Sunny Skies And Tropical Vibes: My Favorite Daytime Things To Do In Miami, Florida

Serene path to the beach in Miami, Florida

I fell into a loving relationship with Miami by chance. It was never a destination that I sought out, yet due to the presence of family and friends around the city I have found myself there many times. At first, I found the party culture in Miami Beach to be garish and overwhelming. However, after many years and many trips down to Miami, I have learned that Miami is so much more than the South Beach party culture. I have really come to love the city and all that it has to offer.

Miami and Miami Beach are two separate cities (Miami Beach is an island located directly east of the city of Miami). Because of the proximity of the two cities, this post covers things to do both in Miami Beach and Miami. I tend to stay in South Beach when I visit (a neighborhood in Miami Beach), though I make a point to spend time in different parts of the city of Miami as well. So here is a list of some of my favorite daytime things to do in Miami. Enjoy!

Feast on tropical fruits at a farmer’s market

Papayas, mangoes, tropical bliss! Fruits upon fruits at the Lincoln Road farmer’s market

There are a lot of farmer’s markets around Miami, both in Miami Beach and in Miami. Here is a list that details where and when the farmer’s markets take place. I highly recommend checking one out while you’re here – it’s a great way to support local growers and find fresh fruits and veggies.

Because I stay in South Beach, my go-to farmer’s market is the Lincoln Road farmer’s market on Sundays. This farmer’s market takes place on the Lincoln Road mall (an outdoor, pedestrian-only mall in the center of South Beach), spanning many blocks with stands full of food from around the world, drinks, fruits and vegetables, spices, flowers, and more.

One of my favorite things about shopping at the farmer’s market in Miami is the chance to try foods that are hard to find in other parts of the country. This year I tried jackfruit for the first time. It’s a fruit that comes from India, but has been cultivated in Florida for about a century. This tropical fruit is sweet and delicious, and readily accessible in Miami!

Cut up jackfruit – yum! (CC0 Image)

Exercise outdoors

For exercise enthusiasts, Miami is a dream! There are many boardwalks and pedestrian-only zones that are perfect for running, walking, biking, rollerblading, and more. I like running along the beach walk in Miami Beach. It spans from 46th Street down to the bottom of Miami Beach, and from 64th street up to Bal Harbor. There is also a boardwalk in Bayside, as well as on the Venetian Causeway. If you’re a fan of sunny outdoor cardio, Miami is the place for you.

Also, there are many other fitness opportunities around the city. Miami has a number of free outdoor yoga classes, for yoga enthusiasts. And for folks who prefer going to the gym or doing other indoor workouts, like any big city there are ample places to choose from.

The beach walk in South Beach, right around sunset. During the day it’s full of people running, walking, biking, rollerblading, and more!

Visit Wynwood Arts District

Wynwood is a funky neighborhood in Miami, and it is essentially a giant art exhibit. But seriously, for blocks and blocks it feels like every inch of the neighborhood is covered in art, from walls to sidewalks to fire hydrants to telephone poles. There are numerous galleries around the neighborhood, but you could just as well walk around outside to take in the sights. In the center of Wynwood are the famous Wynwood Walls, which house a series of murals and art installations throughout its walls and gardens. You can stroll around Wynwood on your own, or sign up for a tour with Wynwood Art Walk.

Street art around Wynwood, Miami

Practice your Spanish

Miami-Dade County (the county that encompasses Miami and Miami Beach) is incredibly diverse. While Miami is known for its large Cuban population (which doesn’t disappoint, as over a third of the residents of Miami-Dade County are Cuban or are of Cuban descent), there are folks in Miami from all over the world. Approximately 65% of the county is of Hispanic or Latino origin, according to the 2010 census. As a result, you hear Spanish everywhere, but not just Cuban Spanish. There are folks in Miami from all over Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean. For students of Spanish, Miami is a great place to go.

Take a tour of the Vizcaya museum and gardens

Craving a history fix in Miami? Then look no further than the Vizcaya museum and gardens. Vizcaya is the James Deering estate in Coconut Grove, Miami. It’s decorated to the nines, both inside and outside. I took a tour of the house, which was a nice way to learn about the history of the house and better understand the architecture and decorations around the estate. Walking around Vizcaya, you’ll get beautiful views of the Biscayne Bay, and you can beat the Miami heat in the shade of the gardens.

Beautiful views inside and outside at the Vizcaya Museum and gardens!

Drink coconut smoothies

I am obsessed with coconut smoothies, mostly because I’m obsessed with coconut. The Coco Market sets up shop at a few points around Miami – Wynwood on Fridays and Saturdays and the Lincoln Road farmer’s market on Sundays) and sells these amazingly delicious coconut smoothies. I would go to Miami just for these smoothies!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfExmmtDFt0/?taken-by=inlocamotion

Visit Little Havana (and eat all of the Cuban food!)

For foodies, Little Havana is the perfect destination. A famous Cuban neighborhood in Miami, it’s a great place to walk around for an afternoon, have lunch, smoke a cigar (if that’s your thing!), and experience the multiculturalism that is Miami. The main drag in Little Havana is a street called Calle Ocho (8th Street). This section contains blocks full of shops, restaurants, cigar bars, and more.

Also in Little Havana is the famous Versailles Restaurant, which in spite of its name is a Cuban restaurant. It’s about one mile west of the main drag of Calle Ocho. The food is tasty and the restaurant is popular with locals and tourists alike. To get from Versailles Restaurant to the center of Little Havana, you can walk east along 8th Street, or take a bus or Uber.

Colorful rooster on Calle Ocho in Little Havana

Stroll around SoBe

There is plenty to see and do around South Beach. It’s famous for its Art Deco historic district, so for architecture enthusiasts there is plenty to see. You can do a self-guided Art Deco walking tour, which takes you along the Art Deco stretch of Ocean Drive. There are also guided tours available.

Ocean Drive in South Beach is a great spot to see lots of Art Deco buildings

Otherwise there are many places to visit around South Beach, such as the Lincoln Road mall, Lummus Park, the New World Symphony and gardens, the marina on the west side of Miami Beach (also a nice place to go for a run or walk, as there is a paved path adjacent to the marina), and plenty more!

View of the marina on the west side of South Beach, with Biscayne Bay in the distance

See the iconic colored lifeguard stands along Miami Beach

Everyone’s favorite #instaworthy Miami Beach shots. These lifeguard stands are adorable. They line the beach and each one is unique. Go for a walk along the beach, jump into the surf, and enjoy the views of these colorful lifeguard stands along the coast.

One of the many iconic colored lifeguard stands along Miami Beach

Bike the Venetian Causeway

I’m not much of a biker, but I really enjoyed spending an afternoon biking the Venetian Causeway. The Venetian Causeway is a road that spans from downtown Miami to South Beach. It crosses the Venetian Islands, a chain of human-made islands in Biscayne Bay. I chose to bike the sun-soaked causeway to get to Wynwood (see above). During my ride I got to enjoy beautiful views of Biscayne Bay, as well as the skyline of downtown Miami.

Don’t have a bike? No worries! I rented a Citi Bike (Miami’s bikeshare bikes). Short-term visitors can rent Citi Bikes for a few hours or for the day, and longer-term visitors can get monthly memberships. There are also numerous other bike rental places around the city, so bikers have lots of options. For the Venetian Causeway, I recommend alloting an hour or so, which gives you plenty of time to get off the bike, take pictures, and check out some of the Islands. Just remember to bring lots of water – there is not much shade on the Causeway!

Tranquil boats seen from the Venetian Causeway

See the sunset at South Pointe Park

No tropical vacation is complete without a phenomenal sunset view. Of course, because the sun sets west, in Miami Beach the sunset views are often accompanied by the Miami skyline or the container cranes in the port of Miami. If you’re in Miami Beach around sunset, I recommend taking a walk over to the west side of the island. I particularly liked the view from the southernmost point in Miami Beach, South Pointe Park.

Picturesque sunset seen from Miami Beach’s South Pointe Park

Have you ever been to Miami? Did you like it? What are your favorite daytime things to do in Miami? When you go to a city, do you prefer outdoor activities, going to museums/cultural activities, adventures with food, time at the beach, etc.?

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