Independent travel guide to Miami and its surroundings. New guides, itineraries and field reports on Downtown and Brickell, Little Havana and Wynwood, Miami Beach and Key Biscayne, and day trips to the Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, the Florida Keys and the Bahamas.https://www.miami-escape.com/en-ushttps://www.miami-escape.com/blog/best-free-museums-and-free-days-in-miami/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/best-free-museums-and-free-days-in-miami/What's actually free at Miami's museums, Wynwood Walls and Vizcaya, what costs money, and how to check before you show up.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMiamimuseumsfree things to doWynwoodVizcaya2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/best-key-lime-pie-in-the-florida-keys/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/best-key-lime-pie-in-the-florida-keys/Where key lime pie actually comes from, why the Keys claim it, and how to avoid a disappointing slice on the drive from Key Largo to Key West.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTkey lime pieflorida keysfoodkey west2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/best-sunset-spots-in-miami/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/best-sunset-spots-in-miami/Miami's coast faces east, not west. Here's where the sunset actually works, and why South Beach isn't it.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMiamiMiami BeachsunsetBayfront ParkBiscayne Bay2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/can-you-drink-tap-water-in-miami/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/can-you-drink-tap-water-in-miami/Yes, tap water is safe to drink in Miami, Miami Beach and South Florida. What that means for bottled water and hydration on your trip.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTmiamitap waterpractical tipsflorida keys2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/do-you-need-a-car-in-miami/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/do-you-need-a-car-in-miami/No car for Miami and Miami Beach alone. A car earns its keep once the Everglades, the Keys or Fort Lauderdale enter the plan.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMiamiMiami Beachtransportcar rentalFlorida KeysEverglades2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/florida-keys-coral-reef-explained/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/florida-keys-coral-reef-explained/Where to see the Florida Keys coral reef without mixing up parks: John Pennekamp at Key Largo, snorkeling, and the glass-bottom boat option.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTflorida keyscoral reefkey largosnorkeling2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/hemingway-in-key-west/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/hemingway-in-key-west/What Hemingway's house in Key West is really like, and whether the 3.5-hour drive from Miami earns its place in your trip.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTKey WestErnest HemingwayDuval StreetMallory Squareday trips2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/how-much-to-tip-in-miami/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/how-much-to-tip-in-miami/Tipping in Miami isn't optional. What 18-20% actually means, who else expects it, and the one line on your bill you need to check first.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMiamitippingbudgetrestaurantsboat tours2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/how-to-order-a-cuban-coffee-in-little-havana/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/how-to-order-a-cuban-coffee-in-little-havana/A first-person guide to ordering cortadito, colada and café con leche at a Little Havana ventanita, without feeling lost at the counter.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLittle HavanaCuban coffeeCalle OchoMiami culture2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/how-wynwood-became-an-open-air-museum/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/how-wynwood-became-an-open-air-museum/How a warehouse district became Miami's street art hub, and why Wynwood Walls is paid while most surrounding murals are free to see.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTwynwoodstreet-artmiamidesign-district2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/is-a-bahamas-day-cruise-from-miami-worth-it/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/is-a-bahamas-day-cruise-from-miami-worth-it/I ran the numbers on a Bahamas day cruise from Miami: passport rules, ESTA time counted, rough seas, and how little time you actually get ashore.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTBahamasday tripsMiamiFort Lauderdalecruises2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/is-an-everglades-airboat-tour-worth-it/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/is-an-everglades-airboat-tour-worth-it/I checked what an Everglades airboat tour actually covers versus the national park, and whether the price and hype hold up.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTEvergladesairboatday tripswildlife2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/is-key-west-worth-a-day-trip-from-miami/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/is-key-west-worth-a-day-trip-from-miami/Key West is roughly 160 miles from Miami, 3.5-4 hours each way. Here's the honest math on whether a day trip is worth it, or if you should stay over.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTKey Westday tripsOverseas HighwayFlorida Keys2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/is-the-metromover-really-free/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/is-the-metromover-really-free/Yes, the Metromover is completely free, but its 21 stations only cover Downtown, Brickell and Omni, not the beach or Wynwood.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMetromoverDowntownBrickellfree transportMiami2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/jellyfish-and-rip-currents-on-miami-beaches/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/jellyfish-and-rip-currents-on-miami-beaches/Honest, practical guidance on jellyfish stings and rip currents on Miami Beach: flags, what to do, and when to call 911.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMiami Beachbeach safetyrip currentsjellyfishSouth Beach2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/little-havana-and-cuban-miami/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/little-havana-and-cuban-miami/Little Havana is a living Cuban neighbourhood, not a photo backdrop. What Calle Ocho, Domino Park and the cafes actually show you, on foot, for free.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLittle HavanaMiamiCuban cultureCalle Ocho2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/miami-hurricane-myths-for-travellers/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/miami-hurricane-myths-for-travellers/I keep hearing the same hurricane myths about Miami. Here's what June to November actually means for your trip.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMiamiHurricanesWeatherTravel PlanningFlorida2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/miami-sales-tax-and-resort-fees-explained/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/miami-sales-tax-and-resort-fees-explained/What Miami really costs beyond the sticker price: 7% sales tax, hotel taxes, resort fees, and the tipping you should budget for.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMiamibudgettaxestippingpractical2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/miami-skyline-viewpoints/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/miami-skyline-viewpoints/Where I go to see the Miami skyline from across Biscayne Bay, and how long the walk or drive to each viewpoint actually takes.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMiamiMiami BeachKey BiscayneSkyline2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/miami-with-a-toddler/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/miami-with-a-toddler/What makes a day in Miami work with a toddler: short hops, shade, and the drives worth skipping.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMiami with kidsFamily travelToddler travelSouth BeachKey Biscayne2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/most-instagrammable-places-in-miami/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/most-instagrammable-places-in-miami/Where I actually get good photos in Miami and Miami Beach: Art Deco pastels, Wynwood Walls, Vizcaya, Bayfront Park and Domino Park, plus what's free.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTphotographymiamimiami beachart decowynwood2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/sargassum-and-seaweed-on-miami-beaches/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/sargassum-and-seaweed-on-miami-beaches/What sargassum and seaweed on Miami and South Beach actually look and smell like, and how to check before you go.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTSouth BeachMiami BeachBeach conditionsPractical tips2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/southernmost-point-and-mile-marker-zero/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/southernmost-point-and-mile-marker-zero/The Southernmost Point buoy in Key West looks like a five-minute stop. Getting there from Miami is a 3.5-4 hour drive each way. Here's the honest math.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTKey WestSouthernmost PointFlorida KeysRoad Trip2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/stone-crab-season-in-miami/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/stone-crab-season-in-miami/Stone crab is seasonal in Miami, not a year-round menu item. Here's what I check before driving out for it, and what it actually costs.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMiamiFoodStone crabSeafood2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/the-story-of-miami-art-deco/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/the-story-of-miami-art-deco/How South Beach's pastel Art Deco district took shape, and why it survived long enough to become a protected slice of Miami Beach history.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTArt DecoSouth BeachMiami BeachArchitectureHistory2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/where-to-see-alligators-near-miami/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/where-to-see-alligators-near-miami/South Florida is the only place on Earth with wild alligators and crocodiles side by side. Here's where I've actually seen them near Miami.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTEvergladesWildlifeAlligatorsMiami nature2026https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/where-to-see-manatees-in-south-florida/https://www.miami-escape.com/blog/where-to-see-manatees-in-south-florida/No guaranteed manatee spot near Miami. Here's why Biscayne Bay is the honest starting point, and what to actually ask boat operators before booking.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTmanateesbiscayne-baywildlifesouth-florida2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/accessible-miami-guide/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/accessible-miami-guide/What's actually documented about accessibility in Miami and Miami Beach, plus practical ways to move around without relying on walking.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTaccessibilitymiamigetting around2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/art-basel-miami-beach-guide/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/art-basel-miami-beach-guide/How Miami Beach's contemporary art week affects hotel prices, bookings and traffic, and how to plan around it without chasing dates or tickets.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTmiami beachwynwoodart baselseasonal2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/bahamas-day-trip-from-miami/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/bahamas-day-trip-from-miami/A Bahamas day trip from Miami is international travel: passport required, and the day counts toward your 90-day ESTA stay in the US.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTBahamasBiminiGrand Bahamaday trips from MiamiESTAFlorida2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/best-beaches-in-miami-and-south-florida/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/best-beaches-in-miami-and-south-florida/South Beach, North Beach, Mid-Beach and Key Biscayne compared honestly: crowds, access and what each beach suits.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMiami BeachSouth BeachKey Biscaynebeaches2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/best-time-to-visit-miami/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/best-time-to-visit-miami/Miami's wet and dry seasons, hurricane season dates, and how weather trades off against crowds and hotel prices month by month.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMiamiweatherhurricane seasontrip planning2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/bimini-vs-freeport-bahamas-day-trip/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/bimini-vs-freeport-bahamas-day-trip/Bimini or Grand Bahama for a day trip from Miami? What each island offers, when seas cancel a departure, and the passport rules that apply either way.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTbahamasbiminigrand bahamaday trip2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/biscayne-bay-cruises-from-bayside/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/biscayne-bay-cruises-from-bayside/Biscayne Bay cruises from Bayside Marketplace: what these Downtown Miami boat tours cover, prices, timing, and why they aren't Biscayne National Park.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMiamiBiscayne BayBoat toursDowntown MiamiBrickellBayside MarketplaceSightseeing cruises2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/biscayne-national-park-guide/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/biscayne-national-park-guide/Biscayne National Park is 95% water: no roads inside, no entrance fee, and it visits by boat, snorkel or kayak from near Homestead.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTbiscayne national parkmiamifloridanational parksboat tours2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/brightline-from-miami-to-fort-lauderdale-and-palm-beach/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/brightline-from-miami-to-fort-lauderdale-and-palm-beach/How Brightline links Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach by train, and when it beats driving north.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTbrightlinefort lauderdalepalm beachwest palm beachtrain2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/cheap-eats-in-miami/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/cheap-eats-in-miami/Where to eat well in Miami without overspending, from Little Havana cafes to the real tax and tip you'll pay on top of the menu price.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTmiamilittle-havanabudgetfood2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/christmas-and-new-year-in-miami/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/christmas-and-new-year-in-miami/What Christmas and New Year in Miami actually look like: sun, high-season prices, and booking windows, not snow or an off-season deal.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTMiamiChristmasNew Yearholiday travel2026seasonal guidehttps://www.miami-escape.com/guides/cuban-food-in-miami-guide/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/cuban-food-in-miami-guide/Where to eat real Cuban food in Little Havana, Miami: cafes on Calle Ocho, Domino Park, prices, tipping, and what to order.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTlittle havanacuban foodmiami cityfood and drink2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/dolphin-and-manatee-watching-in-south-florida/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/dolphin-and-manatee-watching-in-south-florida/Honest guide to spotting dolphins and manatees around Miami and south Florida: where sightings happen, what to expect, what to skip.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTdolphinsmanateeswildlifebiscayne-bayflorida-keys2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/driving-the-overseas-highway-to-key-west/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/driving-the-overseas-highway-to-key-west/How long the drive to Key West really takes, the 42 bridges, and why a same-day round trip is a bad plan.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTkey westflorida keysoverseas highwaydrivingroad trip2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/driving-vs-bus-tour-to-key-west/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/driving-vs-bus-tour-to-key-west/Self-drive or organised bus tour to Key West from Miami — real drive times, stops, tolls and which one wears you out less.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTKey WestOverseas Highwayday triproad trip2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/dry-tortugas-national-park-guide/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/dry-tortugas-national-park-guide/No road to Dry Tortugas: reach Fort Jefferson, 70 miles past Key West, by ferry, seaplane, boat or charter only. Entry fee and booking tips.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTDry TortugasFort JeffersonKey WestFlorida Keysnational parks2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/esta-and-entry-rules-for-miami/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/esta-and-entry-rules-for-miami/What the ESTA actually is, what it costs, how long it lasts, and why a Bahamas day trip still counts against your 90 days in the US.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTestavisa waiver programentry requirementsmiami travel documents2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/everglades-airboat-tours/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/everglades-airboat-tours/Where Everglades airboat tours actually run, why they're outside the national park, and when to book one between December and April.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTEvergladesAirboat toursWildlifeDay trips2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/everglades-airboat-vs-shark-valley-tram/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/everglades-airboat-vs-shark-valley-tram/Airboat tours and the Shark Valley tram cover different parts of the Everglades near Miami. What each includes, costs, and when to go.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTEvergladesAirboat toursShark ValleyMiami day trips2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/everglades-day-trip-from-miami/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/everglades-day-trip-from-miami/How to plan an Everglades day trip from Miami via Shark Valley, what the entrance fees really cost, and where airboat tours actually happen.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTevergladesday tripsshark valleynational parks2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/fort-lauderdale-airport-and-port-everglades-transfers/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/fort-lauderdale-airport-and-port-everglades-transfers/How to get from FLL and Port Everglades to Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Palm Beach: car, Brightline, and when FLL beats MIA.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTFort LauderdaleFLLairport transfersPort EvergladesBrightline2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/fort-lauderdale-boat-tours-cruises/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/fort-lauderdale-boat-tours-cruises/Boat tours and cruises from Fort Lauderdale: canals, Port Everglades and honest advice on distance from Miami and hurricane season.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTFort Lauderdaleboat tourscruisesPort Evergladesday trips from Miami2026https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/fort-lauderdale-day-trip-from-miami/https://www.miami-escape.com/guides/fort-lauderdale-day-trip-from-miami/Canals, water taxis and a wide beach about 30 miles north of Miami. What a Fort Lauderdale day trip actually costs in time and money.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTFort LauderdaleMiami day tripscanalsPort Everglades2026