Miami Beach
 

We'll be in Miami Beach for 2 days. Haven't been in many years (we'll also be in Palm Beach and Key West on the same trip). We would like to sightsee (deco architecture, not sure what else) and beach-walk. What part of Miami Beach would you recommend we stay in? We will have a car.

We have a lunch reservation at Yardbird (sold out for dinner, although I may call/check again as it gets closer).

sf, not sure what your budget is, but if you want a little quieter area than South Beach, I would suggest the Fontainebleau or the Eden Roc - with the caveat that I haven't stayed in them - I live just up the road. My sister stayed at the Fontainebleau once and said the pool scene was kind of wild, though!

My sister has stayed at the Loewe's a few times and likes it a lot. There are more restaurants/shops within walking distance there.

Do a walking tour of the Art Deco architecture - I did one years ago at the Art Deco Welcome Center, but googling, there seem to be others now.

The Wolfsonian Museum and Bass Museum on MB are both interesting.

Have you been to Vizcaya? It's not on the beach, but not a long drive away.

I love the fried chicken and Bloody Mary's at Yardbird!

We went on the walking tour given by the Art Deco Welcome Center last year and enjoyed it a lot. Well done,and informative.

I really liked Yardbird as well. We also went for lunch.

Our favorite restaurant in Miami, though, was NAOE out at Brickell Key. Really a fantastic meal, almost at the level of a place like Jiro or Sawada in Tokyo.

Last time, we stayed at the W (SPG loyalty). It was nice and we were upgraded to a suite (really an empty 1 bedroom + den condo), which was huge and really nice. The location was decent, but I think the Loews is better situated and that area would likely be my first choice if I were just considering location. The W wasn't that far, so I am sort of picking flies out of...

When you are in Palm Beach make sure you walk through the "vias" on Worth Ave. It looks like you are entering an alley way between the shops but when you get back there you will see fantastic artistic designs. I forget how many vias there are. We love the Children's Garden one.

We just returned from Miami. We've been many times and we try to do something new each time. This time we visited the Wynwood Walls Arts District and loved it! Here's the link:

http://thewynwoodwalls.com/

As long as we're on the subject, thanks for the recommendations of things to do- keep them coming.

Also, I'd be happy to hear more restaurant suggestions - in Palm Beach, places to eat with a baby, in Miami, without. (TG, I'll check out NAOE, although we'll have someone with us who doesn't eat adventurously - it isn't worth spending big dollars on her at dinner).

For a restaurant with a stunning view of the skyline, try The Rusty Pelican which is off the Rickenbacker Causeway, on the way to Key Biscayne. They have a good happy hour with good small plates at the bar. I haven't eaten dinner there, but it is a great view and the food I've had at happy hour has been very good.

Vizcaya is a gorgeous estate, a palatial European-inspired villa and gardens facing the bay, well worth a visit.

http://vizcaya.org/home.asp

<i>TG, I'll check out NAOE, although we'll have someone with us who doesn't eat adventurously</i>

NAOE may not work for her then. Strictly omakase, IIRC. And there were a couple of things that I had never heard of and at least one dish I will call "challenging" - and I like to think I am pretty conversant in Japanese cuisine.

We also ate at La Mar, which is also on Brickell Key and enjoyed it. A bit too polished and it feels a bit like the hotel restaurant it is. But the food is good to very good. Pubbelly was also very good.

A couple of years ago we stayed at the SoBeYou B&B. I recommend it. It's about 6-7 blocks from Ocean Dr and the Art Deco district, and maybe 6-7 blocks south of the Yardbird, but it's in a quiet area. They provide on-street parking passes for customers.

Not sure how old the baby is but the zoo might be a hit. My husband and I really enjoyed it- we pedaled around in the little buggies and went during the week so we had the zoo mostly to ourselves. Vizcaya is also a favorite spot of ours. Bad Boys 2 was filmed there and the gardens are wonderful.

We always hit Puerto Sagua for breakfast. It's casual and there's nothing like starting the day with a Spanish tortilla and a hot chocolate with a view of the beach.

Hobbert, the zoo is in Palm Beach? They have a great zoo where they live (the National Zoo in DC) so it may not appeal, but if we're looking for something to do....(P.S. he'll be 16 months at the time)

Beach destination has evolved into an urban metropolis with all the amenities of a beach-town and a big city, a thriving arts scene and a busy business center, the best hotels in the world are surrounded by natural wonderland with turquoise waters and skyscraper palms.

Sorry, no, I was referring to the Miami Zoo. I'm from the DC area as well and I enjoy both for different reasons. Miami's zoo is smaller and seems cozier to me. It's a much easier walk which is nice.

Thanks Hobbert. Unfortunately, the baby won't be with us in Miami, so we probably will skip the zoo.