Miami is rich in flavor, from its expansive beaches to its exciting South Beach nightlife, from its many art exhibits to its five-star hotels, and from its many outdoor activities to the vibrant atmosphere of Little Havana.
However, there are certain drawbacks to calling one of the world’s most popular tourist sites home. You may want to start plotting your escape before you become swarmed by tourists in Miami for the city’s many attractions. You may be among many tourists visiting this popular area in southern Florida. The point is that there is a wealth of attractions within easy driving distance.
Ritzy Palm Beach & the Palm Beaches Area
Palm Beach is a great day trip destination located an hour’s drive due north of Miami (a bit longer if you take the A1A scenic route and stop a little at any of the vistas along the way). Although many of America’s elite call this place home (as of 2015, 43 or so billionaires had vacation residences here, including a previous President), there is no shortage of pleasure for the rest of us (including gawping at their ultra-luxury vacation homes).
The kilometers of excellent beaches along the Atlantic coast are a significant draw. It has a beautiful promenade surrounded by luxurious hotels and resorts, so you can spread out and make it your own.
When you’ve had your fill of the beach and sights like Ragtops Motorcars, Jonathan Dickinson State Park, and Hobe Sound National Wildlife Preserve, plus your DivaDuck Amphibious Tour, you can go inland to enjoy the city’s fantastic shopping and nightlife. Worth Avenue in Palm Beach is the place to go if you want to experience true wealth; it is home to several high-end stores, galleries, restaurants, and boat dealerships.
It would help if you also took some time to explore West Palm Beach. CityPlace is a huge tourist destination in West Palm Beach that offers a variety of evening activities, such as live music venues, excellent restaurants, and many retail stores. West Palm Beach is home to a wide variety of exceptional hotel options.
Coral Castle
The craftsman behind the Coral Castle, renowned for its intricate design and stone carvings, allegedly spent more than 28 years on the project. Between 1923 and 1951, Edward Leedskalnin created this stunning Miami attraction for tourists to enjoy. The whole structure was carved out of limestone using Edward Leedskalnin’s tools. Incredible works of art like sculptures and figurines are included.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta’s long and illustrious history was primarily shaped by the Civil War and the 1960s landmark Civil Rights Movement. The city is home to the Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Carter Center Presidential Library, the Atlanta History Center, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthplace. In general, the city has a wealth of exciting and fascinating attractions. If you don’t plan to remain for a long, you’ll miss out on some fantastic sights. There is a wide variety of interests, from museums dedicated to art, football, and aerospace to cemeteries, marketplaces, parks, and theatres. The World of Coca-Cola, an energetic music scene, and several beer festivals can all be found in Atlanta.
You may avoid the typical eastern and western traffic by taking a route to the center of Florida and Georgia. It takes around nine hours to go to Atlanta, but you should make the trip.
Little Havana and Calle Ocho
Miami’s Cuban neighborhood of Little Havana isn’t well-known for its many tourist attractions but rather for its unique culture. Streets are lined with restaurants and businesses selling exotic cuisine, and Latin music can be heard in the background. The locals love to hang out in the parks and other public areas.
Murals depicting historical characters and everyday life in Cuba adorn the walls of many structures. While much of the action in Little Havana takes place on Calle Ocho, a major highway running through the area, the neighborhood encompasses a considerably larger area, including several side streets and avenues. There is a lot of fun to be had just people-watching here. This is also the best spot to have a traditional Cuban meal or, to the surprise of many tourists, a fantastic haircut at one of the many barbershops.
Every year in March, Cuba hosts the biggest festival of its type in the world: the Calle Ocho Festival. Incorporating other Latin American cultures throughout time, this street fair is now a fantastic place to sample Caribbean cuisine and listen to Latin American music.
Naples
Naples, on Florida’s Gulf Coast, has established itself as a hub for high-end culture, much like Palm Beach’s Atlantic coast. Its beaches are less crowded but just as beautiful as those in Miami, and you can get there in two hours by driving through the Everglades. Naples has numerous beautiful beaches where visitors may relax in the sun, swim, paddleboard, kayak, or stroll along the sands. The town has many good parks (with parking) with changing rooms, picnic spots, and, in some instances, beautiful gardens for visitors to explore.
If you still have time in the day (and if you’re not planning on spending the night in Naples), you should go to Marco Island. Marco Island, located about 30 minutes south of Naples, is famous for its excellent beach, a six-mile length of beautiful sand that is exceptionally broad in spots, making it an ideal area to rest for some time without the crowds. On Marco Island, you may choose from a wide variety of high-quality hotels and resorts, many of which provide affordable holiday packages.
With its beautiful white sand beaches, Art Deco architecture, and energetic vibe, Miami Beach is the city’s most popular tourist destination. Hotels range from vast chain hotels to small, charming boutique hotels housed in historic houses.
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