Great Itineraries

Great Itineraries

3 Days

Grab your lotion and head to the ocean, more specifically Ocean Drive on South Beach, and catch some rays while relaxing on the warm sands. Afterward, take a guided or self-guided tour of the Art Deco district to see what all the fuss is about, drop in at the News Café for breakfast anytime (or a snack), great coffee, and an outstanding selection of international magazines. Keep the evening free to socialize at Ocean Drive cafés or have a special dinner at one of the many Latin European-fusion restaurants. The following day drive through Little Havana to witness the heartbeat of Miami's Cuban culture (stop for a high-octane Cuban coffee at Versaille's outside-counter window) on your way south to Coconut Grove's Vizcaya. Wrap up the evening a few blocks away in downtown Coconut Grove, enjoying its laid-back party mood and many nightspots. On the last day head over to Coral Gables to take in the eye-popping display of 1920s Mediterranean-revival architecture in the neighborhoods surrounding the city center and the majestic Biltmore Hotel; then take a dip in the fantastic thematic Venetian Pool. Early evening, stroll and shop Coral Gable's Miracle Mile, contrary to its name it's just a half mile but every bit is packed with upscale shops, art galleries, and interesting restaurants.

5 Days

Follow the suggested three-day itinerary, and on Day 4 visit the beaches of Virginia Key and Key Biscayne. Take a diving trip or fishing excursion, learn to windsurf, or just watch the water. On Day 5, tour the 18-block design district and browse its 130-plus art galleries, home-decor shops, and interesting restaurants, or explore the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Then return to South Beach for an evening of shopping, drinking, and outdoor dining at Lincoln Road Mall.

7 Days

A week is enough time to fully experience the multicultural, cosmopolitan, tropical mélange that is Greater Miami. On Day 6 see where it all began. Use the Miami Metromover to ride above downtown Miami before touring the streets (if possible, on a tour with Dr. Paul George, of the Historical Museum of Southern Florida). Visit the Miami-Dade Cultural Center , home of art and history museums. In the evening check out the shops at Bayside Marketplace. The final day can be used to visit South Miami.