MIAMI ROMANTIC GETAWAY ITINERARY SAMPLE

Transcription

MIAMI ROMANTIC GETAWAY ITINERARY SAMPLE
MIAMI
ROMANTIC GETAWAY ITINERARY SAMPLE
From moonrises over the ocean to sunsets on the Everglades, Greater Miami's romantic
settings unfold in the heat of a tropical moment. If you aren't in the mood for love before the
following experiences, you will be afterwards.
Beach Walks
There's a reason long walks on the beach are a romantic cliché. Soft breezes, breaking surf,
even the call of seagulls, create a sense of peace and well-being. Can romance be far behind?
Lining the coast from Homestead to Sunny Isles, beaches in Greater Miami are loved for their
white sands and gentle waves that don't drown out intimate conversations. Bring a picnic and
make a day of it at places like Crandon Park on Key Biscayne, or take an impromptu aprèsdinner beach stroll by crossing Ocean Drive on South Beach. The beaches, and romance, are
waiting.
Gardens
With parks and green spaces all over Greater Miami, it's easy to escape—hand-in-hand—into
South Florida's lush tropical landscape. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables,
for one, offers nearly three miles of pathways that meander past rare tropical plants including
palms, cycads, fruit trees, vines and brilliant flowers. Nature hikes and butterfly walks are
offered at the Deering Estate at Cutler, or the romance of the Renaissance may inspire
passion on a stroll through 10 acres of formal gardens at Vizcaya, a bayfront mansion filled
with decorative treasures from Old Europe. Moonlight tours of Vizcaya, are especially
romantic.
Divine Dining
With cuisine from every corner of the globe, restaurants in Greater Miami literally bring you
the world on a plate. But when romance is on the menu, an intimate atmosphere and
unobtrusive service can help you concentrate on each other. Set within a Mediterranean-style
beach house that opens onto an outdoor garden terrace, Casa Tua on South Beach offers an
exquisite setting matched only by its celebrated menu of innovative Italian creations. In Coral
Gables, intimate evenings are a specialty of Palme d'Or at the historic Biltmore Hotel, while
incredible dining is paired with unparalleled views of the downtown Miami skyline at Azul,
located in the dazzling Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Brickell Key.
Rooftop Romance
The Magic City is even more magical when viewed from above, and there's no better place to
take in a 360-degree panorama of Miami than at one of many rooftop lounges. At Area 31 at
The Epic Hotel & Residences, you can enjoy dinner or cocktails al fresco on the 16th floor
pool terrace with breathtaking views of Biscayne Bay, the Miami River and downtown high
rises.
Up in the Air
Of course, the higher you go, the better the view, and you'll see for miles on a hot-air balloon
adventure from Miami Balloon Rides, whose state-of-the-art fleet sails over the Everglades,
Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Flights depart at sunrise and include a post-ride picnic
celebration with champagne. Private rides for two can be arranged, and Miami Balloon even
has a “Will You Marry Me” banner available for in-flight proposals.
The Ge
entle Cyclle
You maay not get a bicycle-bbuilt-for-twoo, but theree are plentyy of placess in Greaterr Miami
where you
y can rennt bikes andd coast alonng some of the most sccenic pathw
ways in the city. On
the couunty's northeern end, Avventura has some great waterfront bikeways, and City Bikes can
hook yoou up with equipment.. On Key Biscayne,
B
wh
hich boasts 12 miles oof paved bik
ke trails,
try Manngrove Cyccles for renttals; while the Miami Beach Biccycle Centerr or Deco Bikes
B
on
South Beach
B
will have
h
you crruising the trails of Lu
ummus Parkk and Southh Pointe Paark in no
time.
Starry--Eyed
y
calendar for the first
f
Fridayy of each month,
m
whenn the Miam
mi Science Museum
M
Mark your
opens its rooftop observatory
o
y for earth-bbound morttals to gaze through tw
wo powerfull Meade
telescoppes at the planets
p
in ouur solar sysstem as welll as deep-sspace objectts such as galaxies,
g
nebulass and doublee stars. It's a reminder that
t the univ
verse, like love,
l
is eternnal.
Into the Wild
If you're looking for the ultimate in seclusion, try South Florida's own “River of Grass,”
Everglades National Park, where it will just be the two of you and thousands of birds, not to
mention alligators. Boat and tram tours, narrated by trained naturalists, take you into the heart
of the park, or you can opt for solo canoe and kayak excursions. Stay for a spectacular sunset
over this subtropical wilderness.
Labor of Love
Coral Castle near Homestead was constructed between 1923 and 1951 by Latvian immigrant
Ed Leedskalnin, who weighed all of 100 pounds, but was still able to move and sculpt 1,100
tons of coral rock. What was he building? A coral “garden” of massive structures, including
half-ton chairs, perfectly balanced to rock gently back and forth. Why? Because his fiancée
had broken their engagement back in Latvia, so a broken-hearted Ed came to America. The
only unanswered question is, how? The intensely private man worked mostly at night and if
he sensed someone watching, he'd stop till they went away. Maybe you and your beloved will
discover Ed's secret when you visit this monument to lost love.
The Love Boat
Seriously, is there anything more romantic than a moonlit seat on the deck of a ship?
Surrounded by water, Greater Miami is a natural destination for cruises of all kinds, and you
can sail into the sunset (or sunrise) with one of many cruise lines that call at the Port Miami.
Some offer romantic extras, such as private balconies and champagne on arrival, while for
many couples, the emotional rush of pulling away from the dock and seeing the Miami
skyline slide by is thrill enough. If your nautical adventure will be closer to home, Miami
marinas are the launch point for a variety of sightseeing and dinner cruises. Many depart
from Bayside Marketplace, which is itself a romantic locale, thanks to a waterfront setting,
plentiful restaurants and bars, and open-air walkways.