MIAMI - TRAVEL DIARY š“š¦©
Testing, testing; tap, tap. Is this thing on?
Hello everybody! Itās been a while since I popped on the blog to share with you. Iāve had quite a lot going on and feel like Iām now coming up for air!
Anywhoo, last October I took a trip to Miami to celebrate my Momās birthday and subsequently promised you all a mini Miami guide. Then in January, I popped back over for a couple of days to unwind in advance of my birthday celebrations. I enjoyed both visits & think itās finally time to get this mini travel guide out to you.
Travel restrictions were eased over the last year and even though this one was domestic for me, I still recommend doing whatever youāre comfortable with and taking all the necessary precautions. Many in Miami didnāt wear masks, but when we were in close proximity to others (outside our immediate circle), we chose to wear them & practice social distancing as well.
MIAMI TRAVEL TIPS
Iām writing this from a domestic travel perspective so I donāt have a ton of tips to share but I will say depending on the time of year you visit, be sure to check the weather to understand what temperatures will be like.
In October it was the typical hot beach weather youād expect from Miami, however when I visited in January the temperature was cooler especially in the mornings and evenings. It was like a mix between Spring & Summer with sporadic rain showers.
Knowing these details will help you determine what clothing and shoes youāll need to pack.
WHERE WE STAYED
Nautilus Miami Beach - Arlo Hotels
My family and I stayed here during our time in October and it was an overall pleasant experience.
The location is central to all the happenings in Miami Beach. The decor was a mix of modern and retro-glam and what I really liked was the resort-type feel the hotel offered with in house restaurants, cafe, cocktail lounge, pool and access to the beach.
Speaking of beach access, chairs/loungers were provided as part of the hotel package but beach umbrellas werenāt (which was quite unusual to me) so you have to rent them for the day. If I recall, they were $22 per day. If you want to avoid that fee, Iād suggest going to the beach early in the day (before noon) when an umbrella isnāt needed and then retreating to the pool.
I stayed here for my pre-birthday celebrations and though the temperatures in Miami were cooler this time of year, the hotel offered a heated pool and for the most part once the sun was out, swimming was fine. The room had a balcony with a lovely waterfront view and I enjoyed sitting out early in the morning with my cup of tea watching the sun rise.
Thereās a cafe/restaurant in the hotel and many nearby spots that you can walk to. This area in Miami is comparable to the financial/business district and a lot less calmer than Miami Beach however a quick Uber ride can put you back in the center of the action. I loved the peace and quiet and being able to take a calm morning stroll. Youāll see many folks walking their dogs too.
WHAT We DID
This was my second time visiting Wynwood Walls and it was enjoyable. It was a rainy day so we grabbed lunch at Coyo Taco before venturing to the walls and art gallery. Afterwards we walked around the area browsing all the cool artsy shops, a market-place then stopped for some yummy ice cream at Dasher & Crank before grabbing dinner.
We spent an afternoon in Little Havana; described as āthe heart of "Miamiās Cuban diasporaā visiting a few art walls and shops. We ate at a very popular Cuban restaurant which to be honest was a little underwhelming given the reviews and got delicious homemade ice cream from Azuar before heading back to Miami Beach.
This was a quick pop-in after lunch and before heading to the airport so we didnāt spend a long time but I would suggest exploring more and visiting other galleries in the area as well.
This piece was in walking distance from our hotel and was commissioned by The Bass Museum of Art. Next time Iām in Miami, I definitely want to explore the Museum.
WHEre WE ATE/DRANK
Strawberry Moon (The Goodtime Hotel)
Pao by Paul Qui (Faena) - Highly recommend!
Astra Miami - Go for cocktails and rooftop vibes
Blue Ribbon Sushi - Sushi was underwhelming to be honest but their oxtail fried rice & salad was delish!
Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann (Faena) - This is a popular spot in Miami and in full transparency while the ambiance, decor and cocktails were good, the food was lacking. I expected it to be comparable to Pao but was left very underwhelmed by the flavor profiles. I'd suggest going there for cocktails and maybe a few appetizers.
El Tucan - I reserved this one because it was located in Brickell but didnāt pay close attention to the details. While it wasnāt bad, it was not quite what I was expecting. The restaurant had more of a club-like feel and unfortunately the food was lacking in flavor and my meal was over-salted. However, the unexpected dance, aerobatic and burlesque show was quite entertaining and if you like the high-energy club like experience then pop in for some cocktails and a few bites.
