20 Feb 6 of Our Favorite Adventures in Miami, Florida
Micah and I lived in South Florida for four years, and we were based an hour north of Miami. We’ve made our way south to Miami many times over the years. But still, every time we visit, we find something new and exciting to do. Hotels.com asked us to share some of our favorite adventures in Miami, FL, so we thought it would be fun to put together a list of our favorite experiences.
Read on to learn about where to stay, historic houses, food tours, beaches, art, bike rides, air boats, and even a castle made out of coral stone.
Where to Stay
There are plenty great places to stay while visiting Miami, FL. Two of our favorite neighborhoods to base ourselves in are Miami are Mid-Beach and South Beach. Both areas are home to many great restaurants and shops and are located right by the beach. Downtown Miami is another great option for accommodations as you will be close to museums, an outdoor amphitheater, nightlife and more fantastic restaurants. You really can’t go wrong with any of these neighborhoods!
Take a Food Tour of Little Havana
My favorite neighborhood in Miami is Little Havana. I fell in love with this neighborhood when we took a food tour in Little Havana several years ago. Now, every time we pass through Miami, we have to make a pit stop in Little Havana for Cuban food and Cuban Coffee.
The Little Havana Food and Cultural Tour with Miami Culinary Tours is a great way to learn about the neighborhood’s history, culture, and food. During the tour, you will try empanadas, Cuban coffee, guayaba pastelito, ice cream, and several other iconic dishes. Other stops include a visit to Maximo Gomez Domino Park, Havana Classic Cigars, and the Cuban Memorial Blvd. to name a few. It’s an afternoon full of delicious food and fantastic stories.
Miami Culinary Tours offers several other food tours throughout the city, as well. So, hop on one of their tours to get a taste of local food and learn even more about Miami in the process!
Relax on the Beach
Of course, when you are in sunny Florida, you can’t pass on spending time at the beach. Miami is home to the famous South Beach, where the art deco architecture is abundant and the people watching is always one of the main events. There are plenty of other beach options to pick from in Miami, as well. Mid-Beach, Sunny Isles Beach, South Pointe Park Pier, Lummus Park Beach, and Crandon Park are other great choices for catching some rays on the sand.
Wander Around Street Art at Wynwood Walls
Another one of our favorite spots in Miami is the Wynwood neighborhood. If you like street art, galleries, coffee shops, trendy restaurants, and funky boutiques, this is the place to be. The entire neighborhood is filled with art around every corner, but it all started with the concept called Wynwood Walls at the 25th-26th Street complex. Wynwood Walls is essentially an open-air museum that showcases murals, street art and graffiti, on the walls of warehouse buildings and doors. The complex includes the Wynwood Walls, Wynwood Doors and Garden, a restaurant, gift shop, and commissioned art “outside the walls”.
When visiting the neighborhood, you can wander and explore on your own, or hop on one of the several tours offered from a variety of companies. Either way, you are sure to have a great time if you are interested in street art in all shapes and sizes.
Go Back in Time at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a National Historic Landmark in the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami. The property was built in 1916, and today, visitors can tour the home’s 32 rooms and 11 acres of formal gardens. A visit to the Vizcaya makes you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. The estate is famous for its historic European architecture and design, and you can learn all about the history of the home on a guided tour or from the placards located throughout the house. Make sure to leave time for a peaceful wander around the stunning gardens, as well.
The property also offers a wide range of special activities from yoga, to socials, to movies in the courtyard. We once attended a silent film showing in the courtyard of the main house. The film was accompanied by live music on their custom-made organ. It really felt like we had slipped several decades back in time!
Bike Rides and Airboats at Everglades National Park
We always love getting a dose of nature when we travel. Everglades National Park is located away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and in our opinion, it is a must-see spot! The Shark Valley Visitor Center offers several great activities. Some activities on offer are bike rentals, tram rides, an observation tower, and hiking trails. While you are exploring, you can come face to face with wild alligators, birds, turtles, and a wide variety of other wildlife.
Another fun Everglades adventure is taking an airboat ride. There are many places throughout Florida that offer Everglades airboat rides, and we’ve been on more of them than we can count. One of our favorites, though, is at Everglades Safari Park, which is located close to the Shark Valley Visitor Center. They are one of the three authorized operators that are allowed to give tours on national park lands. Airboats are so much fun to ride, especially when they take sharp turns and hit high speeds on the water. During your airboat ride, you will once again see lots of wildlife, including alligators!
Tour the Mysteries of the Coral Castle
If you are looking for something a little out of the box to do when you are in Miami, head over to the Coral Castle. The Coral Castle is technically located in Homestead, FL, but it is only about a 35-minute drive from Downtown Miami. I have to say, this is one of the strangest places we’ve ever been to, but we loved every quirky minute of our visit.
Edward Leedskalnin built the entire stone sculpture garden by himself. Ed secretly carved over 1,100 tons of coral and created the entire castle by himself. His building process is still unknown today, and there is a lot of controversy over how he accomplished this task on his own, especially since he was 100 lbs. and just over 5 feet tall. He said that he knew the secrets that were used to build the pyramids, but the secrets died with him in 1951. Today, you can tour the property which is made entirely of stone. The property is home to functional rocking chairs, a 9-ton gate that can be moved with one finger, a telescope, and more.
Have you ever been to Miami? What are your favorite things to do?
This post was sponsored by Hotels.com. As always, all opinions are our own.
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