By Michael Madsen, Travel Correspondent

Sports Mecca Encircled by Lush Gardens

An uproarious cheer rises from the sea of blue-and-orange-clad fans crowding the room, prompting an animated middle-aged man in an orange polo to return his attention to his microphone. "Touchdown, Florida Gators!" Dr. Dave cries. The director of sports entertainment for Shula’s Steak 2, the sports bar embedded in Don Shula's Hotel & Golf Club, Dr. Dave has been interjecting commentary and prize giveaways all game long, and his colorful personality lends as much to the ambiance as the massive projection screen and treasure trove of sports memorabilia. Fueled by game-time excitement and Dave’s enthusiasm, the atmosphere here is electric—a contrast to the relaxed vibe that permeates the rest of the hotel and its 205 guest rooms.

Athletic themes pervade the hotel’s public spaces, from the goalpost guarding the main entrance—transplanted from an old Miami Dolphins training facility—to the artifacts that decorate the restaurants. Travelers inspired to achieve sporting greatness can hit Shula’s Senator Golf Course, which is located about a quarter mile away and easily accessible via free shuttle service. The mature, tree-lined holes of the championship course’s front nine play like a northern-style course, with undulating greens and tight fairways. The tropical climate and nearby Everglades influence the back nine, with water on almost every hole to allow golf balls to chase their dreams of becoming barnacles.

Located near the course, Shula's Steak House immerses diners in a virtual museum devoted to football coach Don Shula and the Miami Dolphins' perfect 1972 season. Game balls and photographs mingle with elegant chandeliers and crown molding. The restaurant’s casual vibe belies its high-end menu, highlighted by premium Black Angus steaks.

Back at the hotel, guests can meander through lush gardens filled with tranquil fountains and the melodic timbre of tropical birds. British Colonial–inspired décor surrounds each of the Deluxe guest rooms, each adorned with one king or two double beds dressed in crisp white linens. Some rooms feature balconies with views of the gardens or the tennis-racket-shaped pool. In the morning, Shula’s 2 near the lobby sheds its manic game-time environment to become a casual outpost for continental breakfast, including french toast and stacks of fluffy pancakes.

Miami Lakes: Quaint Residential Town Close to Miami

The Miami area’s vibrant confluence of cultures and languages—as well as its uninhibited consumerism—serve as a captivating mixture from the moment travelers arrive. The atmosphere in Miami Lakes is somewhat subdued, with a small Main Street district and a coterie of local restaurants such as laid-back Cuban café Casavana. In nearby South Beach’s Art Deco District, architecture appears in Technicolor straight out of the 1930s. It’s the American version of the tropics—a clean, breezy haven with street-side cafes, where people-watching is de rigueur and the beaches are thronged with beautiful people.

Just north, the lively Oceanside resort area of Sunny Isles Beach harbors even more picturesque public beaches. Boats docked on the Intracoastal Waterway at Haulover Beach Park beckon ocean exploration through deep-sea fishing charters and watersport rentals. After weaving past an eclectic crowd of paddleboarders, stereo-toting locals, and sun-tanning tourists, vacationers can head across the street to Epicure, a full-service gourmet market and café that peddles supplies for picnic lunches and offers all-day beach parking for $5.

Just west of Miami Lakes, the Everglades’ Gator Park offers narrated airboat tours that start slow, plodding through 8–12-inch depths, before revving their Cadillac engines into full throttle in search of alligators, American crocodiles, exotic birds, and sitcom stars jumping sharks. The squawk of exotic parrots permeates the private sanctuary, as snakes slither up handler's backs and guests feel the small scaly skin of tiny alligators—a sensory escape from the concrete jungle of Miami.

Although Don Shula's Hotel & Golf Club sometimes offers discounted pricing online, this Groupon is still the best deal available.