Ah, Miami. Just the name of the city always makes me think of neon, and Will Smith rapping. It also brings up disturbing images of pastel episodes of Miami Vice, but I’ve spent the better part of fifteen years trying to forget about that. I love Miami, and as I’ve been on a massive Jane the Virgin binge (which is set in Miami), I was thrilled when David and I had the chance to spend the weekend there earlier this month. In a perfect world, we would get to spend infinite amounts of time, not bound by money, or PTO time, in the places we love. That however, is not the case, and we had less than 48 hours to spend in Miami. We made the most of those hours, sleeping little, getting up early, and trying to do as much as possible. We’ve decided to share our itinerary with you, in hopes of helping you get the most out of your time in Miami.
1. We wanted to stay in a hotel that was affordable, but still had a cool Miami vibe. We also wanted something with a central location near the beach. Westover Arms Hotel fit all of our criteria. It had a super modern feel, and a low price tag. Some rooms had views of the ocean, which was only a couple of blocks away.
2. After we checked into our hotel, we headed out to grab some dinner. I’m a huge fan of scouring Yelp reviews, and had done my homework. I had decided on a restaurant in Miami City, instead of Miami Beach. Perricones Marketplace and Cafe is part gourmet market, and part atmospheric restaurant. The restaurant has a lit tree growing throughout the place, with tables around it. It’s great food, but an even better atmosphere.
3. We headed back to Miami Beach after dinner, to spend some time walking the beach strip. This is fun anytime, but it’s iconic at night, when it’s lit with neon and glowing lights. Take a walk, and take it all in.
4. We were craving dessert, and maybe a cocktail, so we headed towards Lincoln Road. This pedestrian outdoor mall has upscale shopping, art deco, and plenty of places to grab a drink. We specifically came for macaroons, as its one of the places you can go to Laduree, where our favorite little morsels of heaven are sold.
5. After wasting away the hours at Lincoln Road, we got some sleep so we could wake up early for the sunrise. Catching a sunrise at Miami Beach is a must-do. We love the way the pastels in the sky mingle with the aqua early morning waves, with the iconic Miami lifeguard stands in the background.
6. We wandered through the Art Deco District that morning, to take in some of Miami’s most iconic architecture.
7. We had breakfast, and heavenly Cuban coffee in Little Havana that morning. We highly recommend trying Tinta Y Cafe, for some of the best coffee and empanadas you’ve ever had. It’s a little hidden and hard to find, but worth it.
We wish we’d had more than a weekend to spend in Miami, but we tried to make the most of the time we did have. What are your favorite cities to spend a weekend in?