Stretching from 1st street all the way up to 15th street, Ocean Drive is the main strip in South Beach and is one of the most iconic sites in Miami. Ocean Drive is filled with various restaurants, vibrant colors and intricate Art Deco architecture that will easily have you entertained for hours. We decided to rent bikes and ride through the area to be able to see everything in the short time we had, and we’re so glad we did. Ocean Drive runs parallel to the beach making it the perfect path to casually stroll or ride bikes through. The strip is definitely worth seeing and a great place to spend the morning or afternoon, but can get a bit wild during the early evening and night hours with being a major party scene. There are also many great restaurants on the strip, but I recommend doing some research beforehand due to many of them being tourist traps who definitely overcharge by about 50%- so be careful! FYI- almost every restaurant in all of Miami adds about 15-18% gratuity to the bill.
I highly recommend checking out the graffiti mecca of the world! Arguably the most instagrammed neighborhood in Miami, the Wynwood Arts District is full of vibrant murals of graffiti art scattered throughout the surrounding streets. Wynwood has brought the world’s greatest artists of graffiti and street art to the streets of Miami making it an iconic and unique experience. The district has evolved including Wynwood Walls, Wynwood Doors, Outside the Walls and Wynwood Gardens. We mostly checked out the Wynwood Walls area which was a unique exhibit designated to dozens of colorful murals. The walls were incredibly beautiful, but just a small section of what the district has to offer. If this is something you think that you'd really be interested in, I’d suggest taking a Wynwood Walls and Street Art Tour to really experience it all. You can also check out the Wynwood Yard for some great food trucks for a quick bite. Being such a unique space, it tends to get crowded quickly so I'd recommend going early to avoid the crowds. I also wouldn't wander too far off the beaten path because we found ourselves in some real sketchy areas. Know your surroundings!
One of the top things to do in Miami is to visit the historical art deco district. There are over 800 historical buildings to see- luckily they’re all within one square mile so it’s relatively easy to explore. The Art Deco district is home to a variety of uniquely intricate, pastel painted historical homes that were constructed in the 1930s. The district has been featured in many films including Scarface, Bad Boys II and Birdcage. The Versace Mansion, once home to Gianni Versace, also resides in this district. Many of these historical buildings, including the Versace Mansion, are now functioning as restaurants and hotels giving you more of a unique experience.
One of my most favorite parts about Miami was exploring Little Havana! Home to many Cuban exiles, the vibrant neighborhood is filled with Latin American art galleries and great Cuban cuisine. You’ll get to experience cafes with walk-up windows selling authentic Cuban coffee, to dozens of Cuban cigar shops serving the finest hand rolled cigars. On Calle Ocho, you'll find dozens of locals playing dominoes at Maximo Gomez Park while Latin music fills the streets. To help absorb some of the culture, we stopped in La Colada Gourmet to get in on the action and try some authentic Cuban coffee. I ordered a Capablanca which included their own strong, imported beans from Cuba and a shot of Baileys with some condensed milk which quickly took to what was the best coffee I’ve ever had.
Tucked away in a two block corridor between Washington and Pennsylvania Avenues, you’ll find the hidden gem of Española Way. The charming area was designed to resemble a mediterranean feel of villages from Spain and France. Española Way is lined with string lights and beautiful palm trees where you’ll find darling boutiques, tapas and possibly even a flamenco show. Would definitely recommend making a reservation if you're wanting an evening table!
A great way to spend a morning or afternoon is to visit the gorgeous Vizcaya Museum & Gardens. Previously known as Villa Vizcaya, this mediterranean style villa once belonged to businessman James Deering, built in the early 1900s. Vizcaya is now considered a national historic landmark showcasing it's beautiful gardens and the mansion’s interior uniquely designed to date back to the 15th century. The estate has roughly 10 acres of formal gardens, which in many ways resembles France’s Palace of Versailles’ gardens with low trimmed shrubs lining walkways in geometrical patterns. We went during prime time on a Saturday afternoon which I definitely don't recommend doing. There were crowds of people scattered throughout the gardens and the rooms inside were difficult to see with the amount of traffic coming in/out. Would be best to go right when it opens.
A day trip the Everglades is an absolute must! The Everglades National Park is a completely unique ecosystem consisting of about 1.5 million acres of wetland across south Florida. Nicknamed the River of Grass, it is home to hundreds of animal species, mostly known for its alligators. Being so large, I highly recommend doing some sort of tour to be able to see and understand the best of what the park has to offer. We booked a relatively inexpensive tour through Expedia that included roundtrip transportation from Miami on a comfortable, air conditioned coach, an hour airboat tour and wildlife show. Overall, it was a great experience. The airboat tour was truly an incredible experience being on the river and we were fortunate enough to be able to see a few alligators up close in their natural habitat.
A 40th floor rooftop bar and garden offering delicious cocktails and Asian inspired tapas. Located at the East Hotel in Brickell, it is definitely one of Brickell’s hotspots. It offers a beautiful garden style lounge where you can take in the panoramic views of Miami’s downtown skyline and surrounding waterways. I would definitely recommend making a reservation in advance if you’re wanting an evening view, otherwise it seemed relatively easy to pop in during the afternoon.
Nikki Beach is great for any occasion whether you want a relaxing lunch or to live it up at night. The restaurant offers a broad menu ranging from wood burning oven pizzas, tasty salads, eclectic sushi rolls, and innovative seafood entrees which perfectly captures the international vibe that Miami has. Just want to relax? They offer cabanas and plush beds scattered across their beachfront property for prime sunbathing and socializing. Saturdays and Sundays bring out the real party crowd as DJs play throughout the night bringing out the mass partiers.
Is renting a car necessary? Definitely not. There are numerous way to get around the city. Taxi, Uber and Lyft are plentiful throughout. If you want a more local feel, Miami offers a variety of public transporta
The Metrorail is a 22-station commuter which runs from West Miami to Downtown to South Miami. There is an orange line to goes to the airport as well.
The Metrobus provides bus service throughout Miami-Dade County consiting of about 93 routes connecting most points in the county including Miami Beach, Key Biscayne and even Fort Lauderdale.
Another great option is the Metromover which is a free mass transit automated people mover system. Metromover serves the Downtown Miami, Brickell, Park West and Arts & Entertainment District neighborhoods.
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