{"id":4261,"date":"2016-11-29T07:11:44","date_gmt":"2016-11-29T12:11:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/?page_id=4261"},"modified":"2016-11-29T07:12:49","modified_gmt":"2016-11-29T12:12:49","slug":"48-hours-quintessential-south-florida-vacation-found-in-youthful-south-beach","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/?page_id=4261","title":{"rendered":"48 Hours: Quintessential South Florida vacation found in youthful South Beach"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted November 28, 2016<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By JEANETTE HAMILTON<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for a quintessential South Florida vacation, South Beach is the neighborhood to visit.<\/p>\n

\"View

View from the rooftop of the Essex House hotel in South Beach (Photo by Jeanette Hamilton).<\/p><\/div>\n

With hopping night life, a gorgeous beach and that classic Art Deco aesthetic, SoBe is the weekend party getaway about which you will be bragging to your friends for months to come.<\/p>\n

Stretching below Dade Boulevard, the Miami Beach neighborhood is popular among young adults, the LGBTQ+ community and plenty of celebrities. Head to South Beach if you want to experience a vibrant cultural scene, relax on the beach and dance salsa while you party the night away.<\/p>\n

Friday Afternoon \u2013 Noon to 5 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your first stop in SoBe has to be Ocean Drive. This is the Miami Beach main street you\u2019ve seen in all the movies and TV shows. It runs along\u2014you guessed it\u2014the ocean, which makes it the perfect place to people watch. You can see all those beautiful, tan people while you\u2019re exploring Ocean Drive\u2019s many upscale shopping options, including name brands you know well and chic boutiques you won\u2019t find anywhere else. Stop in at any number of ocean-front caf\u00e9s and restaurants for a bite to eat. Just be sure you don\u2019t miss News Caf\u00e9<\/a>, where SoBe culture was really started. This historic caf\u00e9 is busy due to its history; it was the first business to open on Ocean Drive during SoBe\u2019s revival in the 1980s and was frequented by Gianni Versace. But don\u2019t worry, because News Caf\u00e9 is open 24\/7.<\/p>\n

Friday Evening \u2013 5 p.m. to Midnight<\/strong><\/p>\n

Plan for a late dinner Friday evening so you can eat at Joe\u2019s Stone Crab<\/a>. Joe\u2019s serves seasonal crab from October to May and plenty of other delicious dishes throughout the year. That\u2019s what makes it one of SoBe\u2019s most famous and most popular restaurants. They don\u2019t take reservations, so get your name on the list early and plan to eat late. After dinner (or maybe while you wait), check out the World Erotic Art Museum<\/a>. This collection of erotic art is unique to SoBe and displays the work of such artists as Rembrandt and Picasso. Only those 18 and older are admitted, for obvious reasons. Admission for adults is $15, for students with ID is $13.50 and for seniors is $14. The museum is open until midnight on weekends.<\/p>\n

Saturday Morning \u2013 9 a.m. to Noon<\/strong><\/p>\n

Allow yourself a later start to the day on Saturday morning by taking the Art Deco Walking Tour, provided through the Miami Design Preservation League<\/a>. Meet up at the Art Deco Welcome Center around 10:15 a.m. to purchase your tickets\u2014$25 for adults, $20 for seniors, veterans, and students\u2014and set off at 10:30 a.m. on a 90-minute tour of the Art Deco architecture throughout SoBe for which Miami is so famous. You don\u2019t need to book in advance, but you can purchase tickets on their website<\/a>, print them and bring them with you to skip the line.<\/p>\n

Saturday Afternoon \u2013 Noon to 5 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As any local will tell you, Saturday afternoons in Miami are for relaxing on the beach. SoBe\u2019s public beachfront, Lummus Park, stretches between 5th<\/sup> and 15th<\/sup> Streets along Ocean Drive. While there, you\u2019re welcome to use the beach volleyball courts, rent a bike\u2014Miami Beach Bicycle Center<\/a> has single-speed beach cruisers available for $5 per hour or $18 per day\u2014or simply lounge and enjoy the soft sand, cool water, and seemingly omnipresent reggaeton beat. Whatever you choose, remember to apply and reapply your sunscreen.<\/p>\n

Saturday Evening \u2013 5 p.m. to Midnight<\/strong><\/p>\n

You cannot visit Miami Beach without dancing the salsa. It\u2019s actually a law, or it might as well be. You can make sure you salsa, and salsa correctly, with a lesson from Salsa Mia at the famous Mango\u2019s Tropical Caf\u00e9<\/a>. The lessons are in their upstairs Mojito Room, offered at 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Students of all experience levels can learn salsa to the music of a live band. The lessons cost $35 per person alone, but only $25 per person when added to the \u201cDinner & Show\u201d reservation. The price includes admission into Mango\u2019s, one of SoBe\u2019s most exciting and extravagant night clubs, and one lemon drop shot to really get your Saturday night going.<\/p>\n

Sunday Morning \u2013 9 a.m. to Noon<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday morning, of course, calls for brunch. And the best place to treat yourself is Nikki Beach<\/a>. Nikki\u2019s champagne Sunday brunch is a splurge at $50 per person, plus $7 drinks. But that price doesn\u2019t just cover food. It also covers entertainment from the house DJ and live acts performing on the beach. You also get the choice to sit in the dining room or on lounge beds in a cabana. Brunch runs from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., so it\u2019s a perfect way to keep the party going from the night before.<\/p>\n

Sunday Afternoon \u2013 Noon to 3 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bring your SoBe visit full circle with some shopping at Lincoln Road Mall<\/a>. Running between 16th<\/sup> and 17th<\/sup> streets, this open-air shopping and dining plaza features a mix of national chains and local specialty stores to explore. You can grab a bite to eat before heading home at one of the many casual caf\u00e9s or inspired restaurants, most of which have outdoor seating available. Visitors love to people-watch as they dine on gourmet food under shady patio umbrellas. Parking is available on 17th<\/sup> St. for this flavorful shopping mall.<\/p>\n

If You Go<\/strong><\/p>\n