Vacation Day 1: Miami

Jon took his end of year leave. I had options of going somewhere cold for skiing or to somewhere warm. Of course I chose option "warm". Ideal vacation for me is when I don't have to pack long sleeves and winter clothing. So...6 day trips to Miami and Key West was fantastic! Miami is a haven for tourists with its subtropical climate, pretty harbors and spectacular beaches. Especially coming from Sydney Australia, the sun, the sand and the sea would definitely bring us some fond memories.

We took a connecting flight in Orlando. The plane was the smallest plane I had ever sat in (could probably call it "private jet"). The seats were 2 by 1. It was pretty scary, Thank God it was only 40 minutes flight.


As soon as we arrived in Miami, everyone was so hungry, we had lunch at airport. Grilled chicken with tomato and herbs baguette and Thai grilled chicken sandwich.


Next, we picked up a nice rented car. In the United States, 19 states do not require an official front license plate. Florida is one of them.


Located in the heart of Miami Beach, this oceanfront hotel seems well priced and good value.


The resort faces the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Indian Creek on the other. The rooms, though equally cost had some minor differences. Some rooms were smaller with poorly lit shower area. Some rooms were spacious with double sinks. Generally they are all of acceptable standards and with some partial ocean view.


The beach is only a few steps away from the pool. Lounge chairs/umbrellas are available for rental on the beach. The stretch of beach for the hotel is clean and beautiful.


On the same late afternoon, we decided to go for the Thriller Powerboat ride. It was the most exciting boat ride I've ever had. It went so fast I could feel the wind slapping my face and water prickling my face like needles being thrown. The back seats tend to be the wettest seats on the boat.


The tour provided panaromic sightseeing of Miami. It was a very well narrated 45 minute tour accompanied with fantastic music.



One of the viewing destination was Millionaire's Row, multi-million dollar homes of celebrities. To name a few: Shaquille O'Neal, Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan.



The tour ended at Bayside Marketplace, semi-outdoor mall with a lot of souvernir shops, local boutiques and open-air cafes. Too busy and too excited to shop that I didn't take any photos of Bayside :)