Hi!
I'm returning to Miami for a conference this week but have 1 1/2 days for fun. I will be hiring a car. I'm trying to figure out the best itinerary for this short trip and figure out the most easiest route in terms of driving.
Having said that, I'm only planning to go to South Beach on the afternoon of my first day and then back on the morning of the next day, and then go to Key Biscayne (specifically Bill Baggs State Park). I have a few questions:
1) Is it worthwhile to go for a ride on the South Beach Local (old Electrowave shuttle) to get an overview of the SoBe area? If so, what's a good point for me to start at--that is most easiest to find a parking spot? Metered parking or a garage?
Is the bus too slow in the evening with traffic?
2) Is it a good idea to just park the car and then take the bus from point to point? Or easier to drive and find metered parking?
3) Considering I have such a limited amount of time, what's the best part of SoBe for people watching, chilling with a coffee at an outdoors cafe, and some interesting walking? I'm concerned I may not have enough time to see all of it.
4) If I only have time to see a couple of art deco buildings, are there any specific ones you'd recommend?
5) Since I only have about 1/2 to 3/4 of a day for Key Biscayne, is it worthwhile to see Bill Baggs State Park and the lighthouse? Will this take a long time or do I have time to fit in another part of Key Biscayne? What's a nice part to just hang out and relax at? Preferably near a good seafood place (not too expensive or frilly) for lunch/dinner?
6) Any good viewpoints along my route? I heard about S. Pointe and one on the bridge to Key Biscayne. Any others?
Loads of thanks,
gtrekker2003
you can easily see all of south beach by walking. dont bother w local shuttles which are slow and unreliable. a car is a hindrance due to lack of parking, or expensive parking or irritating parking meters.
start walking along ocean drive, lined w deco hotels, all worth looking at. walk from 5th street to 14th street and you will see it all, including beautiful people.
cross 14 th street and walk north on washington to lincoln road. this is prime eating and drinking and people watching. you can hang here all day. i find it preferable to ocean drive.
when you get sick of this, walk back south along washington, lined w restaurants and shops. collins runs parallel to washington and ocean. collins is lined w deco hotels, too, and designer boutiques.
as for key biscayne, bill baggs park is nice but deserted. the lighthouse is worth seeing i guess. there is a half decent snack bar, but for better eating you will have to drive back into 'downtown' key biscayne which is loaded with restaurants. take your pick. you can hang at the bill baggs park as long as you want. its just a beach. not much to do but enjoy the solitude and nature.
Thanks Brad!
Any particular restaurants you'd recommend in downtown Key Biscayne? Also, what are some names of the main streets in downtown Key Biscayne so I can mapquest some general directions.
Secondly, any suggestions of where to find parking in that South Beach walking area, near the art deco hotels? I'll be arriving there around 4pm on Thursday. Any worthwhile garages to check out? I just want to park the car and not worry about it for a while.
Lastly, any restaurant suggestions in SoBe? Budget is $20-30. Last time I went to Ice Box Cafe and loved that. Anything similar to that in quality and price?
Cheers,
gtrekker2003
go to lincoln road on south beach. There are lots just past it. Usually some free parking on Alton rd if you look carefully too.
Have you gone to that conference in Kendall yet, or is this related?
Yeah, I went to part 1 of the conference but didn't have much time to look around. I'm now going for part 2 of the conference but am taking an extra couple days to explore.
Thanks for the tips.
in south beach, there is parking off lincoln road in a large garage for $1 hr. there is a garage on 8th street near the police station that is usually $8 for 24 hrs, no in and out. tourists dont know this, but if its a weekday, you can generally park free on any of the side streets in residential parking zones until 6pm, but thats not allowed weekends.
there is only one commercial street on key biscayne. i cant think of the name. its the one you ride in on. there is nothing off of it on side streets except $1 million residences. you follow it straight into bill baggs park at the very end. i cant really think of any restaurant names over there, but there are lots of them in the various strip malls you will see along the street.
as for sobe restaurants, i recommend "nexxt" on lincoln road. huge salads and all kinds of plates for well under $20. its the most crowded place on lincoln, so you cant miss it. look for the white umbrellas. its adjacent to a popular gelato place which is good for dessert! if you want a beer, look for jakes. it has beers from all over the world for $3 each at tons of outdoor tables. best deal in sobe. also on lincoln road.
If what you want is sightseeing & people watching, Key Biscayne is not worth the time; it is basically a conservative upscale beach resort. There is plenty of parking on SoBe -- unless it's some sort of festival weekend -- but it's primarily in high rise garages. If you can find a reasonably central location to park you can cover everything worth doing on foot. The center of gravity for people watching is still the News Cafe at 7th & Ocean, but any of the sidewalk cafes from there north to about 12th will be good. The best outdoor bar for people watching in that strip is the Clevelander. Lincoln Rd has lots of cafes & lots of people to watch, but tends to have an older more conservative crowd. There is nothing anywhere else in So. Fla. that matches the balls-out fun-ness of Ocean Drive on a sunny weekend afternoon.
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