Rental Cars
Miami has a lot of tolled regions. If you choose to stay further away for cheaper rates, make sure you factor in the tolls when making a comparison.
Data point: Tolls + Hertz processing fee for a 3-day trip came to around $100 in 2024.
Wynwood
Much was said online about Wynwood, but the actual experience was very underwhelming. As we entered the neighborhood, it resembled a run-down area of SF sans the Patagonia vest wearing tech bros. Perhaps we do not appreciate the “art” in the area much. The “Wynwood Walls” experience was very cool, and I highly recommend it. Make sure you find a parking spot as close to the venue as possible. Again, follow everything that you do when you visit SF here. This includes leaving nothing in the car when you park. Preferably, stuff things in the trunk before you park here so you don’t show your hand at the location. Situational awareness is the key.
Little Havana
We went here with very low expectations and were rewarded handsomely. Little Havana is dotted with cute shops, great food and good vibes. It was nice to just stroll around soaking in the culture. Cute coffee shops, ice-cream corners, clubs and flea shops dot the main street. The houses that flank the street are all constructed in Cuban style. For folks like me, it reminded me of the MIG/LIG houses that housing board used to construct in 70s and 80s. Think of a brutalist married to Indian huts. Brick and mortar with flat reinforced cement concrete (RCC) roofs with those occasional “hole-in-the-wall” window with metal grills.
Banana Boat
On our drive through the Florida Keys, our first stop was at seaside shack that offered banana boat rides. We were the first customers for the day. The owner of the enterprise was excited to get his first customers and proceeded to give a fleeting warning about the choppy waters. In our excitement, we decided it would be fine and hopped on. As they say, “famous last words”. The ride was extremely bumpy and fast. More than once, we had to frantically shout and wave in an attempt to catch the pilot’s attention. Mind you, he was a good 30 ft. ahead of us in a neat little speedboat, unaffected by the vagaries of the water. Halfway though, we asked him to slow down a bit but I was already at a point where it was not fun anymore. My wife and my parents did just fine but it took me a good 2 days to start driving again. It turned out that I had held on to the grips so hard during the ride that something happened to my hand muscles.
“Key” Lime Pie
In what was a “aha” moment for me, I discovered that the key lime pie's prefix is eponymous. Going by reddit recommendations, we made a pit stop at Blond Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory. The pie was too sweet with little to no flavor. We had our best key lime pie of the trip at a steakhouse in Marathon, FL. Ironically, it was the only place open the next day morning that had something that would resemble vegetarian food. Bahia Honda State Park nearby had seaside picnic tables and the cool breeze with sail boats on the horizon added to the enjoyment of the key lime pies.
If you have time, walk to Pigeon Key from Marathon. This walkway/bikeway is a repurposed railway bridge and is an excellent place to bike or walk.
Miami Beach
Of course, when you think of Miami, this is the first thing that comes to one’s mind. We did make a customary visit to South Beach on the first day. It was a forgettable outing for more reasons than one. First, the bike rentals were crazy expensive, coming to ~$100/hr for one tandem bike. The bike path is a well laid one and we enjoyed the ride to South Pointe Park Pier. The pier was underwhelming, and a drizzle of rain greeted us just as we hit the beach. We slowly pedaled back in the rain and returned.
Coral Gables
Much was said on forums about the architecture of homes in Coral Gables and the Vizcaya Museums. Again, they were underwhelming and felt like an upgraded version of Dollars Colony. YMMV.
Recommendations
PANNA - Doral: Simple Venezuelan food that is vegetarian friendly.
Azucar Ice Cream - Little Havana Simple flavors but good.
La Colada Gourmet - Little Havana On Calle Ocho, great cafe with good service. The staff patiently took my order which I delivered in broken Spanish. We bought some coffee powder to gift our coffee loving friends.