Miami

Well Played · June 2, 2016

Any Miami residents/experts out there? Not from a golf perspective (will check the regional course threads for that), but from a vacation perspective. Family of four, two kids 12 and 9 looking for beachfront/ocean view for a week in late June/early July (so over the 4th)... High rise hotel with great shopping and excellent upscale or trendy restaurants (we are foodies and have always heard great things about food in Miami)... Don't need crazy nightlife, will be more of a lazy and relaxing beach and pool vacation, bellying up to some cool beach bars... Just want to make sure we're in an area for all that, especially good food (again, hint hint)!

Have done a little research - I see Miami Beach, Sunny Isles, Bal Harbor... Where do we wanna be, any suggestions?

Thanks!

Psyber · June 2, 2016

My advice is if you want a low key S FL vacation and you don't care about wild nightlife I can think of so many better places. FT Lauderdale might be a better choice for you or even Palm Beach. Delray Beach would be worth looking into. Not much directly on the beach but right across the street is good enough and you wont deal with the massive Miami crowds and bullxxxx.

socied · June 2, 2016

My advice is if you want a low key S FL vacation and you don't care about wild nightlife I can think of so many better places. FT Lauderdale might be a better choice for you or even Palm Beach. Delray Beach would be worth looking into. Not much directly on the beach but right across the street is good enough and you wont deal with the massive Miami crowds and bullxxxx.

Never lived there but I have spent a ton of time there and this is correct. Miami Beach is definitely a party spot. Don't get me wrong, you can have tons of fun with the kids just walking around and what not but its more about the beach parties and clubs/night life. Palm Beach is a lot more laid back, maybe a little too laid back.

With that being said, hotels and dining depend a lot on budgets. I dont have kids but i always like to go to the "big name, touristy" places, mainly to say ive gone there. Best food places for dinner are Prime 112, Joes Stone Crab (timing has to be right), Meat Market, Nobu, etc. They are all incredible. Prime 112 def deserves all of the praise that it gets.

For shopping right on south beach, Lincoln street is where to go. Bal Harbor is amazing as well.

For hotels, all depends on budget again. The Setai is my go to, only because I know someone who worked there and get a discount. I couldn't afford to stay long there if I didn't. For family friendly, I would looking into the W, The Hilton and actually FontaineBleau has a ton of pools, slides, etc.

thegrayman · June 3, 2016

Lived there for 6 years. South Beach isn't that great to stay at for a family. By far the best area for easy access to beach and low key bars is Hollywood. Large boardwalk and uncrowded beaches because everyone goes to Ft. Lauderdale or South Beach. It is still only about 30 minutes from Miami Beach so you easily drive down for the day.It also has IMO the best outdoor grill in the area at Le Tub as well as Taco Beach which is incredible (think korean short rib,smoked brisket, softshell crab) and open late.

As has been said Lincoln Road is a great place to spend a day and be sure to see Espanola Way at night, but like I said that area isn't great to actually stay at unless you are into serious nightlife/trendy hotel pools. South Beach is the Vegas of south Florida in that regard.

If you want high end dining that is VERY unique go to Barton G. Yardbird is also awesome.

As for REAL Miami cuisine you will need to go Cuban. Versailles is the OG when it comes to Miami Cuban but Sergios is also very good and has multiple locations. If you are truly adventurous you can go to Chicos in Hialeah for what I believe is the best but be warned it is native.

If you truly have to have the high rise beach experience look at the Westin Diplomat in Hallandale. Amazing over/under pools, great restaurant, has its own golf course, and great views. Plus it's near the aforementioned Hollywood Beach and a short drive from Bal Harbor (an ultra high end mall and city).

Wriggles · June 3, 2016

I haven't been to Miami since 1987, my late uncle and his family used to live there. I noticed that the locals were very rude, in stores and restaurants. As far as the old Art Deco area, I can't really comment.

My uncle used to say Miami Vice pretty much summed it up.

glk · June 3, 2016

Charlestown. Food is great. Lots of history to see - walking downtown, fort Sumter, aircraft carrier Yorktown , sub and frigate. Beaches at isle of Palm. Shopping. Plantations - including boone hall where notebook was filmed. See gators at caw caw. River dogs. Bill Murray. Sweet grass baskets. Resort on isle of palms.

thegrayman · June 3, 2016

I noticed that the locals were very rude

Understatement of the century. It can be a huge culture shock coming from just about anywhere else in the country and suddenly feeling like everyone is infected with that rage virus from 28 Days Later.

My uncle used to say Miami Vice pretty much summed it up.

I could defend a doctoral thesis on why Miami only exists as it does today because of Miami Vice. There has never been a more culturally influential tv show.