There are few things Jersey Shore Style natives love more than a beach, and that’s why Miami is the perfect getaway, especially in the midst of this cold weather. After all, who can resist temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s in February? We couldn’t, which is why we did a quick weekend getaway to this fabulous city. Here are just some of the things we did (that we’d do again and again!)
Miami Seaquarium
There is a lot to learn at the Miami Seaquarium. We like the educational programs about marine life that the Seaquarium offers on conservation efforts, endangered species, and the ecology of South Florida habitats. As the oldest oceanarium in the country, there are a lot of options at the Seaquarium. We had the wonderful opportunity to interact with dolphins at the Dolphin Encounter and learn about these intelligent, water-loving mammals. We’re so glad we did.
Havana 1957 Cuban Cuisine on Española Way
Image Credit: Southbeachretreat.com
We got a delicious taste of Cuban at Havana 1957, located right at the entrance of Española Way. As soon as you walk in to the restaurant, you’re quickly taken back to the 50s with servers dressed for the time period. We made reservations—a must—because our small party of three turned into a party of eight when we met up with permanent snow birds and their family. It wasn’t family style, but we all managed a way to get tastes of everything served to us. And there wasn’t a morsel left behind. We wished that we had more time to stroll down Española Way; the lights and street activity were so inviting! Next time we’ll make time for both!
11th Street Diner
When you’re in Miami, be sure to stop in for breakfast at 11th Street Diner. Sit al fresco or in air conditioning—either way, the healthy portions will leave you very contented. This is where we picked up fun souvenirs: the diner’s coffee mugs. The staff wrapped them up nice for safe traveling home. They make a great addition to any kitchen or wherever one imbibes fresh brewed.
Lowes Miami Beach Hotel
Image credit: Loews Miami Beach
There’s no shortage of nice hotels in South Beach, but we think we stumbled on the best one. This beach-front hotel has a stylish Art Deco design, complete with luxury comforts like an oceanfront pool with a waterfall, poolside service, and a jacuzzi. It’s very kid-friendly, with lots of activities like fun pool side games. Make sure that there’s plenty of beach time in your trip. We only hit it the last day, and in hindsight, we would have been there every day. We dined at Sushi SoBe often, one of the onsite restaurants, and enjoyed pool-side lunch too. This hotel was just perfect. Dog-lovers can also rejoice. Loews Miami is 100% pet friendly. It even offers special room service menus for pets as well as toys, treats, and water bowls.
Overall, we wished that we had just a few more days to do a little more beach and pool time. Alas, there’s always next time. We’re counting down the days!
Miami Beach postcard courtesy of fikesfuntiques’s Etsy.