*All amounts are usd $ us dollar
**#TheDude is the husband.
***Not gonna waste a whole lot on words, lots of photos!
We decided to leave really early Sunday morning to beat traffic and happy we did. We choose garage parking with the plan to walk or Uber/Lyft any destinations outside of South Beach. Garage parking is approximarely $20 each day. This beats the valet cost of $40 per day. Street parking is about $4/hour. Garage parking for the win.
The Penguin Hotel | located on the North side of Ocean Drive. Check-in begins at 3pm but we were able to check in around 2:45pm. They will collect a deposit and resort fee up front with the deposit refundable. [$250+$67]
There is a continental breakfast each morning for guest from 7am-10:30a. And each adult receives 1 free drink at the bar. The rooms are stocked with 2 bottles of water each day. Beach towels are also complimentary but were very thin and well used.
The hotel + room were cute. It was freakishly clean. No complaints. Our room was not facing Ocean Drive, actually facing the alley which was not the anniversary view I was hoping for, but at least I didn’t have to worry about traffic noise. But for approximately $78/night, I really can’t complain.
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Expect to do a lot of walking. I mean a lot. And in case you didn’t know. Miami around July is hot as $#!+. Whomever decided to get married on July 7th wasn’t brilliant [sn: future anniversary trips in Canada only. Or Vermont.]
The trolley system is a great way of getting around. They are air-conditioned and pretty clean. Lots of tourist and locals use them. The drivers are very friendly and helpful to help you navigate around.
Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar | located on Washington Ave. #TheDude got the Scrambled Eggs with Feta Cheese + Tomatoes [$8.49]. He wasn’t very impressed with the portion size but since it was on the healthier side, the portion was just right. Now I, being foodie that I am, plus super greedy, ordered the Breakfast Sandwhich [$7.99] which had scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes + aioli dressing. Definitely worth the money spent!
Havana 1957 | The one restaurant I had to go to. Havana 1957 is located on Ocean Drive and combines the flavors of traditional Cuban Cuisine with the sophisticatio of Havana in the 1950s. It definitely has the glory and glam of old Cuba. #TheDude had the House Special [$19.95] + I had the Palomilla a la Plancha [$19.50]. It was worth the visit + dining in allowed us to escape the heat/humidity lurking outside.
I loved the decor and layout of the restaurant
#TheDude’s meal was the Especialidad de la Case/House Special of roasted chicken, rice, black beans, plantains and a salad
I had the Palomilla a la Plancha.Traditional Cuban grilled thin steak, topped with onions in Cuban mojo, with moro rice & boiled yuca
The Palace | It really is fit for a Queen. As in Drag Queen. While passing by on our first day I was shocked to see a drag show outside during the middle of the day. Umm … YES! It was packed. Including the sidewalk of passersby. We made reservations for dinner the 2nd night to get a table and a view for the show. We were not disappointed.
Wet Willy’s Expect that all of the bars will be overpriced for drinks. We did stop at Wet Willy’s and paid a hefty fee to drink some frozen concoction [$26 for 2 drinks]. But being thrifty, we actually decided to bring a bottle of wine, bottle of vodka with us and purchased orange juice at the Walgreens. My recommendation is to on pre-game as much as possible to save on buying drinks at dinner. Total Wine & More is your friend. Also, the Walgreens on Collins & 5th has a pretty decent size liquor store. We tried Svendka + orange juice and that became our go to drink option while we were out.
Miami Beach Botantical Gardens | about a 20 minute walk from our hotel located at 2000 Convention Center Drive. An oasis with a variety of plant species. You will find butterflies, a Japanese garden, koi fish, art and water features. FREE
Holocaust Memorial | a minutes walk from the Botanical Gardens and the Convention Center. One of my favorite stops during our trip to South Beach. The Holocaust Memorial is a serene yet powerfully gripping memorial, that features a 40 ft tall piece called the Sculpture of Love and Anguish that reaches towards the sky. It is open to the public every day of the year from 9:30am to sunset. FREE
[As I was writing this post and updating pictures, work and life got in the way. I’ll try to edit and republish this page at a later date]
Travel | Miami/Anniversary {on a budget}, part 3 *All amounts are usd $ us dollar **#TheDude is the husband. ***Not gonna waste a whole lot on words, lots of photos!
