With a tempting calendar, the South Florida city has designed special activities from January to December. Gastronomy, sports, culture, spa and shopping.
Cosmopolitan and tropical. This is Miami, a destination of sun, beach, shopping, gastronomy, art, sports and so many different attributes that the local tourism agency created the successful Monthly Temptations program. That is, every month of the year, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) takes a thematic focus of the best the city has to offer and organizes a calendar of activities, celebrations and discounts. With this agenda, travelers can organize more specific visits in time and according to their interests, in the south of the state of Florida, in the United States.
From the “Shop Miami Month” and the “Miami Sports Month” to the gourmets “Miami Spa Month” or “Miami Spice Restaurant Month”, here we provide a report of the varied options of the program. Month by month.
January: Cruise
MonthThe port of Miami is one of the most important in the world and, being used by more than three million passengers per year, the city is known as the “cruise capital”. But when talking about tourist cruises we must also include Port Everglades, in Fort Lauderdale, about 50 kilometers from downtown Miami.
Super installed as an alternative to go on vacation, the boats were growing in size, luxury and extravagant proposals on board. For the “Miami Cruise Month” the most striking and exclusive cruises were highlighted: Norwegian Getaway (the design of the hull represents an ocean with a mermaid holding the sun, pelicans and palm trees), Seaborn Quest (sails with 450 people and its attention is personalized), Freedom of the Seas (skating rink, boxing ring and artificial waves are its greatest eccentricities), Silver Spirit, RMS Queen Mary II (has planetarium and dog daycare) and Oasis of the Seas (has its own Central Park).
www.MiamiCruiseMonth.com
February: Month of Romance
February 14 is Valentine’s Day, a full day dedicated to love and friendship. “Happy Valentine” express lovers through cards, red roses, gifts (it can be a diamond ring or sexy underwear, according to the budget and intention of the buyer) and, of course, all sorts of outings. In other words, “Miami Romance Month” is a perfect excuse to consume and get discounts.
Throughout the month, city dwellers and tourists have the opportunity to take advantage of many offers, promotions and events promoted by the GMCVB: hotel nights and dinners are raffled off, and even first dates and weddings are organized. “As visitor numbers continue to grow, we see more and more couples heading to Greater Miami and the Beaches for romantic big steps, such as first couple trips, marriage proposals, weddings, honeymoons and anniversaries. Miami is the ideal scenario,” says the GMCVB.
www.MiamiRomanceMonth.com
March: Shopping Month
One, two, three, shopping! With credit cards at hand, the shopping rush stretches year-round in Miami. But in March it runs with advantages. “Shop Miami Month” offers more savings and incentives than usual in many malls, exclusive boutiques and specialty markets.
In recent years, renowned designers and independent artists open their shops and workshops, making the city one of the most avant-garde fashion destinations on the planet.
In addition to visiting the gigantic and popular shopping malls, other smaller malls such as Bal Harbour Shops, Dadeland Mall, Design District, Coral Gables and The Shops at Sunset Place are taking center stage.
In turn, to provide fashionista advice to shoppers, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau partnered with stylist Irma Martinez, who provided chats and ran the tourism agency’s Pinterest page. Makeup classes and free personal shopping experiences were innovative services that had to be booked. To keep in mind next March.
www.ShopMiamiMonth.com
April: Sports Month
After the success of the first two editions of the “Miami Sports Month”, every April more sporting events and competitions are organized in golf, tennis (highlights the Miami Open, in Key Biscayne), cycling and water sports. Taking advantage of the warm climate, the city hosted the “Miami International Agriculture, Horse & Cattle Show”, bringing together thousands of visitors and cattle breeders from the continent.
“Bike and Roll”, “Miami Ecoadventures”, “Miami Executive Helicopters”, “Miami Marathon & Half Marathon” and “Ocean Force Adventures” are some of the many activities that take place in April.
www.MiamiSportsMonth.com
May: Museum Month
May 18 is International Museum Day and Miami extends that celebration to the entire month, with special offers and discounts at the 25 participating museums. For example? The conveners Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) or the Miami Children’s Museum. May promotions include “Buy one, get second free” and “Become a member of one and enter all” (membership with which you receive a complementary admission). To kick off Museum Month, which this year has had the longest list of members, the YoungArts Foundation, a group of artists from Miami, held a free multi-sensory show at YoungArts Plaza.
Some of the museums participating in the “Miami Museum Month” program are Ancient Spanish Monastery, Black Police Precinct & Court House Museum, Coral Gables Museum, Gold Coast Railroad Museum, Haitian Heritage Museum, History Miami, Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach, Jewish Museum of Florida, Little Haiti Cultural Complex, Lowe Art Museum, MDC Museum of Art + Design, Miami Auto Museum (with more than 1,200 vehicles, some movies and TV series), Miami Children’s Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, Old Town Hall Museum, Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, PAMM, Wings Over Miami Air Museum and The Wolfsonian, among others.
www.MiamiMuseumMonth.com
June: Film
MonthDuring June, you can enjoy about 8,000 films and attend some of the less commercial cinemas with very interesting proposals, such as the Bill Cosford Cinema, Coral Gables Art Cinema, Miami Beach Cinematheque, O Cinema Wynwood, O Cinema Miami Shores and Tower Theater.
There are many film festivals and they are not concentrated in a single month, but for June the FIU Media Arts Film Festival (MAFF) is already confirmed.
www.MiamiFilmMonth.com
July: Spa Month
The spa culture in Miami is sacred and growing steadily in services. In the middle of summer in the northern hemisphere, July is chosen for “Miami Spa Month”, with promotions on massages, water circuits, swimming pools, jacuzzis, dry and steam saunas, aromatherapy, facial beauty, anti-aging products and treatments, reflexology, yoga classes (some outdoors) and healthy meals designed together by chefs and nutritionists.
Given the great high-end hotel infrastructure that the city offers (always with fitness center, spa and relaxation rooms), the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau emphasizes some of the most exotic treatments. For example, in Miami Beach, the Delano Boutique Hotel’s Agua Spa welcomes women and men in its massage, facial and aromatherapy rooms, two manicure stations and wet rooms (one with a Vichy shower and the other with a Swiss shower). But the exclusivity lies in the peels with Dead Sea products and seaweed wraps.
At Dream Hotel, the pillar of the Shala Spa (meaning sanctuary) is the Ayurvedic philosophy adopted to treat the mind, body and spirit, incorporating natural elements such as herbs, plants, fruits and essential oils. Another standout spa is the Renew at The James Royal Palm, which offers treatments based on sea salt infusions and masks to rejuvenate and remineralize. It also includes a full body scrub (recommended to combat fatigue and awaken the senses) with organic oils, lemongrass, lime, walnut and black pepper.
www.MiamiSpaMonth.com
August and September: Miami Spice
Gastronomy is so important in these latitudes that “Miami Spice” lasts for two months. During August and September, the options of eating rich and economical are inexhaustible and hundreds of restaurants, bars and hotels are added, with discounts, cooking classes and wine tastings, among many other things.
Some of the best alternatives to enjoy ethnic food are in the “Little Habana” neighborhood, a Cuban and Latin American cultural pole with great culinary tradition. When it comes to Cuban food, Versailles – on the popular Calle Ocho – is the place to go. With more than 40 years, it serves typical dishes such as picadillo (ground beef seasoned with olives, raisins and spices), yellow rice with chicken and ropa vieja (shredded meat with beans and rice). El Cristo and El Exquisito are other nearby options, and there is also Mexican and Peruvian food at Mi Rinconcito Mexicano (offers tacos and enchiladas with guacamole) and Catharsis Restaurant & Lounge (its specialty is ceviche). However, the place goes a step further and fuses Italian dishes such as ravioli or risotto.
The “Little Haiti” neighborhood, adjacent to Liberty City and MiMo (Miami Modern) features La Petite Haiti, Lemon City and Café de Clive, with some of the best dishes in the Caribbean (jerk chicken, brown stew or oxtail). Although it is not located in this area, we must mention Tap Tap, where traditional Haitian music plays and a hearty dish of braised kid is cooked.
Apart from its Caribbean influence, Little Haiti also has the Argentine palate in mind. The Lo de Lea grill offers a selection of our best achuras and cuts of meat, as well as the typical desserts with dulce de leche, homemade tiramisu or pancakes flambéed with rum.
Nearby, the African-American neighborhood “Liberty City” has Naomi, a small window that sells takeaway food and whose most requested dish is Isla (peas, rice, banana and chicken curry). By buying lunch at such a place or in the food trucks, the city also encourages families, groups of friends and couples to unfold their picnic tablecloths to live a different gastronomic experience and outdoors. In the Overtown area, there is Jackson Soul Food, famous for its breakfasts withcookies and homemade pancakes.
www.iLoveMiamiSpice.com
October: Attractions Month
Talking about attractions in a city like this implies placing under an imaginary umbrella an endless number of free and / or very accessible activities. For the “Miami Attractions Month”, we will mention the most tempting of the destination to perform in October.
In the first place is the “Art Deco Tour”, a walk that can be done for free and at the pace that each one wants. The circuit begins with the famous Ocean Drive boulevard, where the silhouettes of hotels such as Clevelander, Breakwater or Carlyle stand out, allowing you to enjoy this architectural style. It is suggested to continue along Collins and Washington Avenues, as well as the beautiful Lincoln Street because there the businesses maintained the building and adapted to Art Deco. Pastel colors, circles and futuristic silhouettes serve as a guide. The website of the “Miami Design Preservation League” (www.MDPL.org) teaches how to spot the style, with facts about the history of the area and information on guided walking tours.
Miami South Beach is said to have the largest concentration of Art Deco buildings in the world. As part of the policy of preservation of its architectural jewels, the “Art Deco Weekend” is commemorated in this district. It is an open-air festival that celebrates the architecture, jewelry and culture of the time. On those days, when strolling along Ocean Drive, visitors come across characters dressed in full color, between vintage cars.
“Beach life” could be another attraction, which has as a rule “the further north, the more peace you find”. Miami Beach is very attractive, but if you are looking for tranquility with capital letters there are the beaches of Key Biscayne, such as Crandon Park Beach or the secluded Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, ideal for fishing and visiting a historic lighthouse.
“Art Walks” can last all night. Avant-garde, contemporary art, collections, street art and historical pieces are mixed with live music and some wine (served free at each sample). There is always an Art Walk (www.artcircuits.com), but the largest and most popular is held on the second Saturday of each month in the Wynwood Arts District and Design District, which make up a succession of art galleries and ateliers open late.
In October, several museums are free, and in addition, there are ecotourism programs and a thousand options for children.
www.miamiattractionsmonth.com
November: “Live”
Month Miami Live Month” is the title of November and, as its name announces, it is characterized by a large number of live shows, from music, dance, theater and comedy shows to poetry readings.
As for live music, must-see stops include the legendary Mango’s, Jazid, Bahia (Four Season Hotel), MO bar + lounge (Hotel Mandarin Oriental Miami), Adrienne Arsht Center for The Performing Arts Of Miami-Dade County, Olympia Theater, New World Dance Theatre, Hoy Como Ayer, Ball & Chain and Bar Biltmore at the historic Coral Gables hotel.
In short, there is an artistic manifestation in every corner.
www.MiamiLiveMonth.com
December: Heritage and Roots Month
In the month of the Christmas and New Year Holidays, Miami pays tribute to its history, its multicultural roots and the communities that live there. Walks and bus tours, special events and promotions are some of the resources to help locals and visitors learn about the heritage of the neighborhoods.
In addition, during the “Miami Heritage Month” takes place the convener “Art Basel”, a recognized event of modern and contemporary art that takes place annually in three destinations (Basel, Miami and Hong Kong).
www.MiamiHeritageMonth.com
