Miami Staycation: Exploring Miami Like a Local

See the Miami You Know From a Different Angle

You can drive past Downtown Miami a hundred times and still not know what the city looks like from Biscayne Bay. That's one reason getting on the water works so well during a Miami staycation—you're exploring familiar places from an entirely different perspective.

From the bay, locals can see the Downtown Miami skyline, PortMiami, Star Island, Fisher Island and the islands of Biscayne Bay up close. You can pass waterfront mansions you've heard about for years and see the 97-foot Flagler Memorial on Monument Island from the water.



You've seen Miami. But have you experienced Miami from the water? That's a completely different way to vacation in your own city.

Want a Different Miami Staycation? Make It a Miami Beach Staycation

Here's a crazy idea: go vacation in Miami Beach.

Seriously. People fly from all over the world to experience South Beach and Miami Beach. They book flights, hotels and entire vacations around beaches that are sitting right in our backyard.

And somehow, some of us only cross the causeway when family comes to town. 😂

So switch it up. Hit the beach. Walk Ocean Drive. Grab lunch. Catch the sunset. Or book an oceanfront hotel and don't come home until tomorrow.

That's your Miami Beach staycation.



People travel the world to experience where we live. Maybe we should enjoy it too.

Turn Your Miami Staycation Into an Adventure

Not every Miami staycation has to be slow and relaxing. If you want something more adventurous, get closer to the water.

A Jet Ski rental on Biscayne Bay puts you almost at water level, with the Miami skyline rising in front of you and PortMiami looking a hell of a lot bigger when you're sitting on a personal watercraft. It's a completely different experience from seeing the same places by car—or even from a larger boat.

For locals, that's the point: do something in Miami you've always watched everybody else come here to do.

Rediscover Miami by Land

A Miami staycation for locals shouldn't stop at the water. There are neighborhoods you may drive through all the time without ever slowing down long enough to experience them.

Walk Calle Ocho in Little Havana, visit Domino Park, spend some time around Wynwood, or head back to South Beach and Ocean Drive like you're seeing them for the first time. Miami's culture changes quickly from one neighborhood to the next, and that's part of what makes vacationing in your own city interesting.

If you'd rather experience several areas in one day, a Miami city tour can connect the neighborhoods, local history and skyline views you normally pass without thinking twice.

Sometimes being a tourist in your own city is exactly what makes you appreciate living here.

Watch Miami Change From Day to Night

A staycation in Miami doesn't have to end when the sun goes down. Some of the best views of the city happen during the transition from daylight to sunset and finally to the Miami skyline at night.

From Biscayne Bay, you can watch Downtown Miami and Brickell begin to light up while the sky changes behind the city. A Miami sunset cruise turns something locals see every evening into an actual experience—and it's an easy option for a date night or a relaxing evening close to home.

Sometimes vacationing in Miami is simply about slowing down long enough to enjoy the city you usually rush through.

Eat Somewhere You've Been Meaning to Try

A staycation in Miami for locals should include at least one meal somewhere you normally save for “another day.” Miami's food scene is part of the vacation experience too.

Have dinner with Biscayne Bay and skyline views at the Rusty Pelican, spend an evening on Calle Ocho at Ball & Chain, or finally make that trip to Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach. The point isn't to build a giant restaurant checklist—it's to choose somewhere that makes an ordinary day at home feel like you actually went somewhere.



You don't have to leave Miami to eat like you're on vacation.

Take Your Staycation Beyond the City

Some of the best staycations near Miami are close enough that you can leave in the morning and still sleep in your own bed that night.

Head west for an Everglades airboat ride and see a completely different side of South Florida, or turn the day into a Key West day trip through the Florida Keys.

Plenty of Miami locals live surprisingly close to these places and still haven't experienced them for themselves.

People travel thousands of miles to explore South Florida. Sometimes all you have to do is get in the car—or let somebody else do the driving.

Build a Miami Staycation Around You

There isn't one right way to plan a staycation in Miami. A couple might want sunset views and dinner, while a family might choose Biscayne Bay, the beach and an afternoon exploring the city. Friends can make it a weekend, and there's nothing wrong with exploring Miami solo either.

You can add a Heat game, a concert, a museum, a day at the beach or simply book a hotel and enjoy the pool for a night. Miami staycations are supposed to feel like a break from your normal routine—not another schedule you have to follow.



The city already gives you the options. Build the vacation around you.

Experience Miami at Night

A staycation in Miami doesn't have to end when the sun goes down. Downtown Miami, Brickell, the bridges and waterfront buildings light up around Biscayne Bay, giving the city a completely different look from the water.

A Miami night cruise gives locals a chance to slow down and actually enjoy those views instead of just driving past them. Make it a date night, bring some friends, or simply get on the water and experience the city you call home from a different perspective.

At night, Miami comes to life—not just for tourists, but also for the ones who call Miami home.

Tips for Planning a Miami Staycation

Planning a Miami staycation shouldn't be that different from planning a vacation to Colorado, New York or anywhere else. The only difference is that this time, you already live at the destination.

Start by choosing when you want your staycation to happen. It can be one day, a weekend or a few nights. If you want to stay at a hotel, search Expedia, Hotels.com or Booking.com just like you would for any other vacation. If there's a specific property you've always wanted to experience, like Loews Miami Beach Hotel on Collins Avenue, go directly to the hotel's website and see what they're offering. You don't need to leave South Florida to check into a hotel, put your phone down and feel like you're somewhere else.

Then think about the things you've watched visitors do for years but never tried yourself. Get on the water. Rent a Jet Ski. Try a restaurant you've driven past a hundred times. Spend an afternoon at the beach. Walk around a neighborhood instead of simply driving through it.



Little Havana is a perfect example. Plenty of Miamians know Calle Ocho because they've driven down Southwest 8th Street their entire lives. But when was the last time you actually parked the car, got out and looked around? Walk the neighborhood. Watch a domino game. Listen to the music. Grab a Cuban coffee. Try a restaurant you've never visited. See why people from around the world come here specifically to experience a neighborhood that has been sitting in your backyard the entire time.

And that's really the biggest tip: plan Miami the same way you would plan somewhere you've never been.

Look for experiences. Make reservations. Try different food. Explore neighborhoods. Spend time on Biscayne Bay. Stay somewhere different for a night. Do something adventurous. And don't be afraid to be a tourist in your own hometown.

This article isn't really for somebody who thinks there's nothing left to discover because they already live here. It's for Miamians who realize that living in Miami and experiencing Miami are two completely different things.

Free and Low-Cost Things to Do on a Miami Staycation

You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars to enjoy a Miami staycation. Some of the best ways to experience your own city cost little—or nothing at all.



• Go to the beach. Miami has miles of coastline sitting in our backyard. Pack a towel, bring some food, and make an afternoon out of something people fly across the country to experience.
• Walk South Pointe Park. Walk along the waterfront, watch the cruise ships and boats pass through Government Cut, take pictures, and stay for the sunset. The experience itself is free; just remember that parking can cost money.
• Spend an evening at Bayfront Park. Walk along the Downtown Miami waterfront, enjoy the skyline and Biscayne Bay, and watch the city change as the buildings begin lighting up at night.
• Hang out along the Miami River. Find a waterfront spot, watch the yachts and boats pass through, and experience a part of Miami that many locals drive past without ever stopping to enjoy.
• Visit Hobie Beach. Head across the Rickenbacker Causeway toward Key Biscayne for water, palm trees and views of Biscayne Bay. Bring some food and turn a regular afternoon into a little escape from the city.
• Try Virginia Key. It isn't completely free, but Virginia Key Beach North Point Park is a low-cost option if you want to spend a few hours near the water without planning an expensive day.
• Go fishing. Grab a rod, pick up some bait and spend a few hours fishing from shore. Florida residents can obtain a no-cost saltwater shoreline fishing license, although Florida fishing regulations and location-specific rules still apply.
• Pack a picnic and watch the sunset. You don't need a restaurant reservation every time. Find a park or waterfront area, bring some food and enjoy the view. Just check the specific location's rules before bringing alcohol or glass containers.
• Walk Ocean Drive or Calle Ocho. Park the car and actually walk around. Look at the architecture, listen to the music, grab a Cuban coffee, take pictures and experience neighborhoods you may have driven through hundreds of times.

A vacation doesn't become a vacation because you spent a lot of money. Sometimes it's just about giving yourself permission to enjoy where you already live.

When Is the Best Time for a Miami Staycation?

The best part about planning a Miami staycation is that you don't have to wait for vacation season. You're already here, which means you can build one around the weather, your work schedule, a long weekend or even a random day off.



• Take advantage of weekdays. If your schedule allows it, don't automatically wait for Saturday. Hotels, beaches and attractions can feel completely different during the week.
• Look for Florida resident offers. Some Miami and Miami Beach hotels offer special rates or perks for Florida residents at different times of the year. Before booking, check the hotel's own website and compare it with the major hotel booking sites.
• Build one around an event. Going to a basketball game, concert, festival or show? Instead of driving there and immediately going home, turn the rest of the day—or the entire weekend—into a staycation.
• Don't automatically cancel because of Miami weather. Summer can bring heat and afternoon rain, but that doesn't mean the entire day is ruined. Build some flexibility into your plans and mix outdoor activities with restaurants, museums, shopping or a hotel day.
• Use a random day off. A staycation doesn't need to be three nights at a resort. Sometimes a Tuesday with no work is enough to get on Biscayne Bay, have lunch somewhere new, hit the beach and watch the sunset.
• Celebrate something close to home. Birthdays, anniversaries, date nights and family weekends don't always require flights. Put the money you would've spent traveling toward actually experiencing Miami.

And this is where being a local gives you an advantage tourists don't have: you can wait for the right day, choose the right weather, find a local offer and experience Miami without trying to squeeze the entire city into one vacation.

Sometimes the Best Miami Staycations Are About Doing Nothing

There are approximately 2.8 million people living in Miami-Dade County, and one of the reasons we created this guide is simple: we'd love to see more of us get out of the house and actually experience the destination we call home.



That could mean getting on Biscayne Bay, exploring Little Havana, trying a new restaurant, going Jet Skiing or finally spending a day somewhere you've driven past for years.

But here's the other side of Miami staycations: sometimes you don't need an itinerary at all.

Book a hotel room by yourself or with someone you love. Get an oceanfront room in Miami Beach. Sleep late. Order room service. Lay in bed all afternoon with the curtains open and the ocean outside your window. Go downstairs, sit by the pool and have a piña colada. Watch the sunset. Then go right back upstairs and do absolutely nothing.

That's a Miami staycation too.

You don't always need a boat tour, restaurant reservation, Jet Ski, museum, beach day or packed schedule to feel like you've gotten away. Sometimes changing your scenery for one night is enough to disconnect from work, responsibilities and the routine of being at home.

That's something we sometimes forget as locals because everything is so close. An oceanfront hotel that might be a once-a-year vacation for somebody visiting from another state could be just a short drive from your house.

So if what you really need isn't another activity but simply a different room, a different view and a day where nobody expects anything from you—do that.

The goal isn't to tell 2.8 million Miami-Dade residents how to vacation. It's to remind us that we live in a place where we can.

Sometimes less really is more.

Your Next Vacation Might Be Closer Than You Think

You don't always need a plane ticket, a rental car or a week away from home to feel like you've gone somewhere. Sometimes the best vacation is already waiting outside your front door.

Take a Biscayne Bay sightseeing cruise, spend the afternoon at the beach, explore Little Havana, try a restaurant you've never visited, book a hotel for the night—or do absolutely nothing by the pool.

There's no right way to have a Miami staycation.

We just hope this guide encourages more of us who call Miami home to slow down every once in a while and experience the city millions of people travel here to see.

Don't just listen to everybody else's Miami stories. Go make some of your own.