Miami Weekend Diary

Lifestyle blogger, Leigha Gardner, on things to do and where to eat in a Miami travel guide

 

Spending four days in Miami this spring was an absolute blast! I wasn’t expecting to love the city (and the beach) as much as I did, and four days really wasn’t enough time. With every trip I have planned, I like to put together a Google doc with a list of things I want to do, places to see, and where to eat. As the trip nears, I generally map things out and make a loose itinerary for each day of the trip. I had a lot of activities in mind for Miami, and since we were able to pack so much in to four short days, I wanted to share the highlights and the spots I would definitely go back to.

EAT & DRINK

One // Coyo Taco – If you find yourself in the Wynwood area, this is a no-brainer stop for lunch. Even if you aren’t in the area, I highly recommend making the trip just for the quinoa falafel tacos pictured here. Plus, you really can’t go wrong with the homemade spicy margaritas.

 

Lifestyle blogger, Leigha Gardner, on things to do and where to eat in a Miami travel guide

Lifestyle blogger, Leigha Gardner, on things to do and where to eat in a Miami travel guide

Lifestyle blogger, Leigha Gardner, on things to do and where to eat in a Miami travel guide

 

Two // Juvia – If you’re looking to treat yourself, be sure to make a reservation at this rooftop hot spot. Aim to arrive a little bit before sunset, and you’ll have the most stunning views of the city. I seriously regret not having my camera with me for this dinner. A unique combination of French, Japanese and Peruvian cuisine is like nothing you’ve probably had before. I was a little apprehensive of the Oysters Chino, but ended up completely loving it! With spicy black bean sauce and sizzling oil, it was an unbelievable pairing.

Three // Milos by Costas Spiliadis – Having first discovered the New York City location, I’ve made it my goal to dine at each of the six locations worldwide. The Miami location did not disappoint. My favorite part is being able to visit the fish market inside the restaurant and choosing your dinner flown in from Greece, Spain and Portugal daily. Not to mention, the Greek salad is killer (I dream about it sometimes)!

Four // Broken Shaker – A perfect spot for evening cocktails in a lush outdoor garden oasis; you can soak up the warm Miami night. We ended up popping by for an after dinner drink, but I could have stuck around a lot longer.

 

THINGS TO DO

One // Miami Beach – Personally, I was nervous that Miami would be a little too crazy for me. I had pictured South Beach from what I had seen in the movies, but we stayed on Miami Beach, which was perfect for us. The sand was super soft and the waves were moderate – nothing crazy, but perfect for playing and swimming around. The vibe of Miami Beach is definitely fun and upbeat but is much more tame than South Beach.

 

Lifestyle blogger, Leigha Gardner, on things to do and where to eat in a Miami travel guide

Lifestyle blogger, Leigha Gardner, on things to do and where to eat in a Miami travel guide

 

Two // Wynwood Art District – One of the coolest neighborhoods I’d ever been to. Everywhere you turn there are huge expanses of concrete walls covered in the most elaborate murals. You can read more about my experience here.

Lifestyle blogger, Leigha Gardner, on things to do and where to eat in a Miami travel guide

Lifestyle blogger, Leigha Gardner, on things to do and where to eat in a Miami travel guide

Lifestyle blogger, Leigha Gardner, on things to do and where to eat in a Miami travel guide

 

Three // Nikki Beach Club – If you need a spot to truly relax by the beach, this is your place. We visited right after a big thunderstorm, so it wasn’t too busy. We were able to grabs some seats by the bar and then head over to one of the day beds while sipping on our favorite cocktails. The decor is on point and reminiscent of European beach destinations, which makes sense considering the franchise has locations all through Europe.

 

Lifestyle blogger, Leigha Gardner, on things to do and where to eat in a Miami travel guide

Lifestyle blogger, Leigha Gardner, on things to do and where to eat in a Miami travel guide

 

Four // The Palms Hotel Spa – In need of a little extra pampering? Get a massage at The Palms! Since we had to check out and then hang out for several hours before an evening flight, we booked spa appointments. I can honestly say this was hands down the best massage I’ve ever gotten…so far! We hung out in the relaxation area and steam room for quite some time, and it was the perfect way to wind down before our flight.

 

Lifestyle blogger, Leigha Gardner, on things to do and where to eat in a Miami travel guide

Lifestyle blogger, Leigha Gardner, on things to do and where to eat in a Miami travel guide

 

 

Five // South Pointe – Take a walk along South Point to see some more of Miami’s grandiose offerings. I loved checking out all the luxury apartment buildings and marinas. Doesn’t seem like such a bad place to spend your days.

 

I’ll definitely be planning a trip back to this beachy city! Do you have any recommendations for my next visit?

xo -L

Leigha Ali
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1 Comment

  1. July 10, 2017 / 5:39 am

    Looks like you had a blast! Even though I live here and usually try to dodge Miami Beach because of all of the tourists, I’m still a sucker for Nikki Beach and the Broken Shaker 🙂