Miami is a city of diverse people, culture, and architecture – my recent visit proved this! I explored tons of new places and spent a lot of time enjoying the Florida sun. Walls filled with art, good coffee, and awesome food was just a small part of my experience. This a post dedicated to finding the best of Miami and everything in between. Read below to find your next adventure!
Everglades Tour
The Everglades tour was the very first thing we did in Miami. Our tickets were less than $30 and included the guided tour, tickets to see an alligator show, and a free walk through on the grounds to see the alligators up close and personal. I will say the Florida heat did put a damper on this activity so make sure you lather up with sunscreen and where clothing that will keep you cool!
The Miami Zoo
The zoo was also something we wanted to take advantage of while in the Miami area. It was well-kept, clean, and filled with a great variety of animals. The $34 package for adults got us all day monorail rides, the ticket inside the zoo, and another ticket for a free animal feeding! It was an amazing deal!
Wynwood
The Wynwood area was probably my favorite part of the entire trip. The streets were filled with art in styles I’ve never seen before and the pieces looked like they came straight out of a museum. Definitely impressed!
Coconut Grove Area
Coconut Grove was where our hotel was located. We were walking distance from small boutiques, coffee shops, bars, and breakfast joints. It was less than a 5 minute walk to get to anything! I’d recommend staying in this area if you’d rather travel on foot than by Uber or Lyft.
The Mayfair Hotel
We stayed at the Mayfair and I just wanted to quickly touch on a few important points. The first, is that the building features beautiful wood detailing throughout and is rich in history. The second, is that despite the beauty, everything is very expensive. The parking was over $30 a day and the hotel restaurant wasn’t cheap either. In addition, I loved having the rooftop pool but didn’t like the fact drinks at the bar were nearly $20 a piece. That’s pricey compared to many other hotels/resorts I’ve stayed at. Would I stay here again? Maybe for a night or two but definitely not another week!
Good Eats
- Monty’s on South Beach – right by the water, large selections of sea food and sushi, has a large pool and bar area overlooking the marina.
- Morelia Gourmet Paletas – Coconut Grove area, gourmet ice cream pops, customer chooses toppings and dips, personalized experience.
- The Stoned Crab – towards the Florida keys area, fresh seafood and experience is worth the drive, features live nurse sharks in their docking area.
- Green Street Cafe – Coconut Grove area, extensive breakfast menu with unique takes on traditional french toast and pancakes, would highly recommend the coconut encrusted french toast and iced matcha latte.
- Lokaz Burgers and Beer – Coconut Grove area, long list of craft and domestic beers, good food but the service took longer than expected, veggie tacos are a must.
- Bianco Gelato – naturally flavored and organic, would recommend the coffee and hazelnut flavors.
- Miam – near Wynwood, features light breakfast and delicious coffee or tea, would highly recommend the avocado toast and iced matcha.
- Lulu – another Coconut Grove spot, the fish tacos and jalapeño mashed potatoes were tasty, try the grilled pineapple mojito you won’t regret it.
Quick Highlight
One day out of our trip, we chose to take a drive down to the Florida keys. If you get the chance…go! The people were much friendlier and the beaches were unbelievably beautiful! Snorkeling and chair or umbrella rental available everywhere if needed. Shopping and downtown area is lively!
Overall, if you’re looking for a budget vacation with the same feel as something tropical, Miami just may be your winner. With so much to do, see, and experience…it seems like there’s something here for everyone!
The Natalie Lynn 