Aventura

Though Aventura is a hair closer to Fort Lauderdale than it is to Miami, Miamians view the slightly inland, 25-year-old city as part of the Greater Miami universe. Set between Biscayne Blvd. and the Intracoastal Waterway, Aventura feels quiet and fairly suburban, with its major landmarks pegged to golf, tennis, hospitality, and high-end shopping, such as Aventura Mall, the city’s biggest employer. While Aventura is not directly on the Atlantic, it’s a stone’s throw from the sands of Golden Beach and Sunny Isles Beach.