The city that started my passion for travel. I visited Miami for the first time when I was a poor college kid that couldn’t legally drink yet. It was road trip style with a couple of buddies, and it was actually my first non-family vacation. It was an epic trip, and I promised myself I would return when I had money and didn’t have to take a 15-hour drive to get there. Fast forward to spring of 2019 when I finally made it back. It was turning into another epic trip when I came down with food poisoning (suspicious of Havana 1957) on the second to last day :/ Sadly I didn’t get to complete the Miami travel guide I created below so I guess that just means I have to visit for a 3rd time.
Where to Stay in Miami:
If you’re just visiting for the beaches and nightlife, stay on South Beach. If you’re not wanting to break the bank and plan on doing some of the things mentioned in this post, then stay downtown. I stayed at the Hyatt Regency @ 400 SE Second Avenue (Downtown) during my last trip. Affordable and convenient.
Transportation in Miami:
The predominant airline into Miami Airport (MIA) is American Airlines, which has direct flights to/from most major US cities. If you’re renting a car (Before the Pandemic, car rentals in Miami were some of the cheapest in the country), the MIA Mover is a free shuttle from the airport to the rental car center. If you’re not renting a car, the Metrorail can take you from the airport to the Government Center Station (orange line) in downtown for only $2.25. From there, you can take the Metromover for free to get around downtown. The Metromover only runs until midnight, but is the most efficient way to travel around downtown. If you’re driving, download the Pay by Phone App to pay for marking directly on your phone instead of at the meter.
What to Do:
- Have a beach day at South Beach – The best beach in the US not located in Hawaii or California. The people watching alone is worth it.
- Walk along Ocean Drive, home to famous Art Deco hotels and restaurants/bars, many of which have been featured in numerous movies.
- Mix it up and have a picnic or play beach volleyball at Crandon Park ($5 parking on weekdays, $7 on weekends).
- Check out a Grapefruit League MLB spring training game in West Palm Beach. Half of the league plays its spring training games in various cities throughout south and central Florida, with the Astros and Nationals playing the closest to Miami, only 1.5 hours away.
- Snorkel at John Pennkamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, only an hour away from Miami.
- When there isn’t a pandemic happening, enjoy live music at Ball & Chain in Little Havana, an iconic nightclub in the 30s-50s
- Kite-board or enjoy the man-made atoll pool at Matheson Hammock Park
- If you haven’t gotten tired of beaches, take in the panoramic views of the South Beach shoreline or downtown Miami’s skyline at South Pointe Park
- Visit Star Island, a man-made island in Biscayne Bay that’s open to the public and the home to P Diddy, Madonna, Shaq, and many more stars
- Take a dip in the Venetian Pool ($15 per day), an historic swimming pool located in Coral Gables that resembles a natural lagoon in a Venetian setting.
- Everglades Airboat Tour – 1-1.5 hour drive from Miami
What to Eat & Drink in Miami:
- Brewery hop in Wynwood – J. Wakefield Brewing, Wynwood Brewing, Dogfish Head Miami, Cerveceria La Tropical, & Veza Sur Brewing
- Legit Mexican street tacos at Coyo Taco. Order the Cochinita Pibil and Grouper Frito.
- Batch Gastropub if you’re looking for place to watch the game and enjoy craft beers.
- Award winning Puerto Rican food at Mofongo’s (SW 8th St.)
- Authentic Mexican tacos at Taquiza
- Ceviche at Pinch Kitchen
- Viet-Cajun food at Phuc Yea
- Japanese barbecue at KYU
- Seafood and the Pan Con Minuta at Little Havana’s La Camaronera
- Wynwood Kitchen & Bar to check out one of the most visually striking restaurants
- Ramen and porky buns at 107 Taste Brickell
- Versailles – “World’s most famous Cuban restaurant”
Tips for Visiting Miami:
- Learn a little (pequeno) Spanish. Miami is home to a large Latin community so there’s a chance you might have to speak a little or translate a menu.
- Drinking on the beaches is illegal.
- Clubs aren’t poppin until 1am.
- If the club scene is your thing, best way to get into clubs is to have your hotel’s concierge call the club to get you on the guest list, especially if you’re trying to get into the exclusive VIP room.
- Don’t eat on Ocean Drive (Looking at you Havana 1957). Tends to be touristy.
- Don’t try to save a couple bucks by renting a car from a rental company that you’ve never heard of. Sometimes the cheapest rentals can be miles away from the airport and can make you wait forever. Stick with the big players: Hertz, Alamo, and Enterprise.
- Miami has two seasons, hot and wet from May to October and warm and dry from November to April.
- Miami drivers have been ranked as the “rudest in the country.”
- Tolls are all electronic and cash is not accepted.
- Don’t go to beaches that have purple flags – Indicates jellyfish, stingrays, and other nasty wildlife are present in the water.
Bucket List for Visiting Miami Again:
- Kayak through ancient mangroves along the Oleta River and stumble upon uninhabited bay islands and beaches
- Serena Rooftop
- Wynwood Walls for the street murals
- Cinnamon rolls at Knaus Berry Farm in Homestead
