The best things to do in Miami

(CNN) — All eyes are on Miami as the city hosts Super Bowl LIV this year — but with its year-round blue skies, sunshine and Caribbean-blue waters, the Magic City is always ready for its close-up.

A thriving art scene, an ever-changing culinary landscape and, of course, the beach, bay and buzzy hotel pools combine to make an irresistible travel destination. Whenever you visit, these are the can’t-miss classics to add to your Miami to-do list.

Miami Beach is home to the most famous stretch of coastline in Florida, set against the neon backdrop of Ocean Drive.

Mid-Beach (between 23rd-46th Streets) is home to more spacious resorts away from the touristy bustle. Surfside and Sunny Isles to the north offer towering accommodations on the water.

Other neighborhoods worth exploring include like Coral Cables, Coconut Grove, Wynwood and the Design District. A day trip to the nearby Everglades National Park will round out your Florida experience with air boats and gator sightings.

Art Basel Miami Beach brings the art world to Miami in December, but the city has plenty of art and splashy architecture to enjoy all year, even in shopping hubs like the Design District (home to the free Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami), Bal Harbour Shops, Lincoln Road Mall and the Aventura Mall (where art comes in the form of a 93 foot tall slide by artist Carsten Höller).

For street art, head to Wynwood, where colorful murals share space with art galleries, laid-back bars, restaurants and hip boutiques like Warby Parker and local floral art spot Plant the Future.

Downtown, Brickell City Centre houses a clutch of boutiques from lesser-known European brands, while the new Frost Museum of Science keeps kids busy with interactive exhibitions and a planetarium open every day of the year.

The Perez Art Museum (PAMM) hosts excellent exhibitions and a permanent collection of Caribbean and Latin American art. Keen art-hounds should carve out time to visit some of the city’s private collections, too, including the Marguiles Collection at the Warehouse and the Rubell Museum.

Miami is a great food town, with new restaurants, bars and food halls opening up seemingly every week.

Enduring favorites you’ll want to sample at least once include Joe’s Stone Crab in South Beach (stone crab season runs from mid-October through mid-May) and Michael’s Genuine in the Design District.

Brunch is a competitive sport in Miami, and you’ll need reservations at the most popular spots like Yardbird and Mandolin.

Mingle with locals at casual spots like David’s Cafecito, La Sandwicherie, Zak the Baker and Panther Coffee, and save your most glamorous outfit for a night out at top spots like Nobu Miami, Zuma and The Surf Club Restaurant by Thomas Keller.

Two places for a Miami experience unlike any other are 27 Restaurant & Bar, where chef Jimmy Lebron channels Miami’s melting pot of cultures into mouthwatering dishes bursting with Florida-fresh ingredients, and Kiki on the River, an indoor-outdoor restaurant on the Miami River with a lounge vibe and delicious Mediterranean fare perfect for the warm climate.

For a taste of the city’s signature Cuban flavors, head to Calle Ocho in Little Havana and enjoy live music and mojitos at historic venue Ball & Chain, followed by medianoches and a colada (sweet Cuban coffee, served with a stack of tiny plastic cups for sharing) at Versailles or La Carreta (both have outposts at Miami International Airport, if you need another dose on your way home.)