As we prepare for our impending move to Riga, Latvia, I’ve been trying to spend quality time with my friends and family. We’ve happily hosted some here in Washington, DC, but I’ve also been gallivanting up and down the east coast. Last weekend I visited a friend in Pennsylvania and went with her to the botanical wonderland that is Longwood Gardens. But I’ll have to tell you about that trip at a later date since I didn’t have time to edit my photos before jetting down to Florida to see another friend. Even as I write this, I’m packing once again – this time for a last hurrah in New York City.
While these trips are more about nurturing friendships than taking a holiday, it certainly doesn’t hurt that my pals happen to live in some pretty great places. Miami Beach, Florida, for example. I was greeted with temps in the upper 80s, blue skies and sand so white it was positively gleaming. Florida is nicknamed the Sunshine State for a reason! The water, an impossibly pretty shade of turquoise, is blissfully warm even though it’s just the beginning of May.
I stayed at the Collins Hotel, mostly because of its proximity to my friend’s apartment and affordable price. The lovely pool was just a bonus. My room was clean and functional, which was all I needed given how little time I spent inside. The more expensive hotels may provide an airport shuttle, but that is an unnecessary luxury since the Miami Flyer public express bus (#150) services Miami Beach and costs just $2.65 each way.
The Collins Hotel is located across the street from the beach, though public access is just two blocks away via a palm tree-filled park. A paved walkway runs between the ocean-front resorts and the sand. It’s lined with lush vegetation, but there is very little shade; that doesn’t stop dedicated locals from running its length in the mid-day heat. Dogs technically aren’t allowed on the beach, though you are sure to see some very happy pups frolicking in the surf during the morning and evening hours.
There are food options aplenty in Miami Beach and fortunately my friend had already identified the best. The first night I enjoyed a scrumptious seafood risotto at a fabulous old-school Italian restaurant near her apartment. The burgundy walls of the restaurant were bedecked with signed photos of the celebrities who had dined there. One of said celebrities (sadly, unrecognizable to me) caused quite a sensation when she walked in and was seated at the table next to ours.
The next night, we visited the neighborhood Mexican restaurant and were treated to guacamole prepared table-side by a distractingly handsome young man. The tacos al pastor and pomegranate margarita were pretty good too. Ahem. I was on my own for lunch one afternoon and made my way to the Cuban food stand across the street from my hotel. Apparently the locals line up for coffee there every morning which means it’s legit. My handmade Cuban sandwich, loaded with pork, ham, cheese, mustard and pickles, was certainly delicious. Not pictured are the croque madame, eggs benny and Nutella croissant (!) I enjoyed on three separate visits to the local French cafe. Friends don’t let friends go hungry.
Where’s the nicest place you’ve gone to visit a friend?
Florida does look awesome this time of year and it doesn’t seem like there were too many people on the beach…how nice! I’ve visited friends all over the world…maybe my favorite place was Ohio, though, where my friend took me to all her Amish friends houses looking at the handicrafts they make and sell to help support their households. It was very interesting!
That does sound interesting! I also have friends in Ohio and drove with them through Amish Country a few years ago. It was absolutely fascinating! We didn’t get to go into any of the houses, but did take a buggy ride and eat lots of pie 🙂
The things we do for friends! 😉
This is wonderful. You look so happy in the last pic (and love the summery nail polish too btw)! 🙂
Thanks, Jessica! My girlfriend and I got mani/pedis and I requested polish that matched the color of the water. Now I can look at my nails and remember the wonderful week I got to spend with my friend by the beach 🙂
Deliciousness all around! Beach + food + celebs = happy.
What I didn’t mention is that my friend has an energetic eight-month-old baby and that her neighbors have two spectacular dogs. I was pretty much in heaven!
Wow, those photos really make it look like paradise! The color of the sky and the water – gorgeous! I’ve only been to Florida as a kid, but keep thinking I should check out Miami sometime soon – your photographs are testament to the fact that I really should. (My list of great places I’ve visited friends is long, but includes Brussels, Lima & Cairo.)
I’ve been to Florida several times, but somehow I always forget how beautiful it is. And it’s a lot cheaper than going to one of the islands 🙂
Those are some fabulous places to visit friends! A couple we know from Shanghai moved to Lima last year, so that might make for a nice and warm winter getaway from Riga 🙂
Great photos! I wish our water here at Myrtle Beach was as pretty. Love your nail polish 🙂
Oh, thanks for the tip about the Miami Express Bus! I’ve been a few times and never thought to research that, but SUCH a great deal!
My sister recently moved out to Colorado for grad school, so I look forward to visiting her at some point…supposed to be a lot of great sunshine!:-)
The bus was so easy! It runs every half hour on weekdays and tickets were easy to buy at the station. I got off at 41st and Indian Creek and then caught another bus uptown as the airport express goes south. But buses run up and down Collins Ave every few minutes. Plus, the buses take dollar bills!
Colorado is supposed to be beautiful! I hope you get to go this summer! 🙂
You are lucky to have a friend living in such a beautiful place, it looks like a film set, wow!
I know it’s completely different from sandy beaches and clear sea water, but for me Berlin was the best place I went to visit a friend, perhaps because I love that city. We did go to Taiwan too only because a friend of mine lives there and ended up touring the country, loved it! 🙂
That’s funny Franca, I was also thinking Miami looked like a movie set, like something out of the 1950s. It’s just too perfect!
It sounds like you’ve got friends in great destinations, too! We have friends who just moved to India and are thinking about visiting them next year, which will be our first time in that country. Hopefully having a friend to show us around will make our introduction to India less overwhelming!
Mmmm…love Miami food. We did not eat enough Cuban food when we were there last year. I LOVE media noche sandwiches and the Cuban breakfast pastries.
I didn’t eat enough Cuban food when I was there, either. The pastries at the cafe I visited looked so good, but by that point I had already discovered the Nutella croissant at my neighborhood french bistro 🙂
Gorgeous photos! I would love to be there. Right as summer starts for lots of people, the rainy season is getting started where I live. I still haven’t had enough sun!
Thanks, Suki! I’d like to be in Miami now, too 🙂
That looks like such a nice visit! Unfortunately, I’ve only been to the airport in Miami! I’d love to take a swim in those turquoise blue waters! I can’t believe how blue they are! You’d swear they were Caribbean waters 🙂
It was so nice! The ocean was warm, even at the beginning of May!