jinz

Hello, After two weeks in the Caribbean we will have 5 days in the Miami area and I would appreciate some help with deciding the order of things.

We will not need to do any beach or ocean things as we will have just had lots of this before arriving in Miami. Things we would like to see: Fairchild gardens, Little Havana (including an evening of music if possible), drive to Key West, perhaps do the hop off and on bus in Miami to get a feel for the city.

We are not fussed about shopping but enjoy good food - especially seafood.

Hubby has one day business in the Homestead area so I will need something to do while he is in meetings.

Please help work out the order to do things in and also any recommendations for places to stay would be welcome. We have a good budget and would like our last days to be in beautiful hotels with great service.

This will be the end of our trip. We will have a car.

We fly out of Miami International.

Thank you everyone.

Dukey1

Topping this for you to provide more exposure. I'm not a big fan of that drive down to KW since I live on the beach north of Miami and I've done the drive several times. Please be aware that the Old Town area (which is one of the main "attractions" in KW can get very crowded if there are any cruise ships in.

I am not saying don't go; just be prepared (mentally if nothing else). Here's a link to the schedule.

http://www.cityofkeywest-fl.gov/department/calendar.php

jinz

Thank you so much Dukey. This is the kind of advice we need. We have been going to and fro on whether we should do the drive as we have such a short time in the area. Do you have any other suggestions?

Thank you for your help.

Ackislander

Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne is very nice but will definitely require a good budget.

With a car, you can certainly do a day trip to the Everglades or through the Everglades to Naples. Use US highway 41, stop in Everglades City and Chokoluskee. In Naples, leave the highway for the pier. Drive down Gordon Drive to see the very large houses on the Gulf. If you can find parking nearer the pier, you can walk down the beaches behind these houses since all beaches in Florida are public. Have your sandwiches on the beach behind a $40 million mansion. Be sure to get back to Miami before dark because wildlife wanders across the highway.

I wouldn't do a day trip to Key West, though I might do an overnight or a trip down the Keys to Islamorada. On the other hand, you will have seen a lot of sand and turquoise water.

I have been disappointed by the Cuban area around Calle Ocho. I love Cuban food, but the area is not visually attractive.

Do you know about Vizcaya? Nearby is the Art Deco Miami City Hall, which was the terminal for Pan American flying boats in the 30's and 40's. In Miami Beach, I have enjoyed the Wolfsonian Museum.

Dukey1

I am not going to say more except this:

the most expensive real estate in Florida is on Hillsboro Beach but I doubt you'll want to troop up here to see it.

The Florida beaches are, in fact, public BUT as one of my friends likes to tell people, "We make it very VERY difficult to get ON some of them" (the beach in front of my place is actually easy to get to).

The drive to KW...with a short time in the area and with all the things which Ackislander has mentioned...I would think about doing THOSE rather that going down to KW.

Enjoy your time down here.

Graziella5b

One moré vote for Not going to Key West in this ocassion. I agree the Everglades are interesting and typical. Everglades city is really old and there is a very old bar hotel called The gun and rod club.but better have a decent lunch in ...restaurant there unfortunately I forgot the name.,it is kind of a wooden place.
Also take a ride in a typical air fan boat .
..For Cuban food the most well known is Versailles in Calle Ocho.

Graziella5b

Oyster House is the name of the restaurant I wish to recommend in Evergerglades city.good luck.

jinz

Thank you so much for all the help. I am thrilled with the suggestion of a trip through the Everglades to Naples. I stayed up till midnight last night reading about the route. THANK YOU

We have decided to overnight before returning to Miami so we don't have to rush and can drive back in daylight. We will be able to eat dinner in Everglades City.

I did not know about Vizcaya and have added this to our list.

Thank you everyone for being so helpful.

doug_stallings

You can certainly do a day-trip to the Keys, just not Key West.

Winkz40

If your budget allows, I would recommend having dinner at Joe's Stone Crab on Miami Beach. (I believe the season opens on Oct. 20th this year).

You can also look into Smith & Wollensky on Miami Beach and the Oyster River Bar is a new local favorite on Brickell.

If you're in the mood for something fun, book yourself on one of the "Duck Tours".

And don't miss the Perez Art Museum Miami in Downtown Miami.

J.

jinz

Thank you for the dinner recommendations. We are blessed that budget is not an issue so will definitely try the ones you have suggested. It will be a special wedding anniversary while we are in Miami so a really fine dining suggestion would be appreciated too.

Duck tour looks fun!

On another note: Is there any difference between the air boat trips? So far I have narrowed it down to Coopertown or Captain Jack's. Capt Jacks seems to include the chance of seeing raccoons (a creature we have never seen!).

We have added 2 days to our time as there is so much to enjoy.

Thank you again.

bachslunch

Another vote in favor of Joe's Stone Crab. Excellent food -- if they have the "Joe's Special," it's a fine choice, containing their "greatest hits": cole slaw, stone crab claws, creamed spinach, hash browns, key lime pie. Do a search under my profile to find a food report (under "Recent Florida food experiences...") and one for attractions ("Miami trip report") for more details.