Ahhh Miami! I went to this Florida metropolis for the first time last month. I’d driven by and flown through but never spent time in Miami or Miami Beach. We really couldn’t have asked for better weather while we were there. It was in the 80s and sunny! I’m not exactly sure what I expected from this city, but I definitely liked the vibe. There’s a little bit of everything depending on your taste and style. Of course, there’s the beach, but there’s also amazing architecture, art and culture, as well as food and history. Since it was my first time, I wanted to stay in iconic South Beach, and we opted to use Airbnb (if you’re a first timer get $20 to travel). Here’s how I spent a day in Miami chock full of ideas for your next Miami stay!
Art Deco District
Did you know that Miami Beach is home to the world’s largest Art Deco district? I love Art Deco architecture so this is one of the areas I was most excited to explore. I decided to take an Art Deco Walking Tour with the Miami Design Preservation League and thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a lot! In addition to learning about Art Deco, you hear about MiMo and Mediterranean Revival styles. You can also do self-guided walking tour on your own.
If you go to the beach in South Beach, don’t miss the colorful Art Deco lifeguard stations! They’re everywhere and pretty unique, and I absolutely adored them.
South Beach
It’s also fun to check out some of the Art Deco hotels in South Beach. The National, Delano and Raleigh were a few of my favorites, and I especially enjoyed checking out the Raleigh’s Art Deco pool. I brought in a latte and croissant for a poolside breakfast before heading out for a walk on the beach.
South Beach is the iconic beach in Miami, of course! It was crowded during the day when we were there, but if you take a morning walk on the beach you feel as though you have the place to yourself!
Wynwood Walls
If you’re a fan of street art, Miami’s Wynwood area is a fun spot to visit. We spent a couple of hours at the Wynwood Walls which was started in 2009 to “to create a center where people could gravitate to and explore, and to develop the area’s pedestrian potential.”
It’s a cool area with tons of graffiti from leading artists at which to marvel! The entire neighborhood has street art, so when you finish at the Walls, wander around to discover more art!
Next time Villa Vizcaya, Little Havana and shopping are on the list. Perhaps for a girls weekend…What are your recommendations for Miami?
