Summer Break: Miami

Welcome to Part II of the Summer Break series: three stories featuring memorable moments from my favorite city stops this summer.

I haven’t returned to Miami in 6 months. As I walk out of the airport, a familiar heavy heat welcomes me, and I try to relax in it.

I arrive home to the sound of my mom’s boisterous laughter. It’s coming from the kitchen where she’s talking excitedly with my friends who arrived before me, but as I walk in, she calls my name like a question. When I respond, she breaks into a made-up melody from my childhood, and we dance together, dipping our waists to a rhythm I’ve heard all my life before we all dissolve into laughter again.

That night, I fall asleep next to my mom feeling light, buoyed by the promise of a beautiful summer: precious time spent at home with my loved ones and creating lasting memories in Miami.

South Pointe Pier & Beach

A concrete path lined with palm trees leads to South Pointe, my favorite part of South Beach. Here, away from the fuss of Ocean Drive, we enjoy a peaceful day at the beach, wading in the shallow water as gentle waves cool our sun-warmed skin. For my friends, this is their first visit to South Beach, and I listen in joy as they go on about how the day feels perfect and how Miami has captured their hearts.

Rubell Museum

At the front desk, an employee checks us in and asks if we would like to play the scavenger hunt. She hands each of us a pencil and paper covered in 16 black and white drawings. Each drawing corresponds to a different art piece in the museum, and as we walk through, we try to match the real-life pieces to their 2-D drawings. At first, I think it might be tedious, but then I find myself enjoying the process, even celebrating at the end when we match all 16 drawings.

Mandolin Aegean Bistro

I have a new appreciation for Mediterranean food in Miami, and Mandolin is one of the reasons why. Sitting on the outdoor patio, under fans that mist cool water on our skin, we enjoy a tasty platter of creamy hummus, crispy fried calamari, and a plate of perfectly seasoned seabass.

Sunny Isles Beach

The Rooftop Cinema Club

“So, when did you fall in love with Hip-Hop?” Sanaa Lathan’s voice comes across clearly through the headphones I’m wearing. My boyfriend and I are at a rooftop in South Beach, sitting in comfortable recliner chairs facing a supersized projector screen that plays an old classic: Brown Sugar. Hanging bistro lights illuminate the evening, adding a warm ambiance. Only about ten people are watching with us. Though there is space for much more, I prefer it this way: quiet and intimate.

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For me, Miami is synonymous with summer, and I love coming back to visit. Even more when I can bring my loved ones and introduce them to the places I love in Miami.

Looking to visit Miami, get a personalized itinerary for your trip via the Same Footprints Guide: https://samefootprints.com/same-footprints-guide/.

As always,

thank you for reading!

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Same Footprints, Different Sands