A strange greenish light beckons from the end of a tunnel shrouded in darkness. As you walk through it, a Jewish song of lament greets you softly through the speakers, the sadness in the young voices so palpable that it sends a shudder down your spine.

The chilly night wind catches you in the face as you step out of the tunnel, almost blinded by the spotlights that illuminate the 13m bronze structure - an outstretched arm that bursts from the ground, reaching out to the overcast skies, with almost 100 bronze, naked, agonised human figures clinging on to it.

This is the Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach.

The structure was conceived by architect-sculptor Kenneth Treister and built over four years in the late 1980s in memory of the six million Jews killed during the Holocaust in World War II.

Miami is home to more than 100,000 Jews, one of the largest Jewish communities in the United States.

Sporting a concise history of the Holocaust on black granite walls in a semi-circular corridor surrounding the sculpture, the memorial is a moving reminder.

Carved into a stone wall at the memorial's entrance, a haunting quote by Holocaust victim Anne Frank greets visitors: '... in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart'.

The memorial is one of the first stops for me and my six companions on the first leg of a recent blitzkrieg three-city-five-day road trip in the south-eastern US.

Alfresco dining

IF, LIKE many Singaporeans, you feel the need to milk the most out of your holiday, you might want to consider taking road trips.

They are a viable and economical alternative to the packages offered by tour agencies, which ply the usual routes to see familiar sights immortalised on postcards.

Back to Miami, which American writer Joan Didion once called 'a tale, a romance of the tropics, a kind of waking dream in which any possibility could and would be accommodated'.

She is not far from the truth.

Just stroll down mesmerising Ocean Drive in the evening and take in breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. Incredible hues embrace you in all directions, from the brilliant blues of the cloudless skies to the coloured neon signs along the famous avenue.

Ocean Drive is home to the Art Deco Historic District, a must-see for all visitors. The precinct, the largest 20th-century National Register Historic District in the US, houses over 800 preserved buildings built during the 1920s and 1930s.

They feature a variety of architectural styles, with many sporting pastel shades and evoking retro chic.

Most of the boutique hotels along Ocean Drive also double as sophisticated bars on the street level. You can take the whole night to hop from bar to club to bar, distributed throughout the 10-block stretch of road.

However, parking can be a problem once the crowds throng from 11pm and valet parking costs at least US$20 (S$31). Alternatively, arrive before sunset and park on one of the streets off Collins Avenue, which runs parallel to Ocean Drive.

Art galleries are scattered along the street and many are worth a look, especially Effusion Gallery. Besides modern art pieces, you can also buy accessories like cuff-links, rings and watches with tasteful and daring designs.

The street is lined with alfresco dining options. If you are on a budget, the Clevelander is a good choice. The house speciality, the Cleve Burger, is chockful of mushrooms and onions, with melted cheese on a patty of ground Black Angus beef, served with an impossible pile of golden fries.

After dinner, head off to the pedestrian mall in Lincoln Road for some shopping and drinks.

Classical music buffs will want to arrange their itinerary to coincide with a concert by the New World Symphony based at the Lincoln Theatre. The orchestra prides itself as 'America's Orchestral Academy', preparing music graduates for leadership positions in orchestras and ensembles.

For those who like to mix a bit of culture with good wine, duck into The Cafe At Books & Books, a cosy watering hole for those with a penchant for books.

Part of the allure of a road trip comes from driving through cities and towns that travellers usually miss out on, like Coral Gables.

Nicknamed The City Beautiful, it prides itself as 'a rare pearl in South Florida' with its stately Mediterranean architecture. The 80-year-old Biltmore Hotel exemplifies that image with an elegant facade.

Architecture reflects the soul of a city. Driving through neighbourhoods in the cities of Coral Gables and Miami Beach, you are struck by how distinct each is through architecture.

Miami exudes the charm of a retirement haven, with opulent riverside three-storey homes that boast flashy cars in the front and expensive-looking yachts and boats in their backyards.

Miami Beach is a throwback to the early and mid-20th century with its retro buildings and cars - like a 1965 Ford Mustang parked along the sidewalk.

Coral Gables drips with the charm of the Mediterranean - even the public swimming pool is a Venetian Pool.

After the waking dream that is Miami, it is time to head north towards the city of Tampa.

Located on the route from Miami to Tampa, the Everglades National Park - the largest subtropical wilderness in the US - is worth a half-day detour. There are numerous trails to select from, and it is easy to find one that fits your itinerary.

On the way out of the Everglades, make a pit stop at the famous Robert Is Here Fruit Stand. You will not miss it, with its name painted in huge capital letters across the roof.

Owner Robert Moehling is something of a celebrity, having been featured on television programmes like the Today Show and in various newspapers. The tropical fruit milkshakes are a refreshing treat after hours in the Everglades sun.

After that, it is a seven-hour drive to Tampa. To be sure, the prospect seems dull after all the excitement and energy of Miami and the national park.

COLD WAR: Demonstrate the Kallang Roar in Tampa as you scream 'Go Lightning Go' along with other fans as the home team, Tampa Bay Lightning, wield their ice hockey sticks against other teams

Unlike Miami, Tampa is a tame city, but you can spice it up by scheduling a visit to the St Pete Times Forum, home of ice hockey team Tampa Bay Lightning.

When we are there, the 2004 Stanley Cup champions host the Philadelphia Flyers. In the stands with almost 20,000 other fans, chomping on nachos with cheese and slurping soda while chanting along to cries of 'Go Lightning Go', it is simply an unforgettable experience.

It doesn't matter that the Lightning lost. It doesn't matter that the home team is down 4-1 at one point. What matters is sitting in the middle of it all and screaming along. It is almost cathartic after being cooped up in a car for seven hours.

The following morning, we check out the quaint Pink Flamingo Cafe along Davis Boulevard, known for its breakfast menu. Try the Crab Cake Benedict, which comes with hash browns fried to golden-brown crispy perfection. You can choose to have your eggs done sunny-side-up as well.

The portions are huge and the prices reasonable. The most expensive breakfast set costs under US$10. The place is open only from 7am to 3pm from Wednesdays through Sundays.

Char kway teow in Atlanta

ATLANTA is an eight-hour drive away, but if you are a shopaholic, it is the city to unleash your prowess.

While Miami boasts the Sawgrass Mills, Florida's largest retail and entertainment centre, the factory outlets at North Georgia Premium Outlets feature bigger discounts on their products.

Prices are between 25 per cent and 65 per cent cheaper than suggested retail prices for 140 brands, including Calvin Klein, adidas and Coach.

There is plenty to do in Atlanta, and if you have more than one day to spend there, check out the museums and historic sites, including the World Of Coca-Cola, as well as the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and visiting shows like the Cirque du Soleil.

NO HUM-BURGERS: Tuck into the Crab Cake Benedict breakfast in Tampa, and try the US$8 (S$12) char kway teow sans cockles in Atlanta.

And if you have a craving for a plate of char kway teow or nasi lemak after all those burgers and steaks, head to Penang restaurant in George Busbee Parkway, the second Atlanta branch of this New York chain.

According to our guide in Atlanta, a Singaporean who has lived in the US for 12 years and has not been back home in that time, this is the place he runs to whenever he has bouts of homesickness.

The US$8 char kway teow is authentic enough, the generous helpings of prawns and squids a bonus. You can also ask for chilli to go with it.

However, it commits the sin of omitting cockles, but then again, the shellfish is a rarity in Atlanta.

Other items on the menu include roti canai, satay tofu (essentially fried tofu with satay sauce) and bobo chacha.

The feast of Singaporean dishes put a fitting end to the five-day road trip.

I can hardly imagine how I could have covered as much ground and absorbed as much of the cities' flavour otherwise. Burp.

The writer is an arts administrator.

5 things to do

1 Do keep loose change for tolls and parking charges. Parking charges in the city are about US$1 (S$1.50) an hour and only coins are accepted. Make sure you give yourself allowance or you will risk a fine for illegal parking.

2 Do stock up on snacks and music. The last thing you want is for the driver to doze off while racing down the highway at 130kmh.

3 Do choose a car with ample leg-room. You will be spending hours in that space so you want to be comfortable.

4 Do have a list of sights to see and things to do, and pre-book accommodation before the trip. A loosely planned itinerary ensures there is always something to do, yet allows the flexibility for variation when you see something exciting.

5 Do go on a road trip with at least two drivers, so that they can take turns. Driving is tiring work

2 don'ts

1 Don't stop when beggars approach at traffic junctions as you wait for the lights to turn green. This happens particularly in the less savoury parts of town so ensure that your doors are locked at all times.

2 Don't be over-reliant on a Global Positioning System machine. While it is extremely useful for road trips, it sometimes falters when there are fresh detours or new roads. Get a map each time you enter a new city so that there is always a back-up.