Florida — BLOG — THE LEAGUE COLLECTIVE

Hey guys!

We're back in NYC after yet another trip to Florida (we've visited the sunshine state 4 times already this year)!

Two weeks ago we took a trip to Miami to celebrate our friend Blair's birthday, and we had such a blast. We've been to Miami quite a few times over the past few years, and each time we fall in love with it a little more. Miami has something for everyone- whether you're a beach bum, a foodie, an art connoisseur or you like an urban vibe, Miami is a perfect vacation spot. It's a quick 3 hour flight from NYC, and we find deals all the time- so it's easy to make a quick weekend or a full week out of it. Miami Beach is home to a vibrant nightlife scene, and stunning resorts are a dime a dozen- so no matter your price range or taste, you can find something there!

Every time we visit a new city (or return somewhere we've been before), we scour the internet for recommendations of what to do, where to eat, and what to see. It makes a trip so much less stressful when you can use someone else's experience to guide your own planning. So, we couldn't wait to share our ultimate city guide with you! We've put together a list of our favorite places to stay, eat, drink, and our favorite things to do in Miami to get you started- so book those flights, pack your bathing suit and sunscreen, and get your Miami vacation started!

WHERE TO STAY

W SOUTH BEACH

We always love the W Hotel brand, and our post a few weeks ago about the W Retreat in Vieques is a hard one to top- but the W South Beach is our favorite hotel in Miami by a landslide. We'd even venture to say it among our favorite hotels in the world! It's not the cheapest option, but the grounds, the service, the rooms, the beachfront location and the amenities prove the saying "you get what you pay for". This place is perfection! You can explore and book the W SoBe Here!

AC MIAMI BEACH

If you're looking for a more economical option on South Beach, and you want to be close to it all but out of the crazy, AC Miami Beach by Marriott is a great option. It's minimal and to the point, but the property is new and very nice. There's a Starbucks connected to the hotel, a good restaurant/bar called Gin + Collins that serves great late-night food and a nice European style Breakfast. The resort fee covers beach chairs and umbrellas, daily fitness fitness classes (yoga on the beach anyone?!), bicycles and more- but by far the best part of this hotel is the rooftop pool! You can explore and book the AC Miami Beach Here!

CATALINA BEACH CLUB

This fun hotel is a good middle-ground price option if you're coming to Miami for all the action! It's in the heart of South Beach, so it's a party all the time, and the daily free happy hour is always a good time. We stayed here a few years ago and had a great time (but it can be loud late, so if you're a light sleeper, ask for a room away from the bar!) There are several pools and bars with food, great amenities, it's a great price and a great choice! You can Explore and book the Catalina Beach Club Here!

WHERE TO EAT & DRINK

COFFEE AT PANTHER COFFEE IN WYNWOOD

Stop for a coffee and a pastry on your way through Wynwood at this awesome local shop. You can watch them cupping and roasting their own beans while you wait, and the large patio out front makes for the perfect chill coffee shop vibes!

BACKYARD DRINKS AND FOOD AT THE BROKEN SHAKER

This bar/restaurant behind the Freehand Hotel was one of our favorite stops this trip. It's a chill, relaxed spot with a nice tropical feel, and the drinks (and food) are fantastic. It's not fussy and it's a great escape from the wild South Beach crowd to catch up with friend over your favorite recipe- or try on of their daily cocktails and punch concoctions!

WET WILLY'S

Ok, let's be honest- this is our least classy option. It's a total dive, but you've got to admit that a bar dedicated to alcoholic slushies is the perfect spot to hit up after a long day in the sun (or in between club-hopping)! Our favorite slushie is the Bob Marley!

ACAI BOWLS FROM ATHEN'S JUICE BAR ON NORTH BEACH

If you find yourself in North Beach, you've got to grab an Acai Bowl or a tropical smoothie from Athen's Juice Bar! It's a long-running favorite on North Beach, so you'll meet lots of nice locals who are always happy to give their recommendations for the best local spots!

ROMANTIC ITALIAN DINNER AT CASA TUA

Date night is solved with Casa Tua! This romantic Italian spot is the perfect restaurant for a classy (and delicious!) dinner. The tables outside are private and gorgeous, surrounded by luscious greenery and candles, and the interior is a charming and intimate. The mushroom whatever is to die for, and you cannot leave without trying the tiramisu.

BRUNCH AT MORGAN'S RESTAURANT IN WYNWOOD

This Wynwood joint offers moderately priced tasty food with lots of healthy + organic options. There's a lot to choose from on the menu- so it's a great spot for a group with varying tastes and health-consciousness levels. Try the mascarpone and raspberry stuffed french toast for one end of that spectrum, or the Kale salad on the opposite end!

SEAFOOD AND SUNSET AT MONTY'S SOUTH BEACH

This spot is perfect for a relaxed sunset seafood dinner! Great happy hour with cheap oysters and seafood, a non-pretentious crowd, fun staff and a great west-facing marina view make this a wonderful experience all around!

WHAT TO DO

TAKE A DOORS-OFF HELICOPTER TOUR WITH FLY NYON

This is the most EPIC way to see Miami! Fly Nyon Miami offers a doors-off tour that is worth the trip to Miami alone. Check out our video all about it below, and book your flight here!

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY AT MANGOS

This place is a classic South Beach nightclub. Don't expect fancy or who's-who... but if you're looking for a fun night of dancing and partying, Mangos is good clean fun!

TAKE IN THE AMAZING STREET ART SCENE IN WYNWOOD

This neighborhood is SO cool, and quickly becoming one of the hippest spots in Miami. We got serious Williamsburg Brooklyn vibes, and the murals on virtually every wall make this place as charming and inspiring as it is cool. Spend a morning walking through Wynwood Walls, grab a juice at Jugofresh Wynwood Walls or sit and enjoy brunch at one of the many cafes- you could make a trip out of Wynwood all by itself!

SHOP UP AND DOWN THE LINCOLN STREET MALL

If you like shopping, spend an afternoon strolling through this outdoor mall. It's lined with shops and restaurants open late into the night, so you can always come back (or shop through) 'till dinner!

CATCH AN INDIE FLICK AT O CINEMA

This cool theater in North Beach plays great indie and film-festival flicks. We were lucky enough to catch Chris Burkard's "Under an Arctic sky" and meet him when we were in town!

RIDE BIKES ALONG THE BEACH

Many of South Beach's hotels offer bike rentals, and it's the perfect way to get around and explore! Cruise up and down the beach or the boardwalk with the salty breeze on your face and the sun on your skin!

Ok... this is by no means an exhaustive list, but it's enough to get you started! Anyone have any of their own Miami favorites? Share them with us in the comment section below!

Adventures away!

-Zach + Tara

Cue Jimmy Buffett singing "Margaritaville..."

Last week we escaped the winter blues in NYC and went south. As far south as we could go, actually, without leaving the country. We went to Key west, the southernmost point in the Continental United States. (The "southernmost point" marker on the island is a tourist hotspot with people waiting in line to take their picture with the sign, actually).

Just 90 miles north of Cuba, surrounded by stunning turquoise waters and tiny islands, Key West was the perfectly tropical weekend trip we wanted without busting out our passports. Key West has an international airport, but we were coming off of a few days in Miami, so we booked some crazy cheap tickets in and out of MIA for just $80! And, since it's an easy (and beautiful!) 3 hour drive through the keys, we loved the idea of a short road trip!

While we were in Key West we stayed at the stunning Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina, and we couldn't wait to share this incredible property with you! It was the perfect Resort for a fun, relaxing weekend in the sun. From the tropical pool vibes and outdoor dining to the spacious, modern rooms and ideal island location, we found ourselves completely comfortable and relaxed from the moment we arrived. The staff is warm and welcoming, and there is SO much to do without going far. If you're the type who prefers to spend your vacations sitting poolside sipping Key Lime Margaritas, this place is for you. At the same time, though, Margaritaville's marina location and close proximity to Duval street (an easy 5-minute walk) makes it the perfect base for your island adventures. Tara and I are somewhere in the middle, so our ideal property offers both- and that's exactly what we found in Margaritaville!

So, we wanted to share our top 10 things to do during your stay at Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina. It was challenging to narrow it down, so you'll just have to come and see the rest for yourself!

1. Breakfast at Bistro 245

If you know us, you know our obsession with breakfast. When we're home in NYC, we make breakfast together every day. It's a few moments of guaranteed quality time in the midst of our chaotic schedules, and that habit has carried into our travels! We love to load up on a great healthy breakfast to kick off our day, and Bistro 245 delivered! (Not to mention how thrilled we were to get fresh pressed green + red juice! Eating healthy can be a challenge on the road, but not at Margaritaville!)

2. Shop (and eat/drink) your way down Duval Street

Key West is a treasure trove of restaurants, bars, history and attractions, and you can find it all on Duval Street! Imagine New Orleans and the Virgin Islands combined to form one main drag... that's Duval!

3. Chill Poolside

Ok let's be honest.... this is everyone's dream in the middle of winter. Margaritaville does it right! Work on that tan in the hot FL keys sun, or relax in the shade of a palm tree. Just sit and relax without lifting a finger and order your favorite summer cocktail from Castaways, the pool bar, and you'll find yourself singing "wasted away again in Margaritaville" in no time!

4. Order Room service and enjoy a romantic night in

Or, like we did, follow up dinner with champagne and dessert! Chocolate covered strawberries, a bottle of bubbly and a jacuzzi for two was just what the doctor ordered.

5. Sunset Celebration

Every evening at Sunset, Margaritaville hosts a fun celebration on the pier next to Bistro 245 filled with music, food, vendors and street performers, and it's a great way to transition from day to night! Take in the sunset while being entertained and sipping your favorite cocktail!

6. Wind and Wine Sunset Sail

Since Margaritaville sits right on the Marina, it's the perfect base for nautical adventures! We took a sunset "Wind and wine" sunset sail from Danger Charters, and it was everything. You sail on a 65 foot schooner out into the most stunning Caribbean sunset while a wine expert brings you through a flight of 9 different wines. A glass of bubbly to start, then 4 different whites and 4 different reds. Combined with Hors Devours and a tranquil sea, this was one of the highlights of our trip! ($85/person, Sails nightly from the Marina outside Margaritaville)

7. Key Lime everything!!

Key lime pie, Key Lime Cooladas, Key Lime Margaritas, Key Lime everything! When you're in Key West, it's a non-negotiable!

8. Have a drink on the Sunset Deck

Above the pool and overlooking the Ocean, the Sunset Deck is the perfect setting to take in the gorgeous Key West sunset! It's roomy and covered in strung-up lights, and it's basically the perfect way watch Nature's dazzling display.

9. Ride Bikes to the Southernmost point

We rode bikes from the resort and spent an afternoon exploring Key West. If you ride all the way to the very end of Duval Street, you hit Key West's Southernmost point- which is in fact the southernmost point in the continental United states!

10. Make new friends

One of our favorite parts of Margaritaville was how friendly everyone was! The staff and the guests alike- we found a rare combination of private luxury and cordial mingling. Generally, at a resort where people are partying together, you sacrifice the peaceful romantic vibes for the fun. But, at romantic, secluded hotels you can sometimes lose the fun you find at a more upbeat property. Maybe it's the name, or maybe it's the well-thought out resort design, or maybe it's just the magical island vibes... but at Margaritaville you truly get both!