 On a recent trip to Miami for my Spring Break, we had the opportunity to not only take in the city but also two national parks and a major league baseball stadium. How could we possibly fit all of that in within four days without feeling swamped? Read on to find out the 305 charmed its way into our hearts. 'll be honest I didn't think Miami would be a city I liked, but I was wrong. Among the glitz, glam, and luxury, there is still plenty to do for adventure seekers, nature lovers, and laid back people like my husband and me. We flew into Miami from Raleigh on an early Tuesday morning and flew back early Saturday morning. We stayed at the Roami at Metro Park - a vacation rental hotel like site near LoanDepot Park. We mostly utilized Ubers/Lyfts, but we did rent a car through Turo for one day to go to the Everglades. Here's our itinerary... Day 1Flying these days often leaves the traveler in a pickle. The best flights are really early in the morning, but you're left with a lot of time to kill before you can check into your accommodations. Don't waste the day! We checked our luggage in with one of the many luggage drop off sites in the city. Then, we made our way to Bayfront Park. This is a perfect place to come with family, friends, or even alone. It's an outdoor shopping, dining, and recreational area. We dined at La Industria Bakery and Cafe where we had a surprise guest appearance by the owner and singer, Nicky Jam (I had no idea who he was either). Most restaurants in Miami are expensive but at this restaurant you do get a lot for you buck. With hours to kill, we perched right up on the pier to people watch, sit by the water, and drink. We were not disappointed. Many boat, jet, and party expeditions leave from this area. Finally, it was time to check in and we ended up having dinner in the neighborhood at a Nicaraguan restaurant.
Day 2We spent the morning relaxing and then by the afternoon we made our way to Key Biscayne and Virginia Key Islands. We had lunch at the Rusty Pelican which was delicious. I had fish tacos and two bellinis. This restaurant is right by the water, and I've heard they do a pretty good Saturday brunch. The island has beaches and plenty of bike rentals. Our plan was to rent bikes and pedal to one of the beaches, but they had banned anyone from getting in the water because of bacteria. So we just rented bikes and drove around the island on the many bike paths. We had a blast! Dinner that night was at Seaspice. It's located on the Miami River and has a really good vibe on top of good food. I got a lobster salad. We got to enjoy our dinner watching all the yachts and boats sail by and then dock for dinner. I highly recommend.
 Day 3This day was our busy day. We easily got our rental car and then drove to Everglades Safari Park, about 30 minutes away. Here, you can purchase tickets for an airboat ride that runs from 9:30-4:30. They have a boat that leaves about every half hour. The airboat takes you into Everglades National Park and through the swamps. It's about an hour long and while doesn't guarantee alligator sightings, we saw at least 5 crocs. The whole downside is if you don't get an end or front seat, your view is obstructed unless you stretch your neck or stand. Still worth it though. Your tickets also grants you access to an alligator show and the nature walk. The park also has a restaurant, gift shop, and restroom facilities. It took awhile for us to get back because of traffic for Opening Day, so we didn't have too much time to get ready for our sunset cruise. We ubered to Coconut Grove, where our cruise was leaving. There was a Fresh Market there, so we were able to purchase small snacks for the cruise. The cruise is through the Biscayne National Park Institute. James and I were the only two that booked that evening, so we had the whole boat to ourselves which was REALLY NICE! We had two captains on board. One was the navigator and the other popped in to give us history lessons of the park. Since we didn't have much time in Miami, we decided that this cruise was our best chance to cross Biscayne National Park off our national park list. Biscayne National Park is 95% water, so the best way to see the park is by boat. I've heard they have good snorkeling too, but we are going to save that activity for when we go to Dry Torgutas. The tour was about two hours long. We saw dolphins. Soldier Key. Stiltsville. And the sun set over the Miami skyline. 100% recommend! Also, Coconut Grove is a nice area and our dinner at Bayshore Club was top notch. Such great atmosphere and food. My friend and her fiance drove down from Pompano Beach. The restaurant is located mostly outdoors under an awning with a gigantic bar in the middle. TVs are all around and there is a lawn with cabanas and live music. Two thumbs up!
Day 4We didn't come all the way to Miami to not go to the beach. Therefore, this day we Ubered to Miami/South Beach and spent a few hours on the beach. We were able to rent an umbrella and two chairs for $50. The water was cold but so blue. The weather was perfect once most of the clouds disappeared. Good time here! That evening we walked to LoanDepot Park to watch the Marlins play the Pirates. Now that we have been here, we only have three more MLB stadiums. Check out my rankings here.
That was our time in Miami! Really fun. We were able to do a mixture of relaxing and adventure which is perfect for a trip. Check out these other national parks that we have visited.
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