Vacation in Miami: Expectations and Reality

When my friend suggested we go to Miami, I thought, "Oh my God, Miami! What planet is that on?" And then I remembered how I used to think of New York, and America in general, as a very unattainable and distant country. We packed a small bag and headed to the city:

• a vacation destination that many dream of
• and whose name is used to name bars and nightclubs in small towns across our homeland
• whose name slips into songs by musicians from all over the world as a kind of "paradise."

My opinion of Miami before I first visited the city was this: pretentious, glamorous, everyone very fashionable, beautiful, and rich, with the body of some celebrity lying on the beach every 100 meters. There is nothing to see in the city, as it is only beaches and discos. In fact... But let's take it one step at a time!

Miami and Miami Beach

It's worth noting right away that Miami and Miami Beach are completely different things. Miami is a very ordinary city. It has residential buildings and skyscraper business centers, public transportation, an airport and train station, grocery and clothing stores, parks, and everything else you might find in any other American metropolis.

Miami Beach is a district of Miami located on an island. It feels like a completely different city, with its own atmosphere and pace of life. It is a cozy resort town with low-rise buildings, cafes, restaurants, nightclubs, palm groves, and, of course, a magnificent 15-kilometer beach.

What to see in Miami?

Since I am not a fan of beach vacations, after my first and very short stay in Miami, I discouraged many friends from visiting this city. I argued that there was simply nothing to do there—the beach, clubs, what's so interesting about that? However, I went to Miami for the second time and realized how wrong I was. There is plenty to see and do in Miami besides lying on the beach.

If you are traveling to Miami (Miami City, not Miami Beach), be sure to visit:

Bayside Mall — a cozy and beautiful street on the bayfront. There are tons of shops, including souvenir shops, and restaurants. You can also take a boat tour here, which includes a tour of the villas of celebrities and millionaires.

Bayfront Park is a beautiful park located along Biscayne Bay. In addition to being a scenic spot, it frequently hosts various events and shows. And, of course, like any waterfront park, Bayfront Park offers stunning views of the bay. There is even a real beach here where you can sunbathe.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a truly beautiful place that once belonged to the American magnate James Deering. Apparently inspired by European Renaissance architecture, he built his residence in this very style. It is especially appealing to those interested in antiques, works of art, period furniture, and decorative accessories.

Miami Zoo — considered one of the best in the country. And no wonder, because the eternal summer in this area means that animals from Asia and Africa can live here in comfortable weather conditions all year round.

The Winwood area is a large art space. It is home to theater and art studios, museums, and designer clothing stores. However, the hallmark of this place is the graffiti and street art that adorn the walls of buildings and spaces in the area.

I also recommend taking a tour of the Everglades, a tropical nature reserve with incredible scenery and equally incredible wildlife. Organized tours usually include a visit to an alligator farm, where you can watch a crocodile show, feed these cute reptiles, and take pictures with them. The park is also home to about 36 species of animals listed in the Red Book.

Miami Beach Attractions

Still, 90% of travelers go to Miami not for exhibitions and monuments, but to relax on the beach and party hard in one of the island's nightclubs in the evening.

Let me put it this way: Miami Beach is not the most exotic and beautiful beach on the planet. Even if you travel around Florida, you can easily find more beautiful beaches — for example, somewhere along the road between the Florida Keys.

However, there is something special about Miami's beaches. These feelings may well be inspired by advertising and the city's image. But what's wrong with that? After several trips to Miami, I can say with confidence that I like Miami Beach, I like the beach, the incredibly soft sand, and the gentle ocean. I like the atmosphere that reigns on this island — an atmosphere of relaxation, ease, and the feeling that you never have to work again. Here it is — the beach and your well-deserved vacation!

Ocean Drive is the most famous street in Miami Beach, known to many from advertising brochures. This street is home to a huge number of restaurants, bars, and shops. The charm of this street is that on one side there are houses and on the other side there is the ocean promenade. It is more than pleasant to walk here.

Lincoln Road is a pedestrian street lined with restaurants, clubs, concert halls, shops, and boutiques. Despite being a very touristy place, it has its own charm and coziness.

The Art Deco District is an area in South Beach with small Art Deco buildings. Each building here is interesting and unique in its own way. Remarkably for the United States, the buildings in this area are no taller than 2-3 stories.

Promenade along the ocean is a paved road with a palm grove on one side and a beach on the other. You can walk, run, rollerblade, or bike along the promenade. By the way, you can rent bikes here at every turn thanks to the CityBike rental service.

As for evening or nighttime entertainment, my expectations did not match reality here either. I always thought that nightlife in Miami was all about discos. In fact, in Miami Beach, you can find disco clubs, clubs/restaurants with live rock and rock 'n' roll music, jazz, Latin, and Afro-Cuban music. In addition to music, there are a huge number of theater productions, comedy shows, dance shows, and other performances.

Expectations and reality

Returning to expectations and reality, it is difficult for me to give an overall assessment. After all, everyone has their own expectations of a city, region, and country. And I am sure that after reading this article, many readers will change their attitude towards Miami.

In my mind, Miami has always been an unattainable and very distant place, accessible only to very wealthy people and pop stars. But in reality, you can just set aside a few hours of your life, research the city and the types of vacations available there, see what you would be interested in seeing or trying, estimate your budget, set aside money for the trip, and just go there!

Want to go to the US with Marina? You can find details about traveling to New York, Miami, Washington, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and other places in America here.