The official name of this area is Southwest Eighth Street , but everyone knows it as "Calle Ocho."

Cubans who fled from Cuba in the 1960’s recreated their community west of Brickell Avenue , imbuing it with nostalgia for their homeland. This vibrant neighborhood, home to many residents from Central and South America as well, has a distinct Latin flavor. Everything is authentic, from the fruit stands and cigar factories to the eat-at windows of the cafeterias where patrons drink Cuban coffee and passionately discuss politics.

You'll want to visit the area's quaint shops, where you'll find embroidered guayabera shirts, hand-rolled cigars and Latin music, or explore gift shops offering unique items and Cuban memorabilia. And at Little Havana to Go (305-381-7884), you'll find regional crafts, souvenirs, art and more.

Cultural activities are blossoming here, along with art galleries, studios and theaters. Cultural Fridays take place on the last Friday of every month along Calle Ocho and feature dance, music, poetry, visual arts, and theater. The historic Tower Theater is alive with performances, cultural and educational programs, and multi-cultural films, while Teatro Ocho is home to theater productions in Spanish.

Last, but not least is the food. Little Havana is one of the best places to experience Latin cuisine. Latin flavor takes center stage during Carnaval Miami, a week-long celebration of Hispanic culture culminating with Calle Ocho (a street festival that's often referred to as "the world's largest block party"), which attracts more than a million people each year.