We’re talking Miami Beach (not South Beach) that gorgeous stretch of golden sand where the beaches are less crowded, the resorts more luxurious and the pace slower and more relaxed. The long slender barrier island is tucked between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. While super-sleek towers, a mix of residential condominiums and skyscraper hotels, skirt the shore side, marinas and recreational watercraft make the inland waterway a favorite with those out for a day of boating fun.
1 The Ultimate Drive
Head north on Collins Avenue out of the congested South Beach area to discover the rest of Miami Beach. Driving the palm tree-studded barrier island you’ll pass through one amazing neighborhood after another, each with its own personality, architectural style, history and beach. This is where smaller communities like North Beach, jam-packed with local color, a band shell for evening concerts and mom-and-pop shops, rub shoulders with newer upscale stretches like Sunny Isles Beach, where contemporary high-rises create a sparkling skyline against the Atlantic Ocean.
2 The Icons
Topping the list of Miami Beach icons is the Fontainebleau hotel. A major renovation in 2008 refreshed this architecturally significant property (think 1950s modern style) and preserved design elements created by its original architect, Morris Lapidus. The exterior’s signature cheese-hole design and a black-and-white bow tie-patterned lobby floor, designed after Lapidus’ sartorial style of always wearing a bow tie, are still impressive after all these years. On this same stretch from 22nd to 63rd streets, Millionaire’s Row and a hotbed for luxury real estate, sits the Eden Roc, another mid-century Lapidus resort hotel.
3 Beachside Boardwalks
Power walk, jog or just stroll along the boardwalk that begins at Indian Beach Park at 46th Street and Collins Avenue and runs south to 23rd Street. Sea grape trees and blooming scrub cover the dunes that separate the boardwalk from the beach. The backyards of Collins Avenue hotels skirt the other side, so you can take a peek at poolside glamour—or just gaze at the gorgeous water- and-sand vistas.
4 High-Rise Heaven
Ultra-slick 50-story condominiums and hotels rise up between the asphalt and the Atlantic Ocean in Sunny Isles Beach, a town that calls itself Florida’s Riviera. Its progressive architecture is mind-boggling. And it’s no surprise that Donald Trump is one of the forces behind these magnificent buildings. You’ll ooh and aah at the soft curves and oval shapes of his Trump Palace and Trump Royale that stand apart from old-school straight lines. But also keep an eye out for the newest tower construction that promises cutting-edge designs in this beachfront community recognized for its outrageous architecture.
5 The Quieter Stretch
Once north of South Beach, the long golden shoreline of Miami Beach is less hectic. Vintage hotels mix with newbies as you travel Collins Avenue all the way to Golden Beach. The scenery changes from shops and restaurants to parks, green space and marinas and on every resort’s beach, you’ll find plenty of lounge chairs, water sports and sand castles.
6 Well-Heeled
The Bal Harbour enclave has always been a luxurious destination, where spending lots of moola at the Bal Harbour Shops, as high-style fashion models parade around in the latest designer duds, is de rigueur. But with the new over-the-top St. Regis opening its doors across the street, visitors have more good reasons to put Bal Harbour on their lists. The resort’s art collection alone is worth a visit, but then there’s the hotel’s signature Bloody Mary served at the iconic King Cole Bar that’s impossible to resist.
7 Catching the Big One
Haulover Park Marina has quick access to the deep seas of the Atlantic Ocean (two minutes from the ocean, six minutes from fishing), which means get ready to cast a line and reel in some serious game fish. Charter boats, with all the bells and whistles, line the Intracoastal side of the marina and head out daily.
8 Pamper Palaces
There’s no shortage of luxury spas on Miami Beach. You’ll find the most innovative spas in the mega resorts starting with the Fontainebleau where a ritual water journey, including a rain tunnel and deluge shower, gives you a new appreciation for H2O. Or book yourself into the Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa, a health resort totally dedicated to your well-being.
9 Reach-for-the-Sky Views
Ride the elevator, enter your room, pull back the draperies and gasp. The taller hotels with breathtaking views of beach and cityscape stand ramrod tall on Collins Avenue north of South Beach. The Setai (38 floors), One Bal Harbour (18 floors), St. Regis Bal Harbour (27 floors), Trump International Beach Resort (32 floors) and Acqualina Resort & Spa (52 floors).These hotels are favorites with anyone looking for big doses of luxury and style.
10 North Beach
Not quite on the tourist’s radar, North Beach is known with the locals for its reasonably priced restaurants. So if you want a break from trendy, cool, hip dining establishments, this unassuming neighborhood on Miami Beach has some Latin American restaurants, pasta places, beer gardens and even weekly food truck gatherings that will surprise.
