as you may have seen from my , i popped across the country to miami, florida this past weekend — my very first visit! invited me to stay at the very beautiful beachfront and get inspired visiting , the epic art festival that happens every year in miami (and worldwide). if you’ve not used before it’s one of my very favorite apps — hotels give their unsold rooms, the app shows you each day’s best deals, and you score the deal and live your holiday dreams! you can also use the app for available rooms in the immediate future (100 days out!) — so not just those last minute adventures. and if you’d like $25 off your first booking use my referral code VISMITH2 (that’s a capital “i” after the V to clarify) and have your own spontaneous getaway!
the is a gorgeous, japanese-design inspired hotel, with a pretty fabulous collection on display of its own, and really peaceful, zen-like rooms. it’s smack-dab on the beach, so all you need to do is wander from the beautiful lobby through three lovely pools and out to their beach cabana where fresh towels and beach chairs await you. i spent a few hours soaking up the sun and all those miami vibes and not only was the people-watching great, the ocean was gorgeous (especially with that magical miami-light!). the , of course, features its famous of the same name (it was so good i ate here twice!), as well as the organic farm to fork restaurant and pool & beachside drinks and snacks, not to mention 24-hour room service. pampering awaits at their spa, too!
and then i was completely immersed in all that wonderful art and creativity. there’s nothing like an experience like this to get my creative juices flowing. so much color and clever, thought-provoking art surrounding you, it really can’t help but get into your head. i came home with all kinds of new ideas for the blog, for my shop — for my life! features work from leading galleries from all over the world, showcasing significant work from the masters of modern and contemporary art, as well as a new generation of emerging artists. paintings, sculptures, unique installations, photographs, films, and artworks of the highest quality are on display in miami’s . to say that viewing that much art is daunting and a little overwhelming is an understatement, and i loved every crazy minute of it! i’m going to share just a few of my favorite pieces with you, along with a peek at and a couple of great recommendations for fun spots to eat and drink around miami.
okay — amidst all this fun and inspiring artwork, a few places that were recommended to me — i didn’t make it to many of these because i spent most of my time at and the , but they came from very credible sources: the and look incredible, and is must-visit and right on the water with a great restaurant. a walk through the miami’s art & soul the neighborhood of to see a huge array of artists’ murals is cool. and right nearby has some of the best shopping around. restaurants recommendations were as follows: ,, for greek, is said to be very romantic, and (also greek). The beach restaurant at the also came highly recommended. is great for argentinian food, and a little off the beaten track. whatever you do, i think you’ll love miami — i was honestly so impressed with how beautiful it is there — swaying palms, balmy breezes, and lovely architecture! a dreamy getaway to be sure. have a great getaway with , and don’t forget my discount code up above. happy travels!
• photography by victoria smith for sfgirlbybay.
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