How many days would you spend in Miami and what would you see/do there?

[Anonymous]

I've never been to Miami before, and I have a friend's wedding to go to in early April, and I am using airline/hotel points so I have some leeway in how long I could stay there. Theoretically DH and I could stay from Wednesday-Sunday, or less. The wedding is on Saturday. Alternatively I could spend a day or two less there and save my points for something else. DH and I have very little alone time with 2 little kids, so we want this to be a sort of romantic, fun trip. I also want to have everything as planned out as possible, because spontaneity/new situations make DH a little nervous and panicky, and a nervous DH will not make for a very romantic travel companion. His only other requirement is to have some time on the beach. We're also pretty cheap, just as a general rule. So I have some questions:

How many days would you stay in Miami?
What are the best beaches for a middle-aged couple who really like to swim in the ocean?
What are the things you just HAVE to see?
What are some nice cultural things to see?
Where are the best places to eat?
Would you stay in Miami Beach or is it too much of a rowdy college/spring break crowd there in April? Where are other nice areas to stay? The hotel reserved for wedding guests is near Fairchild Botanical Gardens. Is that a nice area to be near?
Do we really need a rental car?

TIA for answers to any of the above questions!!

[Anonymous]

Take a nice sunset cruise. Also, join Living Social and Groupon prior to the trip and change the settings to Miami. You can get some nice deals on restaurants and things like sightseeing tours, etc.

[Anonymous]

Yes on the rental car.

I spent 3 days there, felt that was enough, but I could see why people would stay longer if they wanted to make a drive to Key West.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take a nice sunset cruise. Also, join Living Social and Groupon prior to the trip and change the settings to Miami. You can get some nice deals on restaurants and things like sightseeing tours, etc.

This is a great idea. Thanks pp!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take a nice sunset cruise. Also, join Living Social and Groupon prior to the trip and change the settings to Miami. You can get some nice deals on restaurants and things like sightseeing tours, etc.

Bad advice. No company that is doing well offers deals on these group discount sites. The only ones I've seen in this area are very bad restaurants desperate to get people in, failing salons, etc.

[Anonymous]

Definitely visit South Beach. The architecture, the people, etc. Worth seeing. Can spend a half day there or can spend a full day and do the beach, eat out, etc.

We like going to Calle Ocho to see the Cuban part of Miami. There's a big restaurant/diner called Versailles which has standard Cuban food.

The Venetian Pool in Coral Gables

Look at Florida's state parks, too. They have excellent state parks. And there's a couple near Miami.

[Anonymous]

I hate Miami. I hate everything about Florida. So I would fly in the night before the wedding, and fly out the day after.

[Anonymous]

Former Miami resident here. Fairchild Tropical Gardens is beautiful. Is the wedding there? Be sure to take the tram around if possible. If the hotel is near the gardens, you will definitely want a car. Stuff to do:
The Everglades - about 30-45 minutes SW of Fairchild. Go to Shark Valley state park and plan to spend an hour walking around. Alligators walk on the walk paths this time of year. Great wildlife viewing. Pay for parking but free otherwise (unless you do a tour). You can see most stuff a short walk from the info station.
The Keys - an hour south. If you have time, this is a great place to go to snorkel, take a glass bottom boat tour, etc.
South Beach - walk around Lincoln Road and plan to spend a few hours wandering, eating (late!). Check out some of the hotels on Collins Avenue from 10th-18th. The Delano and others have very cool back yard-beach areas. Anyone can wander.
Calle Ocho - literally, 8th Street. Cuban food. Some people may not speak English. There used to be street fairs/live music on the streets on the first Friday night of the month. Viernes Culturales, I think.
Beaches - South Beach is a scene. Very entertaining. If you want quiet, head north to the Sunny Isles area (around 163rd Street and north). There's a clothing option beach around 150th that is very quiet. It's almost all Europeans (families and couples) and gay men.

Have fun!

[Anonymous]

PP would you stay in Miami Beach or is it too rowdy/noisy?

Another follow-up: Do you think a zipcar might be a smarter option?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate Miami. I hate everything about Florida. So I would fly in the night before the wedding, and fly out the day after.

i just talked to miami, and it hates you too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Former Miami resident here. Fairchild Tropical Gardens is beautiful. Is the wedding there? Be sure to take the tram around if possible. If the hotel is near the gardens, you will definitely want a car. Stuff to do:
The Everglades - about 30-45 minutes SW of Fairchild. Go to Shark Valley state park and plan to spend an hour walking around. Alligators walk on the walk paths this time of year. Great wildlife viewing. Pay for parking but free otherwise (unless you do a tour). You can see most stuff a short walk from the info station.
The Keys - an hour south. If you have time, this is a great place to go to snorkel, take a glass bottom boat tour, etc.
South Beach - walk around Lincoln Road and plan to spend a few hours wandering, eating (late!). Check out some of the hotels on Collins Avenue from 10th-18th. The Delano and others have very cool back yard-beach areas. Anyone can wander.
Calle Ocho - literally, 8th Street. Cuban food. Some people may not speak English. There used to be street fairs/live music on the streets on the first Friday night of the month. Viernes Culturales, I think.
Beaches - South Beach is a scene. Very entertaining. If you want quiet, head north to the Sunny Isles area (around 163rd Street and north). There's a clothing option beach around 150th that is very quiet. It's almost all Europeans (families and couples) and gay men.

Have fun!

miami native here. plus 1 to all of this. also spend some time in coconut grove for outdoor shops and boutiques. wynwood for art galleries.

[Anonymous]

my in-laws are in miami; i've grown to love our trips there more and more, esp in march/april when it's still chilly here. places to visit: pps have already mentioned fairchild gardens. there's also vizcaya (historic mansion & gardens) that's pretty. and wynwood for the up and coming hipster and art scene (gorgeous murals to see all over). i'm told that the keys are wonderful and only a short drive, but i haven't been. definitely get a rental car. versailles for cuban food is delicious -- it's an institution -- although i'm sure plenty of places have amazing cuban food in miami. maybe check out trip advisor for some beach info (we usually go to mattheson hammock because it's very kid-friendly, but maybe bill baggs or the southern part of lummus park would be good?). have a lovely trip and let us know what you ultimately choose to do!

[Anonymous]

Love Miami. Dress up and go to Delano for drinks and nice sexy vibe. Hit a swingers club afterwards lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:my in-laws are in miami; i've grown to love our trips there more and more, esp in march/april when it's still chilly here. places to visit: pps have already mentioned fairchild gardens. there's also vizcaya (historic mansion & gardens) that's pretty. and wynwood for the up and coming hipster and art scene (gorgeous murals to see all over). i'm told that the keys are wonderful and only a short drive, but i haven't been. definitely get a rental car. versailles for cuban food is delicious -- it's an institution -- although i'm sure plenty of places have amazing cuban food in miami. maybe check out trip advisor for some beach info (we usually go to mattheson hammock because it's very kid-friendly, but maybe bill baggs or the southern part of lummus park would be good?). have a lovely trip and let us know what you ultimately choose to do!

native miamian here- great tips in this post.

[Anonymous]

OP here- thanks so much for the tips guys! I feel like I have an idea of the things I want to see there now. Now, one more question- should we stay in miami beach or south beach or is that too much of a college scene?