Miami, Florida - Things to do with Limited Time
Who does not fancy spending some time in the party capital of the World, a place that stays awake when most of the country is in deep slumber, Miami? The famous beach destination in the state of Florida is a sought-after destination for anyone who has the slightest romance in them. Florida has another destination for those young at heart, Orlando, but we are talking about the beaches and the scenery, and the nightlife. That is Miami. We spent a week in Miami a couple of months ago and thought of documenting our experience. We aim to answer some of your questions as you plan your trip.
Miami is a lot of things to visitors depending on the purpose, composition of the group, and individual interests. For us, it was an opportunity to unwind and relax in natural beauty while catching us on some of the tourist attractions. We break the article into three specific areas - things to do in Miami, neighborhoods to look for accommodations, and a getaway opportunity if you get the time. We also throw in some ideas for areas you should look at for finding eateries and restaurants.
Things to do in Miami
Miami has infinite choices for a tourist to choose from. It is one of the most touristy cities in the united states. While it attracts those planning to board a cruise, it offers numerous activities itself. We would only cover the most important sites or attractions that you would want to include in your visit so that you can satiate the tourist within you.
1. Stroll the Beaches - Miami and South Beach
Inherent Miami is a beach destination with a serene coastline with the Atlantic. The beach in Miami is not part of the main city limits but a separate region itself on an island. Miami Beach (basically the North and Mid Beach areas) is a bustling tourist destination surrounded by several restaurants. The southern coast is part of a separate jurisdiction and known as South Beach. Most of the high-end luxury hotels are housed in the South Beach area with direct access to the beach. The beach is adequately monitored by lifeguards. You can find lounge chairs at some of the locations for a fee. While there are metered parking slots available along the beach curb, you may want to be aware that only one side of the road is available for public parking and the other side is reserved for valets.
2. Admire Art Deco Historic District
Along with a visit to the beaches, you may want to keep some time in the buffer to explore the rich medieval architecture on Ocean Drive. There are quaint buildings along Miami Beach with porthole windows and some of them donning oceanliner's flags. The area is known to be around the mansion of the famous Italian designer Versace. There is a Welcome Center if you need any specific information. If you step a bit ahead to Lummus Park, you have an opportunity to see the enchanting Art Deco skyline.
3. Try Window Shopping at Baylands Marketplace
This is a major shopping center by the bay just south of the bridge on mainland Miami. It has become a real tourist destination as this is also along with the port for boat tours. With several brand showrooms and restaurants, the center has all it takes to attract guests after or before their boat rides. There are always some events or performances in the evenings which can keep you engaged for some time. While it may not be the best place to buy stuff, window shopping cannot be ruled out :) There is ample parking available within the shopping center but evenings could cause a slight wait while getting into the parking. If you are staying along the bay, we would recommend either walking or taking an Uber.
4. Peek a View during The Celebrity Homes Boat Tour
If you are already at the Bayside Shopping Center, you cannot miss tens of kiosks and hundreds of agents trying to sell you a ticket on the boat ride. In all probability, if you are like us who plan a bit, you already have booked your tickets. The boat tour takes you around Star Island in Biscayne Bay. During the tour, the guide provides an overview of some of the high-rise condos on South Beach along with pointing out specific celebrity homes.
The interest you take in those houses depends on your penchant for such things and the craft of the guide. Even if not, the breathtaking views of the bay, a multitude of activities happening around and a nice boat ride out in the water would keep you engaged. We recommend arriving on time to ensure you get to choose your seats on the cruise. The boats are easy to board with the kids. Expect to leave the strollers on the main deck if you plan to climb up for better views.
5. Explore Wildlife with The AirBoat and Alligator Show
While the previous site takes you through a classy cruise across plush areas, there is another aspect of Miami. Everglades is a national park in southern Florida that covers 1.5 million acres of wetlands. These wetlands are rich in flora and fauna and are interesting places to visit. There are various operators licensed to operate airboats in waterways within the wetlands. If you try right, you could get a good deal on Groupon.
The airboat is a nice experience but be ready for some noisy ride across the park. The boat takes through the predetermined path and the driver stops at specific spots where you get to see alligators and other animals. Kids are allowed on the boat but are provided with headphones to protect them from the noise of engines. The about hour-long tour ends up back at the shores where you are welcomed to an alligator show.
The animal handler at the show introduces various breeds of alligators and crocodiles. Ours was a pretty interesting guy with interesting antics for the show. We ended up enjoying our 20 minutes show thoroughly. At the end of the show, the team allows you to take pictures with the animals for a nominal tip.
6. Stay Amazed at Venetian Causeway Bridge Opening
Ever seen a bridge making way for the boats? Here is your chance. The artistic bridge connects Miami's mainland with the man-made Venetian Island. Until recently the bridge was a key link of Miami with various islands around the town.
Now there are other options to cross the Biscayne Bay with two other bridges. However, the bridge still has its charm intact. Given its low height, the bridge hampers the movement of ships and big boats. To prevent this hindrance, the bridge opens up at the end of each hour to make way for the boats. Seeing the bridge open and close is an interesting sight to many.
A good source for more information on Miami would be their official tourism website - MIAMI, Greater Miami and Beaches
Where to look for the accommodation
There are three broad areas where you may look for accommodation - downtown Miami, South Beach, and Bay Side. While we recommend bayside for the best of the views and activities. There are multiple properties around which provide decent stays. However, if you are one of the beach bums and are just looking to unwind, South Beach would be a good destination. This beachside area is home to various luxurious hotels which extend to the beach and provide beach facilities including lounge chairs and services. Stay downtown either if you are here for a business meet or want to save bucks on accommodation.
Getaways or day-trips
Florida is a state of beaches and natural beauty. Sometimes cities are not the best places for enjoying the best of nature. We are always on the lookout of opportunities for day trips or getaways. For Miami, we strongly recommend a getaway to key west. This could be a day trip if you are up for a long day but a night stay is worth it. One can easily spend up to a week in the famous Florida Keys. We did a day trip from Miami to Key West as this was our last day of the trip.
As you come out of the city limits of the city, it takes about 45 minutes of drive before you get on to the Overseas Highway - Florida 1. The highway goes through numerous keys along the route and has about 42 bridges in all. The entire drive is scenic with mesmerizing views of a narrow roadway with the ocean all around. While a straight drive to Key West may take about 4 hours, with all the activities on the way, expect anything about double that time. That is only if you skip most of the activities en route and only cover must-dos.
For more of the destinations in the United States, look for posts under Destinations in the United States
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