Eight of the Best Weekend Getaways from Miami
With world-class beaches, restaurants, and other attractions, Miami is a great place to vacation. But where do locals go when they want to get away? Here are eight of the best weekend trips from The Magic City.
Bimini
This Bahamian destination is so close to Miami that it could feasibly be a day trip. Taking a boat to Bimini is an unforgettable experience that lasts around two hours. Alternatively, hop on a Cape Air or Silver Airways flight, which will get you there even quicker.
Once you arrive, embrace your inner Ernest Hemingway and cast your fishing line in Bimini’s crystal-clear waters. You can also snorkel the SS Sapona shipwreck and explore indigenous flora and fauna. After a day of immersing yourself in natural beauty, enjoy the restaurants and nightlife in Bailey Town and Alice Town.
Cocoa Beach
Florida’s surfing capital is, fittingly, home to the Florida Surf Museum, which is located inside the original Ron Jon Surf Shop. If you’re feeling inspired after learning about the history of surfing, purchase your own gear at the shop and take a lesson at the nearby School of Surf.
Bird lovers can venture to Lori Wilson Park, where there’s a maritime forest teeming with birdlife. Located about three hours from Miami by car on Florida’s Space Coast, Cocoa Beach also offers easy access to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Gaze at rockets early in the day, then spend the evening admiring water views while enjoying dinner and drinks at the Rikki Tiki Tavern, which is perched at the end of an 800-foot-long pier.
Islamorada
Similar to Key West, but closer, Islamorada is the place to go if you want to spend your day out on the water. Kayak, canoe, or standup paddleboard at the 11-acre Indian Key Historic State Park, which is home to mangroves and crocodiles. Next, head over to Theater of the Sea, were you can swim with marine mammals.
When you get hungry, fill your stomach with fresh seafood at spots like Hog Heaven or Marker 88, then fill the stomachs of the local tarpon by feeding them off the dock at Robbie’s Marina. Close out the day out by enjoying one of the Florida Keys’ legendary sunsets.
Key West
Sure, it’s two hours farther away than Islamorada, but part of the experience of a weekend in Key West is the journey. The 168-mile trip from Miami includes 110 miles on the aptly named Florida Keys Scenic Highway. Traveling down the route, which is sandwiched between the Gulf Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, reveals one incredible view after another.
Also incredible are the bevy of activities that Key West packs into its five square miles. Museums, including the Hemingway Home, immerse visitors in the history of the southernmost city in the continental United States, while the presence of one of the world’s largest barrier reefs makes snorkeling a can’t-miss activity. Catch a stunning sunset at Mallory Square, then head over to Duvall Street for a night of revelry.
Palm Beach/West Palm Beach
Two cites for the price of one, Palm Beach and West Palm Beach offer distinct flavors of getaway. Together, they are the perfect place for a weekend trip, which allows you time to explore both.
“The Island,” as locals call Palm Beach, is all luxury. Upscale retailers like Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue line Worth Avenue, while lavish mansions and hotels make it clear this is a place for the well-heeled. Pack your swimsuit and relax on the sandy shoreline—or, if you’re in an exploring mood, tour the city on bike.
West Palm Beach, on the other hand, has emerged as a cultural destination thanks to the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden and especially the Norton Museum, which boasts a best-in-state public art collection. Proper Grit and Buccan are restaurants that make the trip worthwhile all on their own, and The Ben is a glitzy rooftop pool that would fit in well on “The Island.”
Sarasota/Siesta Key
A convenient mainland-island pairing, Sarasota and Siesta Key sit on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The former offers flora- and fauna-themed attractions in the form of nature walks, botanical gardens, and the Jungle Gardens, where you can take in bird and animal shows. Sarasota is also where you’ll find Florida’s official art museum, the John and Mable Ringing Museum of Art.
Across the bay, Siesta Key exudes a relaxed vibe and features one of the best beaches in America. With sand that’s 99 percent quartz, the shoreline here is not to be missed. When you get hungry, stop in at Siesta Key Oyster Bar. Alternatively, catch your own fresh seafood and cook it at one of the many beach houses available for rent.
St. Augustine
The colonial history of St. Augustine dates back to 1565, when Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés (who later became Florida’s first governor) founded the city. Today, the country’s oldest permanent European settlement remains connected to the past and influenced by Spanish culture.
The city’s historic district includes Castillo de San Marcos Fort, which transports visitors back to the days of Spanish rule with its historical reenactors and cobblestone streets. There’s also Spanish revival architecture and Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth. The city is not all history, however, as golf courses, modern restaurants, and sleek villas add a modern contrast.
St. Petersburg
Where to start in this Gulf Coast city? First, there’s a thriving art scene anchored by the Salvador Dali Museum and the Chihuly Collection. Next, there are beautiful sights in the form of the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge and the Sunken Gardens. A craft beer trail is the perfect place to the sample region’s signature Florida Weisse, and an expansive dining scene includes standout beach bars and a range of quality restaurants.
Want more? Fishing, beaches, golf courses, spring training baseball—it’s all here. While it can be overwhelming to know where to start in St. Petersburg, one thing’s for sure: You’ll want to come back.