Hi all,

I have to travel to Miami in November. My work there is just for a day. Exactly a week later, I have to be in New Orleans, also for just a day or two. I will be coming from Chapel Hill and a grad student. I'm thinking of spending more than a day in both places, and in fact of traveling straight from Miami to New Orleans, rather than coming back to Raleigh and then flying again.

My ideal trip would be to get to Miami on Wednesday, get work done on Thursday, and then spend Fri - Thurs just traveling somewhere (Miami, New Orleans, somewhere else), and then be in New Orleans for work on Friday and finally head back to Raleigh.

Any suggestions on what can I do to fill the week in between? Should I explore Miami (is there anything to do in Miami apart from enjoying the beach an club scene)? I do not have a lot of money and will be traveling alone, so clubbing is not really an option. But hanging out the beach, exploring neighborhoods, museums, hiking, etc would be good activities to feel a week with. Will I be better of just going to Puerto Rico or somewhere from Miami and spending a week there?

Would love to get your ideas/suggestions

Thanks!!

I am not a big fan of Miami. That's just me. However, you can visit the Everglades very easily from there or from Ft. Lauderdale. Continuing north, I would recommend 2-3 days in St. Augustine, America's oldest city (450 years). It is loaded with history and charm.

A few links:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/trave...ry.html#page=1
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/trave.../st-augustine/
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/trave...2.photogallery
http://www.staugustine.com/visit/
http://www.visitflorida.com/St_Augustine
http://www.getaway4florida.com/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/ar...#ixzz2eo5AnXR7

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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

Both Miami and New Orleans are uninhabitable for some months of the year, but November is a great time for both.

Miami is wonderful. It is massively multicultural, has reasonably good public transportation (for the US), interesting architectural sites (not only the Art Deco District but Vizcaya in Coral Gables and Coconut Grove's 1920's exuberance), and great food. With the possible exception of Quebec City it is more like being in Europe than any other place in America. English is a minority language.

New Orleans is wonderful. Urban planner Andres Duany (a Miamian) recognized it as the northernmost city in the Caribbean, which explains pretty much everything you need to know about it, good and bad. The food is just ridiculously good.

In between is Appalachicola, but you have to drive to get there. I find St Augustine to be a major snooze, but you will quickly learn on this forum that we have widely different tastes.

Thank you. So after reading and talking to people, I have decided to actually fly back to Chapel Hill from Miami and then head to New Orleans. I will stay in Miami for 4 days, and just be in the main downtown and beach area. Then I will spend another 4 days in New Orleans the following week. Was trying to avoid flying back to Chapel Hill, but the places are sufficiently far apart that for me for now, its best to get back home to Chapel Hill before venturing out again.
Thank you for weighing in!

As a UNC alum (grad school) and father of two alums (Bachelors) I think you are going to have the best of all possible worlds!

I think your new plan is good and fun. Enjoy.
Also UNC grads on board here!!

Garima--any reason not to fly direct from Miami to NO? It would save you a flight. But of course, it might be less to take two round trips rather than three one-ways.

haha, I'm feeling the Tar Heel pride!
Flying back to Chapel Hill because 2 round trip tickets are working out to be cheeper than 3 one way tickets.
I'm looking forward to November!

*cheaper not cheeper

You do not book three one way tickets. You book one, open jaw (multi city) ticket. A three legged flight - C Hill to Miami to New Orleans to C Hill. It will be cheaper than two round tickets.