Miami

Miami sits on Florida’s southeast coast with art deco buildings and Latin American energy. The beaches are beautiful and the city feels more Caribbean than American. It’s hot and humid year round with hurricane season from June to November. Spanish is spoken as much as English. A long weekend covers the main areas. It’s expensive and the traffic is aggressive.

Miami Beach and South Beach

South Beach has the famous art deco district with pastel colored buildings from the 1920s and 30s. Ocean Drive runs along the beach with outdoor restaurants and cafes. The beach itself is wide with soft sand and turquoise water. Beautiful people walk around in minimal clothing. Lincoln Road is a pedestrian mall with shops and restaurants. The area gets loud and crowded especially on weekends. Collins Avenue has the big hotels stretching north. Miami Beach is actually a separate island connected by causeways.

Miami Wynwood and Little Havana

Wynwood is the arts district with massive murals covering entire buildings. The Wynwood Walls area is outdoors and free to walk through. New art appears constantly so it changes. Galleries and breweries fill the warehouses. It’s the hipster creative part of Miami. Little Havana is the Cuban neighborhood along Calle Ocho. Domino Park has old Cuban men playing dominos and arguing. Cigar shops roll cigars by hand. The food is Cuban sandwiches, croquetas, and strong coffee in tiny cups. Ball and Chain bar has live salsa music.

Miami Downtown and Brickell

Downtown Miami has the skyscrapers and business district. Bayside Marketplace is a tourist shopping area on the water. Brickell is the financial district with condos and hotels. It feels like a smaller Manhattan. The Design District north has fancy shops and modern architecture. Coconut Grove south is older and more relaxed with outdoor cafes. Key Biscayne across the bridge has calmer beaches than South Beach.

Food is Cuban, Peruvian, Colombian, fresh seafood, stone crabs in season.