A Taste of Miami’s Flavors. As probably the most European of America’s largest cities, Miami has some of the most eclectic food offerings you’ll find anywhere. With a generous mix of Caribbean influence, European sensibility, and good old-fashioned American experimentation, the city and its surrounds are literally overflowing with every possible flavor imaginable. You could eat something different – as in totally different – for every meal, day in and day out, for years and never come close to having tried it all.
The Cuban influence can be seen, smelled, and tasted throughout Miami and Miami Beach. Each and every coffee shop and bodega has their own take on it, but if you want exceptional food without the lines or the run-up you’d expect from a “famous” place, try the little bodega located just before 2nd & Collins – La Playa Market. It looks like nothing from the outside, but as soon as you walk in the smells will hit you. Around the corner they have a glass case with their offerings for the day displayed. The ladies will whip up a Cuban sandwich that will blow your mind and the best part – it’s like $4. Plus, the make an insanely good café con leche, too.
Since you’re already on the island, you’ll want to stop by Monty’s on South Beach. Located at the tip of the island, on Alton Road, Monty’s has an awesome outdoor patio with swimming pool and music, but as great as those attractions are, the real reason for coming is the Happy Hour. It’s the only happy hour you’ll find on the entire island, and it’s far more than alcohol. The focus here is on seafood. Oysters and shrimp, as many as you can eat, all fresh from the water right next to you, and all priced 4 for $1. Plus, and this is a big plus, the cruise ships on Friday leave the bay right beside Monty’s, so from your seat you can watch the enormous liners leave port just as the sun sets. It’s an incredible way to start an evening at the beach.
There are a million excellent restaurants to go to, but if you want something totally unlike anywhere else you’ll ever go, then make a reservation for Nikki Beach Marbella. Nikki Beach, the island’s most famous nightclub, is located right on the beach with dancefloors leading directly into the waters. At Marbella, the club’s upscale restaurant, you experience the same thing – waves rolling in and torches casting beautiful shadows across the white sand. You’ll be served at your private table by staff and offered the island’s best food right alongside a dining experience – in terms of view, scents, and excitement – that’s unmatched anywhere in America.
When you visit Miami with your child, there’s always the temptation to stick to what’s comfortable. After all, there are already so many unexpected and unforeseen eventualities to deal with, why add another? The answer is simple. Travel with your young one is as much a learning experience for them as it is for you. You never know when an experience may open up doors for your child they didn’t know existed. As a parent, I try my best to do that every single day. If they don’t like what we try, then we try something else. It’s always worth a few laughs to see each other’s faces, too.