Hey you! Si, tu! You looking for the perfect place for a weekend getaway?
Yo tengo the ideal destination for you, boo: Miami!
Miami is hype and fun y maravilloso to visit, even if you just have un par de dias. It’s the ideal getaway spot; totally underrated if you ask me. Pero, lo tiene todo: beautiful natural places to see, fantastic activities to enjoy, delicious grub to eat…
You can’t go wrong with Miami.
No wait, that’s not quite true, you can go wrong with Miami… si lo haces mal. There’s a right way to do the city and a wrong way, and unfortunately – I did the latter the first time I visited. I spent 2 days there hace como 6 años, and then also stopped by on my way to the Florida Keys last Christmas, but STILL hadn’t really experienced how amazing Miami could be hasta mi weekend getaway de la mez pasada.
Miami, I’m sorry. When you know better, you do better.
And thank God, I did better!
I made mistakes so you don’t have to, amigos. I got you! Déjame decirte about the top 5 things that you need to experience while you’re in Magic City (yes, Magic City- who knew, right?). Now, 5 might sound like a small number, like maybe I’m short-changing you on Miami fun, pero, trust me. These 5 experiences are enough para un short weekend getaway y more than enough to show you a good time.
Do you trust me? Let’s go, then!
“Miami is one of these great places that is a really sensual, physically beautiful place.”
– Michael Mann
South Beach & Ocean Avenue
Art Deco
Primero on the weekend getaway to-do list, you should make your way to South Beach to take in the Art Deco District!
Ok, pero, que es “art deco”?
Art Deco an artistic movement dating from the 1920s, which reached its peak durante The Great Depression. It exploded because Americans estaban buscando un architectural style that would lift the mood of the nation – leading to the fantastic style of the Art Deco movement. Sabes Que? It worked!
Art Deco buildings give off “Happy vibes” for sure.
In case the name isn’t really ringing a bell, te digo que los buildings are actually quite easy to identify if you know what to look for. Oftentimes, they have geometric shapes, a lot of ornate embellishments, clean lines, y casi siempre tienen un pop of pastel colors. If a building looks like it has rounded edges, lots of line work, and is baby blue or baby yellow… you’re hot, you’re really hot! Oh, y a mi me encanta when they also come with some neon lighting!:)
Classic Miami.
My tip to really take in the Art Deco District is just to get on Ocean Drive somewhere around 6th Avenue and just start walking. Camina por toda la calle and just look around. Undoubtedly, you’ll see all of the amazingly colored hotels along that street and a smile will creep up on your face. No lo puedo explicar, but the buildings just inspire joy.
- Are you a fan of the Art Deco style?
Ocean Drive
Ocean Drive isn’t just about the buildings; oh no, no!
It’s also very much about THE PEOPLE! Déjame decirte, the people of Miami beach are SOMETHING!
They radiate this special kind of energy…
It’s kind of hard to describe, but Miamians give off a vibe somewhere between “laid back IDGAF” and ” LOOK AT ME”. That kind of energy is mesmerizing. Te impacta! Ocean Drive wins the award for one of the best places in the world to people watch. Me encanta sentarme solamente to sit and gaze. Everybody who passes by looks like they have an interesting story to tell! Oh, and people are quite literally marching to the beat of their own drum. Like for real, on one 10 minute stroll thru the area, you will hear 5 different types of music pumping out from Bluetooth speakers, or phones, or restaurants; it’s incredible.
Not only that, but the clothing on display is a STATEMENT, too!
Los colores! The fashion choices! The amount of skin exposed! WOOO! Your eyes are in for a treat!
En fin, South beach is kind of like being at a party. A vibrant par-tay! It’s part of the reason que la gente le gusta visitar a Miami Beach for weekend getaways. It really does energize you in the best way. I’m grinning just thinking about it.
- Have you ever visited South Beach? Did the vibe suit you?
South Beach Time
South Beach is a vibe. Estoy hablando de la playa; the actual beach scene itself is pretty rad. It’s like a constant party.
A constant beach party for beautiful people, with beautiful scenery, and beautiful energy.
Not unlike those 50’s movies that were set on the beach. You remember those? Think: Beach Blanket Bingo but sexier!
The area and the beach estan filled to the brim con attractive faces, bronzed and toned bodies, y young enthusiastic people; all wanting to have fun and be seen. Truth is, las personas van a South Beach *to* see and be seen. No lies told but that does not necessarily have to be a bad thing. It makes Miami único!
Es una experiencia especial.
Fun, colorful, warm, and truly stunning. Basically, paradise.
So, lets talk about the actual beach tho…
Cuando yo visité a South Beach, I had the immense pleasure of actually swimming in the ocean, not just sitting and watching it from my beach towel, not dipping my toes in, not sitting where the waves crash- SWIMMING! Y que te puedo decir? You guys, it was a dream come true. Fue “delicioso”; that’s exactly how I would describe the water: delicious. Warm, gentle, clear… the kind of ocean water that makes you feel like a little kid again.
You remember the good ole days when you never wanted to get out of the water? Yea, like that. Que rico!
“Is Miami America? Is it a state? The South? … I love Miami for the same reason I love the places I love most around the world… it’s the mix here, this big, messy, dysfunctional hell-broth of people from all over the world that make it so awesome and make it a place I want to keep coming back to. Also the food’s good.”
– Anthony Bourdain
Miami Food Scene
Let’s talk sobre another lure of Magic City area that you HAVE to experience – aside from the beach and the gorgeous people…
It’s the FOOD. La comida, baby!
Miami is a foodie city – If you don’t know, now you know! There is everything you could possibly want en la area to make sure que tu weekend getaway is filled with yummy eats. The city is an eclectic melting pot de tantas diferentes culturas, people groups, and gastronomy options, that it’s a legit adventura just selecting where you will eat. No two meals have to be the same type of cuisine.
It’s a culinary adventure!!
Here are a few of the places that made my heart go BOOM:
1. Taquiza- Street Tacos
So listen, South beach has some kick-ass sit down restaurants. Tu sabes, the kind that you sip wine at and wear flowy dresses to? I get it, son maravillosos esos tipos de lugares. But, you know what’s also a vibe? Spending the day soaking up the sun and waves at the beach and then walking to a place that offers frigging delicious grub without all the frills.
A place que te da all the taste of elegance, but that accepts you as you are… beach covers, flip flops, sand, and all. 🙂
Doesn’t that sound awesome? Claro!
What if I told you that this joint offered up truly authentic, completely affordable Mexican street food and y las margaritas mas ricas en Miami? YUP! Feel free to pick your jaw up off the floor, you’re gunna need it to chew:)
Taquiza is a South Beach STAPLE. Don’t pass it up!
Despite my earlier suggestion, I’d actually head there *before* you hit the beach, get full and a little tipsy… then go enjoy catching a tan on la playa. You know what they say, “Barriga llena, corazon contento“.
What to order? Pues, the whole menu is legit (and reasonably priced- todo es under $10), but a mi me encantaron the Tinga and Carne Asada tacos on their house-made, organic blue corn tortillas. YUM!! Mi amiguita, Jenny, swore by the Tacos de Lengua, too. We also REALLY enjoyed the skinny margaritas, which shocked the hell out of me. Who knew low-calorie margs could be tan sabrosas? The trick is that Tequila Blanco that they use, y’all. It’s the real deal. Tequila Blanco by Tequila Mi Campo.
Who doesn’t want tremendos tacos on a beach day, amiright? Pon Taquiza en tu lista!!:)
- What’s your favorite taco filling?
2. 1-800- Lucky- Asian Fusion Food Hall
What if I told you que some of the best Asian food I’ve ever eaten was in the heart of Miami?
Would you believe me?
“I only speak the truth!”
Right en el medio of the truly vibrant Wynwood District of Miami is 1-800-Lucky, only the coolest, hippest Asian food Hall in Florida. I dare you to fight me on that! Visualize a 10,000 square foot area con asientos both indoor and outdoor, and lush tropical plantas surrounding you so that te sientes like you’re in an Asian oasis in the middle of a concrete jungle. That’s what 1-800-Lucky is.
Oh, and did I mention the bops? Está candela – the music! Hip hop tracks spun by a live DJ, full-on celebrity events, y hasta un karaoke lounge/bar! It’s 1000% LIT!
Pero, what about the food? You said, “The best Asian…”.
Hold your horses! I’m getting to that…. 🙂
This amazing food hall tiene 7 Asian restaurants which serve up different, signature dishes de paises all over Asia. Think bubble tea, ramen, sushi, lumpias, bao buns, and poke all on one tray! EXACTO! It’s a smorgasbord of Asian-inspired goodness all in ONE place! And, AND, no necesitas hacer reservaciones, friends. You can spend a day touring the street murals of Wynwood and then stroll right in for a bite… and some tunes… and a whole-ass aesthetic.
Put this one on your Miami “must eat” list, mi gente. You and your belly, me lo van a agradecer! 🙂
3. Juvia Miami – Upscale Rooftop Dining
You know que no te podria decir about my favorite Miami eats without giving a shoutout to a truly swanky place! No sir! I had to come correct, giving you guys some range for your taste buds and your experiences. Tuve que darte un poquito de “glam”, a healthy dose of elegance, and a heaping amount of FLAVOR, and for that- there could only be one place: Juvia Miami.
It’s only the swankiest rooftop restaurant I’ve ever been to. And el lugar con the BEST view!
Hands down, this place is a WINNER!
Mira, Juvia is the type of place you make reservations for (way in advance), it’s the type of place you wear heels for, and it’s absolutely the type of place that makes you really consider who is really a worthy +1. Es así de especial! The locale is situated on the top de un building con spectacular 180 degree views of the Miami Beach skyline.
It’s open air and buzzing with energy. Eso puede ser because of the live music coming from the DJ or pueder ser because of the snazzy, smartly-used neon lighting, or even the beautiful furniture… who knows? It’s all good.
The food is the real star here, though. Well, aside from the killer view.
It’s what the owners call: “A trinity of French, Japanese and Peruvian cooking styles”, and what a trinity it is! Mamma mia! I had a dish called Ceviche Carretillero, a fresh take on the Peruvian staple, with fried calamari on top and it was… well… me comí cada cosa que estaba en mi plato. Like, I literally even ate the scraps of garnish left over. No regrets!
Mi amiga ordenó the Tuna Nikkei and relished it as well. Te digo una cosa, if the dinner was good, the dessert was orgasmic guys. ORGASMIC! I wouldn’t lie to you, fam. In fact, I think I actually have un video de mi in a moaning trance dancing and eating my Profiteroles. Listen, it was dulce de leche ice cream, candied hazelnuts, fried flaky dough, and a drizzle of warm chocolate sauce – you’d moan too! 🙂
If you are even thinking of visiting Miami, make your Juvia reservation NOW! Hazlo. And Please, send your thank you cards to Traveling in Spanglish. 🙂
“Miami is a party city, a go-fast city.”
– Rick Ross
Miami Nightlife
Miami and nightlife son dos palabras that are kind of synonymous. Verdad que si?
When people think of Miami (South Beach in particular), they envision neon lights, night clubs, big fruity cocktails, and dancing till the sunrise. The thing is: that is what it’s like. Esa visión es legitíma.
It’s like a big colorful party and something you absolutely can’t miss on your weekend getaway!
The key is encontrando the right spot to party at, to know your own particular tastes, and to be safe while doing it. Después de hacer eso, you’re good to go! Miami clubs are banging; there is música en vivo everywhere… with something for everyone. Algunos venues even have full entertainment/shows going on for your pleasure, you just gotta research before hand to find the vibe and atmosphere that suit you best. Oh, y escúchame bien – don’t go alone, always take your besties with you.
Miami really is hype!
My favorite thing to do while I was there, para ser sincera, was just grab a drink at one place and then walk up and down the Ocean Drive strip. Sounds simple right, but it is divertido AF! A real blast, actually.
Think of it: you walk and get to experience/witness 15 different parties happening on one night.
The colors, the sounds, the smells, and THE PEOPLE watching. WOOOOOWWEEEEE. The people watching is great during the day, per en la noche?? Next level!
To be perfectly honest with you, I don’t think South beach could be a sustainable thing for me at all, but it is certainly a un lugar ideal para disfrutar a weekend getaway. It’s the perfect place for celebrating or letting off steam with your friends.
If you find yourself in the area, debating whether or not to hit the South Beach nightlife scene, do it at least once.
Give it a try. You may find it as thrilling as I did!
- What type of “nightlife” are you into?
“Miami is too bright and colorful to miss.”
– Anshula Varma
Wynwood Arts District
Wynwood is a street art lover’s dream… and ustedes ya saben how much I adore street art.
In truth, you CAN’T really experience all that Miami has to offer without taking a walking tour of the Wynwood district. Es vital para la identidad de Miami, friends. I’ve said this before, but street art is the voice of the community… the real, authentic (albeit, gritty) pulse of the citizens of the city. Touring Wynwood is understanding la GENTE de Miami and listening to what they have to say. Que te dije? Vital!
Wynwood isn’t just about street art though, no, its so much more.
It is home to museums, art galleries, artisan shops, trendy eateries as well as installaciones de arte callejero. It’s an up-and-coming place that’s going through a bit of a gentrification period. Mi esperanza es que it grows into a thriving area while still holding space for the true residents of that area.
Here’s the thing (imma be fully honest), it’s legit gritty. Algunos lo podrían llamar: dirty, scary, or “off color”. In fact, when I was last there, I heard a well-to-do suburban family in the midst of returning to their car after walking one block because they thought it was so off-putting. It’s not para todos, I guess. But as I said earlier, es una parte importante of Miami culture and I think it’s a must-see for all tourists.
And the art, well… it’s gorgeous.
The street art is llena de color, vibrante, y expressiva. There are literal words of affirmation to comfort you on the sidewalks under your feet, commissioned murals to challenge you into action, and plenty of evidence of the cultural diversity that Miami enjoys around every corner.
- Now, don’t you think that’s a place you should see? Yea, yo también!
“The thing that’s really cool for me about Miami Beach is you have this dichotomy between sunlight and family and happiness and innocence and then at night, darker, stranger mob conspiracy stuff sort of comes out. It seems like a storytelling engine. You can just keep writing about how those two worlds smash into each other.”
– Mitch Glazer
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
As far as famous residences go, Villa Vizcaya is at the top of mi lista Americana. It’s pure MAGIC and one of Miami’s treasures. Please don’t finish off your weekend getaway without stopping in por una visita!
So, it’s actually no longer ” a residence”, ahora es un museum of an estate built during the Gilded Era as well as it’s surrounding formal gardens. It deserves, por lo menos, a full half-day of touring, not just because its a national historic landmark, but also because its truly breathtaking.
It’s beyond pretty. The Venetian-inspired mansion with it’s elaborate details, it’s 10 acres of beautifully manicured grounds, its meticulously planned furniture, its ornate shoreline- ALL GORG. Lo tienes que ver para creer.
They call it: “Miami’s Home” for a reason.
Vizcaya was the jewel of Miami when it was built between 1914 -1922 by Industrialist James Deering, and it remains so to this day. Everywhere you look, puedes ver the blending of northern Italian influences con los natural resources that South Florida offers. Although it’s design screams “Baroque”, la casa was actually pretty modern for it’s day. Check it – it had it’s own telephone switch board, a heating and ventilation system, AND 2 whole elevators. BOOYAH! Dope, huh?
Ok, my history nerd is showing. Haha. Perdóname!:)
I’ll tell you something else, Vizcaya is a photographer’s dream.
If you go on un lindo dia sin mucho calor, and are wearing a hat for sun protection- it’s the PERFECT place to meander and snap gorgeous photos. Every single place you look is an Instagram post waiting to happen. I aint even gunna front, todavía tengo like 40 Vizcaya pics on my phone just waiting for their debut. 🙂
Don’t leave this amazing place out of your miami plans, ok? Confía en mi.
- Have you ever toured a historic estate? Which one?
Miami is a whole ass vibe. You have GOT to plan tu próximo viaje para Magic City, and soon! Just make sure that while you are jotting down your “must-sees” and your “must- dos” for your weekend getaway, that you pull up este blog post and incorporate one (if not all) of my suggestions! Te prometo, I won’t steer you wrong.
South Beach, Wynwood, Vizcaya, the Miami food scene… all worthy of your time!:)
Lo importante es to go to Miami with an open heart… leave everything you’ve heard about it in the back of your mind and experience it as it reveals itself to you. Estoy segura that if you do that, you too will become enamored with it’s unique charm. It’s energy will fill you up and leave you invigorated and excited about just LIVING.
Cuz, if there’s one thing that Miami knows how to do right, its LIVE IT UP! 🙂
Los quiero mucho! Be back soon!
Joana
6 Comments
Grace
These blogs just keep on getting better. Watching the Miami trip on Insta was one thing but being able to virtually relive it here is bliss. I wanna lay on the beach, eat asian food, visit as many art deco buildings as possible and party till the morning after this!💙
Jenny
That was a really good way to describe Miami! I smiled the entire time! Love it!
Joana
Ahhh my heart! I’m thrilled to hear you say that. How about this? Hop on over across the big blue pond and I’ll take you!!:)
Joana
Yay! I’m so glad I did it justice! It was a lovely time, a lovely place and a lovely trip!:)
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Ron
Thank you, Madam ! Miami + you = great style. Villa Vizcaya looks wonderful !