Miami: Downtown & Down Time

I've found that no matter how much I've seen of a place online, the reality always has a few surprises in store. My son and I spent ten days in Miami, and we ended up getting two completely different trips for the price of one. It all came down to where we were staying. We spent the first half in the concrete energy of Downtown, followed by a switch to the laid-back rhythm of South Beach.

First Half: Downtown

We started our trip at the Hyatt Regency Downtown. I'll be straight up about it, the hotel is dated. The gym was the smallest I've ever seen in a hotel, which was a bit of a letdown for me. But its location was exactly what we needed. It put us right in the middle of everything, a perfect home base for exploring the city on foot. You could feel the pulse of the city from our window, watching the Metromover glide between the buildings.

We spent our first few days just walking and exploring. We hit up Bayside Marketplace one afternoon, which is a chaotic and lively mix of shops, boat tours, and tourists right on the water. It’s one of those places you have to see at least once, just to experience the energy.

Another night, we checked out Brickell City Centre. The vibe there is a total 180 from Bayside. It's all sleek, modern architecture and high-end spots. We ended up at the CMX dine-in theater to see Karate Kid Legends. I was genuinely surprised by how good the food was for a movie theater. It was an easy, fun night out and a cool glimpse into Miami’s more contemporary side.

Second Half: South Beach

After a few days of concrete and skyscrapers, we moved over to the Kimpton Surfcomber in South Beach. The change in atmosphere was immediate and exactly what we needed. Walking into the Surfcomber, you can just feel the place has a point of view. It’s stylish, full of great art, and designed to make you want to slow down and actually hang out.

This is where the trip shifted from "visiting" to "vacation." The hotel was fantastic. They had daily yoga, bikes you could borrow to cruise around, and a great pool scene. Our days fell into a simple, perfect routine: pool, beach, eat, repeat. The hotel has this amazing little winding path through a lush garden that takes you right out to the sand.

The weather was a mixed bag, which, as a photographer, I always love. We had those perfect sunny beach days, but we also had these dramatic storm fronts roll in off the Atlantic. The light gets incredible in those moments just before the rain hits, and the ocean turns a deep, moody color.

When we weren't at the hotel, we were exploring the neighborhood. You can’t talk about South Beach without talking about the food. We had a great dinner on Ocean Drive one night, grabbing a table outside to be in the middle of all the action. The people-watching is second to none, and the food was on point.

But the best find of the trip was a little spot called San Gines cafe. We found it tucked away just off the main drag. They specialize in churros and chocolate, which were incredible, but the real star for me was the coffee. It was genuinely some of the best, most flavorful coffee I’ve had in a long time. It immediately became our go-to spot to start the day or for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. You can find my Google review of the place here (link).

Of course, we spent a lot of time just walking. I took my camera out one afternoon and just soaked in the classic South Beach scene. The Art Deco buildings are iconic, and there’s a constant parade of incredible vintage cars.

We also made sure to hit up Muscle Beach. It’s a scene, for sure, with a unique mix of serious bodybuilders and curious tourists. But it’s also a legit outdoor gym. We got a good workout in, and my son had a blast with the punching bags.

The Trip Home

The journey back wasn’t as smooth as the rest of this trip. We were supposed to fly out Sunday evening and be home before midnight. Instead, our flight got canceled. The silver lining was that American Airlines put us up in another hotel, so we got a whole extra, unexpected day in South Beach. We definitely made the most of it. The real frustration began with the next delay, which happened in D.C. and had us spending a night in a pretty terrible Crowne Plaza. We finally walked through our front door at 2 am on Tuesday morning.

But travel is messy. A frustrating 30 hours of delays can’t erase ten great days of exploring a new place with my son. That’s what sticks. That’s the trip I’ll remember.