Looking for a domestic weekend escape with international flair? Pack a bag and head for Miami. The city has a rep for beaches, beautiful people, and wild nightlife, but that鈥檚 not all it has. Presenting the top five adventures in Miami.
The Party Circuit: Like I said, there鈥檚 more to Miami than its renowned nightlife, but a list of the top adventures in this city isn鈥檛 complete without mentioning it. Think of it this way: Joining the party scene is simply an extension of your 鈥減lay hard鈥 motto. You can start at happy hour, but if you want to hang with the locals, take a disco nap. The locals usually eat dinner around 10 p.m., so bars and clubs don鈥檛 get busy until later. Go to Skybar (), a great place to down some beers, mojitos, or other poison of your choice. Part of Shore Club, it鈥檚 an indoor-outdoor space with gardens and lush, Morrocan-inspired d茅cor. Nurse your drink in one of the large daybeds, take a dip in one of the two outdoor pools, or dance to the DJ of the night. If the weather鈥檚 right, you may never want to leave. I had trouble doing so myself when I hung out in the garden during a trip in early April.
Triathlon: The Miami International Triathlon took place March 20, and the Nautica South Beach Triathlon, part of the , was held April 10. Check out and for more info.
Paddle: The obvious choice would be to paddle around South Beach–and you can do that if you like ()–but I suggest visiting the Deering Estate (), instead, to get in some culture and paddling time. You can tour the Stone House, an elegant building with Old-World architecture that periodically hosts classical music concerts, and wander through the gardens, lined with huge palm trees and colorful, butterfly-attracting flowers. The water surrounding the estate is part of Biscayne Bay, and the seagrass beds are highly visible because the bay is very shallow here. You can paddle to Chicken Key, a mangrove island that鈥檚 good for bird-watching, but I recommend heading for the mangrove tunnel before the key. You鈥檙e guaranteed an adventure. It鈥檚 like paddling through a jungle.
The tide was low when I went, so my companions and I had a crazy time trying to move our boats through the narrow passageway. The light was dim, the place smelled of decay, and it was eerily quiet, minus our grunting and the boats colliding with each other and the mangroves. I half expected a snake to slither into my boat. The roots and branches are so close, you can use them to maneuver through the tunnel. Even then, you might have to step into the muck if your boat gets stuck, which is likely at low tide. Our guides had to wade in and do a lot of pushing and pulling for us, while we tried to help them out by pushing off the mud and the mangroves. It was an ordeal, but well worth the effort. You鈥檒l feel like Indiana Jones by the end of it. If you prefer a self-guided tour, the estate offers kayak rentals.聽
Cycling: Miami is a bike-friendly city, thanks to DecoBike (), a newly launched public transit system. You can rent a bike round-the-clock, all year, at any of the more than 100 solar-powered stations around town. There are currently about 1,000 bikes available. Just pop in a credit card at a station and go. It鈥檚 a great way to get around, sight-see, and people watch. I pedaled from open-air Lincoln Road Mall down to South Pointe Park and back into the city, up the eastern coastline, and had a smooth ride. The bike handled city traffic well, the seat is very comfortable and adjustable, there鈥檚 a basket to store your things, and the handbrakes are (pardon the pun) handy. Miami has a good amount of bike lanes, and the drivers seem to be considerate of cyclists. Make a pit stop at on 6th St., if you鈥檙e in the neighborhood, for a shot of Cuban coffee, a local staple that鈥檒l hit you like rocket fuel.聽
For longer, more scenic cycling, go to Shark Valley in Everglades National Park (). The site got its name because sharks used to swim here back when the sea flooded the valley. Now, there are only slivers of water left in culverts, but they hold a lot of life. Take the 15-mile route, and you鈥檒l see plenty of alligators, turtles, and a variety of birds, including anhinga, wood stork, and great blue heron. It鈥檚 best to bring your own bike, though. I used a rental from the park, and the bikes are old and rickety, with poor steering and antiquated brakes. My seat was also very uncomfortable and hard to adjust. But that didn鈥檛 take away from the scenery. Be observant, and you鈥檒l spot animals blending quietly into the landscape. It can be helpful to have an expert point out the flora and fauna, so go with Dragonfly Expeditions () if you鈥檇 like a guide. Halfway through the trail is an observation tower, with a spiral walkway; a prime place for taking pictures, with a panoramic view of the valley.
Culinary: Miami has an innovative foodie culture. The local Floribbean cuisine incorporates Latin, Caribbean, and even Asian flavors, and the farm-to-table movement has taken hold among the city鈥檚 prominent chefs. Ceviche is big here, and Jaguar () is the place for it. Locals pack this hot spot, where the ceviche comes in big spoons. I found it very refreshing after a morning out biking in the hot sun. Sushisamba Dromo () is another good lunch spot. It pulls off Asian-Latin fusion beautifully, with Japanese, Brazilian, and Peruvian elements. The sushi is like butter, and the ceviches are a cool and tart counterpoint. Plus, the restaurant has outdoor seating in Lincoln Road Mall, so you can people watch. If you鈥檙e looking for a brunch spot, go to Michael鈥檚 Genuine Food & Drink (). The chef and owner, Michael Schwartz, has won a James Beard award, the holy grail of the profession. He鈥檚 a proponent of simple, fresh food and local, organic sourcing. Treat yourself to the steak and egg.
For dinner, head to Eden (). It has a rock-and-roll, bohemian-chic, arty, laid-back vibe. The colorful walls are full of paintings, and the tunes are from a classic-rock lover鈥檚 collection. I felt right at home. Christopher Lee, the chef, is a James Beard award-winner. You can鈥檛 go wrong with his locally sourced salad, oysters on the half shell, and 鈥渕arket鈥 fish. Herb seasonings come from the 鈥淕arden of Eden,鈥 a lovely outdoor courtyard extension of the restaurant with a bar and lounge area. Sustain () is another dinner hot spot, with a local, green focus. Try the 鈥50-mile鈥 salad, whose ingredients come from within 50 miles of the restaurant, and the fried chickpeas.
When To Go: In spring, fall, or winter. Avoid summer; the heat is stifling.
Where To Stay: The Palms Hotel & Spa (). Writers will appreciate the Hemingwayesque lobby, a dimly lit, airy, relaxed space with old-school European, Cuban, and Caribbean touches. All the rooms in this South Beach hotel are newly renovated. Bonus: They鈥檝e got eco-flush toilets. The Palms has its own opening to Miami Beach, a poolside Tiki Bar, and a gourmet restaurant, , which has a local, organic, seasonal menu.
EPIC Hotel (). This sleek, downtown hotel has stunning views of the intersection of the city鈥檚 skyline, Biscayne Bay, and the Miami River. Wake up early and watch the sunrise from your balcony. Stop by , the hotel鈥檚 restaurant, for a meal, and stake a seat outside for fresh air and a beautiful view of the city. Hit the pool deck from 5-6 p.m. for free wine and some people watching, and keep getting your drink on at the hotel鈥檚 new lounge, Kyma.
–Aileen Torres
Photos: South Beach (Courtesy of ); Skybar (Courtesy of Shore Club); Canoeing at Deering Estate (Courtesy of Catherine Guerra/Deering Estate at Cutler); DecoBike station in Miami Beach (Courtesy of DecoBike); Alligator in Shark Valley (Courtesy of Philipp Grimm/Dragonfly Expeditions); Sushisamba ceviche assortment (Courtesy of Sushisamba Dromo); Eden fish plate (Courtesy of Eden); The Palms pool (Courtesy of The Palms Hotel & Spa); EPIC hotel room (Courtesy of David Phelps/EPIC Hotel). 聽聽 聽聽 聽聽聽 聽聽