What I did: Ft. Lauderdale Beach- Ft. Lauderdale has a very nice beach located right around the corner from the hostel I stayed in while there. It is a great thing to do and is easily the best thing to do in Ft. Lauderdale. There were even protected areas for hatching sea turtles. Downtown Ft. Lauderdale- Ft. Lauderdale is a fairly walkable city, and I took advantage of the opportunity to walk through the downtown area. While there may not be as much to see there as in other cities, there were still some very good sites. It was also nice to walk along the intracoastal waterway. Greater Hollywood YMCA- I worked out at the Greater Hollywood YMCA just south of Ft. Lauderdale on my way to Miami. Although they were undergoing some construction while I was there, it was still a very good place to workout and they had everything I needed to get a great workout in. Where I ate and drank: Pizza Craft- Pizza Craft is a great artisan pizzeria and Italian food restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale. Their pizzas can also be served inside the Apothecary. The Apothecary 330- The Apothecary is located inside Pizza Craft. It is an excellent cocktail bar with a great selection and great service. Their wide range of spirits are located on shelves that require a ladder to retrieve. Stache 1920's Drinking Den- Stache is a coffee bar by day and a drinking den (cocktail bar) by night. I only had the opportunity to visit them in the morning for a quality coffee (from Miami's Panther Coffee), but it seemed like it would be a great as a cocktail bar as well. They have some cool decorations and have a cool vibe to the place. Where I stayed: Hotel Deauville Inn, Hostel, and Crewhouse- Hotel Deauville was a very nice hostel. It was very clean and right around the corner from the beach. However, due to its proximity to the beach it is a little ways from downtown. Also, it didn't have quite the environment as some other hostels I have stayed in. That being said, there is a pool inside the hostel, which is not something most hostels can say. It is a good place to get away and relax. How I got around:
Lyft and Uber are both available in the Ft. Lauderdale area. For any distance too far to walk they are probably the best option. My favorite thing: My favorite thing in Ft. Lauderdale was the beach, and the Apothecary was a great place as well. My least favorite thing: Ft. Lauderdale does not seem to have as much to offer as some other surrounding cities in south Florida. However, I have not had the opportunity to spend much time there, so I would like to explore it further. For next time: I only had the opportunity to spend two days in Ft. Lauderdale, so there is still a lot I would like to do. I would like to check out more of the surrounding beaches as well as more of the city. I would also like to visit Stache at night.
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Coming from Florida, I have passed through Miami several times. Similarly to the way I divided New York into posts about Queens & Brooklyn and Mahattan, I decided to divide Miami into multiple posts. The previous posts covered Miami Beach and Wynwood, and this one will cover the Downtown Miami and Little Havana. What I did: Walked Calle Ocho- Miami is the second most international city in North America (behind Toronto). Due to its locations and the political history between the US and Cuba, there are a large number of Cuban immigrants and descendents living in the Miami area. Calle Ocho (SW 8th St.) has become a Cuban cultural hub. It is a cool place to walk through and there are many good food options there as well. Got a Spanish Visa- The US Southeastern headquarters for the Spanish consulate is located in Miami. I went to an appointment there to obtain my visa to move to Spain. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens- The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a large property with beautiful mansion and garden. It is worth checking out if you are in the area. Also, parts of the Will Smith and Martin Lawerence blockbuster Bad Boys II was filmed here, as well as parts of other movies including Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Any Given Sunday, and Iron Man 3. Where I ate and drank: Versailles Restaurant (Little Havana)- Versailles is a local, Cuban place that serves great Cuban food. As one of the most famous Cuban restaurants in the world, it is worth a visit when in Little Havana. Lulu's Nitrogen Ice Cream (Downtown)- Lulu's is a cool spot that uses quality, locally sourced ingredients to make its ice cream. They make the ice cream right in front of you using liquid nitrogen. They offer a variety of tasty classic and seasonal flavors. Azucar Ice Cream Factory (Little Havana)- Azucar Ice Cream Factory is a great and very tasty ice cream place located on Calle Ocho. They offer a number of signature flavors, including their famous "Abuela Maria," as well as a number of classic flavors, sorbets, and seasonal flavors. Ms. Cheezious (Downtown)- Ms. Cheezious started as a food truck and has since grown to have a brick and mortar location. They offer a variety of tasty grilled cheese sandwiches, and also serve craft beers, wines, and nitro coffee from Relentless Roasters Coffee. Ball & Chain (Little Havana)- Ball & Chain is an awesome Cuban spot on Calle Ocho. They serve authentic Cuban food and drink (some drink even come with Cuban tobacco in them). They often play live Cuban and jazz music. They also offer salsa dancing opportunities and even offer free salsa dancing classes on select nights. Coyo Taco (Downtown)- Coyo Taco offers great Mexican food in the Miami area. They have locations in Wynwood and in Brickell. I visited their Brickell location. In addition to the many good options on their regular menu, they also offer some good options on their breakfast/brunch menu offered Saturday and Sunday mornings. All Day Coffee and Eggs (Downtown)- All Day Coffee and Eggs offers up a great selection of coffees including their excellent nitro cold brew coffee. While I would still prefer Panther Coffee in the general Miami area, the nitro cold brew coffee I had at All Day Coffee is the best cup of coffee I have had in downtown Miami. El Carajo (Downtown)- The word "carajo" has become a cuss word in the Spanish language. However, it actually refers to the mast of a ship where crewmen would stand to look for land. Due to its location, it would make many sailors sick and sailors would sometimes be punished by being sent to the "carajo." This has led to its use as a negative cuss word for something very bad. However, if a sailor were able to go to the "carajo" and not get sick, they were seen as being very strong. This has led to its use as a positive cuss word for something very good, but it is used this way less often. The El Carajo restaurant is a Spanish tapas restaurant and wine bar interestingly located inside a gas station. The name is interesting, the location is interesting, and the food is excellent. Threefold Cafe (Downtown)- Threefold Cafe is a quality cafe with various quality, healthy food options. El Palacio de los Jugos (Downtown)- El Palacio de los Jugos has a few locations in the Miami area. They offer a variety of Latin American foods. The food comes with big portions and inexpensive prices. It is a great place to go if you are very hungry. Where I stayed: SoBe Hostel (Miami Beach)- While not the cheapest, SoBe Hostel is on the cheaper end of hostels in Miami Beach. It is slightly more of a party hostel than I would prefer. They offer a free hostel dinner, but it is very basic. There is also a hostel bar with a limited selection, and a very good ceviche restaurant next door to the hostel. How I got around:
To see how I got around the Miami area, check out my post on Miami Beach. My favorite thing: Little Havana has some very interesing Cuban culture and food, and I enjoyed the opportunity to experience it. My least favorite thing: There is not much to dislike about the area. If I had to pick something, similar to the Wynwood area, there are not as many good accomodation options downtown or in Little Havana as there are in Miami Beach. For next time: Next time in the area I would like to spend more time downtown, as I have not spent much time there. I would also like to try the salsa lessons at Ball & Chain. Coming from Florida, I have passed through Miami several times. Similarly to the way I divided New York into posts about Queens & Brooklyn and Mahattan, I decided to divide Miami into multiple posts. The previous post covered Miami Beach, and this one will cover the Wynwood area. What I did: Wynwood Walls- The Wynwood Walls collection is the best collection of street art I have come across anywhere in the world. The Wynwood area was once a place locals were afraid to drive through, and now the Wynwood Walls are one of the biggest tourists attractions in the Miami area. Many other places in the world have good grafitti, but I have yet to find a place that measures up to the Wynwood Walls. Biked through the Venetian Islands- To get from Miami Beach to Wynwood I biked the Ventian Way bridge that runs through a series of islands know as the Ventian Islands. I rented a bike from one of the many Citi bikeshare stations in Miami Beach, then dropped it off near the Wynwood area. What I ate and drank: Zak the Baker- Very nice bakery with a nice breakfast offereing as well. They offer both healthy and unhealthy options, and their bread is used in multiple restaurants in the surrounding area. J. Wakefield Brewing (and Purple People Eatery)- J. Wakefield Brewing serves quality craft beers in a nice, laid back environment. They also regularly have food trucks on the property. While I was there the Purple People Eatery food truck was on the premises, and they offered some great food options. They were also showing a live UFC pay-per-view event while I was there. Panther Coffee- Panther Coffee is an excellent coffee place in Wynwood. Their nitro cold brew is excellent, and is the best cup of coffee I have had in the Miami area. They also have a couple other locations in the Miami area. Concrete Beach Brewery- Concrete Beach Brewery is a very good brewery in Wynwood. It would be the best brewery in many cities in the world, but is situated amongst a plethora of great breweries in the Miami area. The Butcher Shop- The Butcher Shop Beer Garden and Grill offers great food and a great selection of craft beers in a cool environment. Enriqueta's Sandwich Shop- Enriqueta's is a great, local place to get a genuine Cuban sandwich for a good price. Box Elder- Box Elder is a craft beer bar and market that offers a wide variety of excellent choices. Kush- Kush is an excellent restaurant serving local food and craft beers at good prices. Also, if there is a wait they offer a place a couple doors down to grab a craft brew as well. Where I stayed: Freehand Miami (Miami Beach)- Freehand Miami was the hostel with the nicest facilities that I have stayed in while in the Miami area. There are outlets and curtains in each comfortable bed. They also have an award winning bar with a pool. While it is located in the Miami Beach area, it is the farthest from actual beach of any of the other hostels I have stayed in while visiting Miami Beach. Also, for solo travelers the hostel lacks some of the friendly feeling I have experienced in some other hostel environments. While cheaper than a typical hotel, it is more expensive than a typical hostel. It is more of a hostel/hotel hybrid, which has advantages and disadvantages. How I got around:
To see how I got around the Miami area, check out my post on Miami Beach. My favorite thing: I really enjoyed the food, drink, and general feel to the area, and the Wynwood Walls is the best graffiti collection I have seen anywhere in the world. My least favorite thing: Good accomodation options aren't as abundant in Wynwood as they are in Miami Beach. For next time: Next time I want to check out a few more of the restaurants and breweries in the area. Coming from Florida, I have passed through Miami several times. Similarly to the way I divided New York into posts about Queens & Brooklyn and Mahattan, I decided to divide Miami into multiple posts. This one will cover Miami Beach. What I did: The Beach- The obvious main attraction in Miami Beach is the sand and the ocean. The sand is very nice, and it is wide enough to have space to run along the beach and avoid significant overcrowding. Due to the nice weather for most of the year, the water feels amazing. Calisthenic Park South Beach- Calisthenics Public Gym at Lummus Park in South Miami Beach is a nice place to workout. It is a free area for anyone to use. The equipment may not be top of the line, but there is enough there to get a great workout in. Also, if you want to cool off in the Atlantic Ocean after you workout, you are already at the beach. Lincoln Road Mall- Lincoln Road houses a variety of clothing stores, shops and restaurants. Most of the shops are higher end, but it is a nice place to walk through even if you do not want to buy anything. It runs east and west between 16th Street and 17th Street. Art Deco Historic District- The Art Deco Historic District in Miami Beach houses a variety of brightly colored buildings. It is a nice area to walk through. Ocean Drive- Ocean Drive runs along the beachfront. It has been featured in various movies and TV shows. It is an interesting area to walk through. Where I ate and drank: Pura Vida and Dirt- Pura Vida and Dirt are both great, healthy restaurant in Miami Beach. They aren't the cheapest priced food, but they are extremely high quality. They have a number of tasty, healthy options. Las Olas Cafe and Puerto Sagua- Las Olas Cafe and Puerto Sagua are both well priced restaurants in Miami Beach. As the Cuban cultural is highly prevalent in the Miami area, both cafes are authentic Cuban spots. I prefer Puerto Sagua for breakfast, and Las Olas Cafe for lunch or dinner. Puerto Sagua has some USB charging points at many of it table, catering to many international travelers. Las Olas Cafe, however, is cash only. The food at both places is very tasty. Pubbelly Sushi- Pubbelly Sushi is a nice sushi place off of Purdy Street in Miami Beach. They have quality sushi that is offered for great prices during their happy hour. It is run by the "Pubbelly boys" that have a few other restaurants in the Miami area. Bodega Taqueria y Tequila- The Bodega Taqueria is a nice taco place on its own, but is has a surprise behind an univiting door. What looks like a door to a port-a-potty is actually an entrance into an excellent speakeasy cocktail bar. The quality drinks are very well priced for quality cocktails, especially at happy hour. It is one of my favorite places that I have visited in Miami Beach. Abbey Brewing Company- The Abbey Brewing Company serves excellent craft beer in a nice, relaxed environment. The day I was there they were also giving away free food. Their brews are the best I have had in Miami Beach, and are at or near the top of the list in the entire Miami area. Shepherd Artisan Coffee- Shepherd Artisan Coffee is a nice coffee shop and cafe in Miami Beach. Their coffee is good, but when in Miami I prefer to get my coffee from Panther Coffee. Employees Only- A younger sister restaurant of its original New York location, Employees Only serves excellent craft cocktails. The prices are a little steep, but their quality level is even higher. Via Emilia 9 and Macchialina Taverna Rustica- Via Emilia 9 and Macchialina Taverna Rustica both serve excellent Italian food in Miami Beach. Via Emilia 9 was also offering an amazing bargain of 50% off lunches and dinners every Tuesday. News Cafe- News Cafe offers decent food for decent prices, but the real benefit to the cafe is its location. It is on Ocean Drive directly across the street from the beach. Regent Cocktail Club- The Regent Cocktail Club is a craft cocktail lounge connected to the Gale Hotel in Miami Beach. It is a nice place to grab a quality drink and listen to some live jazz music. Repour Bar & Lounge- Repour (Rapport) Bar & Lounge is a nice, relaxed place to enojy an expertly crafted cocktail in Miami Beach. Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Company- Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Company is an award winning bar in Miami Beach. They have an excellently priced happy hour that includes drinks and oysters. Where I stayed: All of the hostels I have stayed in were in the Miami area. I will include two with this post, and more in other posts about Miami. Beds&Drinks- Beds&Drinks Hostel offers a good value. The breakfast is very basic and the lockers are smaller than average for a hostel, but it was clean and comfortable. It is located a couple short blocks from the beach, and overall it was a nice place to stay. Miami Hostel- Miami Hostel is the most basic, but also the lowest priced hostel I have stayed at in the Miami area. It is located very close to a Whole Foods and some nice restaurants, but it is farther from beach. How I got around:
Public Transportation- When compared to the rest of the state of Florida, the public transportation in Miami is very good. However, when compared to many other major cities througout the world, it is subpar. I have used both busses and train while in Miami. Walking- The form of transportation I have used most often in the Miami area is my legs. I walk anywhere I can while I am there. Lyft/Uber- I have used Lyft and Uber often in the Miami area. I will usually use Lyft or Uber to get to and from the airport. As Miami is the most multicultural city in the United States, it is common for Lyft and Uber drivers there to have very low levels of English. Spanish is the most common language spoken in the area, but if English is your only language the Lyft or Uber app can handle the communication. Bike share- Miami has a fairly good bike share program. Bikes can be rented for anywhere from 30 minutes to multiple months. My favorite thing: The beach in Miami is excellent, as is the weather for most of the year. Also, Bodega Taqueria and Tequileria is a great speakeasy. My least favorite thing: Miami is a very touristy area, and many people seem to be overly concerned with their image and appearance. Also, there is a bit of a club/excessive drinking culture in parts of Miami Beach. For next time: The beach never gets old for me. Everytime I go to Miami (or anywhere warm near an ocean) I like to go to the beach. I have previously reviewed two backpacks, the Tortuga Backpack V2 and the Datsusara Battlepack Core Backpack, and now I wanted to review one of the things I put in my backpack when I travel. The Sea to Summit Dry Bag has been very useful for me. I have yet to come across any significant disadvantages with my Sea to Summit Dry Bag after a couple year, so rather than write about its advantages and disadvantages I will just list some of its benefits:
Benefits-
If you are interested in purchasing the Sea to Summit Dry Bag, you can do so here. |
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