Miami Info

[Steerpike]

Planning a 2 or 3 day side trip to Miami from Orlando in Feb.Thought of staying north of South Beach as the SoBe hotels are $$$. Any recommendations. It just needs to be clean, safe and with parking nearby. Maybe 3 miles north of Sobe so we can walk one way and taxi back.

Also is feasilble to walk around in Miami downtown (not miami beach) or is it too spread out like LA

Ken

[The Wards]

we did Miami for 3 days at xmas 2005/2006 and stayed in a fab hotel, Rui Florida Beach.
Great hotel, great location with magnificent breakfasts.
I fell in love with Miami and absolutely adored the feel of the place. The architecture is second to none and although we werent out too late at night (daughter, then aged 9) i was not at all apprehensive of the City. There are obviously areas that are less touristy than others but we found everyone we came across as very friendly and a total credit to their beautiful city.
Great places to eat and shop to!!!

[S'mE]

We stayed for a week in SoBe in April at The Park Central, Ocean Drive. You're right $$$'sh but the hotel was fab, nothing too modern, it had the right "40's feel", staff wonderful.

I'd recommend staying not too far North of the Lincoln street mall area at about 17th Street as most of the sights are South of this. If you're there, definitely eat at the News Cafe about 8th streetNews Cafe. (http://www.newscafe.com/welcome.html)....everyone does, but go a few blocks further south, probably corner of 2nd street and eat at The Big Pink. Absolutely unbelievable comfort food!
The Big Pink (http://www.bigpinkrestaurant.com/)


I'd also recommend a Duck Tour of SoBe and the homes of the stars in the lagoon!Duck Tours (http://www.ducktoursmiami.com/)

Enjoy!
Steve

[Steerpike]

Thanks for the tips S;me.
Willcheck out those restauants and the Park Central. Seems February is very busy down there.

The Wards. Can;t find the Rui

[Steerpike]

S'me.
Looks good your hotel. Any parking?

Ken

[S'mE]

There is a car park behind the Hotel (public, not the hotel's), but SoBe is absolutely notorious for traffic and parking. We were there a week, taxi from the airport to SoBe, taxi back to airport......no car needed!

People cruise Ocean Drive constantly in their souped up motors to "be seen". Similarly the people walking the street, that's why News cafe if great to people watch, and there is a bar in Park Central, Casablanca, that has a raised verandah so that you can sit outside and admire the changing view. They have a cool saxophonist there some nights who strolls around while you're chilling over the cocktails! The film Casablanca is projected onto a wall constantly in the bar, sound down and a Bogart sits outside in a period car!!!

[poohspals]

The Duck Tour is also highly recommended by our family - we had a great time