Florida
3
Day Itinerary •
USA
Three days in Florida gives you the essential Sunshine State experience, from the extraordinary Art Deco architecture and electric nightlife of Miami's South Beach to the extraordinary turquoise waters of the Florida Keys and the magnificent Everglades, the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. This route covers the soul of southern Florida. The extraordinary Ocean Drive Art Deco strip of Miami Beach, the extraordinary Wynwood Walls street art district, the finest Cuban food in America in Little Havana, the extraordinary Seven Mile Bridge of the Florida Keys and the extraordinary wildlife of Everglades National Park.
Best Time To Visit
November to April for dry season and perfect temperatures
Getting There
Fly into Miami International (MIA)
Getting Around
Rental car essential for the Keys and Everglades
Budget Per Day
Approx $130 to $220 per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, mostly flat driving and walking
DAY 1
MIAMI
MORNING
SOUTH BEACH ART DECO HISTORIC DISTRICT
The South Beach Art Deco Historic District is the most extraordinary concentration of 1930s architecture in the world, its extraordinary Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue strip of pastel-colored hotels, restaurants and bars the finest example of the Streamline Moderne and Nautical Moderne styles in existence. The extraordinary Art Deco Welcome Center gives the finest walking tour of the district. The beach itself with its extraordinary turquoise Atlantic water is free. Arrive before 9am for the most extraordinary experience. Drive: 20 min drive
MIDDAY
WYNWOOD WALLS, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY STREET ART DISTRICT IN AMERICA
Wynwood Walls is the most extraordinary street art destination in America, its extraordinary outdoor museum of murals by the world's finest street artists covering the walls of a former warehouse district in extraordinary color and scale. The Wynwood Arts District surrounding the walls has the finest independent galleries, craft breweries and restaurants in Miami. Wynwood Walls entry approx $12. The surrounding murals on every building are free. Drive: 15 min drive
AFTERNOON
LITTLE HAVANA AND CALLE OCHO
Little Havana is the most extraordinary Cuban cultural neighborhood in America, its extraordinary Calle Ocho of cigar rollers, domino players in Maximo Gomez Park, Cuban coffee windows and the finest Cuban food in the United States giving a vibrant street culture entirely unlike any other American neighborhood. The extraordinary Ball and Chain supper club with its live salsa and the Tower Theater on Calle Ocho are unmissable. Free to explore.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Vizcaya Museum and Gardens on Biscayne Bay is the finest hidden cultural attraction in Miami, its extraordinary 1916 Italian Renaissance villa built by industrialist James Deering surrounded by 10 acres of formal gardens on the bay. The secret garden grottos and the extraordinary stone barge in the bay are unmissable. Entry approx $22.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Versailles Restaurant, Little Havana The most legendary Cuban restaurant in Miami. Extraordinary Cuban toast, cafe con leche and eggs. | Lunch: La Palma, Little Havana Outstanding authentic Cuban lunch. Extraordinary ropa vieja, black beans and rice since 1976. | Dinner: Joe's Stone Crab, South Beach The most legendary restaurant in Miami since 1913. Extraordinary Florida stone crab claws. Book weeks ahead.
DAY 2
FLORIDA KEYS
MORNING
JOHN PENNEKAMP CORAL REEF STATE PARK, THE FIRST UNDERWATER PARK IN AMERICA
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo is the first underwater park in America and the finest snorkeling destination in Florida, its extraordinary living coral reef of brain coral, elkhorn coral and sea fans sheltering queen angelfish, parrotfish, sea turtles and nurse sharks in extraordinary clarity. The glass-bottom boat tour gives a dry-foot view of the reef. Snorkel rental approx $15, glass-bottom boat approx $30. Entry $8 per vehicle. Drive: 1 hr drive
MIDDAY
THE SEVEN MILE BRIDGE AND THE MIDDLE KEYS
The Seven Mile Bridge between Marathon and Big Pine Key is the most extraordinary bridge drive in America, its extraordinary 6.79-mile span over open Atlantic water giving views in every direction of the extraordinary turquoise shallows and the Gulf of Mexico simultaneously. The old Seven Mile Bridge running parallel is the longest fishing pier in the world. Big Pine Key's extraordinary National Key Deer Refuge protects the world's only population of miniature Key deer. Free. Drive: 1.5 hr drive
AFTERNOON
KEY WEST, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY SMALL CITY IN FLORIDA
Key West is the most extraordinary small city in Florida, its extraordinary Duval Street of Victorian wooden Conch houses, Ernest Hemingway's former home, the Southernmost Point monument and the extraordinary sunset celebration at Mallory Square giving a destination entirely unlike anywhere else in the United States. The extraordinary Harry S. Truman Little White House is the finest presidential site in Florida. Hemingway Home entry approx $18. Mallory Square sunset free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Bahia Honda State Park on Bahia Honda Key is the finest hidden beach in the Florida Keys, its extraordinary sandbar beach of extraordinary white sand and turquoise water entirely different from the developed resort beaches of Key West. The old Flagler railroad bridge above is extraordinary. Entry $8 per vehicle. The finest beach in the entire Florida Keys.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: The Fish House, Key Largo Outstanding Keys seafood breakfast. Extraordinary local grouper, eggs and stone crab on the water. | Lunch: The Wreck Galley, Key West Outstanding conch chowder and local fish tacos in the finest casual lunch spot in Key West. | Dinner: Louie's Backyard, Key West The most extraordinary waterfront dining in Key West. Local Florida seafood and sunset views.
DAY 3
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
MORNING
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK AIRBOAT TOUR
The Everglades is the most extraordinary subtropical wilderness in the United States, its extraordinary 1.5 million acres of sawgrass prairie, mangrove forest and freshwater slough sheltering the largest population of American alligators on earth, alongside American crocodiles, Florida panthers, West Indian manatees and the extraordinary roseate spoonbill. An airboat tour through the sawgrass gives the most extraordinary access to the alligator-rich interior. Tours approx $30 to $50. Drive: 45 min drive
MIDDAY
ANHINGA TRAIL, THE FINEST WILDLIFE WALK IN FLORIDA
The Anhinga Trail at Royal Palm in Everglades National Park is the most extraordinary short wildlife trail in America, its extraordinary 0.8-mile boardwalk through Taylor Slough giving extraordinary close-range encounters with alligators sunning themselves on the bank, anhingas drying their extraordinary wings and great blue herons fishing the shallow water. The trail is most extraordinary at dawn when the light is golden and the wildlife most active. Entry $35 per vehicle. Drive: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
SHARK VALLEY AND THE EVERGLADES TRAM TOUR
The Shark Valley section of Everglades National Park gives the most extraordinary accessible overview of the sawgrass prairie ecosystem, its extraordinary 15-mile tram loop past alligator-lined canals to an observation tower giving a 360-degree view over the extraordinary River of Grass stretching to the horizon. The alligator density along the Shark Valley canal in winter is the most extraordinary in the Everglades. Tram tour approx $25, bicycle rental approx $10.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park on the western edge of the Everglades is the finest hidden wilderness in Florida, its extraordinary cypress swamp containing the largest concentration of native orchid species in North America and the only place where ghost orchids and royal palms grow together wild. Entry free. Boardwalk trail extraordinary.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Robert Is Here, Homestead The most extraordinary fruit stand in Florida. Local mamey, carambola and extraordinary fresh fruit milkshakes. | Lunch: Picnic at Royal Palm Pack lunch from Homestead. The extraordinary picnic tables beside Taylor Slough with alligators nearby. | Dinner: Shorty's BBQ, South Miami Outstanding Florida BBQ on the return to Miami. Extraordinary smoked ribs, pulled pork and sweet tea.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Miami Beach, Night 1 The Betsy or Catalina Hotel on Collins Avenue. Approx $150 to $300 per night. Key Largo or Islamorada, Night 2 Playa Largo Resort or Cheeca Lodge. Approx $200 to $350 per night. Key West, Night 3 The Marker or Casa Marina Resort. Approx $180 to $350 per night.
Top Tips
1. South Beach Ocean Drive at sunrise before the crowds arrive is the most extraordinary Art Deco experience in America.
2. Key West sunset at Mallory Square with the street performers is the most extraordinary free nightly show in Florida.
3. The Anhinga Trail in the Everglades at dawn is the finest wildlife walk in Florida. Alligators and anhingas extraordinary.
4. Book Everglades airboat tours ahead in peak season. Coopertown Airboats is the finest and most authentic operator.
5. Little Havana's Calle Ocho on a Friday evening is the most extraordinary Cuban cultural street experience in America.
6. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo is the finest snorkeling in Florida. Rent a mask for $10.
Total Budget
$130 to $220/day