Miami is one of those cities that just exudes confidence, play, and bad decisions. Its districts each have their own personalities, with South Beach catering to those that want to see and be seen in the scene and Little Havana providing a taste of Cuban charm with cortaditos (Cuban espresso, sugar with a splash of milk) and squares where old Cuban men play dominoes.

Top Things to See in Miami, Florida

Outdoor Activities

South Beach
South Beach offers that classic white sound beach with blue green water and calm waves. There’s everyone from South American families to tourists from the big, bad ATL to your honeymooning couples here. There’s also beach volleyball courts and playground structures for kids in the surrounding area.

For some great people watching, check out any of the bars or restaurants along Ocean Drive, which runs right along South Beach.

Art Deco District
The Art Deco District was designated as a historic U.S. district in May 1979. It contains over 950 historic buildings, which feature perfectly symmetric design, prominently use the rule of thirds, and also exhibit unapologetic use of pastel colors like turquoise and pink. With its colorful buildings, lively bar entertainers who are out dancing in skimpy outfits in the middle of the day, and its close proximity to the beach, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Logistics:

• Citibikes are everywhere for rental for $4/half hour. They’re a fun way to tour around the Art Deco district (Ocean Drive between 6th and 17th Street – it’ll probably only take you about 10 minutes to bike through this area). You can also keep on going up past 17th Street. There is a path that takes you behind all the hotels and you can see the difference in pool parties – some are calm and people are chilling with a beer while others are full blown day parties with loud EDM playing, Vegas style. There are plenty of docking stations so it’s easy to park while you’re at a bar or restaurant and then grab another one for later. Keep in mind that the rental time is still going, even when you dock.

• Parking: I like parking at the Convention Center parking garage because it’s so cheap! I parked for 3 hours and only had to pay $3, which is a steal in Miami where you basically have to pay to park everywhere.

Wynwood Walls
The Wynwood Walls are located in the warehouse district of Wynwood. For Californians, the district reminded me a bit of the Mission back in San Francisco or perhaps East Berlin for you Europeans. This district houses plenty of street art, each serving as a great stand alone piece while simultaneously contributing to the gritty yet hipster feel of the place. The Wynwood walls are a sectioned off area where artists were given free reign to concoct any sort of mural they wanted. Some even made use of the ground, as you can see in the picture below.

Tip: On the Second Saturday of each month, there is an event called Wynwood Art Walk, where the galleries are open late, gourmet food trucks abound, and music fills the air. The Art Walk is from 7pm – 10pm.

2516 NW 2nd Ave
Miami, FL 33127

Food and Drink