Travel Diary: Miami 2014

South Beach, Miami

My roommate Cely and I enjoying the warmth (it's been a while)!

Lincoln Road: the main street in South Beach for shopping & dining

On the boardwalk off Lincoln Road

Palm trees at night on Lincoln Road (our dinner restaurant Maya is peeking behind)

A calamari appetizer at Maya Tapas and Grill, Lincoln Road

The University of Miami - where we stayed with our friend Chelsea

The Vizcaya Museum & Gardens

This stop was absolutely stunning. The Vizcaya estate was built in the early 1900s as the winter home of businessman James Deering. It originally occupied 180 acres, with about 50 still remaining. The mansion itself is beautiful with a center courtyard and heavily ornate rooms. The area surrounding the house displays amazing landscapes, gardens, and structures including a tea house and an old barge. See below for details:

The back of the estate

The tea house

The gardens off the South Terrace

Miami has been the perfect escape from the currently frigid climate of the Northeast. There is something about warmth, palm trees, and ocean views that instantly boost my mood. So far, my favorite experience has been the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens. Upon sight of the "backyard" (if you can even call it that), Cely and I attracted too much attention with our "WOW"s. The estate is truly stunning and definitely a must-see for anyone who visits Miami. The pictures can't even do it justice.

I hope you've enjoyed this snippet of my trip so far! I'm off to a different location in Florida for the weekend, so stay tuned for more photos. In the mean time, follow me in Instagram (here) for more updates. Talk to you soon!