Sunny Isles Beach

Sunny Isles Beach is a coastal city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, that sits on a narrow barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. Collins Avenue runs through the city from north to south, lined with high-rises, hotels and shops on both sides.

Harvey Baker Graves bought the land in 1920 and named it Sunny Isles, but larger development began only after the Haulover bridge opened in 1925. In the following decades many motels appeared, before residential towers started reshaping the skyline from the 1980s onward.

The high-rise towers along Collins Avenue draw residents from Latin America, Eastern Europe and other parts of the world who speak their languages in restaurants and shops. The beach itself serves as a daily meeting point where families picnic, play sports and watch the sunset.

Newport Fishing Pier offers a central landmark along the beach, where live cameras also show current conditions. Lifeguards work at marked sections of the coast, making a visit safer.

The Ocean Palm Motel, which opened in 1948, is recognized as the first two-story motel in the United States. This building ushered in a new era of American travel when motorists sought comfortable overnight stays along coastal routes.

Location: Miami-Dade County

Inception: 1997

Elevation above the sea: 1 m

Address: Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160, USA

Website: http://sibfl.net

GPS coordinates: 25.94167,-80.12500

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:09