Next on my family’s Florida road trip was Miami! This was our first time staying in Miami actually and thanks to our Toyota Highlander Hybrid, it was an easy two hour drive from my grandpa’s in Stuart to our hotel in South Beach. The city is definitely broken up into a ton of different neighborhoods and while we didn’t love our hotel (was a little run down and not around a lot of things) there were a lot of great places we ate at and saw during our stay that we loved!
WHERE TO EAT
Joe’s Stone Crab: It’s not a trip to Miami without a stone crab dinner at Joe’s. This old school restaurant has been a classic spot for years thanks to its incredible food and impeccable service. The only problem is that they don’t take reservations and the wait is INSANE almost every night. We arrived at 5:30 pm to put our name in and it was a 90 minute wait already so we sat outside and had cocktails and apps while we waited, which worked out great. Definitely recommend planning on getting there early to avoid a late night dinner!
Dreamer Miami: After a few days of feasting, we were craving something healthy. Luckily right next to Flywheel was this adorable acai bowl and smoothie shop. The small space is very Instagram-worthy and everything was so delicious but it took so long to get our acai bowls so make sure you’re not in a rush if planning on grabbing something to go from here.
Le Sirenuse: Our fanciest meal of the trip, dinner at Le Sirenuse is a complete experience. It was one of my sister and I’s favorite meals when we were in Positano and we were excited to go with our parents to their new location in Miami. The restaurant is inside the Four Seasons Surfside Location (which was about a thirty minute drive from our hotel) and the space is incredible. Make sure to get there early before your reservation (a must to eat here!) and sit by the champagne bar and have one of their incredible cocktails. Dinner and drinks are definitely a splurge here but the service is incredible and all the portions can easily be shared. You truly feel like you are in Italy when there!
Pura Vida: Another healthy spot we loved for a quick lunch by our hotel was Pura Vida. A ton of different smoothies, bowls and salads, it was a great option for a quick and healthy meal after the beach.
Lolo’s Surf Cantina: Our first night in Miami we arrived around dinner time so wanted to find a spot near our hotel we could easily walk to. We found this adorable taco spot and it was perfect to sit on their back patio and share a ton of tacos and margaritas. Make sure to get their churros for dessert too!
Wynwood Diner: Before a morning of exploring Wynwood, we had a big brunch at this local and colorful diner. Perfect for big groups, the space is huge and we sat outside and enjoyed delicious egg dishes, blueberry pancakes and Cuban Coffees to kick off our day.
WHAT TO DO
Explore the Wynwood Walls: We loved exploring Wynwood and seeing all of the incredible murals and art in this art district. The area also has a ton of cool restaurants and shops so definitely make sure to make a morning or afternoon of soaking up this colorful area!
Fit In A Fitness Class: While working out on vacation isn’t always a must, I was craving a workout after the holidays and luckily Miami has most of all my favorite studios too! I dragged my sister and her boyfriend to help kick off our New Year’s Eve with a morning Flywheel but they also have Barry’s Bootcamp, Soul Cycle and a ton of other great studios all over the city.
Morning Beach Walk: One of my favorite parts about Miami was seeing all of the colorful umbrellas and beach chairs lining the beach. We did a early morning beach walk one day and started near The Confidante Hotel where I couldn’t stop snapping photos of their candy colored chairs and umbrellas. From there, we walked down further towards other Miami favorite hotels like the Faena, which is the must spot to stay or dine at while in Miami. Make sure to walk inside to see some of the incredible art structures outside and within the hotel as well!
Soak Up The Sun: The number one reason to come to Miami of course though is to relax and soak up the sun! The beaches are gorgeous and if your hotel doesn’t provide chairs, you can easily rent from any of the beach clubs or hotels.
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