When we were in Key West last weekend, Hurricane Eta came with a vengeance. It was our first time being in a hurricane so it was quite the experience. The silver lining was that due to travel delays, we were able to change our flight with no cost to us. Instead of flying home sooner, we bumped our tickets to one day after our original departure date and headed to Miami. True to form, Brennan and I headed north with no set plans. But that’s what makes life fun, right?! Without further adieu, here is a quick Miami travel guide!
WHERE WE STAYED: MIAMI
- Luckily we met some amazing new friends at the wedding, and one of them had a 2 bedroom apartment in Miami right on the bay. He let us stay with him and it was SOOOO incredible – I highly recommend looking into Airbnb’s over in the area; I had never ventured across to the bay when I was in Miami for swim week last summer, so it was a blast to explore a new part of town that felt more local. The Crimson is the building we were in and the views were phenomenal.
- Some great hotel options (look on Expedia for deals):
- Shore Club
- 1 Hotel South Beach
- Loews Miami Beach Hotel
- The Confidante
- W Hotel South Beach
- Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel
- SLS Hotel South Beach
- The Miami Beach EDITION
- The Meridian by Urbanica Hotels (inland boutique hotel, so cute!)
TRANPSORTATION
- Uber is super easy around Miami for the most part; we Ubered from the airport to our friends’ apartment after the taxi dropped us off there. Since we weren’t entirely sure where we were going to stay on our way up to Miami, the airport was a central drop-off location that we knew ultimately would supply shelter from the storm, outlets to charge if we needed to, and bathrooms/food etc. Luckily we didn’t need to hang around very long, but I recommend this if you’re ever looking for a stopping point when you’re out of town; lots of people coming and going so no one looked at us weird with all of our luggage like they would have if we sought refuge in a restaurant to regroup and book a hotel.
- Highly recommend renting a car regardless; it’s just nice to be able to drive around and explore new surroundings
- Scooters/vespas are everywhere! Would be such a fun way to see the city if (again) you ride responsibly.
- Biking along the boardwalk would be another great way to get around / spend time by the beach.
WHAT TO DO: MIAMI
Miami is hands down one of my favorite cities ever; it’s FULL city vibes with the high-rises everywhere you look, but you have a stunning ocean view from pretty much everywhere you look. My two favorite things: city & beach life all in one.
Last time I was in Miami was pre-covid and the weather was not rainy whatsoever. This made it easier to get around and enjoy the city, plus I was event hopping the entire time. This trip was way different but I loved the local experience we got.
- Explore Miami Beach; the hotels that line the beach are SO insane. One Hotel is at the top of my bucket list when it comes to places to stay in Miami. You can find deals on Expedia, or you can just experience the lobby bar and rooftop bar/restaurant around the pool. It’s such an amazing hotel and the chic Tulum vibes are strong. You truly can’t go wrong exploring hotels along Miami Beach; if it has a rooftop and a view, chances are you’ll enjoy it!
- Rent a beach umbrella for the day; my girlfriends and I did this at the W Hotel with the hot pink umbrellas and it was so cute. Highly recommend booking in advance / early in the day as they do sellout quickly.
- If you can rent a boat or jet-ski, then you will truly be living your best life spending time on the water in the bay. There are a few islands you can hop around to and cool off from the Miami heat & humidity.
- Shopping:
- Design District: ALL the big designers you could ever think of in one shopping district. We drove through a few times and it was amazing.
- Lincoln Road Mall: feels just like Third St Promenade in Santa Monica
WHERE TO EAT: MIAMI
Honestly the options for good food are endless, and can definitely get pricey! Also be aware that some restaurants factor in the tip, so pay attention when the bill comes.
- Pura Vida – these are all over Miami, but they are SO GOOD. Acai bowls, avocado toast, smoothies, coffees, and so many other great healthy options!
- Panther Coffee – one of our friends recommended this coffee shop but we didn’t have time to stop by; looked amazing though!
- Bodega – great drink spot; casual Mexican with a cool vibe
- Faena Hotel – artsy modern hotel pool with good breakfast
- The Edition pool
- SLS Restaurant patio – chill / fun breakfast
- Wynwood Kitchen & Bar / Wynwood Walls – great spots if you get caught in the rain
- Nikki Beach – such a fun outdoor vibe
- Sugar Factor – very instagrammable spot that would be fun to celebrate a birthday at
- The Versace Mansion – a bit pricier, but such an iconic spot to eat
- Prime 112 – highly recommended (fancy) steakhouse
COVID VIBE
- Not quite as low-key as Key West, but people were definitely not exactly strict with the masks. Businesses had signs all over saying masks were required, but it was laid back if you walked in WHILE putting the mask on. Social distancing wasn’t a huge thing in restaurants either which I found interesting. It was an entirely different world in Florida, that’s for sure.
