Travel Diary: Miami Beach Staycation

We are officially in Fall, but in Miami it still feels very much like Summer. Instead of feeling some type of way about never getting to enjoy the sight of the changing colors of the leaves, I decided to lean into the nature benefit I've been given. Most people who were born and raised in Miami will tell you that the beach is a place for tourists. Having it a stone's throw away from our back yards takes away from the novelty of it all. We may dip our toes into the ocean every few years or so, but it's just not a big deal. If anything, most Floridians consider having a pool in their back yard the thing worth having. Any time of the year and in the privacy of their own homes or communities, they can take a dip at their leisure. That's the big deal for us! Getting our toes in the sand and swimming amongst strangers, not so much.

Lately, however, I've been seeing influencers gleefully enjoying trips to Miami or making the actual move to my city in wide-eyed wonder and it made me think, perhaps I've been taking for granted a thing of beauty I've been lucky enough to have so close by since birth. Watching others enjoy my back yard gave me a newfound appreciation for where I live. So, I decided to see it through the eyes of a tourist. You might find this shocking, but I've only been to Ocean Drive twice in my life before my recent visit. There was a time in the 90's when I spent a decent amount of time on "the beach" because the cineplex on Lincoln Road was the closest thing to where I lived then, after the cineplex in the Omni mall closed down. But I still didn't venture over to the actual ocean. I felt like if you've seen the beach, you've seen the beach. Sand, water, palm trees, ok, next. It just didn't excite me, which is weird because I'm a water baby who loves to be near water. It recharges me. I think my negative view of "the beach" was due to images I had as a child of the seaweed filled sand being crowded with strangers and getting sand in my hair and food. Also, since the 2000's, Miami Beach has become a place of overcrowded visitors that haven't exactly been the most well-behaved.

Recently, though, I've been watching folks do yoga on the beach, riding their bikes on calm pathways and found myself wondering if it was possible to have such a serene experience in a place I've associated with negativity. With the kids back in school and their parents back to work, tourist traps like the beach tend to settle down, so I figured it was the perfect time to check things out. Weekends are chaos all over Miami, so I narrowed my staycation down to days when everyone should be returning home. And I wasn't disappointed.

The hotel I chose was beautiful, moderately active, but mostly quiet and somewhat deserted. Blissful. Touring the property and remaining socially distant (for a germaphobe like myself) was easy. For a few days I could totally forget we are still in a pandemic and was able to move about without worry or stress. My 1st overnight stay at this luxurious hotel was free as part of an anniversary night reward provided through the Chase IHG Rewards Club Card. As a cardholder I get a free night every year to any hotel in the IHG Hotels family. Last year, I redeemed my 2020 night in Orlando. On this staycation, I redeemed my 2021 night at the Kimpton Angler's (South Beach) hotel. The hotel was so lovely, I booked a second night on my own dime. Since I'm an IHG Rewards member (it's free to join), I received a hefty discount on the 2nd night. It also helps that hotel nights on weekdays are much cheaper than on Friday through Sunday. So, if you ever want to stay in a fancy hotel for less, book your stay Monday thru Thursday when rates tend to be significantly lower. The one downside to my staycation is due to the intermittent rain, I didn't get to take as many pictures around the property that I'd planned, but if you're a content creator this place is a photo backdrop heaven. Every nook and cranny and corner or stairway is 100 percent Instagramable. The rooftop views were breathtaking (see video below). On a scale of 1-10, with regard to cleanliness, this hotel was perhaps one of the cleanest I've ever cleaned (yes, I go over everything I'll be touching in the room with a Lysol wipe when I check in). Practically, all of my wipes came up with minimal dirt. At one point I wondered if I was wiping hard enough. I even noticed the gentleman at the front desk spraying down the front desk from time to time, which made my little germaphobe heart grow several sizes with joy. If you, too, are funny about hotel germs, you'll be fine here!

Now, on the day I made my way to the ocean, it was pretty busy the closer you got to the water's edge, but folks weren't on top of each other. And in pockets, the water was pretty empty. If you didn't need to be right next to the water, you had the entire sand to yourself. This was my vibe. Just total peace. I sat on the sand and took in the beauty of my surroundings and inhaled the fresh, salty air. I let my toes clench the sand and bury themselves underneath to hide away from the searing sun. And then I walked over to the water and allowed the waves to crash over them as I walked along the seaweed-free shore. Wow, this was in my backyard and I'd taken it for granted. I vowed to never do so, again!

Yes, Miami Beach - especially South Beach - can be or get crazy, but if you visit at the right time, it can feel like paradise. Walking along Ocean Drive, not crowded by tourists, and going into any establishment to grab something to eat or browse was hassle free. No lines, no waiting, just freedom to be made this a relaxing outing. I will definitely return more often...on a weekday in the Fall.