.

For cheap drinks, head to On the Rocks Bar, where happy hour gets you three domestic beers or cocktails for just $5. The back of the bar houses a pool table and two gambling machines.

Driving a car is the preferred method of transportation for residents living in this area, with easy access to all major highways and plenty of affordable parking spaces available.

Public transportation in North Miami includes 17 buses, a local circulator system and several private jitney services. The transit system is easy to follow and excellent for commuting up and down the coast, especially if you're traveling to South Beach, where parking can be scarce and overpriced.

Cabs are easy to hail on the main roads during the day, though you may need to arrange a pickup later in the evening. Uber and Lyft services are also an affordable option if you own a smartphone.

North Shore benefits from its proximity to the Golden Glades Transit Center, which serves as the primary park-and-ride facility in Miami Dade County. It houses a Tri-Rail station and a bus transfer point. Alongside the shiny white sand, a newly completed public beach walk allows residents to walk across town. The majority of streets offer clearly marked bike lanes, making it an enjoyable option for cyclists.

Outdoor lovers and athletes have plenty of park options in North Shore. The North Shore Youth Center has baseball, basketball and tennis courts along with other opportunities for recreation, and it's free for both kids and adults. A few blocks to the north, you'll find the North Shore Open Space Park, which features wilderness-like scenery and beautiful beaches with on-site barbecues. The beach walk alongside the sand is dog friendly.

Those in the mood for a bit of culture can head over to the North Beach Bandshell on 72nd street. The building is painted in soothing blue and sunny yellow, and holds year-around events ranging from roller-skating night to international music festivals.

Life in North Shore comes with a slightly higher cost than Miami’s average; however, it’s one of the most affordable beachfront neighborhoods. The price for a one-bedroom apartment sits at around $1,500 per month, though places further away from the ocean are available for $1,300.

Moving around the city in public transportation will run you about $2.25 for a one-way trip. Gas prices run about 10 percent lower than the national average, and a pint of beer in a local bar costs about $4.

Since there are no malls in North Shore, most locals take a quick drive down to Lincoln Road Mall in South Beach to do their shopping. Big chain stores like H&M and Zara dominate the wide pedestrian-only promenade along with smaller boutiques, including Fly Boutique, Posh, and Runway Swimwear.

Vault specializes in high-end luxury watches. Other high-end stores include Coltorti, which carries a collection of women designer fashions from brands such as Prada, Valentino, and Dolce & Gabanna.

Residents can shop for groceries at one of the two Publix supermarkets located in North Shore. Laurenzo’s Italian Supermarket and Farmer's Market on West Dixie Highway offers artisanal goods and farm-fresh produce at very reasonable prices.