Miami | 19x the most beautiful places + things to do

Let us take you to the most beautiful places in Miami in this blog. Miami is big and the possibilities are endless! We wouldn't Wereldreizigers.nl if we didn't have more than 5 tips in store for you. Whether you want to relax on the beach or get active, Miami offers something for everyone. How about a rocket launch and spotting wildlife? Below we share the 19 most beautiful sights + fun things to do with you. Take your pick!

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19x the most beautiful places + things to do in Miami

1. Beaches

The beaches simply cannot be missed in a Miami travel guide. It is no coincidence that this one is at the top of the list. It doesn't really matter which beach you choose, they are all beautiful. In addition, Florida ensures that the beaches are tidy and that there are sufficient facilities available. You never have to search long for a toilet or shower. Most beaches also have a boulevard that you can browse for souvenirs or to people watch. Colorful people cycle and skate past you.

Do you want to taste the atmosphere on the different beaches as much as possible? Then drive on Ocean Drive from north to south or vice versa and visit several beaches in one day. During the ride you will be treated to the splendor of Miami; palms, houses, boats and luxury hotels. Below are two beaches with an impression of the atmosphere.

South Pointe Beach

South Pointe Beach is located at the very tip of Miami and is the beach to visit. The beautiful park that is located directly next to it is also worth a visit. More on that later in the article.

Las Olas Beach

Las Olas beach is also a nice place to visit. The long boulevard is fun to walk along, you will be amazed! From poo-brown retirees to rollerblading babes in ini-mini bikinis, everything is here.

Sunny Isles Beach

A little further north is Sunny Isles Beach. It is actually in between Miami Beach and Hollywood Beach. This is a beautiful white beach where it is generally a lot quieter compared to the other beaches. If you want to relax a bit more and have fewer children around you, this is the place to be.

2.Wynwood

Wynwood is a hip part of town where young people like to go out. Numerous beautiful outdoor Street Art creations can also be admired here. The whole neighborhood is an open air museum! At Wynwood Walls (click) you can see the typical Wynwood-style walls, which are decorated with beautiful Street Art artworks by artists from the neighborhood. We took countless beautiful photos in this neighborhood! Read in detail about the district in the article below.

Also read: Street Art in Wynwood, Miami | Roadtrip USA (14)

3. Everglades national park

East of Miami are the Everglades. It is a subtropical swamp landscape, where people mainly go to spot alligators. Via route 41 you drive past various providers of Airboat tours. Check the websites in advance to see which provider suits your needs and whether they are open. When we were there, most were closed because the water was too low. We could have avoided this if we had followed our own tips.

However, you don't have to use an airboat to see the alligators. You can already see them from the road. For road safety it is useful to spot them from Walk Road Scenic Drive† On this gravel road you do have the opportunity to drive slowly or to stop for a while and don't worry: you will see enough here!

You can also stop at Big Cypress Oasis Visitor Center to get a good look at the Alligators. It is also nice to stop for a walk. There are many places where you can stop for a bathroom break, picnic and therefore a walk. There are so-called landscaped hiking trails, where you walk through the wetland by means of a path. A good example of this is the Kirby Storter Boardwalk.

Also read: Everglades | Airboats, alligators and other wildlife | Roadtrip USA (15)

4. Attend a sports game

Baseball, basketball, ice hockey and American football are the most popular sports in Miami. There are several competitions on and around the weekend. Think of the famous NBA basketball team Miami Heat, the baseball team Miami Marlins, the Florida Panthers (ice hockey) and the Miami Dolphins. All to be seen in their home-town.

With seatgeek you can see what sporting events are going on when you are there. You can also order tickets via the site, but that is often also possible via the website of the team itself. It depends on the popularity of the match what it costs.

We went to the on a Sunday afternoon Marlins park, where the Miami Marlins played against the Seattle Mariners for about USD 27 per person. Even if you don't know much about the sport, it is still nice to see the locals enjoying their favorite team and watching all the spectacle around it.

From cheerleading to singing the national anthem, it doesn't get more American than this.

5. Shooting at Lock & Load Miami

At Lock & Load Machine Gun Experience & Range, you can fire automatic weapons. What makes Lock & Load Miami so unique is that it is only one of only two places in the United States where as a tourist you can shoot with fully automatic weapons† The other place is in Las Vegas.

You can choose between different packages. Each pack has a different composition of weapons from light to heavy caliber. You can also add pistols and/or revolvers to your package. So you can choose your favorite weapons.

Chris chose the package ´machine gun express´ from 169 USD. He chose this one over the black widow package, because he was also allowed to fire an M4 with a heavier caliber. He finally added a heavy revolver (for USD 39) to his package.

Strangely enough, Chris's nephew was not allowed to fire this revolver, because he is underage. That while he was allowed to use the fully automatic weapons! Do you still get it?

The whole gun law, the many shootings and all the craziness surrounding it in politics, we don't understand anything about it anyway… It's nice to be able to shoot somewhere for fun in a controlled environment. But, when you consider that many Americans have these enormously powerful weapons at home, it is quite scary…

I recently wrote a good article about it, see below:

Also read: Shootings, Trump crazies and political unrest | Roadtrip USA (16)

Read up Wereldreizigers.nl more about Miami and the surrounding area!

• Miami | General and practical information
• Miami | everything about costs, budget and saving tips
• Miami | Special Street Art in the colorful Wynwood district
• The Florida Keys | dolphin watching and island hopping
• Kennedy Space Center + rocket launch | Our experience
• Everglades | Airboats, alligators and other wildlife

6.South Pointe Park

This is the place to be at sunset. Bring a blanket and pack some cheeses, olives and a bottle of red wine. The locals come here to do the same before and during sunset. Enjoy the (sporty) people around you and watch the huge cruise ships pass by while the sun slowly falls in the distance behind the buildings.

Tip:: Curious what I shoot with? More information about the camera I use can be found in the display below:

The park itself is also beautiful to see. It is perfectly maintained with lots of greenery and some fountains that are nicely lit in the evening. You can walk around here and enjoy all the beauty that you see.

Are you traveling with children? Then visit the playground and of course the water playground where the children can cool off.

7. The Florida Keys

South of Miami and at the very bottom of Florida, are the Florida Keys. An archipelago of about 1700 small islands. There's a way Route 1 from Key Largo, the most northerly island, to 'the last' island of Key West in the south-west. The route takes at least 2,5 hours and is a beautiful route to drive! Our advice is to take it easy and stop occasionally during the ride on one of the islands. This is possible in a day trip, but it is also nice to stay there for a few days.

Recommendations

At several islands they have parks on the water, where you can walk, cycle, snorkel and swim. It is advisable to choose a few places in advance and sleep on Google Maps where you want to stop. Below are some recommendations:

• At Islamorada you can Robbie's find. It is a place where you can eat, shop and do various activities. From the pier we saw Nurse sharks, tarpon fish and manatees!

• Bahia State Park has a beautiful beach and a view point from the old Railroad Bridge. You pay a small entrance fee to enter the park.

• Visit in Key West the Old Town, Southernmost Point, take a stroll down Duval Street and Mallory Square. Enjoy the sunset at Sunset Pier or visit the Shipwreck Museum.

We also recommend that you set aside a part of the day for a snorkel and dolphin tour! Many different tours are offered. Honest Eco is the best in our opinion! They take you on an electric boat to spot dolphins and have a marine biologist on board to tell you about the behavior of sea animals and answer all your questions about the sea!

Also read: The Florida Keys | Dolphin watching and island hopping | Roadtrip USA (17)

8. Shopping

In the Design District you will find all Designer brands. The district is beautiful because of the layout of the various shops and works of art. In addition, there are large shopping malls to find. The most popular are Dolphin Mall, Bal Harbor Shops and Aventura Mall. Aventura Mall is the 5th largest mall in the United States with total square feet of retail space and the largest mall in Florida. The anchor stores are Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, 2 Macy's stores and JCPenney.

9. Lummus Park

Lummus Park is a park in Miami Beach and is located east of Ocean Drive between 5th and 15th Streets. The park consists of lawns, palm trees and sports fields. A boardwalk runs through the park that turns into a boardwalk on both sides. Nice to see is "Muscle Beach" where many beautiful people come together every day to train. Nowadays this is the area where many videos for Instagram or TikTok are recorded.

10. Vizcaya Museums and Gardens

No visit to Miami is complete without a stop at this historic 50-acre estate. This mansion European-style offers a glimpse into life in South Florida at the turn of the century. Built by industrialist James Deering as a way to display his wealth to all his friends, it is filled to the brim with Renaissance furniture, artwork and tapestries. The 10-acre formal gardens are built to resemble the French Versailles, but with palm trees, rare orchids and Cuban limestone. Admission is USD 25 and tickets are available online.

11. Coral Castle

Coral Castle was created by Latvian native Miami native Ed Leedskalnin as a monument to his beloved. Over the course of 28 years, Ed has carved 1.1100 tons of coral rock by hand into various monuments and sculptures. It's a bit of a drive from the center, but well worth your time. Admission is USD 18.

12.Little Havana

More than 1,2 million Cuban-Americans live in Miami. Little Havana, the Cuban neighborhood of Miami, revolves around “Calle Ocho” (SW 8th Street). Eat in one of the small restaurants, stroll through the lively streets or join in salsa dancing.

13. Rocket Launch at Kennedy Space Center

The travel time depends on where you stay in Miami. It is far, at least a three-hour drive, but more than worth it! This is one of the few places in the world where you can see a rocket launch!

Since Space-X embarked on the Starlink project, there's a good chance you'll be able to see a launch while on vacation in Miami. Even without a launch, a visit to the Kennedy Space Center is worthwhile.

Read in detail about the Kennedy Space Center below and decide for yourself whether it is worth the trip there. The blog also tells you how you can find out when the launches take place.

Also read: Kennedy Space Center | Rocket launch travel guide and report | Roadtrip USA (13)

14. Go out at a nightclub

There is a very active nightlife in Miami, and if you like clubs, Miami is one of the best places in the world to go out. There is usually an entrance fee between 20 and 30 USD and most drinks are at least 10 USD. Check out E11even, LIV Miami (the city's most famous) or Basement (complete with an ice rink and bowling alleys).

15. Fruit and Spice Park (Botanical Garden)

This tropical botanical gardenFounded in 1943, it contains 500 species of fruit trees and herb plants spread over 37 acres. The park is beautifully landscaped with lots of shaded paths. Spend some time just walking around and enjoying nature and all the wonderful smells. They also host events and festivals here, so check the website for details when you're in town. Admission is $10.

16.Coral Gables

Coral Gables is one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the United States. It is home to tree-lined boulevards and mansions. George Merrick designed the area in the 1920s and regulations ensure that all buildings still conform to the style Merrick envisioned for the community. In addition to admiring the architecture, you can stop by the Tropical Botanical Garden, the Lowe Art Museum, and the Venetian Pool.

17.Art Deco Historic District

The Art Deco Historic District is an area of ​​Miami Beach known for its more than 800 Art Deco buildings, all within a square mile (Art Deco was a popular style of architecture from France, common between 1910-1939). Consider a walking tour that takes you past the white and pastel stucco buildings.

18. Versace Mansion

At 1116 Ocean Drive you will find Casa Casuarina, also known as Versace Mansion. In 1992, Gianni Versace bought this house and had it renovated and expanded with an extra wing and swimming pool. On July 15, 1997, the designer was murdered in front of this house. At the moment Casa Casuarina is a hotel and restaurant.

19. Travel guide Hello! Miami & The Keys

Not an attraction in itself, but very useful! With this 'cut-and-paste notebook' you will discover Miami, Miami Beach and the Florida Keys like a real local! Discover Miami and the Florida Keys through four inspiring and cool mini magazines, packed with photos, tips, hotspots and information in a handy A6 travel guide.

Read up Wereldreizigers.nl more about Miami and the surrounding area!

• Miami | General and practical information
• Miami | everything about costs, budget and saving tips
• Miami | Special Street Art in the colorful Wynwood district
• The Florida Keys | dolphin watching and island hopping
• Kennedy Space Center + rocket launch | Our experience
• Everglades | Airboats, alligators and other wildlife

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Finally: Travel Guide Hello! Miami & The Keys

Not an attraction in itself, but very useful! With this 'cut-and-paste notebook' you will discover Miami, Miami Beach and the Florida Keys like a real local! Discover Miami and the Florida Keys through four inspiring and cool mini magazines, packed with photos, tips, hotspots and information in a handy A6 travel guide.