Miami Beach Baby! A Guide to Florida Pearl
Miami is one of the main tourist destinations in the United States. It is a vibrant city, with great cultural diversity. And you will not lack things to do in Miami: from enjoying its beautiful beaches and nightlife to discover the Everglades. In this post we tell you what to do in Miami so you can enjoy the city to the fullest.
A very important point it’s planning your trip. It is a big and expensive city, so surely these tips will be very useful.
The atmosphere in Miami Beach and first swim
Miami Beach is a group of islands connected to Miami by several bridges. They actually form a city other than Miami and have their own town hall. But in practice it is as if they were the same city and Miami Beach is the best known part of Miami. There you will find the typical things that come to mind when thinking about Miami: party, luxury cars, beach, art deco buildings and lots of shops.
The busiest and liveliest area of Miami Beach is South Beach. There is one of the most famous beaches in the world, as well as a party atmosphere throughout the day. Without a doubt, Miami Beach is the first stop you have to make in Miami to get to know the soul of the city.
Photograph the lifeguard houses
One of the icons of Miami Beach is its lifeguard booths. With different shapes and full of color, they have become a tourist visit to do in Miami. Actually, until 1992 they were all the same and had nothing special. But with El Paso from Hurricane Andrew they were destroyed and local authorities considered creating much more original booths. There are about 30 along Miami Beach. Visit them, take photos and tell us which is your favorite !
Enjoy the Art Deco District, one of the best things to do in Miami
Miami Beach has more than 800 Art Deco buildings built between 1923 and 1943. They are very characteristic for their pastel-colored facades, geometric shapes and abundant decoration. What most attracts attention are the neon signs that adorn them and give life to the area at night. Most of these retro-style buildings have been converted into hotels that focus on Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue.
Guided tours depart from the district’s visitor center every day at 10:30 a.m.
Staying at Villa Casa Casuarina, where Gianni Versace lived
The famous Italian designer lived in this beautiful Miami Beach mansion since 1992. He had nothing more and nothing less than 4 living rooms, 8 rooms and 10 bathrooms. Versace also bought the hotel next door to make spectacular gardens. On July 15, 1997, a criminal who had already killed four other people and was on the run killed Versace with a shot as he left home.
It is now a luxury hotel with only 10 rooms and an exclusive restaurant called Gianni’s. You cannot enter to visit it if you do not have a reservation for the hotel or restaurant. You can also come in for a drink, but a cocktail costs about $30. You was warned!
Feel like in Cuba in Little Havana, a typical plan to do in Miami
Many of the Cubans who decided to emigrate when Fidel Castro took power in 1959 went to this neighborhood in Miami. Today, you can still visit a little piece of Cuba in Little Havana.
8th Street or Calle Ocho is the main artery of the neighborhood. There are most shops and restaurants, as well as a small visitor center. Do not miss the opportunity to try a mojito or a typical Cuban dish in one of the premises. Do not miss the craft and cigar shops. If you are lucky enough to be there on the last Friday of the month, visiting Little Havana is a must do in Miami. They have a great celebration with craft and food, music and dance stalls.
Feel small in Downtown Miami
As in all American cities, the financial center of Miami is concentrated in downtown. That means that there are skyscrapers almost piled up. Most of them are offices, but there are also many hotels in the area. It is not a particularly lively or beautiful part, but there are some things to see. Therefore, it is worth a walk there. Of course, we advise against visiting the downtown at night, as it becomes a somewhat lonely area and can give a sense of insecurity.
Going up for a rooftop drink, one of the most glamorous things to do in Miami
Unlike other cities full of skyscrapers like New York or Chicago, Miami has no viewpoint enabled for tourists. If you want to see the city from above you will have to go for a drink on a terrace. Most luxury hotels have rooftops with ideal views of downtown Miami. One of the most famous is the EAST Hotel. We also recommend the Area 31 restaurant. Prices are high, but thinking about it you are saving the entrance that they would charge you at any viewpoint.
Stroll through the Miami Design District
One of the most glamorous stops to make in Miami is this outdoor mall. There you will find the most exclusive stores of renowned designers. But it doesn’t end there. Although most mortals can not afford to buy there, the Design Center is a must stop in Miami.
It is full of amazing modern art installations. For example, there is a giant statue of architect Le Corbusier in addition to a pair of giant murals, one with tropical motifs and the other with black and white geometric graphics. But, without a doubt, the most representative of the Miami Design District is the Fly’s Eye Dome, in the central square. It is a transparent sphere that gives access to the parking lot.
Wander through the Wynwood neighborhood and enjoy its atmosphere
A part of Wynwood Walls that made this area well-known, Wynwood neighborhood has become a very fashionable area. The whole neighborhood is full of graffiti, not only on the walls but there are even messages on the sidewalks. In addition, there are many small designer stores, art galleries and pubs.
The Wynwood Art Walks are celebrated on the second Saturday of each month. The art galleries open their doors to everyone at night, there are street food stalls and a lot of atmosphere in the bars.
Go in search of crocodiles to the Everglades
One of the most popular excursions to do in Miami is to visit the Everglades National Park. It is one of the largest in the United States and also the most feared. And it is that in the wetlands they inhabit a lot of crocodiles and, above all,
The beauty of the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
A good example of the economic level in Miami is this mansion surrounded by hectares of gardens. James Deering was the owner of a multinational dedicated to agricultural machinery. With the millions he earned during his career he decided to build a huge villa to enjoy his retirement. He commissioned it in 1914 and died 11 years later without being able to fully enjoy it. The three-story mansion imitates the Italian Renaissance style and is full of valuable relics: paintings, sculptures, musical instruments, etc.
Currently, you can visit both the interior, converted into a museum, and the immense gardens. Although admission is expensive, it is one of the most impressive visits to do in Miami.
Get to know the Coral Castle, a mysterious place to see in Miami
On the outskirts of Miami there is a castle made of coral rock in an extraordinary way. A 26-year-old boy fell in love with a girl 10 years younger and, the day before the wedding, she abandoned him. As a tribute to his crush, he dedicated his life to building this castle. He did it at night and without any machinery, only with his hands. Many say he had supernatural powers to lift such heavy stones, but he responded by saying that he knew the secret of the pyramids of Egypt. If you have a car to move around Miami, you can reach Homestead in about 45 minutes.
Rent a car and travel Los Cayos
Another very typical excursion from Miami is to go to Los Cayos a group of small islands linked by bridges. On the way there are many hotels where you can relax and enjoy the beach. The southernmost island of all is Cayo Hueso, just 150 kilometers from Cuba. It is called that because the colonizers met human bones there. Beyond this anecdote, it is an ideal place to disconnect. Even Ernest Hemingway had a house there!
You can rent a car in Miami Downtown to get there, and as previously mentioned, you can use it to get to the Evergrades and Coral Castle as well, making it a wonderful choice for your stay in Florida State!
For any other ideas about the area, you should check our post about Orlando, a city full of things to do!
