South Beach Day Trip

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Miami's South Beach draws in the rich, famous and trendy AND rowdy college spring breakers. Nightlife abounds, but South Beach is also a historic district, a people-watching haven and a beach-lover's dreiam. We hauled down from Jensen Beach for a day trip with friends. South Beach didn't disappoint.

We hopped on a double decker, open air bus for an hour plus tour which took us through the South Beach Art Deco area and parts of Miami. The live narration was well informed about the history and architecture of the area. The story of how the Art Deco hotels were saved by Barbara Capitman and a group of activists is legendary.

We walked on Ocean Drive passing through touisty sidewalk cafes loaded with spring breakers to famed Joe's a little too late for lunch; but nibbled great snacks at the handsome bar including a shared order of wonderful crab claws. We started back on Collins Ave. until construction intervened and we returned to Ocean Drive where we ducked into a few hotel lobbies on our way back to the car. We'll take in more of the architecture north of the visitors center which we will take on if we get back to Miami. Other spots on the to do list - Espanola Way right in the South Beach district and Little Havana a little south of South Beach and probably best on a weekend.

Our intrepid driver, Joe V, found us a very cool spot for dinner on the way back to the V's condo in Jensen Beach. The Old Key Lime House in Lantania, Florida hit the mark!

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Photos

Miami Beach
Soft Sand and Great Proximity to Ocean Drive, the hot spot of South Beach, make for a fun destination. People walk on the sidewalks in bikinis and other brief clothing. I know a man who couldn't stopp oogling!

Excellent Example of Art Deco Architecture
How wonderful that one square mile of buildings with Art Deco features were spared the wrecker's ball - to me this is a prime example -

Eat at Joe
Not eating at this iconic restaurant would be like going to Memphis and skipping Graceland!

Sidewalk Eating
The side walk restaurants were crowded with spring breakers drinking giant cocktails. The hostesses were rather agressive passing out cards and encouraging customers to eat at their places. Glad we walked to Joe's for a late lunch. There were good restaurant choices a block over on Collins - One can take just so much of Ocean!

Joe's Stone Crab
This is from the tour bus. Nice tour. Linda was our guide. Live narration. Great information. 1 1/2 hours - the perfect length. $29.

Holocost Memorial
A powerful tribute. South Beach has quite an interesting Jewish history,

Old Key Lime House, Lantania, Florida
The perfect spot for dinner between Miami and Jensen Beaches. Picturesque - Historic - Delish!

Art Deco Chandelier
While the facades of most of the hotels along Ocean Drive have been preserved (most of them as restaurnants with sidewalk dining), Art Deco features on the interior were hard to find in the area of Ocean Drive that we visited. But this chandelier is a gem!

Alas Poor Gianni ... Now a hotel!
This is where a madman homophobe shot Gianni Versaci. The home is now a very high end hotel.

Avalon Hotel
Our tour bus guide told us about some of the lovely hotel lobbies - this one, is at least authentic.

Espanola Way
Definitely on the short list for the return visit to Miami South Beach!

Bogart in Car Near Park Central Hotel
Humphry Bogart was here!

Busted
Spring breakers come out later on in the day and well into the evening. The police are on the alert. This guy was breathilized!

Every Tourist Area Has Tackeyville!
Miami is no exception to the souvenier shops like this one where all of the goods are imported and really tacky! Let's buy the work of local artists and craftsmen whenever we can!

Comments

[paula and doc]

We enjoyued your tour of South Beach.. just came back from Bradenton with Cathy and Jim McHugh and 4 days at Whiteface Resort with Grahams.. Hope you had a great Easter.. We had much fun with the munchkins all..

[JoyceM]

Amazing Experienced you have
South Beach is very beautiful and stunning from all the beaches I've been. I believed you renting a condo unit, nice choice. You save a lot from there than in a hotel. For your next trip try San Francisco, Las Vegas and Hawaii there are available vacation rentals also in these area where you can save your budget. Last time I was with HelloRelaxation, their units are mostly near beaches. For the next adventure, enjoy:) Joyce