Miami Springs, founded during the infamous South Florida land boom of the 1920's, originally was named Country Club Estates by Glenn Hammond Curtiss, one of the town's founding fathers who incidentally is widely considered to be "The Father of Naval Aviation." Miami Springs, along with the Miami suburbs of Opa-Locka and Coral Gables, were the first planned communities in The Sunshine State.
Miami Springs is a community within a communitydowntown Miami proper to be more specific, and smack dab in the middle of the Little Havana neighborhood with all of its restaurants and colorful residents. Miami Springs is shaped like an isosceles triangle, bordered by NW 36th Street and the Miami International Airport to the south, the Miami River Canal to the northeast, and the Ludlam Canal and Florida East Coast Railroad Yard to the west. About 14,000 residents live year-round in the 2.9-square-mile Miami Springs community, and according to the Miami Springs Airport Area Chamber of Commerce, finding a home for rent here may prove to be a daunting task.
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Getting Ready to Live in Miami Springs
How do you live deep inside the heart of Miami but remain relatively isolated from the city's party life that never seems to simmer below a rolling boil? Frankly, you don't, unless you have enough money to build a luxury, high-rise apartment in Miami Springs, and construct your apartment high in the sky above the mayhem. Your best bet if you plan to stay in town is to book a tee time at Miami Springs Golf & Country Club, but make sure to do so early as tee times often are are filled weeks, or sometimes months, in advance. This is no exaggeration, either.
Get Your Docs in Order
A majority of rental units in Miami Springs use a property management company to screen potential residents. Going through the rental application process typically calls for would-be renters to provide their social security number so apartment managers can look to see if anything exists about you in the public record. Also required is a credit check, proof of rental history, references from previous landlords, proof of employment (often property companies ask to see your previous two pay stubs), as well as personal references you've known for more than five years. Additionally, be sure to bring your government issued ID, such as a driver's license, a credit card, a military ID, etc., and an official piece of mail postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service (yes, it can be opened, it just needs to have the same address as the one that appears on your government-issued ID card). If you're unsure what constitutes an official form of ID call the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles at (850) 617-2000.
Neighborhoods in the Springs
When you're in Miami Springs, you tend not to worry too much about individual neighborhoods. After all, you really only have a few things on your mind: having fun, and having more fun. Since Miami Springs is so close to Miami International Airport (but not too close), you'll always have easy access to flights in and out of town whenever you want to explore these so-called "neighborhoods" other cities have to offer.
Country Club Estates: Ok, so there are some divisions in Miami Springs, like Country Club Estates. It can be a bit confusing as a neighborhood, considering the old name of Miami Springs _was _Country Club Estates, but if you live in this part of town you'll want to make sure everyone knows the difference. After all, with the reasonable prices on beautiful single-family homes in this area, you'll be glad you landed here.
Living it Up in the Springs
Little Havana
This is an heart and soul of Miami. Little Havana is not only home to a ton of Cuban immigrantsboth defectors and those who are in the U.S. legallyit also is home to natives of South America and Central America. Annual festivals that take place in Little Havana are televised all over the world, including the Walk of Fame of Calle Ocho, which showcases food and art pieces prepared by well-known Cuban chefs and artists from all over Miami and the world. Additionally, on the last Friday of every month in Little Havana the locals come out to the legendary Tower Theater and celebrate Viernes Culturales, otherwise known as Culture Fridays, where you can find locals participating in age-old traditions such as playing dominoes, dancing under the stars, old-timers rolling and smoking cigars, brewing and consuming Cuban cafecitos and ice-cold mojitos, and touring art galleries and smaller art studios.
Additional Fun-Filled Festivities
The nightlife of downtown Miami is legendary and Miami Springs is no different. There are dozens of restaurants to try here, like Ana Capri (any Italian joint within photos of local organized crime figures on the walls has to be good), Peru Place, a Latin-flavored hole-in-the-wall loved by locals, and of course Johnny's Soda Fountain, a cute little diner complete with checkered table cloths. Miami Springs is full of historic sites that are must-see stops that provide a way of getting to know your new community. Check out the sprawling G. Carl Adams house, which is found on the national register of historic places. And don't forget to visit the Miami Springs Aquatic Center, a community pool open year-round that offers classes in yoga and meditation, birdwatching and more. (A little word of advice: Locals go to the beach, not the pool.)
