As you’ve seen from my Miami posts, I really enjoyed my time in the city and think it’s a great place for a weekend getaway. Miami is kind of crazy and really fun! It’s a city with a beach, hot food scene, impeccable style, and a variety of activities. It’s chic, hip, and laid-back, but also anything you want to make it.

Here’s the ultimate post to help you start planning your trip. I’ve linked all my other Miami posts below.

Quick Tips for Miami

• Best Time to Visit Miami – You want to avoid hurricane season June to November, though you never know what will happen. June and September are usually the wettest months.
• Cost – Miami can be very expensive if you’re not careful, especially for alcoholic drinks. Otherwise, there are activities and restaurants for every budget.
• Airport – Miami International Airport or MIA
• Tip – tip is usually included in the check so double-check before you pay

Getting Around Miami

Rideshare is an easy way to get around Miami. (I use Lyft!) Short distances are about $6 while going from Miami Beach to downtown Miami is about $30.

There are also public transportation options, especially if you’re staying downtown. There is a Metrorail that services downtown. A public bus from the airport to South Beach will take about an hour. See more about Miami public transportation here.

Of course, traffic is high during prime times, usually in the morning, around lunch, and post-work commute. I would add an extra 15 minutes to the commute during those times.

Typical commute times:

• Downtown to Wynwood: 10-25 minutes
• Downtown to South Beach: 10-30 minutes
• Wynwood to South Beach: 15-30 minutes

Where to Stay in Miami

Where to stay depends on what your activity priority is in Miami. Staying on Miami Beach may be a little more expensive but you’ll be in walking distance to the beach. Maybe you want to stay in downtown to have easier access to the museums. The previous section showing cost and commute times will help.

There are not many hotels near Wynwood and a home rental would be your best bet if you want to stay in that area. Here’s a place I stayed in and recommend.

For bachelorette parties, I love the idea of everyone staying in the same place. Renting an Airbnb or having conjoining hotel rooms will make the whole experience more intimate and fun! This Airbnb place we stayed in needed a little love but it fit a big group, had multiple bedrooms, and was the perfect location in walking distance to the beach.

Miami Hotels

Hotels easily average around $200 and go up to $260 per night.

Hotels that were below average in price:

• Casa Boutique
• ME Miami
• YVE Hotel

Here are some other Miami hotel recommendations (most on Miami Beach):

• The Confidante
• Faena Hotel
• Mandarin Oriental
• The Setai Hotel
• Kimpton Surfcomber
• Washington Park Hotel

What to Do in Miami

There’s plenty to do in Miami! Check out this list of best things to do in Miami to get art, museum, and outdoor recommendations. I recommend the beach, discovering the street art, and a few museums.

Planning a Bachelorette Party?

For gals that like the beach, good food, and nightlife, Miami is the perfect place to celebrate a bachelorette party. This is a great option if you’re looking for a beach destination inside the U.S. The city is set up like a tamer Las Vegas with a variety of options, depending on what the bachelorette likes to do.

What to Eat in Miami

All my food recommendations are in this post about the best restaurants in Miami. Get ready – you’ll be eating well in Miami!

Who’s ready to go to Miami?!

See all my Miami posts here.

Let’s stay connected! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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We spent about four days with a group of friends in Miami and it was not enough! Our trip involved a lot of good food and relaxing on the beach, but I’m already itching to go again to take in more of the museums and art. Since it was my first trip, the Miami vibes were electric, and I loved its abundance of culture and activities. The sunshine and ocean air didn’t hurt either.

Miami has a variety of options Planning a trip to Miami? Here are some of the things you should consider doing! (Also great ideas for a Miami bachelorette party!)

Miami Beaches

Miami can eat up your bank account but the beach is free. Lay out your beach towel and jump right in!

• South Pointe Park Beach – great for families
• South Beach – more busy beach, gay-friendly section
• Miami Beach – beach-front resorts
• North Beach – laid-back area
• Sunny Isles Beach – white sand

Miami Museums

Miami has a few museum options.

• Perez Art Museum
• The Bass
• Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
• Frost Museum of Science

Miami Art

In addition to museums, Miami is full of art on the streets. From murals in Wynwood to historic buildings on South Beach, the opportunity to appreciate art seemed to be on every corner.

Wynwood Walls and Wynwood District
Specifically, the Wynwood Walls is a gated area with big murals, but you’ll find murals all over the Wynwood district. It’s fun walking around to see what you’ll find. We made a quick walk after lunch to hit a few dessert spots and loved all the art!

Art Deco
If you like architecture, you’ll love seeing all the art deco buildings. It’s so unique and colorful. We had fun walking around seeing the details and fonts. You’ll find most of it on Miami Beach, around Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue, and Washington Avenue. There’s also an Art Deco Welcome Center you can go for more information and tours.

Miami Food

• Food Tours – Let the experts take you to the best spots. Check out Miami Culinary Tours or Miami Food Tours for a food tour.
• Breweries – There are a handful of breweries in Miami. Consider a brewery crawl. See the breweries here.
• Restaurants – There are plenty of fantastic restaurants to try! See all my recommendations here.

Miami’s Great Outdoors

There’s more to Miami’s outdoors than the beach. You could take a sightseeing tour by boat around Miami or go discover the national parks.

• Everglades National Park
• Biscayne National Park
• Everglades Swamp Tour
• Miami Seaquarium
• Thriller Miami (speedboat tour)
• Island Queen Cruises (downtown leisure boat tour)

Miami Nightlife

This section of the guide is for people who want to party and see if they can stay out until 5 a.m. Also great ideas for a bachelorette or bachelor party. The majority of Miami clubs and bars seem to play house and EDM music but there are a few places that have a little more of a variety (aka hip-hop and top 40).

Bars

• Do Not Sit on the Furniture – House music
• Electric Pickle – House music
• Bodega – DJ variety music (Restaurant is a cover. You’ll see the line of people waiting to go through the porta potty door into the bar!)
• Foxhole – DJ variety music
• Ball and Chain – salsa music and dancing in Little Havana
• Highbar at Dream – rooftop bar/lounge

Dance Clubs

If you want to get into one of the nightclubs in Miami get ready to wait in line, pay cover, and/or pay for bottle service and a table.

• Mynt
• Story

Conclusion

Depending on what you like to do, Miami would be a great place for a long weekend trip or I could even see five to seven days being a nice relaxing and activity-filled vacation. I hope you get to visit this fun city one day!

Have you been to Miami? What activities would you recommend?

P.S. Did you see my recommendations for best restaurants in Miami? Also check out my Miami Travel Guide here.

Let’s stay connected! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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I’m not sure how Miami does it. When I was researching the best places to eat in Miami, I got a little concerned that my list was growing and growing! Miami is a foodie city that I don’t hear about enough, so this is going to be a long post to make up for it.

With only four days in Miami, I didn’t have enough time to fully indulge, but I did get a handful of great meals and plenty of recommendations for my next visit to Miami.

Must-Try Foods

Many of the “must-try” foods are Cuban because of the vibrant Cuban culture and influences. Other recommendations are dishes Miami does especially well.

• Cuban Sandwich aka Cubano – Let’s start with the obvious! Did you know this sandwich originated in the U.S.? It’s a pressed sandwich with ham, roasted pork, swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard.
• Cortadito – Also known as Cuban coffee or Cuban espresso, this drink is like an espresso with equal parts steamed milk. It usually includes sugar.
• Croquetas – This is a breaded and fried snack, similar to a fried mozzarella stick, but the filling is usually mashed potatoes or meat.
• Empanadas – This fried pastry is usually stuffed with spinach, ham with cheese, or pork.
• Arepa – This dish involves corn flour patties as “buns” and usually with meat in between. It reminds me of an English muffin sandwich.
• Mofongo – This is a popular Puerto Rican dish that includes fried plantains and is mashed with other ingredients into a ball. A sauce is poured over it and the dish is topped with protein.
• Stone Crab – The majority of stone crab claws are harvested in the tip of Florida. Did you know they only take one claw from the crab and it regenerates in a year? They are usually eaten cold and served smashed since the shell is very thick.
• Fried Snapper – This is usually a whole fried snapper!
• Key Lime Pie – Be sure to get a slice of this pie! Key limes from Key West, Florida make this pie famous.
• Pastelitos – This sweet or savory pastry is similar to a turnover.

Casual Miami Restaurants

Looking for a quick but good meal? No reservations required, though sometimes recommended. Check out some of these restaurants for a more casual breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Bodega Taqueria y Tequila – These tacos are fantastic! Psst, they taste even better late night.

Café Versailles / Versailles – Their menu is huge and you’ll be able to find lots of Cuban dishes. Versailles is the sit-down restaurant while Café Versailles is more casual.

Jimmy’z Kitchen – We came here specifically for mofongo! It was a huge and hearty dish.

Joe’s Stone Crab – This was my first time having stone crab! It was very tasty. The main restaurant is more formal but if you’re in casual clothes, especially if you’re coming from the beach, go to Joe’s Take Away next door. You’ll order at the counter and find a table.

Las Olas – Since this café was right outside our Airbnb, we went here daily for cortaditos and Cuban sandwiches, and empanadas. All of it was so good! O Group has a few restaurants in Miami.

Rosetta Bakery – This Italian bakery will give you all the heart eyes with its pretty pastries and interior design.

Wynwood Kitchen & Bar – This is a restaurant surrounded by art! They have a solid menu also. We tried the short ribs, guacamole, and deviled eggs.

Be sure to check out these restaurants also:

• 27 Restaurant – Global-inspired American fare
• Enriqueta’s Sandwich Shop – Cuban food
• La Latina – Venezuelan food, get your arepas here
• Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink – New American food
• Taquiza – Mmm tacos!
• Yardbird – Farm-to-table Southern food

Fancier Miami Restaurants

If you’re looking for a nice meal in Miami, you’ve got options. You probably want to make a reservation for these.

La Mar – Located at the Mandarin Oriental hotel, this Peruvian Asian fusion restaurant was very impressive. Highly recommend the lobster ceviche and the crab causa.

Also, check out:

• Byblos – Eastern Mediterranean cuisine
• Ce.viche – Peruvian cuisine
• KYU – Sushi and Japanese food
• Mignonette – Seafood and oyster bar
• Sugarcane Raw Bar – Small plates and fancy cocktails
• Upland – Italian-inspired cuisine

Don’t Forget Dessert in Miami

Y’all know this is my favorite category! Cake, pie, and ice cream, Miami’s got it and it is good!

Bunnie Cakes – These cakes are vegan?! One taste and I knew how they’ve earned all their recognition. These are even better than some non-vegan cupcakes I’ve had, and their bakery is adorable!

Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop – Where else would I try key lime pie?! I usually don’t like tart pies but this one was so smooth! Easily the best I’ve ever had.

Azucar Ice Cream Company – I’m not sure how Cuban ice cream differs from American ice cream but I do know that Azucar Ice Cream Company makes good ice cream! Their famous Abuela Maria flavor is vanilla ice cream with guava, cream cheese, and Maria cookies.

Looking for more sweets? Here you go:

• B Bistro + Bakery
• Icebox Cafe
• Karla Bakery
• Milani Gelateria
• Mojo Donuts + Fried Chicken
• The Salty Donut
• Zak the Baker Bakery

Best Breweries in Miami

I would not have guessed Miami is a brewery town but theirs can definitely hold their own. We visited three on this visit and enjoyed all of them!

Concrete Beach Brewery – This place was hopping and not only because of their beers. I loved the design and set-up of this brewery. The TangeRICA, an IPA, was my favorite.

Wynwood Brewing Company – I love that their tap handles are spray paint cans decorated by artists. Be sure to try the Simcoe SMASH.

Abbey Brewing Co. – Located on Miami Beach and next door to Yardbird, this brewery happened to be the place we heard the best playlist our entire time in Miami. They also brew some good beers, including the Hop Lab, an IPA.

Also, consider:

• J. Wakefield Brewing
• Veza Sur Brewing Company
• Wood Tavern – Not a brewery but a bar to try different breweries
• Miami Brewing Company – A little far out of town but you can find their cans in town.

Bottoms Up – Cocktails in Miami

MO Bar + Lounge – We stopped here after dinner at La Mar downstairs and had some solid cocktails. The ambiance is cool and classy and you’ll find a beautiful view of Miami on the patio.

Find more cocktails here:

• The Anderson
• The Broken Shaker
• Employees Only
• Gramps

Re-Fuel with Green Juice

• DIRT
• Dreamer Acai Juice Matcha
• Simple

Miami Food and Drink Map

Use this handy map to help you plan your trip and find good eats in Miami!

Restaurants – blue
Breweries – orange
Desserts – coral
Cocktails – yellow
Green Juice – green

The long weekend trip was definitely not enough time to eat my way around Miami but I’m looking forward to going back for more Cuban food.

Have you been to Miami? What did you eat there?

Want more about Miami? See:

• Recommendations of things to do in Miami (including bachelorette party tips)
• Miami Travel Guide

P.S. Want to check out some other foodie U.S. cities? See my foodie guides for Chicago, Nashville, or Charleston.

Keep up with my food adventures! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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It’s been 19 years since I visited Walt Disney World for a family vacation. I had to do the math twice because I couldn’t believe that much time has passed. So, when Boyfriend and I visited his family near Orlando, FL it seemed like the perfect opportunity to see what Disney World is like as an adult.

It was a crazy, park-hopping day for us, but Walt Disney World is a pretty magical place. Kids are so happy here! Here are a few tips to plan your trip.

Quick Facts about Walt Disney World

• There are four main parks: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios.
• Parking is available at each park. It costs about $20 per day.
• There are free shuttles and monorails that will take you to each park.
• If you stay in one of the Disney Resorts nearby, you get perks like free shuttles from your resort to the park, advanced opportunities to buy tickets, and more.
• Best times to visit: January, February, and September are usually the least crowded. School holidays are the busiest times.
• Parks vary in closing time but all open at 9 am.
• Special events to enjoy at the park: Halloween, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Half-Marathons, and Marathons.

Park Tickets

• Tickets range from $99-119 per park. Check their website for value, regular, and peak ticket prices.
• 1-Day Park Hopper Ticket, which lets you go to multiple parks in one day: $170-174
• Visiting multiple times a year? Get an Annual Pass for $779-869
• FastPass: This ticket you buy in addition to your ticket will allow you to reserve access to attractions. You’ll have a period of time to visit the reserved attraction and you’ll get to skip the line.
• If you have an Annual Pass or stay at a Disney Resort, you’ll have advanced access to FastPass.

Epcot International Food and Wine Festival – Aug. 31 – Nov. 13, 2017

This annual food and wine festival was not what I imagined it was fun to see. They have food kiosks by country around the park featuring three or four different offerings, similar to how the park is usually set up. Small bites are available to buy for around $5 per dish. They have special exhibits, like the craft beer exhibit we went to. Here we tried a flight of local beers and some snacks.

Food and Drinks to Try at Disney World

You can easily find something Mickey-shaped, from ice cream pops to pretzels. For me, I only had ONE thing I wanted to try at Disney: Dole Whip. This popular pineapple soft serve at Disney was created by Dole Food Company. It’s found at each of the parks, though it might be slightly hidden within the park.

Things to See at Each Park

Epcot

• Go around the world at Epcot! A few countries have decorated areas with building replicas and characters that make you feel like you’re traveling.
• Future World has the futuristic rides.
• Frozen is featured here with meet-and-greets, rides, and a dedicated area.
• Finding Nemo also has a dedicated area here.
• I think the character meet-and-greets have shorter lines here than Magic Kingdom.
• Most Popular Rides: Test Track, Spaceship Earth, Frozen, Soarin’, Mission: Space

Magic Kingdom

• Here’s where you’ll find the classic view – Cinderella’s Castle. You’ll also see Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Frontierland.
• Most Popular Rides: Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, It’s a Small World, and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Animal Kingdom

• Pandora – The World of Avatar is the newest addition to the park, and it opened this year. Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey are the two rides.
• The scariest ride we went on was Expedition Everest.
• Lions, tigers, gorillas, elephants, giraffes, and more can be seen in this park.
• See the whole park lit up with different colored lights at night.
• Most Popular Rides: Safari, Expedition Everest, Kali River Rapids, two Pandora rides

Hollywood Studios

• You’ll find all the Star Wars-related rides, meet-and-greets, and experiences here.
• Watch musical shows for Beauty and the Beast and Frozen here.
• Toy Story Land is opening in summer 2018!
• Most Popular Rides: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Star Wars

We went to three parks in one day, spanning about 12 hours of walking and standing. It was exhausting and my legs were still sore the next day. Was I glad we went? Sure. Would I do it again? Unless I have the whole park to myself, ask me in another 19 years. I’m currently editing this blog post while watching the live-action Beauty and the Beast movie and I can certainly remember the magic of Disney movies as a kid. Disney World brings that magic to life!

Keep up with my travel posts and adventures. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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