March Love Letter

March is one of the best months to visit Miami for balmy springtime breezes and perfect temperatures. Of course, there are plenty of other reasons to book your trip, whether for major annual events or lesser-known treats. First, the biggies. Carnaval Miami, the largest Hispanic festival in the country, starts Feb. 27 and wraps up Mar. 15 when the massive Calle Ocho Festival packs half a million salsa-dancin’ partyers along 23 blocks of Little Havana (carnavalmiami.com). And the Miami International Film Festival, Mar. 6–15, brings the best in world cinema and surprise celebs to South Florida (miamifilmfestival.com). At the thrilling Sony Ericsson Open, from Mar. 25–April 5, top-ranked pro tennis players duke it out at Key Biscayne’s Tennis Center.

Top performers bask in the sunlight and the limelight in March. Hot-again pop star Britney Spears performs Mar. 7 at American Airlines Arena (ticketmaster.com). The Arsht Center (arshtcenter.org) hosts violinist Pinchas Zukerman and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Mar. 12; tenor Jose Carreras Mar. 13; fabulous taiko drumming ensemble Kodo on Mar. 14; Broadway star Mandy Patinkin Mar. 21; and violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg Mar. 24.

A more tranquil way to enjoy springtime in the subtropics is at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. The annual International Orchid Festival, Mar. 13-15, draws aficionados from all over the world (fairchildgarden.org). Or sign up for a tour with the always-entertaining Dr. Paul George, who leads the Secrets of Coconut Grove Twilight Walking Tour Mar. 6 (hmsf.org). You’ll discover fascinating details about this eccentric village. Bring a flashlight!

Gretchen Schmidt