I've been living in Miami for over 8 months now. While I definitely do not know Miami like I know my home city of New York, I am starting to get the hang of this place.
Beaches and nightlife are what Miami is most known for. But I present in this post some of the other parts of Miami that you should explore.
I know quite a lot about Miami culture at this point—from its predominantly Cuban culture to its unexpectedly large Jewish community. In this post, I explore some of my favorite places to go from restaurants and bars to street art and nature.
1. Stay In South Beach (Just Once)
After I interviewed at my future job, I stayed at Beds N' Drinks for the weekend down in South Beach. From my 4-bed female dorm, I had quick access to the beach and the popular, pedestrian-only Lincoln Road shopping street.
Most tourists to Miami book their stays close to the beach in South Beach. The area has beautiful beaches by day and wild club environment by night.
Most people who visit South Beach eventually realize they need to get out of South Beach. It's a wild place—crowded and chaotic. The vibe is flashy and flaunty from spray tans to neon paint jobs on leased sports cars.
I spent one weekend there and that was more than enough for me! But it's definitely an experience everyone should have.
Pro-tip: Stay closer to North Miami to avoid the tourists, crowds, and party atmosphere. North beach is where the locals go to work on their tans.
Views at North Beach in Miami
2. Observe The Holocaust Memorial
One night during my stay in South Beach, I wandered over to check out Miami's Holocaust Memorial. It sits at the corner of Meridian Ave and Dade Blvd.
I've seen my share of Holocaust Memorials—like the memorial site that is the camp in Dachau, for example. But this one moved me the most.
Kennth Treister designed the memorial which the Holocaust Memorial Committee established in 1985.
To my surprise, I learned that Miami has a large Jewish population with over 500,000 living in the South Florida area and 189 synagogues. North of Miami, Palm Beach County is considered the most Jewish county in the United States at 20% Jewish.
I really took my Jewish roots in Brooklyn for granted while living in New York—who knew there was such a big population of Jewish South Floridians?!
Pro-Tip: Go at night—the drama created by the lighting is moving.
3. Walk Through Miami Beach Botanical Gardens
Directly behind the Holocaust Memorial next to the Convention Center is a gorgeous, hidden, tropical oasis. The Miami Beach Botanical Garden is quaint but the perfect dose of nature in the predominantly urban landscape.
There are nice fountains and sculptures found throughout the gardens. Some are obvious and some are a bit hidden.
Some of my favorite plants here are all the air plants clutching the walls and trees. The orchids are also gorgeous in their hanging pots. Tropical foliage always makes me instantly relaxed and feeling like I've escaped to an island country.
4. View Street Art In Wynwood
The first attraction on your list when you escape the madness of South Beach should be a visit to Wynwood.
Wynwood used to be industrial. The neighborhood grew into the entertainment and arts district it is today only in the last 15 years.
Developers like Tony Goldman (who revitalized Soho in New York) invested in the already present graffiti scene. He brought in commissioned murals and art pieces as part of a mainly outdoor street art exhibit called Wynwood Walls.
Tony Goldman and other significant figures depicted in Shepard Fairey’s mural at Wynwood Walls
Now one of the most well-known art districts in the world, artists come in for the annual Art Basel festival each year to transform the area with new work. World famous artists featured include Shepard Fairey, Okuda San Miguel, and London Hicks. Here are some of my favorites:
Don't just check out the art at Wynwood Walls, however. Walk all over Wynwood to see street art by some of the same artists and others spread up and down the surrounding streets. Here are some of my favorites from outside Wynwood Walls:
Pro-tip: Go during Art Basel in December to see the artists in action and watch their process.
5. Kayak Biscayne Bay
I recently bought a kayak and launched it in Biscayne Bay by Oleta River Park. Tourists rent kayaks by the hour inside Oleta River Park. There is a fee to get into this state park but a day out on the water is worth it.
The bay protects kayakers from the strong ocean currents and winds.
There are mangroves that I explored and much wildlife to be discovered. I was really surprised to find one of the largest iguana I've ever seen in the mangroves that extend behind Florida International University.
Pro-tip: Bring lots of sunscreen and consider parking your kayak for a swim at Oleta River State Park Beach.
6. Go Out In Wynwood
I don't go out very often these days but, when I do, I really enjoy the bar and club scene in Wynwood.
After walking around Wynwood Walls, grab a mojito at the Miami Mojito Company. They have mojitos in a variety of flavors such as classic, blackberry, tamarind, coconut, and pineapple. There's usually a special on rotation, too. Served with a stick of sugar cane, I am obsessed with their refreshing mojitos and tiki bar feel.
A kiwi mojito from the Miami Mojito Company
With my colleague and friend Kate at the Miami Mojito Company
Head over to Gramps for a great place to go dancing or to see a show (from drag or comedy to bands or DJs). I once went there to hear a DJ perform who was an 80-something year old women and she had a killer setlist and more energy than me!
R house offers a great drag show and brunch opportunity on Sundays. With indoor and outdoor seating options, you can enjoy the Miami weather or stay inside to keep cool.
No. 3 Social is an awesome rooftop bar serving an array of delicious cocktails. The views of Wynwood are beautiful and the deck furniture is cozy and just calling for a friend group hangout!
No. 3 Social Rooftop
7. Explore Key Biscayne
Key Biscayne is a barrier island south of Miami Beach. There's a small fee to get into Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park where the beaches are—but it's worth it! There are hiking trails, a beautiful lighthouse to explore, a cafe, and a gorgeous beach.
The trails near Boater's Grill are fun to get lost in. I was there with my friend Christiana in the middle of August. It was so hot! We felt like we weren't in a big city anymore once we were lost in the middle of the vegetation.
The beach spot gets very popular on the weekends but is still less crowded than Miami Beach. I loved coming here with a cooler full of beverages and taking them into the shallow water to sit, sip, and chat with a friend.
There's nothing better than experiencing the heat of Miami from the water with and ice cold drink!
And don’t forget to walk over to the lighthouse, too. It’s beautiful and there are some fun, historical sites to explore nearby.
8. Eat Cuban Food at Havana 1957 or Versailles
Miami's population is majority Hispanic with Cubans (34%) making up the largest portion. This means there is lots of awesome Hispanic food to check out. But the Cuban food is by far the most influential.
A visit to Miami really isn't complete without trying the Cuban food. Down on South Beach, the place to go is Havana 1957.
But Versailles, the "world's most famous Cuban restaurant," is the locally acclaimed favorite. Versailles has been serving Cuban cuisine for nearly 50 years! You just have to catch an uber into the neighborhood of Flagler to visit.
Once there, try the assorted croquettas to start and for your main get the vaca frita. Get the vaca frita pollo if you don't eat red meat like me!
Many recommend the classic Cuban sandwich but it didn't knock my socks off when I tried it my first time there.
After dinner, go next door to the Versailles bakery for a sweet bite and a cafecito to wash it down.
Pro-tip: Head to Versailles around 5pm and you will barely miss the 5:30/6pm dinner rush. Expect to wait up to 30 minutes for a table on any given night.
9. Shop & See Art At The Bayfront
I spent an entire afternoon around Bayfront Park with my friend Katelyn. This shopping area is very touristy because it is where all the cruise ships port in Miami. There's an amphitheatre that usually has live music and there are two floors of high end shops, eateries, and bars.
There are a couple of museums nearby worth checking out. A short 15 minute walk broad us over to Maurice A. Ferre Park where the Frost Museum of Science and Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) are located.
Beautiful sculptures and unique plant displays surround PAMM.
Inside the museum, you can catch an exhibit next to the souvenir shop that is worth checking out. You can see all of this without even paying to go inside!
Usually, the Frost Museum of Science has an outdoor exhibit, too. When I was there, they were showcasing their Project Mars poster contest finalists.
All were amazing—but there was only one winner:
One time, I went to the Frost Museum of Science to check out their nighttime laser light show. I loved it! I saw the show set to Daft Punk music but they also had it set to David Bowie, the Beatles, Radiohead and others.
10. Experience The Jungle Island Light Show
If it's November-January, make sure you visit Luminosa, a Chinese Lantern Festival on Jungle Island. Jungle Island is an eco-adventure park that is actually on Watson Island. Watson Island is a human-formed island accessed off the highway from the mainland to Miami Beach.
The Luminosa experience includes 13 acres of over 1 million LED lights in handcrafted silk figures. There are multiple areas to explore including a Garden section, Ocean scene (underwater world), Magic City display, and Jungle theme.
Ivana and I went in early January, arriving in time to catch the acrobat performances by Chinese artists.
We also found a little bar where we could sit and listen to the light tunes of a singer songwriter duo. We celebrated our 1 year anniversary here from the swings with champagne.
The experience truly felt like we were in another world!
Go for the lights, not the caged animals! Yes, this place has cages animals by day. But by night it lights up for the annual Chinese Lantern Festival called Luminosa.
11. Drive Through Coral Gables
Driving through the residential sections of Coral Cables is an off-the-beaten-path experience. If you have a car or can hire a cab to take you, it's totally worth it!
Drive down Coral Way to experience a natural tunnel created by a canopy of large oak, mahogany and other hardwood trees that arch over the road. See all of the massive, luxury homes in the Coral Gables Section south of Granada golf course.
Where Columbus and Sevilla intersect, you'll be amazed by the massive, entangled banyan trees that decorate the meridians and roadsides.
Bring your bathing suit and stop at the Venetian Pool if you have some spare time!
12. See the Florida Keys
Although outside of Miami, this is a highlight of South Florida that many people try to get to while in Miami. There are probably multiple ways to get there. But the best way is to drive yourself so you can take in the famous ocean views from key to key.
Read more about my most recent travels to the Florida Keys here. Also, keep in mind that it is a 4 or more hour drive to get to Key West. So spend your time wisely!
Pro-tip: Rent a car and drive there when it isn't rush hour or on the weekend to avoid the traffic.
13. Tour Shark Valley In The Everglades
This is another popular place to go to while in Miami. There are tours you can go on that will get you there. But, again, driving yourself is easier.
The Shark Valley Visitor Center is located in Everglades National Park. The entrance fee is $30 and then you can hope on a self-guided, 15-mile bicycle tour or a 2-hour tram tour to see lots of wildlife—including alligators!
All animals here are wild and in their natural habitat so you can visit guilt-free as far as animal tourism goes. For more, check out my most recent post on how to see alligators in the Everglades.
Pro-tip: Bring rain gear and get there early in the morning to avoid the heat of the day and the crowds. The optimal time for seeing alligators is during the winter months.
In Conclusion
There is a wide variety of things to see and do while visiting Miami. Some of it you can see right from the main tourist area on South Beach. But, in my opinion, the best things to do and see are outside of South Beach. So get a car or hop in an Uber and explore!
Just remember not to go during rush hour. The traffic in Miami is a beast that even the locals have been unable to tame!
