Colourful Miami
Top Tips – take sun lotion and use lots of it, the sun is very strong, we saw lots of very pink people and nobody wants their holiday ruined by sunburn – ouch! Hat and sunglasses are also a good idea
Early morning is fresher and a great time to fit with a run along the beach or the boardwalk which runs 4 miles from South to North Beach. Join runners, cyclists, walkers and babies in strollers all taking the opportunity for some exercise with a great view of the beach and rolling waves.
Getting around is easy although some short distances can take longer than expected due to the traffic. We used the South Beach Trolley Bus which is free and runs from 8am until midnight, also Uber taxis which are fast and cost effective. But you need a Wi-Fi signal or data roaming to be online to book. Speaking of which, Wi-Fi is everywhere so you only need to grab a drink at a café or even just hover outside to pick up a signal and log in.
Miami has many iconic sights; my favourite was the many brightly coloured lifeguard stations along the beach and also the Art Deco buildings along Ocean Drive at South Beach. Daytime was great for photos. Seeing it illuminated at night was also on my to-do list, but it certainly has a more edgy feel to it compared to daytime. We were fine but I would recommend being aware of your surroundings. There are many police around to maintain the higher standards in this area which has been cleaned up in recent years.
The Art Deco area has over 1400 buildings listed, 100 of which you can visit as part of a group tour or a self-guided audio tour from the Art Deco Welcome Centre situated at the end of Lummus Park, you'll also find lots of general tourist info here so worth popping in. Miami Beach has a mix of architecture including MiMo (Miami Modern) more frequently found around Mid Beach area and also several examples of Spanish architecture.
Miami offers every kind of cuisine you can think of and to match a range of budgets. In general, it is not a cheap place to eat out and the menu prices are subject to 18% tax plus a service fee in some restaurants (where it is not added onto the bill, the payer is expected to add on a further 15-20% depending on the service received). However, there are plenty of smaller local cafes, Starbucks and Subways to grab a quick snack which doesn’t break the bank. You can easily stock up on bottled water from the local supermarket and refill smaller bottles for days out to keep hydrated.
Only a few blocks long but charming to discover is Espanola Way, between 14th and 15th Street. Pavement cafes with a distinct European feel. Expect to pay higher tourist prices here but there’s a lively atmosphere and it is an enjoyable evening.
Wynwood Walls (Miami mainland) is interesting to visit with amazing wall art (graffiti!) by a range of artists and these change every few months and years so there is always something new to see plus some indoor art exhibitions. Free to view in the park area and with many more examples of artwork in the neighbouring streets, this is a fun place to visit for a half day. Many cafes in the area, we found they mostly opened at 1130 so breakfast options are limited. However, we found the Wynwood Diner across the road from the Wynwood Walls, serving fresh smoothies and juices which satisfied our tastes with the largest pancakes and plates of waffles and fruit to keep the kids happy.
We hired paddleboards for an hour on the water of Biscayne Bay. With the Miami skyline as a backdrop and the smart villas of the Venetian Islands, this is a lovely relaxing place to paddle around. We heard about the houses nearby belonging to the rich and famous, this took the interest of our boys so I’ve a feeling a guided boat trip to view these celebrity homes may be on the cards for our next visit!
Miami Beach offers shopping along Lincoln Road with a mix of tourist shops, designer boutiques and general stores. With many restaurants around and shops open later, it is a great place to visit early evening especially if you can’t decide where to eat as many options here.
For a smaller town feel, Coconut Grove is south of downtown Miami and situated by the water. As well as the harbour and marinas, and the opportunity to take a fishing boat trip, there are also small cafes and boutiques, park areas, a cinema and shopping mall offering the feeling of a small-town community within striking distance of the big city.
For an authentic American experience, check out the baseball game schedule! The local team, the Miami Marlins are not top of the league, but they are well known for having the best stadium in their league! You’ll find plenty of refreshments - hot dogs & burgers, tacos & nachos, popcorn, beers etc starting from only 3 dollars. There’s all the usual merchandise on sale around the stadium and in the Club shop, we saw Fox Sports Florida reporting live on the game and on the night we visited there was a surprise score with the Marlins beating the San Francisco Giants – result!
Everywhere you go in Miami you will hear Spanish as much as English, also French from the Haitians that have made it home. But did you know Miami is home to the largest Cuban community outside of Cuba? In Little Havana you will experience the flavours of Cuba through the music, restaurants, bars & shops that line the famous Calle Ocho. Domino Park is a small, local gathering place for an afternoon game under the shady umbrellas, watching the locals play is entertainment as they swiftly lay and claim their dominoes and famous Cuban celebrities are remembered on the Cuban Walk of Fame along Calle Ocho nearby. Whilst Little Havana covers quite a vast area, and is heavily residential, this developed street is more of a tourist attraction but fun to visit nevertheless for authentic dishes, rum based drinks and the strong, sweet Cuban coffee.
Our short break in Miami was so brilliant we didn’t want to leave and definitely want to return! The children enjoyed it just as much in this vibrant coastal city with so many palm trees, colour and music all around. If you would love to know more or visit Miami yourself, please contact me, I would love to make your Miami dreams a reality!