Lummus Park

Memorial Day weekend calls for something the whole family can do together, and there are few better ways to spend it than watching the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds tear across the South Beach sky. The Hyundai Air & Sea Show brings two days of military aircraft performances, high-speed water demonstrations, and five city blocks of interactive displays along Ocean Drive. This year carries extra resonance: the show is part of America's 250th birthday celebration, and Miami Beach has its own chapter in that story. During WWII, more than 300 hotels along these same streets were converted into barracks and training facilities for nearly half a million U.S. Army Air Forces troops, who who drilled on the golf courses, swam in the hotel pools, and trained on the very beach this event is taking place on.  The action spreads across the whole stretch of Lummus Park, but you don't need a designated viewing area to catch it; the aircraft are visible from anywhere along the beach, particularly between 1st and 10th streets and 13th to 20th streets. The heart of the action is between 10th and 13th streets, where you can spot them taking off, then wander the Patriot Display Village for tanks, helicopters, rifle ranges, flight simulators, and live demonstrations from all six branches of the military. There's a kids zone, extreme sports demos, and a food court if you need to refuel. On Saturday evening, the party continues with SaluteFest on Ocean Drive: country group Parmalee performs live,...