I'm a web designer, travel marketer and long term wanderer, on the road since 2003. Check out my
The Southernmost point bouy in Key West, Florida. Technically the southernmost point of the Island of Key West is on U.S. Navy land, but I wouldn’t try taking a photo there!
Art Deco Hotels, Miami Beach – USA
Neon lit art deco hotels on Miami Beach, Florida – USA.
Fort Lauderdale Beach, Fort Lauderdale – USA
Fort Lauderdale Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami – USA
Pink Flamingos, Miami – USA
Pink Flamingos at Jungle Island, Miami – USA.
Notes on Fort Lauderdale: beaches and canals
Fort Lauderdale is one of those places that turned out better than I thought it would be. The beaches are better than Miami (softer sand) and the mansions and super yachts along the waterways are truly grand.
Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Fort Lauderdale is sometimes called the Venice of America. I wince whenever I hear the term “Venice of X” used anywhere, though I guess it sounds better than “Fort Lauderdale has miles of canals”.
Like Miami, I was surprised by how much of the old Fort Lauderdale has survived development. Sure there are the big condo developments along the beach, but there is still alot of cozy looking 50′s style motels and apartments everywhere.
Apartments in Fort Lauderdale
Coffee of the day: South Beach, Miami – USA
As much as I love coffee my system can’t handle the bucket sized brewed coffee that is served in the USA. So I was happy to discover that there is this Cuban coffee drinking culture in Miami, where quality over quantity reigns. All over Miami you can find Cuban run places that serve espresso and café con leche (Spanish: “coffee with milk”).
The cafes I went to are little bars or hole-in-the-wall type places. You wont find any fancy cups here telling you that you are about to enjoy this beverage. I found the café con leche to have the right ratio of coffee to milk.
Further Reading: Cuban coffee 101
Notes on Miami: The Capital of the Americas
Going To Miami
It wasn’t my original plan to visit Miami on this trip to the USA. I was planning to road trip from Chicago back to Newport, RI, where I have based myself. It turns out that there is hardly a hostel between Chicago and Newport, so my accommodation budget was facing a blowout of epic proportions.
Instead I found a cheap flight to Miami – where budget accommodation is plentiful – so this detour was a no-brainer. As soon as I got off the plane and sucked in a breath of that sub-tropical air I knew I had made the right choice.
South Beach
Rows of neon lit Art Deco hotels is the world famous image of Miami, and they can be found on South Beach. I knew Miami was famous for Art Deco, but I thought it might have been a dozen or so key buildings that survived the wrecker’s ball. South Beach in fact has over 700 Art Deco buildings, making it the undisputed Art Deco capital of the world.
Collins Ave Art Deco Hotels – South Beach Miami
South Beach seems to be the place to stay in Miami. I stayed the the Jazz on South Beach Hostel, which is one of the best hostels I have stayed at in the US. There are plenty of accommodation options in South Beach and it is easy to walk around. If you tire of walking there is a 25 cent local bus that runs a loop around South Beach. Then of course there is the beach, which is of the white sand and warm water variety.
Downtown Miami
South Beach is part of the Barrier Island of Miami Beach, and downtown Miami is on the mainland.
The downtown area looks as though it’s going through an urban renewal. It is mostly made up of new apartment blocks and the financial district, and there is not much in the way of shops there yet.
Freedom Tower – One of the few remaining old buildings of Downtown Miami.
Biscayne Bay
Of course you don’t come to Miami for its downtown. It the beaches and waterways that make Miami famous.
Separating Miami and Miami Beach is Biscayne Bay. This waterway is sprinkled with man made islands and super yachts. I took a cruise of Biscayne Bay, which takes you past the homes of the rich and famous and gives you a better feel for the geography of Miami.
Al Capone’s Former Mansion.
This is the Miami I had in my mind’s eye. Perhaps my perception of Miami was influenced by Will Smith.
¿Hablas inglés?
One thing you will notice about Miami is that Spanish is spoken everywhere. The Organization of American States may be headquartered in Washington, DC, but surely Miami is the true capital of the Americas. All of the nations of the Western Hemisphere are represented here. Walking around and listening to the accents from the region made me want to head south. I don’t have time to do that on this trip, but I will come back to Miami again to use it as a hub for Caribbean and Central American travels. If you can’t travel to Latin America, Miami is the next best thing.
Trip Notes: Thanks to Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and Island Queen Cruises.
