48 hours in Miami – Weekend Edition
Miami In Less Than 48 Words
Miami became famous all over the world during the 1980s, at the height of the “Miami Vice” television series. Once dubbed as a crime capital, hot, sexy, and Latin, it is now acknowledged as a marvelous place to be. It is also famous still as a Latin place.
South Beach (Photo by Ben Grantham)
First 24 Hours
Arrive at the party city of Miami via the Miami International Airport, just eight miles northwest of downtown Miami. From there, you can catch a Super Shuttle (001 305 871 2000; website), which will take you to the city’s major hotels. The ride will cost around $16. Alternatively, you can opt to hire a taxi from the terminal which will obviously cost you far more.
Miami sprawls over the Florida mainland and a few nearby barrier islands. Its Downtown area is pretty compact, and very often tourists crowd themselves at the Miami and South Beaches. You can learn valuable tourist information at its main tourist offices, the Miami Convention and Visitor Bureau (701 Brickell Ave., 001 305 539 3000, website).
CHECK IN: Get your bearings back at Miami’s hotels
Accommodation can be had at Miami’s excellent hotels. One of the best in the city is the EPIC Hotel (270 Biscayne Blvd Way, Miami, FL 33131, (305) 424-5226, website). It offers fantastic views of the coast, and has an attentive staff and spacious rooms.
A nice alternative is the Viceroy Miami (485 Brickell Avenue, Miami, FL 33131, 305-503-4400, website), which has picturesque location by South Beach, plus complete amenities, and an attentive staff. You can also try out Hampton Inn & Suites (777 Northwest 57th Ave (Red Rd), Miami, FL 33126, (305) 262-5400, website). It is at a very convenient location by the airport and sightseeing areas, and has moderately-priced rooms.
THE LIGHTHOUSE: Let’s take a view
Cape Florida Light (Photo from Google images)
A popular tourist attraction in Miami is the Cape Florida Light (south end of Key Biscayne, Miami-Dade County). It is an 1825 lighthouse considered one of the city’s landmarks. It marks the Florida Channel, and stands 95 feet tall. It was built out of solid brick, with a distinct conical shape. You can clamber up the 118 steps to its summit, where you will be rewarded with sweeping views of the harbor and the city skyline. The site is open daily from 8 am until dusk, and admission will cost you $5. Near it is the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area (001 305 361 5811, website), a recreational park known for its bicycle paths and boardwalks.
SOUTH BEACH: Go to a haven for hedonists
Of course, the most popular attraction for tourists in Miami is South Beach (12th Street and corner 1220 Ocean Drive FL 33139). Also fondly called as “SoBe”, it is known for its crushed-coral sands by the Atlantic Ocean, and is an ideal site for sunbathing, swimming, parties, water sporting, and various entertainments. It is also a great place to see stars and celebrities. You can also have a leisurely stroll around the beach’s Art Deco district, where you can admire impressive structures like the Park Central Hotel, Waldorf Towers, Breakwater Hotel, and Hotel Marlin.
SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF CHARITY: Go to church
One of the landmarks of Miami is the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity (3609 South Miami Ave. Miami, Fl. 33133, 305-854-2404). It is a religious monument built in 1966 by the Cuban people in honor of their patroness, the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre (Virgin of Charity). You can find inside an impressive statue of Mary that was brought there all the way from Cuba. It is at a scenic and peaceful spot near the Bay of Biscayne.
MIAMI METROZOO: See wild animals
Miami MetroZoo (Photo from Google images)
Don’t forget to pay a visit to the Miami MetroZoo (1 Zoo Boulevard, 12400 SW 152 Street, Miami, FL 33177, (305) 251-0400, website). It is the largest and oldest zoological garden in the entire state of Florida. The zoo sprawls over an area of 740 acres, and is home to more than 1,200 wild animals. It is also considered to be the only tropical zoo in the continental United States. Some of the featured animals there include lions, gorillas, meerkats, flamingoes, white tigers, African elephants, and Komodo dragons. It also hosts zookeeper talks and up-close exotic animal encounters. The site is open daily from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, and admission will cost around $15.95.
DINNER TIME: Discover Miami’s restaurants
A perfect way to relax after a busy day of sightseeing is to dine at the superb restaurants of the city. One of the best options will be Prime One Twelve (112 Ocean Dr, The Browns Hotel, Miami Beach, FL 33139, 305-532-8112, website). There, you can expect to dine among famous customers. It is also famous for its classic steakhouse menu, with must-tries like the dry-aged Prime beef with sautéed forest mushrooms and white chocolate pudding cake.
Romeo’s Café (Photo by Hg2Hedonist)
Experience an authentic Italian cuisine at Romeo’s Café (2257 Coral Way, Coral Gables, FL 33145, 305-859-2228, website), a personalized Italian restaurant where Chef Majano greets each table and knows the customer’s tastes to tailor the dish accordingly. Have a taste of the Caribbean in Miami at Versailles (3555 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33130, 305-445-7614, website). It is a purely Caribbean restaurant offering delicious dishes at reasonable prices – a recommended dish is the ropa vieja with shredded beef.
Next 24 Hours
Your next 24 hours in Miami can be used to discover the city’s other attractions. One of them is the Bass Museum of Art (2121 Park Avenue, Miami Beach FL 33139, 305.673.7530, website). It is regarded as one of the finest museums in the city for ancient art, featuring collections of art works dating from Renaissance to contemporary art. The museum is housed in an impressive Art Deco building. Inside, you can see over 3,000 pieces of art, some of the most notable being works by Ghirlandaio, Botticelli, and Pre-Secessionist Austrian artists. It is open from Wednesdays to Sundays from 12 pm to 5 pm, and admission will cost you around $8.
Bass Museum of Art (Photo from Google images)
VILLA VIZCAYA: See a historic landmark
Another tourist attraction in Miami is the Villa Vizcaya (3251 S Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33129, 305-250-9133, website). More popularly known as the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, it is a 16th century north Italian-style estate that is a US National Historic Landmark. It was built in 1916 by the industrialist James Deering, and is a showcase of Miami’s historical class and elegance. Take a stroll through its elegantly manicured gardens, and admire its beautiful architecture. The site is open daily from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, and admission will cost you around $15.
VENETIAN POOL: Swim in a historic site
You can also try out the Venetian Pool (2701 De Soto Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33134, (305) 460-5306, website). It is a unique architectural landmark created in 1921 from an old coral rock quarry. It is included in the US National Register of Historic Places, and is an oasis-like area featuring grottos, caves, waterfalls, and an island. It is also used as a public swimming pool, and is the largest freshwater pool in the United States. The site is open from 11 am to 7:30 pm during Mondays to Fridays, and from 10 am to 4:30 pm in the weekends. Admission will cost around $10.50.
Venetian Pool (Photo by Hanneorla)
BOTANIC GARDEN: Walk among plants
If you love gardens, then the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, FL 33156 USA, 305.667.1651, website) is a nice place to discover. It is considered to be one of the largest botanical gardens in the entire United States, sprawling across an area of 83 acres. There, you will find an impressive collection of rare tropical plants. Notable examples include palms, cycads, vines, mangoes, alfalfa, nectarines, dates, and a giant African baobab tree, among others. The garden is open daily from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, and admission will cost you around $20.
NIGHTLIFE: Indulge in Miami’s vibrant nightlife scene
Indulge in the vibrant nightlife offered by Miami’s bars and clubs. One of the most popular is the Nikki Beach Miami (1 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139, 305-538-1111, website). It is considered to be one of Miami’s best beach clubs, and includes a night club, oceanfront beach club and a restaurant – perfect for drinking and dancing the night away.
A nice alternative is Jazid (1342 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, 305-673-9372, website), where you can party with the fashionable and glamorous during classic to acid jazz shows. You can also try out Flavour (2895 McFarlane Rd, Coconut Grove, FL 33133, 305-445-6511). It is a coconut grove club where music played ranges from 80s music to punk, and you can also hope to dance with the young college students.
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