Known for its lively beaches and ocean front restaurants, the Miami Heat, delicious food, and of course the strong Latin influence. Recently, Florida was a hotspot for COVID cases, so I was very reluctant about visiting Miami during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this trip, I found some fun but safe activities in which to participate, while still enjoying the Miami experience.
This is not your typical blog post about Miami – I’m going to highlight some historical landmarks throughout the city and upcoming areas that are not well known to the public.
Here are some ways you can spend your time in Miami, which includes my highly recommended restaurants, especially for my vegan cohorts.
CONTENTS:
THINGS TO DO
MIAMI SELFIE MUSEUM
The title of this place is self- explanatory. It is a unique space filled with colorful backdrop designs, ring lights and bright ceiling lights; a perfect space to take the perfect selfie to post on your social media. There were about 25 different scenes, some interactive with physical props that you can incorporate into your photo. If you are the photo-taking type of person and need something to do on a rainy day, I suggest you visit the Selfie Museum in Wynwood. Click here to make a reservation to book your tickets in advance.
GATOR PARK
Let’s get this out of the way, yes, I saw a bunch of alligators! At the Gator Park you can experience riding on an airboat through Everglades National Park. This was my first time riding on an airboat and it was surprisingly fun. It’s hard to express the experience in writing because it’s something you just have to experience in person. Masks were worn throughout the whole ride because we are still in the middle of COVID season and we were on the boat with about ten other people. While on the tour we saw 2 alligators swimming around the boat. There was a moment when the gator swam close to the boat. I asked the boat driver if an alligator had ever jumped out the water towards or into the boat and he said “no”. But it did seem like the gator was ready to pounce. We also saw some birds, like the Great Blue Heron.
After the airboat tour, we enjoyed their “wildlife show” where a guy educated us on alligators and were provided the opportunity to view some alligators behind a tall fence. Hey, alligators can climb!
Check out the Miami vlog to view footage of the alligators swimming towards the boat.
I bought the tickets from Booking.com because they were cheaper than on the park’s website.
Click here to get at least 25% off your next reservation with Booking.com. For more information on the Gator Park, click here.
OVERTOWN: BLACK POLICE PRECINCT & COURTHOUSE MUSEUM
Have you ever heard of Overtown? It was mentioned in Regina King’s latest directed movie, One Night in Miami. Well, If you were in Miami, you might have just driven right past it. It’s located in Northwest, next to Little Havana. Once a thriving town, known as the Harlem of the South, Overtown is a historic landmark with a major chapter in Black American history. You will find that there were once many black-owned businesses, nightclubs and restaurants, and social organizations in Overtown; all of which contributed to the economic growth of Miami.
As with many other thriving all-black communities around America, gentrification and the expansion of the highway interstate led to the decline of the population of the community, residents were driven out the town, and the economic growth of the black community fell into a depression.
The first black police officers were hired by Miami in 1944. What still stands after over seventy years is the first and only all-black police precinct and courthouse in America. Established in 1950, the precinct was built to provide a segregated and separate home for the black policemen, once referred to as patrolmen because they were not recognized on the same level as the white police officers.
My boyfriend and I had the honor to be given an impromptu private tour by the director of the museum, Terrance. Usually only accessible by reservation on Tuesday through Saturday, the museum opened their doors to us on a Sunday afternoon. Filled with historical documentation and photos, items used by the black officers, such as their badges and firearms, were all on display. Terrance graciously educated us on the history of the precinct, which is located on the first floor and the courthouse on the second floor.
Watch the vlog to hear Terrance’s narration during the tour and look through the photos taken of the artifacts on display.
When you visit Miami, make sure you make a reservation to experience not only black history, but American history. Learn more about the museum and view more photos by visiting the museum’s website.
WHERE TO EAT
The majority of the restaurants where we dined were either all vegan or vegetarian. Don’t let those titles deter you from trying out the delicious dishes we experienced. And I tell you, it was a “whole” experience at most of these places. I have been vegan for over a month now, so I was delighted to find a wide variety of vegan restaurants in the Miami area. It was a bit of a drive to get to some of them, but for the most part they were all within a mile radius from each other.
Click on the restaurant titles to see their locations.
This is the first time I’ve tried cuban food, but everything is plant-based. I had the Media Noche with chips, a Cuban based sandwich. “Media Noche” translated means “Midnight”. In Cuban night clubs this sandwich is served usually at or around midnight. The sandwich consists of pulled Jackfruit, plant-based “ham”, pickles, plant-based cheese, and mustard. I also had the sweet baked plantains. Everything was delicious!
Obviously from the name of the restaurant, Charly’s is all plant-based. They have tacos, burritos, small appetizers, and alcoholic drinks. The atmosphere gave off a boho-chiche, hippy-type of vibe. I highly recommend getting the Yuba Carnitas and the Carne Asada; not to mention that the guacamole and chips is always a must.
Located outside Florida International University’s campus, The Green Chicken primarily serves hungry college students nearby. They offer a wide variety of options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner which include vegan and vegetarian options. I got a custom tofu burrito and the Green C smoothie; very flavorful and filling. The owners are very friendly and accommodating, making recommendations to what sauces I should add to my tofu and burrito. I definitely recommend stopping by The Green Chicken.
Their mantra, “Eat Good Karma”, truly resonates within their food. I had the quesadilla made with kale, black beans, sweet potatoes, and blueberries. It was definitely not your typical quesadilla, but it was good. They had many other delicious looking options I would like to try. There are 3 locations in Florida, so I recommend visiting one of the cafes and experiencing the good karma.
We dined outdoors at Michi’s for breakfast. It’s a vegetarian casual dining restaurant in Doral, FL, not too far from our hotel. The waffle I ordered was served with fresh sliced bananas and strawberries. For lunch to-go, we ordered an avocado panini and enjoyed it in a small park in Little Havana. Michi’s has a wide variety of dishes from breakfast to dinner, so you can find something for everyone to enjoy.
Plant-based ice cream. Yup, all 17 flavors are vegan and taste amazing! Of course I got a scoop of the matcha flavor. I was loving the space inside the ice cream shop, filled with games and activities that I’m sure were played before COVID-19. They even had a CBD infused water dispenser – never seen that before. As someone that loves ice cream, I was so excited to find a plant-based ice cream shop.
PLACES TO VISIT
Wynwood
Wow. Wynwood. A section of Midtown Miami that has attracted street artists and graffitists from around the world. You know you have entered Wynwood when you see the amazing artwork covered walls on almost every block of this area. It’s hard to imagine such captivating artwork unless you can personally experience it. Look through the gallery of images below which will display some of the walls I photographed, as well as my Miami vlog which also features some of the walls in the area. Wynwood has a lot to offer, from the indoor Graffiti Museum, numerous restaurants and bars, clothing and eccentric shops, and of course, all the street art on the building walls. You can literally spend all day in Wynwood.
LITTLE HAVANA
Everyone has heard about the different “Little” Latin American communities in Miami. This was my first time in Little Havana and I was pretty impressed by the atmosphere as we walked down the main street, Calle Ocho (Street 8). Cuban restaurants and cigar shops populated the street, and the Bay of Pigs Memorial is located at the end of the street within a residential community. My boyfriend helped translate at Guantanamera Cafe and Lounge where you can buy hand-rolled cigars and smoke the cigars while enjoying food and live music. We enjoyed the lunch that we brought from Michi’s as we sat in the Bay of Pigs Memorial Park; but not long thereafter, we were advised by the police that because of COVID restrictions we weren’t allowed to sit there. Nonetheless, we were able to enjoy our food before they arrived. Next time, I would like to dine at one of the Cuban restaurants on Calle Ocho.
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