It’s said that the four-hour-drive to Key West is more beautiful than the city itself. That’s probably because it represents two worlds: The Key West that’s visited by hundreds of (cruise ship) tourists each day, who spend the afternoon at the bars along Duval Street, then buy a T-shirt and move on. And then there’s the Key West, that reflects a typical American small town as well as a tropical island, where time seems to stands still and you can simply enjoy life. It’s not for nothing that it was Ernest Hemingway’s safe haven, who lived here for over ten years.

Within walking distance to his house, you’ll come across Key West’s most famous attraction: the red-black-yellow striped buoy in front of which everyone wants a photo. We weren’t willing to wait in line with 20 other people, instead we walked through the cities beautiful little streets and enjoyed examining the cute, French styled houses with wooden outer walls, open porches and folding doors.

All in all Key West is definitely worth a weekend trip. You’ll find whatever your heart desires, except paradise beaches. The road trip down along the Keys, the cozy atmosphere and the interesting architecture won’t disappoint you, promise!

Beautiful beaches are a rare sight in Key West, but you’ll come across a couple of nice piers on the contrary.

Each house in Key West looks different, but then again similar. It’s well worth it to walk through the many streets of the city.

Key West houses are often surrounded by lathe-turned picket fences that wrap around the entire structure. Blooming bushes add a visual pop and fresh contrast to fancifully painted homes.

Key West houses feature fanciful elements like slim columns topped with decorative wooden details.

You don’t have to walk a long way to spot chickens and roosters in Key West. You hear them crowing and see them strutting everywhere. They weave in and out of traffic and through outdoor cafes all over town.

You’ll find many cute little shops all over Key West.

Louvered shutters protect against severe tropical heat while encouraging air circulation inside the home. A full-sized front porch creates a perfect shady spot to enjoy the outdoor view.

Welcome To The Magic City.

Miami is a wild city known for glamour, cruise ships, cubans, beautiful people, parties and of course Miami Beach. The Magic City is a highlight for everyone visiting the United States. Here, you’ll come across the comfort and easiness from the southern states, an exiting night life, a cultural centre and an impressive skyline.

Miami Beach Has No Boundaries.

Miami Beach can be whatever you want it to be: easy-going, fun, stylish, gay, straight, family friendly or a singles playground. One comes to Miami Beach to have fun in the sun. On the southernmost tip of Miami you’ll be able to shop ’til you drop, enjoy the cultural aspects, dance until dawn and eat the most delicious meals.

From A Beach Village To A Megacity.

No matter if you want explore the new/renovated stylish hotels Gale, Lord Balfour or SLS South Beach for an after party, heavenly dine at the restaurants Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, Khong River House, Tongue & Cheek or Juvia, or rather visit old-school Miami Beach with its pastel coloured art deco buildings and museums, you’ll get your money’s worth.

Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road are known as great shopping-, nightlife- and food-hotspots, therefore you’ll come across a great variety of to-do possibilities. But if you rather want to enjoy kilometre long white sand beaches, then you’ve definitely come to the right spot in town! Miami Beach is the last station before the Caribbean and it sure feels that way. Sunbathing at South Beach is a Must-Do for any visitor. And the famous lifeguard towers in bright yellow, blue and pink, stripped or spotted are worth a walk up and down the beach at least once. Just as much as swimming in the warm, turquoise ocean is a must, observing the beautiful, trained and sometimes famous people should be on your to-do list.

A Few Tips For The Perfect Miami Vacation:

• It’s best to get around Miami Beach by Bike. Get a Citi Bike card and you’re good to go.
• Spend an evening on a rooftop bar/restaurant – Miami at night is amazing!
• If you want to eat healthy & fairly pricey, check out Juice & Java on Washington Avenue.
• Be sure to spend a weekend in Key West, the road trip alone will be worth your while.

Miami Beach has developed into an urban centre, with all it benefits that a small beach village and a megacity offers. We really enjoyed our stay here, yet we’re definitely not the ideal Miami vacationers. If you love adventure, action, jungle, trekking, and especially affordable hotels and good food, then Miami is probably a destination you’ll just want to visit for a layover or quick get-away. Not to give you the wrong idea: we had fun in the sun, but all in all, Asia is more our piece of cake. Even so, Miami still deserves the title Pearl of Florida.

Miami Beach offers everything you expect from a bustling city.

The beach on Miami is to die for. Really. They seem endlessly long and are great for sunbathing, jogging and relaxing.

The best way to explore Miami Beach is by bicycle. A Citi Bike card is all you need to get around the area.

The Beacon Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel on Ocean Drive, right next to South Beach.

The Colony Hotel is a well known landmark on Ocean Drive in Miami.

Beautiful people wander along the beaches of Miami, posing and taking selfies…

The lifeguard towers along Miami Beach are famous and deserve the attention.

The Miami Beach Boardwalk begins at Indian Beach Park at 46th Street and Collins Ave and continues through the Ocean Drive Promenade to 5th Street. The distance between 46th street and 5th street is approximately 6,5 kilometres – the perfect distance for a nice jog or stroll.

You have an amazing view of Miami’s skyline from Watson Island.

Watson Island is the right sport for photos of the Miami skyline.