In honor of the Super Bowl, this week's community profile focuses on the city of Miami, Florida. Miami is as close to the tropics as you'll get without leaving the mainland United States. Where else could this year's top NFL teams face off with the assurance of friendly weather in January?

Much of our national fascination with Miami comes from the fact that the city is so diverse. It's been called "Little Havana" many times, but Cubans aren't the only tranplants calling Miami home. To get a good idea of the regional diversity, visit the Sanford L. Ziff Jewish Museum of Florida, or head to the Seminole Reservation, Morikami Museum of Japanese history, or the Florida Museum of Hispanic and Latin American Art. As you make your way around Miami, you're likely to hear an abundance of languages. It's a visitor-friendly city ready to accommodate foreigners of all nationalities. That's especially helpful on the real estate front. In fact, if you take a moment to peruse the Web sites of local Miami Realtors, you'll find many bilingual and trilingual sites.

For shopping, take a walk down Lincoln Road, and enjoy a variety of art galleries, unusual retail shops, cafes and other local attractions. Another excellent shopper's destination is the Cocowalk, a multilevel shopping, dining and enterainment center located in Coconut Grove. Stroll on upscale Lincoln Road and take your time exploring the art galleries, eclectic shops and cafes. The Miami City Ballet is based on Lincoln Road, as well. The ballet gives some 60 performances throughout the year. Before you leave Coconut Grove, be sure to check out the Miami Museum of Science, jam-packed with hands-on exhibits that bring out the kid in every adult.

Also in Coconut Grove is Villa Vizcaya, a historic estate open for tours. It's located across the street from Sylvester Stallone's massive estate. (Singer Madonna also calls Miami home ... well, one of her homes, anyway.) Speaking of divas, the Russian and Turkish Bath is located in Coconut Grove. Make a stop here, and you'll be given the royal treatment: a jacuzzi, sauna, herbal treatments, massage, restaurant, even some caviar and vodka while you wait.

Miami's climate (the average annual high temperature is 82 degrees) and recreational opportunities (state parks and unusual wildlife are abundant throughout Florida) are the two primary reasons people relocate to this city. No place in Florida is more than 60 miles from the ocean. Many choose to purchase vacation properties, and Miami has them in all shapes, sizes, prices and distances from the ocean. In recent years, Miami has come into its own as a haven for the rich and famous; multimillion-dollar estates -- such as those inhabited by Sly Stallone and Madonna -- have popped up in and around the city. Florida has no state income tax, which is a selling point for the state as it continues to attract relocating businesses.

According to Prudential Florida Realty, the typical Florida home has two to three bedrooms, one to two baths, is one story, has a shingle roof, carpet and tile floors and is constructed of concrete block with a stucco finish. Open floor plans and high vaulted ceilings are also common.

Given the friendly temperatures of the Sunshine State, pools are another common fixture in Miami, and are considered a fixed asset of the property. In other words, as the property value increases, the value of the pool increases, as well.

If a move to Miami is in your plans, you'll want to brush up on the following real estate terminology, compliments of Prudential Florida Realty: "Lanai," a screened-in porch; "Florida Room," an enclosed screened-in porch, similar to a family room; "Waterfront Property," a property providing easy access to a river, lake, gulf, bay, or ocean; and "Cage," a screened enclosure that protects the pool from insects (plentiful in this part of the country). You're not likely to find liveable attics, basements or traditional windows in Miami. Instead, you'll find a fair amount of stucco in some interesting shades of color; large, vaulted ceilings; breezeways; and plenty of glass through which you can enjoy those stunning Miami sunsets.

No matter where you choose to live in Miami, you're going to reap the benefits of a relaxed Florida lifestyle, and you're going to get more home for your money. Miami has a personality all its own. It's a stopping point for a patchwork of different cultures, and that mix creates a live-and-let-live spirit here that turns visitors into residents.

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