Impromptu Florida Trip ... Miami Area

Main Pool at the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne

On our first full day in Florida, we walked around Key Biscayne then landed back at the hotel pool for a relaxing afternoon. Luckily, the hotel had two large pools, one for families and the other for adults. As we didn’t have any critters with us, we chose the latter as the family pool was packed with running and screaming kids.

I love to play with the grand-kids in the pool. Swimming is one of their favorite activities and it is fun to enjoy it with them when we get the chance. However, when we are alone, I think it is great that a resort offers an option for those who like to swim without being splashed, hit in the head with a ball, or forced to listen to the lovely melody of “Marco,” “Polo,” “Marco,” “Polo,” “Marco,” “ Polo” … ad nauseam.

My husband was as relaxed as I’ve ever seen him. He is the original “energizer bunny,” usually not the “relax all afternoon around the pool” kind of person. But this was why we were here, and it was nice to see him enjoying himself so thoroughly. I, on the other hand, was restless and still struggling with the fact that there was so much to do waiting for me at home. I was beginning to get annoyed with myself, not fully understanding why I couldn’t just chill and relax.

View of Biscayne Bay
from the Rusty Pelican

After our restful pool day, we had dinner at the Rusty Pelican, which we had noticed on our way to the hotel the evening before. The restaurant has the perfect setting overlooking Biscayne Bay and Miami. The food was nothing particularly special, but decent. We had the Florida Grouper with Lemon Butter Sauce, Mashed Potatoes and Fresh Vegetables. It was a “homey” kind of dish, a little heavy on the mashed potatoes, but good.

We returned to the hotel to enjoy a nightcap at the fire pit. I think this was our favorite part of the hotel, sitting in front of the fire, sipping a glass of wine, and listening to the waves crashing to shore from the darkness below.

Ocean Drive, South Beach

The next day we headed to Miami's South Beach. It was like being in another country; hardly any English was spoken as we walked for miles along Ocean Drive and the shore. As we passed one restaurant and art deco building after another, we were accosted by staff shoving menus in our faces urging us to sit and dine.

We walked up to and along the Lincoln Road Mall, stopping for a nice little lunch at the Nexxt Café. Lincoln Road is a pedestrian mall between Alton Road and Washington Avenue. It is a shopping and dining area with restaurants offering a choice of indoor or outdoor seating. It is a great place to relax, enjoy a bite, and to watch the parade of people in their often “unique” attire, or lack thereof, strolling up and down the walk.

Lincoln Road Mall, South Beach

South Beach is definitely a fun and bustling area of Miami. Colorful in its buildings, sandy beach and people; it is a happening place, especially for the young and hip. For us, a full day there was plenty; it was nice to get back to the peaceful and uncrowded island of Key Biscayne and the comfort of the hotel.

That night we made a reservation for dinner at the hotel’s Cioppino Restaurant. The now closed restaurant was highly rated and we thought, as long as we were staying there, it would be worth trying. We were "greeted," not so warmly, by a snooty maître d’ that took his time before bothering to even look up at us.

He finally seated us outside on a lovely patio. Although the meal was nothing to rave about, we enjoyed our al fresco evening and our final night on Key Biscayne.

In the morning we were heading to Palm Beach via Delray Beach and the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens … stay tuned ….