A Guide To Miami's Basketball Culture

In Miami, the native basketball culture revolves around the city’s team, The Miami Heat. The three-time NBA champions have been making the city proud for over a decade, and you can’t start up a conversation about basketball without them in it.

First formed in 1988, the team drafted Dwayne Wade in 2003 – who was to become their most important player, and went off to make the 2004 NBA Playoffs – though they lost to the Indiana Pacers. Soon after Shaquille O’Neal was signed and, along with Wade, would become most effective duo in basketball going on to win their first NBA championships.

Miami has had its share of winning teams in the past (those two times the Marlins won the World Series, and the Miami Dolphins’ golden years too), and when their teams win they rally around like true fans season after season. It’s no wonder Miami call itself “Heat Nation.”

One of the most memorable eras was when The Heat had “The Big Three” – players Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Dwayne Wade. But the team is not just famous for its players, #heatculture is also about the infamously hard-working training that goes on behind the court.

Workouts are grueling, and they have to get in shape – “in world-class shape” as Miami Heat president Pat Riley stated. Players work at training camps for long hours even in the off season. They work on conditioning and weight training, doing sprints, pushing sleds, even flipping tires. Those who come to play in The Heat have to compete against the best, and ultimately themselves. Players are even said to take three pictures to determine their progress. One taken before the season, one for during, and one for the end season.

The team has a strict eating regime, and they’re even provided food. The whole Heat staff, not just coach Erik Spoelstra, works to keep these players in shape, and their organizational skills show in the court as well. Prepared and talented, there’s no stopping the Heat when it’s game time – and Miamians are all too enthused to watch their golden team win big.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.