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On Miami Beach, people from different cultures, locals, and tourists all mix together. People from all walks of life like to hang out on the famous shores of “America’s Riviera,” including waifish models, amateur architecture critics, famous seniors, and families looking for some sun. North Miami Beach has the best beaches for kids and the cheapest places to eat and stay. Greater Miami’s art galleries, museums, and theatres are less than 10 miles away.
There’s also South Beach. This popular neighbourhood in the south shows that Miami Beach is more like two cities: a family-friendly vacation spot when the sun is out and a super-chic metropolis when the sun goes down. If you want to keep up with the Joneses, you’ll have to use your credit card at high-end stores, meet people at cutting-edge fusion restaurants, dance at lively nightclubs, and relax by the pool at art deco-style hotels. But it’s not just the rich and famous who will enjoy their time here. Travelers who want to take it easy can relax on the sands of Haulover Park or Lummus Park, take an art deco tour, or even try fishing off the South Pointe Pier. What else is a must? walking along the Lincoln Road Mall and looking at stores from the outside. And you can’t leave Miami Beach until you’ve eaten some tasty small plates and had a drink at a rooftop bar.
The best time to visit Miami Beach is between March and May, when the sun is shining and daytime temperatures are in the high 70s and low 80s. Aside from the beautiful weather, spring is a great time to visit because you can avoid the high prices of winter. This part of Florida has a subtropical climate, which means it’s warm and rainy most of the time. If you go in the summer or fall, bring an umbrella, because it might rain in the afternoon. In any case, since hurricane season in the Atlantic lasts from June to November, you could get a lot of rain in the worst case. If you’re trying to keep your money in order, the warmer weather and more rain in the summer mean that hotel rates and flight prices tend to go down.
Miami Beach is a city full of immigrants, and its Cuban population is one of the largest in the country. There are a lot of people who speak Spanish as their first language in Miami, and you can hear it all over the city. In turn, Cuban culture has influenced the music, architecture, and food of the city.
The area between 11th and 12th streets in South Beach is where most of the city’s gay people live. If you’re in town in March, stay for the Winter Party, an event for the LGBT community that draws thousands of people every year. In April, there is also a big event called Miami Beach Gay Pride.
In Miami Beach, the streets are full of high-end restaurants where you can smell Peruvian, Cuban, Caribbean, Asian, and American food, sometimes all at once. What other places call “fusion” is called “Floribbean” in Miami Beach. Get ready to be amazed by how good it tastes and how cheap it is. There are some restaurants in South Beach that are in the middle price range, but the best deals are on the side streets. Stone crab, ceviche, empanadas, Cuban pork sandwiches, and pastelitos are some of the most famous foods that people should try when they go to Miami Beach (pastries filled with sweet or savoury fillings).
People who love seafood say that the stone crab claws at Joe’s Stone Crab are the best they’ve ever had. The only downside is that this restaurant doesn’t take reservations, and because it’s so popular, there’s often a wait (well worth it, though, according to visitors). The traditional Cuban sandwiches, empanadas, plantains, and real café con leche at Las Olas Café are very popular. Many of the best hotels in Miami Beach also have some of the best restaurants in the area. At the Eurostars Vintro Hotel, OLA serves Latin American food, and at the Fontainebleau Hotel, Hakkasan serves dim sum and Cantonese food. Also, some of the best chefs in the world have restaurants in Miami Beach that people rave about, like Scott Conant’s Scarpetta, which is also in the Fontainebleau, and José Andrés’ The Bazaar (located in SLS South Beach).
You might want to go to the South Beach Food & Wine Festival to taste the best of Miami Beach and other places. Every February, for five days, the event brings together the most famous chefs and the newest recipes.
Most tourists can feel safe in Miami Beach. But, as in most big tourist spots, the biggest worry is pickpocketing, which is most likely to happen at night and on busy Washington Street. Walk in groups at night and stay away from places you don’t know. If you have a car in town, don’t leave valuables out where thieves can see them.
Stay near a lifeguard station and watch for the flags when you swim. This is a system that is used on beaches all over the state. Green means the water is calm, and yellow means there are some small waves (i.e., riptides may be present). Purple means that sea creatures like jellyfish are around. Keep in mind that you can’t go into the water when a red flag is up.
Walking is the best way to get around Miami Beach. South Beach is great for walking. If you’re in a car, how are you going to watch people or get a tan? Bikes are another option, and you can rent them from a number of places or through the Citi Bike system. Bicycle theft is a problem, so plan to bring or buy a strong lock. Driving will give you headaches, especially when there aren’t enough places to park during busy times. If your feet start to hurt, you can take a Miami-Dade Transit bus. The South Beach Local is cheap and very convenient for tourists. Still, it’s better to call a taxi (or Uber or Lyft) instead of waiting at a bus stop. You will probably also take a taxi from Miami International Airport (MIA), which is about 12 miles west of the city, to get into town. Trips to Miami Beach will cost a flat rate between $35 and $55. A $2.25 shuttle bus runs between the Metrorail station at Miami International Airport and Miami Beach (from 41st Street to South Pointe Drive).
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