Since 1995, the Actors' Playhouse has called the Miracle Theatre, located on Coral Gables' infamous Miracle Mile, home. The theater is wonderfully restored to its former Art Deco glory when it was first constructed in 1948 as a cinema. The company now puts on full-scale productions all year long.

The venue consists of three separate stages. The main theater sits 600, while the former balcony area was turned into a 300-seat children's theater. There is also a separate 100-seat black box theater for experimental performances and visual art exhibitions.

Other nearby attractions includes shopping at the Village of Merrick Park and the sidewalk cafes of Coconut Grove. For those looking to enjoy South Florida's tropical weather, stop by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and Matheson Hammock Park.

The dining found in Coral Gables is some of the best in Miami. Cacao, 141 Giralda Ave (305-445-1001), breaks from the typical Latin American cuisine and raises the bar by making it contemporary and elegant. However, the best-kept dining secret in the Gables is a simple burger spot. OneBurger, 367 Alhambra Circle (305-529-5555), elevates the All-American classic into an art form. Chow down on sweet potato fries and savor the Kobe beef burger in a sterile white environment.

Local accommodations include the 4 star Hyatt Regency Coral Gables offers excellent service set in a Mediterranean-style décor. Or choose the ultimate in luxury and book a room at the Biltmore Hotel, a landmark in itself.

In nearby Fort Lauderdale, performing art lovers have been enjoying spectacular performances at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts since 1991. Approximately 30 miles north of Miami, the center is a viable option for those looking for a cultural night out.

Three spaces make up the center. The Au-Rene Theater is the largest, seating 2,688 for everything from ballet performances to Broadway theater. The 590-seat Amaturo Theater holds community theater events and serves as a suitable cinema as well, while the Abdo New River Room is used primarily for interactive theater performances.

The center also manages two off-campus sites, including the Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center, a 500-seat theater at Nova Southeastern University in the suburb of Davie and Parker Playhouse, which is one of Broward's oldest theaters.

Click here for a full list of hotels near Broward Center.

The hopes Downtown Miami’s revitalization by local residents and politicians lays heavily on the success of the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts, Miami’s newest performing arts center located just north of Downtown. Completed in 2006, the center is the second largest performing arts center in the United States, behind New York’s Lincoln Center. It was designed by famed architect Cesar Pelli, who is better known for designing the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The 570,000-square-foot structure occupies either side of Biscayne Boulevard joined by a pedestrian bridge. Four venues make up the center, the two largest being Ziff Ballet Opera House and Knight Concert Hall. Both seat around 2,000 each. The Peacock Rehearsal Studio and Studio Theater are meant for smaller more intimate performances, with an audience capacity of approximately 260 people.

The center was built and the former site occupied by Sears, Roebuck and Co. department store. Built 1929 it was demolished to make way for the center. The only surviving structure is the seven-story Art Deco tower which was incorporated into the design.

Resident performers include Miami City Ballet and Florid Grand Opera. With no resident orchestra, the center hosts the Cleveland Orchestra for three weeks every year and as well as the New World Symphony Orchestra, whose resident location is the Lincoln Theatre in Miami Beach.

Click here for a full list of hotels near Carnival Center.

The marquee might say "Olympia," but today it is known as the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts. Named after the man who saved the original Olympia Theater from destruction in 1976, the Gusman Center has been restored wonderfully to its original splendor.

The Moorish Revival architecture and décor are the first thing patrons notice when they enter the center. Originally built in 1926 as a silent movie theater, the building gained famed for being the first air conditioned building in the South. It is consider an atmospheric theater mainly due to its starry night fresco which moves as the time passes.

Elvis Presley, Sarah Vaughan and Luciano Pavarotti have all performed under the Gusman's stars. The theater is also the home of the Miami Film Festival every March.

Named after of one Miami Beach's most famous residents, the Jackie Gleason Theater has been one of Miami's premiere performance centers for over the past 50 years. Broadway theater, concerts, ballet and full-scale productions all take place at this venue.

The 2,700-seat theater is near Lincoln Road and the Miami Beach Convention Center in South Beach. The ideal location allows for patrons to have an enjoyable pre- or post-performance dinner and perhaps a few cocktails.

The popular Van Dyke Café, 846 Lincoln Road (305-534-3600), offers moderately priced entrees of simple American cuisine. Tiramesu, 721 Lincoln Road (305-532-4538), has great Italian fare and well stocked bar.

Nearby accommodations include The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, which is located directly on the beach and offers the highly regarded service and luxurious amenities that people have come to expect from the Ritz-Carlton brand. The Catalina Hotel is one of the many boutique hotels in South Beach that distinguishes itself with itself excellent guestrooms and friendly staff.