mimipam

Will be in Miami middle of the month. Will stay near airport as we are "on the way" elsewhere. We really just have one full day. This is the plan so far - Go early to Vizcaya and tour. Then head to South Beach for walking and looking at art deco. I have searched and can not really find a great walking tour map but one seems to be available at gift shop of welcome center. Other suggestions to find this online?? I have seen on this sight that driving is awful. We will have a car and plan to drive to Vizcaya and Miami Beach. I found info for parking garages. The day we are there is Friday. What about this plan? Will we find parking in the garages? What about eating - News looks like a fun place. PLEASE - is there another way to see Vizcaya and South Beach besides driving? We already have a car reserved. Also, other rec for eating appreciated.

mimipam

Any help???

anniemac

The Art Deco Welcome Center & Gift Shop, 1001 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL 305-672-2014 is part of the non-profit Miami Design Preservation League that sponsors the annual Art Deco Weekend. They offer guided, self-guided and private art deco tours. Check the mdpl.org website under the "tours" tab and perhaps give them a call. You will be able to park - it's expensive though, valet parking at restaurants on the Beach can run $20 or so. Garages will be less. Find one near the Deco Welcome Center. News Cafe is fine for lunch if you want casual with people watching, I personally wouldn't choose it for dinner (think upscale diner). But that depends on what you are looking for. There are world class restaurants on the Beach if you are a foodie. You may also want to walk the Lincoln Road pedestrian mall and check out the menus at the restaurants there to see what appeals to you. Miami is pretty car-dependent, there is a metro rail system but it does not extend to the Miami Beach. But you will enjoy the views on your drive over the causeway! And the weather is spectacular right now, especially compared to the rest of the country.

mimipam

Thank you anniemac. I have been on the website mdpl. Some posts regarding the welcome center say it is closed, but that makes no sense to me. Guess I can call to make sure. Thank you for the driving info. Looking forward to our brief visit. Happy travels!!!

Kswl2

You can take a cab to South Beach from the airport for $32 each way. I would do that . . . you don't want to be driving from place to place, you'd spend more than the cab fare in parking fees. Heartily second suggestion to get in touch with preservation league for tour information.

The Lincoln Road Mall has some great restaurants. . . I liked Nexxt the best, the food is great and they have an incredible array of salads.

New on SoBe is a bicycle hire scheme in which you take a bike from a rack in one location and turn it in at another. I think it is about $5 per hour, which is pretty reasonable. This is something brand new, apparently the racks just went up within the last week. If you are interested I will ask DD about it, but I know there are racks on Ocean Drive and Washington Ave, both places you'll be walking to see the sights.

There is a reasonably priced garage on the corner of Collins and 13th street which would put you in the middle of the area you're interested in. Other public garage info:
http://web.miamibeachfl.gov/parking/....aspx?id=30920

Kswl2

I would also recommend walking down Espinola, but cannot really recommend any of the restaurants on that street except the deli on the corner of Espinola and Washington Ave.

anniemac

The cab is a good idea if you really are uncomfortable with driving. City-run garages are $1/hour for parking, street meters $1.50/hr. So factor that in to your rental car cost and see what makes sense. Before someone corrects me, you actually can take public transportation - but it's complicated and requires transfer between Miami-Dade County's Metrorail and the Tri-Rail commuter system. And Metrorail bizzarely does not connect with the airport (yet - that leg is on tap for 2012). But, there is a public express bus between the airport and Miami Beach for $2.35 each way.
http://www.miami-airport.com/bus_and_rail_info.asp

mimipam

Thanks to all of you for the great info. Right now we are inclined to drive as we want to see Vizcaya and then go to SoBe. We still have a little time to decide.Thanks for the restaurant info. Will check this out as well. Parking info site will be helpful. Happy travels!!!

Ackislander

I would strongly recommend not staying "near the airport". At the airport, maybe, but not off the airport itself.

Are you flying out at the end of the second day? Spending a second night? If the latter, there is a very nice Hampton Inn in Coral Gables, near restaurants and an easy and scenic drive to Vizcaya.