If you are out to find a great vacation in Miami Beach area let me tell you what we enjoyed. Maybe I can bring a little insight about things to do, places to visit and what we had fun doing.
The Miami Beach area and downtown Miami is such a big area with so much that can be seen and done. It really has something for everyone.
First off you need to figure out how long you are able to vacation.
Whether you are driving to Miami or flying there.
The main points of interest that you and your family want to do/see.
Miami
The next big question is: Where to stay in Miami? Whether you want to stay in downtown Miami or in that vicinity or along the Miami beach. As we only had 3 nights in the Miami area we wanted to enjoy the beach life.
- If you choose to stay along the Miami Beach you need to narrow down where you would like to stay along it.
- From North Beach to South Beach they can really differ on shopping, night life, restaurants, and how populated or crazy they can be.
- We enjoy the north Miami beach area. It seems to be a more laid back not so crazy area to stay in. With a family we definitely prefer North Beach over South Beach but there are areas in between as well that you might look at.
- If you are trying to budget while on vacation then look into where you can stay on that budget. We like to stay about a block from the beach so we can easily go back and forth. If on a tight budget you may find a rental a few more blocks back from the beach a lot cheaper.
- Book a place to stay depending on your needs and wants. Research the area and it’s surroundings before booking. If you chose to fly in and get a ride to your hotel or rental see if it will have restaurants or stores in walking distance.
- We prefer to stay in a rental with a kitchen like a condo, apartment room or house. Taking advantage of the kitchen we usually have breakfast and lunch at the rental.
We flew in and out of Miami International airport which is the closest to get to Miami beach, the Everglades and the Keys. If flying into Miami you can rent a car to start your vacation. Do you need to rent a car in Miami? I would say yes since there is so much you can go and do with easy car access. But if you just want to enjoy the beach for your entire stay, yes you could do without a car. We also knew that we would continue on and drive to Key West.
TIP: If flying in try and get an early flight so you can make use of that day.
MONEY SAVING TIPS: Pick up your car from rental agency (we book through a car agency at the airport) and go to the grocery store and get needed food/drink/snack items. Don’t forget some good treats for the raccoons if you go and see them.
It’s helpful and money saving when you can buy groceries to have for snacks, breakfast and lunch. Dinner of course go out to eat and explore the food in the area if you want.
ANOTHER HELPFUL TIP: I always pack 2 collapsible insulated bags that we can use on our trip to keep things cold. They really don’t weigh much being empty so they can be easily packed in your suitcase.
You will want to pack a sack lunch when visiting the Oleta River State Park as we suggest down below. And again for a day at the beach if you want to enjoy that. Or at least for your cold water or other drinks to have on the beach. Do what you need to do if trying to budget your money.
In the North Beach area where we stay has all the stores and restaurants that we need.
There are many great restaurants just up and down the main street before you get to the beach. We ate at Sazon Cuban Cuisine and loved all their food that my family and I ordered. Manolo was another great restaurant we ate at. It has Argentinian food. While there in Miami don’t miss out on a trying a Cuban sandwich. Some of my group tried out many different Cuban sandwiches while there and loved them.
The beach in that area is very nice and wasn’t too busy or crazy. I’d recommend the north beach area for families or anyone that wants a less crowded less crazy area.
We weren’t too close to one but keep an eye out for nude beaches. Stay clear of Haulover beach if with your family. Clothing is optional there and might not be what you want to see with your kids.
We did however take the time to check out South Miami Beach to see what all that hype is about. You can easily drive or catch a bus up and down the Miami beach area. The South Miami Beach area I’d say is definitely for those seeking a crazier, faster paced vacation with plenty of night life. Lots of people watching fun for sure!
Check out the outdoor gym on the beach it can be entertaining to watch or join in on the exercise. There is plenty of shopping to be had in that area and we enjoyed doing some of that as well. In my opinion its not the best area of Miami beach for families. The beaches around there were extremely crowded and not as enjoyable as the North Beach. But it’s not bad to check out for a bit.
The Oleto River State park in Miami is a really fun enjoyable place for you and your family. I highly suggest spending a day to enjoy some kayaking fun. Do you like Raccoons? If so you definitely want to follow our foot steps and do the following. If raccoons aren’t your thing maybe the chance to see manatee’s or dolphins would be enticing.
Oleto River State Park in Miami
There are many things to do at this State park. They have bike trails, kayaking, swimming and picnic areas.
- Our favorite is kayaking. I suggest booking rentals ahead of time through their website. We booked them for the entire day to ensure we could use them and enjoy them for as long as wanted. If you plan visiting during the week and not on any holiday you might be okay with just renting when you arrive there.
- Besides kayaks they offer paddle boards and canoes to rent as well.
- Oleto River State Park charges $6 per vehicle to enter and opens at 8 am. Be aware that this park closes when the park reaches capacity and will not allow anyone else in till the next day. I suggest going very early so you don’t miss out.
There is a little island called Sandspur Island that you can kayak to. On this pretty little island you can enjoy the company of raccoons. Bring plenty of good snacks that are healthy for them to eat.
Some that come to the island and never see raccoons it could be because either there are too many noisy boats playing loud music or too many noisy loud people on the island.
These raccoons are very sweet but timid, if you are loud you might not see any. We had a hard time finding some at first since there were several boats docked close by with load music and noisy people on the beach.
You might have to walk in a little further on the island and stay still and watch and listen for a while till you spot some. They can be scared but with patience eventually they may come out of hiding and eat some food from you.
What a great experience seeing those beautiful raccoons up so close in their natural environment. It was definitely a wonderful treat to have them eat from your hands.
Enjoy your time kayaking to that island and if you have extra time you can kayak to the smaller island not far from there to check it out too.
At certain times of the year and depending on luck I guess, you might see dolphins or manatees as you are kayaking around there.
The nice path to go back to the kayak rental spot is a fun one going through mangroves. A great experience for sure!
TIP: I’d highly suggest wearing hydration packs so that you have plenty of water and bring snacks for yourself along with healthy snacks for the raccoons. Pack a sack lunch to enjoy on the island.
You could end your trip here and just explore Miami more if you have more time. But to me I’d question why not go explore the Everglades and the Keys since you are so close. We did however continue with our vacation to the Everglades and The Keys after our stay at Miami Beach.
My family and I love to see all that we can so if you are like us then check out the rest of our fun vacation exploring The Everglades and The Keys.
If continuing on to explore the Everglades or the Keys, I suggest on your last morning in Miami you check out early. That way you can begin your drive to The Everglades National Park.
How long is the drive from Miami Beach to the Everglades? It takes about an hour give or take depending on where you were staying at.
Whether checking out more of Miami or continuing on to the Everglades or Key West we hope you have a wonderful vacation.