Tag Archives: ocean drive

Light up the sky, on Fourth of July

Photo courtesy of Miamiandbeaches.com

OK, so Fourth of July falls mid-week this year, smack on a hump day, but this is Miami, why would that stop us? After all, South Beach hotel pools are always hot to trot for a party and what better occasion than patriotic Fourth of July. Think the Delano, Shelbourne or Raleigh for upscale and the Clevelander (across from Lummus Park) for debauchery.

They’re also the perfect place to watch the fireworks display on 8th and Ocean at Lummus Park while sipping a cosmo, frozen concoction or downing shots poolside. Click here to learn about “Fire on the Fourth of July.”

If South Beach isn’t your scene, there are other more sedate, all-American parties in other parts of town.

Try Downtown Miami’s Bayfront Park for the city’s biggest Fourth celebration “America’s Birthday Bash.” There’s food and drinks, live music and a kids’ zone, open from 3-7 p.m. At 9 p.m. the sky lights up with a spectacular fireworks display, each year bigger and brighter than the year before. Click here for details.

On Key Biscayne they kick the day off with an all-American parade featuring marching bands, slilt walkers, parade floats and plenty of good eats. It’s a small-town celebration right through the town’s main street. Afterwards, hang out at either Crandon Park Beach or Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park enjoying an all-day barbecue and take in the many fireworks displays over Biscayne Bay. Click here for more information.

And funky, waterfront Coconut Grove is the site for several celebrations. Start the day with a morning picnic at the Barnacle State Historic Site, featuring lawn games, kite making and crafts. Then walk a few blocks to CocoWalk for a scavenger hunt, hot dog eating contest, a beer pong tournament and music by local band Deck 52. And over at Peacock Park there’s live entertainment and delectable food and beverages from local restaurants. It all culminates with a fantastic fireworks display over the bay. Click here for details.

Boutique Betsy Hotel’s a Classic and Eco-Friendly Charmer

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Sitting on the breezy porch of the Betsy Hotel on Miami Beach’s most famous stretch of road- Ocean Drive-this hotel is a standout structure with a colonial non-Art Deco look and an environmentally conscious green program throughout the property, something they’re proud to flaunt.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Picture 19Places in 1970 and this beauty deserves the recognition. While its traditional look is intact, it still has its South Beach touches. An inviting secluded courtyard pool beckons with an enclosed pool deck and plenty of amenities or there’s the rooftop retreat deck for unbeatable ocean views. Plantation style shutters, black walnut hardwood floors, walk-in showers, comfy custom built poster beds, and sunny colors make the suites and classic rooms an inviting place to relax and take in the views; staring at the swaying palm trees across the street and seeing endless ocean views is why they call this place paradise.

And when it’s time to eat, BLT Steak is where it’s at, with delectable items prepared by award-winning Chef Laurent Tourondel, whose skills have been praised by both Bon Appetit and Food and Wine Magazines.

Art Deco Historic District

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Picture 20Awash in pastel and mostly under cloudless blue skies, the Art Deco Historic District is a feast for the eyes for both its architecture and the beautiful people that spend time there. Lovingly restored in the 1980s by the Miami Design Preservation League, the District is where it’s at. Celebrities flock here and Ocean Drive has long been considered the American version of the French Riviera. Stroll along famed Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road Mall, funky Washington Avenue and chic Collins Avenue to take in historic buildings that were all the rage in the roaring 1920s and have stood the test of time. Architect Morris Lapidus put the area on the map with his unique designs, check out the legacy he created.