MIAMI - a city full of sandy beaches, blessed with golden sunshine and the setting of one of the most famous police shows of the 1980s...

Before jetting off to the most famous city in America's sunshine state, that was the image I had. And, I wasn't disappointed.

Although Crocket, Tubbs and the Miami Vice squad have long been consigned to TV heaven - seen only on UK Gold, the sun beats down and the long sandy beach nestles snugly beside the Atlantic twisting the arm of even the faintest swimmer. The ocean begs you to go for a dip.

Undoubtedly, sea and sunshine lie at the heart of Miami's appeal.

The temperature was a blissful 87 degrees Fahrenheit. It rained once, but as someone who hails from northern England, I could live easily with that.

The city's charm centres around the beach. On Miami Beach, scores of Americans mingle with thousands of tourists from every corner of the globe.

Miami prides itself on the title of the world's playground. Miami Beach is the place where locals, tourists and the occasional unknown sit prettily together. It's the American Riviera awash with activity both night and day.

Sit on the beach for an hour you can spot an assortment of New York escapees, hoteliers, bankers, teenage sports stars, sunbathers, joggers, kite flyers, lesbians and many more besides. It takes all sorts to make a world and Miami is a microcosm.

Locals proudly say that on some days even the police zoom around the area on rollerblades. Sadly, I never saw one.

It is a place where people sun by day and revel by night.

Yet away from the beach, Miami offers a surprising wealth of hidden treasures.

South Beach is a must for any visitor to Miami.

It sits in just two square miles at the tip of Miami Beach and it boasts the most striking array of pastel coloured buildings.

The city is rightly proud of its history - and delicately preserves the old South Beach art-deco area which sprang up in the 1930s. Nowadays, it is the largest collection of art deco architecture in the world and protected by law.

An American planner told me told me that even fast food giants have problems getting permission for a restaurant in the area unless they keep in character with the surroundings.

The art-deco buildings are now home to a galaxy of hotels, restaurants, art galleries, bars and nightclubs.

One gallery worth a look is the Wolfsonian Museum which contains hundreds of photographs, posters and propaganda objects from the past century.

On view are original "Uncle Sam needs you war posters" and even their German equivalent.

And, due to open in the New Year is The Bass Museum of Art, which will be the centrepiece of the city's thriving museum and gallery scene.

We stayed at The Hotel - a prestigious setting only two minutes walk from the sea in the heart of South Beach.

Renovated back in 1998, it has managed to keep the charm and splendour of the era it first opened - the late 1930s.

Renowned fashion designer Todd Oldham designed the interior which includes a massive hand-cut mosiac mirror in the lobby.

As expected, the service and rooms were excellent, but what set it apart from some hotels I've stayed in were the restaurant, which is called Wish, and the roof-top bar. Restaurant head-chef Andrea Curto was recently named among the top 10 chefs in the US.

Having tasted Curto's crispy-skinned and grilled rack of lamb under a palm tree on a warm evening - I can see why. The roof-top bar sits alongside a pool which gives guests the opportunity to sunbathe and swim without even making the journey as far as the beach.There are hundreds of restaurants in the city - and in typical American style - portions are huge bordering on immense.

Miami is home to a large Cuban ex-pat population which moved to the city when Fidel Castro took control of their country in the 1960s. Many spend hours sitting in coffee houses and bars on the edge of Little Havana pondering life over a drink and a smoke.

For those with a vice, it is worth smoking a cigar. But, be warned, many Cubans don't speak English and frantic pointing can become a necessary means of communication.

Greater Miami is home to many stars. Pre-Guy Ritchie and her new found love of London, Madonna had a home in Miami, just up the road from Sylvester Stalone. Philip Michael Thomas aka Tubbs from Miami Vice still lives in the Coral Gables district of the city.

Miami loves its festivals. In January there is an Art-Deco weekend, where the community gathers to show off what the city has to offer. Overall the city has more than 800 parks and nature areas and numerous quality restaurants, nightlife attractions and recreational aspects.. Miami has something for everyone.

* For complimentary information on Greater Miami please write to GMCVB's UK office at PO Box 34, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9GN, tel 01444 250 048, or visit www.TropicoolMiami.com