Historic hotels are fun to explore and learn about. Luxury hotels are filled with the latest and greatest amenities. But properties that offer the best of both worlds – like the Biltmore Hotel in Miami – are an even greater find.
The Biltmore Hotel, a luxury golf and spa resort nestled in the upscale area known as Coral Gables, was built in 1926 by land developer George Merrick, whose vision was to build a hotel that “would not only serve as a hostelry to the crowds thronging to Coral Gables but also would serve as a center of sports and fashion.” Throughout its 86-year history, the hotel has played host to several celebrities, presidents and dignitaries including the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Al Capone, Ginger Rogers and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Among the hotel’s chief draws is its Mediterranean-style architecture, which reflects Italian, Moorish and Spanish influences. In fact, its impressive 93-foot copper-clad tower is modeled after the Giraldo Tower in Seville, Spain. From the colonnaded lobby with hand-pointed ceiling beams to the open-air courtyard to balconies with gleaming terazzo and tile floors, The Biltmore Hotel Miami brims with old charm at every corner. Not surprisingly, the historic gem was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996.
The Biltmore Miami features 273 guest rooms (including 130 spacious suites), all of which boasts such luxurious details as plush Egyptian bedding, Jerusalem stone-tiled floors and custom-designed furniture. In February 2009, it opened the Biltmore Culinary Academy and maintains the distinction of being the only hotel in North America with a recreational cooking school. Other on-sit
e amenities include four restaurants (Palme d’Or, Fontana, Cascade Bar & Grill and the 19th Hole), two bars, a world-class spa, state-of-the-art fitness center and lighted tennis center. Not to be missed is the hotel’s 700,000-gallon, 23,000 square-foot swimming pool, the largest hotel swimming pool in the continental United States. Adjacent to the Biltmore is a 6,800-yard, 18-hotel, par-71, championship golf course designed by Donald Ross in 1925.
The property places guests near downtown Coral Gables’ premier designer shops, art galleries and restaurants. Area attractions include The Village of Merrick Park, Dadeland Mall, Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, Jungle Island and Venetian Pool, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. And world-famous South Beach, a nightlife, dining and shopping mecca in its own right, is just a short drive away from the Biltmore Hotel.
In short, this fine property is endlessly elegant, rich in history, and located near Miami’s hottest points of interest. What more can you ask for from a Miami hotel?
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