Miami Travel Guide

Destination South Beach: Your guide to a luxe and stylish Miami vacation

Miami's South Beach has been the object of celebrity, entertainment and musical affection since the '80s. After a recent trip to the 305, we’ve fallen yet again in love with the sunsets, the year-round bikini season and the perfection that is Ocean Drive.

Our favorite places are guaranteed to give you all the spoils SoBe has to offer. A visit to these hot spots will ensure that you eat, sleep and party like the beach gods intended.

Where to stay
Soak in the neon-filled fabulousness of Ocean Drive at the Clevelander. Located in the middle of the Art Deco District's hustle and bustle, the Clevelander offers a 24/7 party equipped with all the go-go dancers, top shelf cocktails and bass you could ask for. The hotel’s unique bar patio attracts more than just hotel guests — Ocean Drive visitors always stop into the Clevelander for a good drink and an even better party.

For a more romantic escape to South Beach, stay at the ultra-luxe Ritz-Carlton, South Beach. Chic resort-style accommodations include personal shoppers, an elevated infinity pool and private beach cabanas. Observe the dazzling art pieces throughout the property (that total a cool $2 million) and treat your special someone to a swanky dinner at DiLido Beach Club.

Grab your closest friends for a weekend getaway at the Beacon. This boutique hotel located in the Art Deco District is ideal for the eager traveler who wants the full SoBe experience. Head to the beach in a quick minute (literally) walk from the lobby and spend your day sunbathing with some of Miami’s most beautiful locals and travelers alike.

Where to eat
Forget all the preconceived notions you may have about hotel restaurants. OLA is an upscale Pan Latin eatery that will take your taste buds on a trip across the Atlantic. Acclaimed Latin chef Horacio Rivadero designed a menu full of Caribbean, Spanish and traditional Latin flavors that give you the essence of the melting pot that is Miami. We recommend the crispy pork with mustard mojo or the Florida sweet corn empanada. You won’t be disappointed.

Indulge in the deliciousness of Italy at Fratelli La Bufala. Take a seat on the patio and people watch some of the most fabulous faces of South Beach while you listen to the exotic accents as they pass. Order one of the famed –– and authentic –– Neapolitan pizzas for a Miami meal you’ll never forget.

If you’re looking for a bikini-friendly brunch locale, choose Icebox Café. The price point, incredibly nutritious options and local ingredients make for an ideal brunch (or any meal) before hitting the beach. We recommend “The Mess,” guava-filled French toast. The menu is so good, you may just forget how delish the specialty cocktails are. Totally kidding. The cocktails are equally amazing.

Where to party
Strap on some beachy heels and head to STORY for a night you’ll remember forever. With elevated club levels, several VIP tables and an eclectic mix of DJs on any given night, STORY is the ideal place in true SoBe fashion. Are you always fashionably late? Not to worry, STORY along with several other Miami nightclubs, stays open until 5 am. Party on.

Revisit EDM-filled memories at Club Space. Mingle with dub step lovers from across the globe and dance to electronic hits all night long. Club Space brings you all the fun of a rager, minus the obnoxious partygoers and terrible outfit choices.

Famed Miami hot spot Mansion will rival your previous “best night ever.” Mansion offers private VIP rooms and tables, a noteworthy lineup of some of Miami’s best DJs, frequent celebrity guests and an overall swanky atmosphere fit for any music video.

Where to shop
A trip to the The Webster is the perfect dose of vacation retail therapy. This luxe boutique carries an inventory that rivals Barney’s and comes with a killer view. Splurge on labels like Alexander Wang, Valentino and Marc Jacobs before hitting the beach.

Take a family outing to Lincoln Road Mall for a fun afternoon of shopping. The abundance of unique shops, sidewalk cafes and lounges make this locale more than just your neighborhood mall.

Humor your inner fangirl with a visit to DASH. The Kardashian-owned storefront is full of cute fashions for the girl-about-South Beach and the staff is incredibly friendly, making it the perfect place to live out that fantasy you have about being the store manager while Kim and Kourtney are in town for a visit. Forgive us, but we just had to.

The Clevelander on Ocean Drive.

Courtesy of Clevelander Facebook

The Clevelander on Ocean Drive.

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30 Years of Country

Robert Earl Keen marks album's 30th anniversary in cowboy town Bandera

Photo by Erika Goldring

Robert Earl Keen is attending a celebration in Bandera to mark the 30th anniversary of his album Gringo Honeymoon.

Lots of Texans have heard that Bandera, about 115 miles southwest of Austin, is the "Cowboy Capital of the World." It's easy to take the town's word for it, and the old-fashioned architecture helps. On September 7, an event celebrating the anniversary of Robert Earl Keen’s album Gringo Honeymoon brings the history to the surface in a fun way that's worth a day trip.

Gringo Honeymoon was released in 1994, and its mellow country sound has proved largely immune to changing fads — although there are some fun flashes of its birth decade from song to song. A release shares that the majority of Keen’s music was written on his ranch, in a limestone building called the Scriptorium. Built on a hill, it looked over Bandera. This album also features a Bandera building on the cover, so there's plenty of local history embedded in it.

Gringo Honeymoon by Robert Earl Keen album cover This album cover was shot at a famous destination in Bandera.Album cover courtesy of Robert Earl Keen

The celebration at the 11th Street Cowboy Bar includes both fun and official business. There will be a special ceremony to present Keen with the City of Bandera’s branding iron — a country version of receiving a key to the city. Governor Greg Abbott will also make a proclamation. Keen will also bring special guests and friends for some nostalgic storytelling.

Tourists might recognize the bar for its rustic facade, often pictured with horses and motorcycles outside. Although it's where Keen is pictured on the Gringo Honeymoon album cover, it's less recognizable in part because it's shot so close in the original and in part because the paint has faded over the years. However, a restoration with the same white paint and blue trim has brought it back to its former glory, and Keen will recreate the photo accordingly.

11th Street Cowboy Bar in Bandera The 11th Street Cowboy Bar restored to its former glory.Photo courtesy of the 11th Street Cowboy Bar

Following 41 years on the road and a final tour, Keen worked with his band to release the LP Western Chill, both a box set and a digital release. Copies of the album will be available at the party; the box set, available online, includes a double sleeve album, a graphic novel telling the story of how the album was written, a music video DVD featuring all the songs on Western Chill, and a songbook.

Rounding out the experience for travelers is a gathering of local food trucks. The 11th Street bar is still in operation, so visitors might consider a beer. Plus, there's plenty more to do including visiting a well-preserved and still-open general store and some local museums. There are several events listed for September 7 on the city's calendar.

More information about the anniversary party is available at banderacowboycapital.com.

music history bandera hill country