If you’re traveling to Miami or Dallas to be in attendance for any of the remaining games of the NBA Finals, consider yourself envied. Not only will you be on hand for one of the most exciting spectacles in all of sports, but your target destination brims with more attractions than you could ask for. Take sunny Miami, which never fails to impress with its picturesque beaches, sizzling nightclubs, world-famous designer shops on Ocean Avenue, and vast range of restaurants.
Dallas holds its own with such popular haunts as The Six Floor Museum, Dallas World Aquarium, Dallas Zoo, Dallas Museum of Art, Galleria Dallas, and Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Perhaps the only venue of interest to you is one that includes “American Airlines” in its name. (Games four and five will be played in Dallas at the American Airlines Center, while the remaining two games, if necessary, will shift back to the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami.)
The fact that the best-of-seven contest is a rematch of the 2006 NBA Finals – which saw Shaquille O’ Neal and Dwayne Wade lead the Miami Heat to their first NBA title with a 4-2 series win over the Dallas Mavericks – makes it all the more intriguing. This year finds Lebron James and Chris Bosh – whom, along with Dwayne Wade, make up “The Big Three” – looking for their first taste of championship glory.
Will Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks, a team still looking to capture its first ever NBA championship, have the last laugh this time around? Or will the Heat live up to the hype and bring home its second NBA crown in five years? Stay tuned!
Below are some great Miami hotels and Dallas hotels within an hour’s drive of the hardwood action.
Hotels near the American Airlines Center
Sterling Hotel Dallas: Offers a fabulous high-rise view of the Dallas and Las Colinas skyline. Located in the center of the largest restaurant and shopping area in Texas. Also near DFW International Airport and Downtown Dallas on Highway 183.
Comfort Inn & Suites Market Center: Start your day off on right foot with a free full American breakfast before venturing out to The Six Floor Museum or Medieval Times Dinner Theatre. A pet-friendly hotel, Comfort Inn & Suites Market Center is happy to welcome your four-legged friend!
La Quinta Inn Dallas LBJ: Take a refreshing dip in the outdoor pool (open year around), unwind in the spa, or just soak up some rays on the sundeck near the gazebo. The hotel offers a free Bright Side Breakfast each morning, not to mention access to an on-site fitness center that is open 24 hours a day.
Hotels near the AmericanAirlines Arena
Chesterfield Hotel and Suites: Famous for its zebra prints, the guestrooms at this Miami Beach hotel on Collins Avenue ooze sexy with 300 count Mascioni linens and robes and mahogany furnishings with aluminum accents. Be sure to grab a drink at the Safari Bar or melt all your worries away in the rooftop Jacuzzi.
The Residences at 1100 West Avenue by Elite City Stays: A people watcher’s paradise, this luxury property in South Beach includes poolside and rooftop lounges, a lush outdoor garden, 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center, acclaimed restaurant and full service spa.
Cambden Brickell by Elite City Stays: Ways to relax and replenish abound at this Miami property, whether you’re up for a swim in the resort style pool or an afternoon in the sauna. Each elegantly appointed apartment includes a full kitchen with dishwasher, washer-dryer and ceramic tile bath and kitchen. Cambden Brickell is conveniently located within one mile of Bayside Marketplace and close to the heart of downtown Miami.