Miami, Key West and Key Largo

Our trip began with landing at the Miami International Airport. As with many trips to Miami the airport was not flowing smoothly.

Over the years my wife and I worked to reduce our travel items to where we typically only travel with carry on and personal item luggage. This way none of our items are out of our site and it reduces the risk of losing items on a trip.

Once we reached ground transportation we utilized our Uber to provide a ride to the Fontainebleau Hotel.

Upon arrival we noticed the line was long and the attitudes were on full display. I capitalized on this opportunity to be nice to the clerks and as usual it paid off! We were originally scheduled for a basic room with a view of the pools. Through negotiation I was able to receive an upgrade to a room in the Tresor Towers. It is the private residential towers to the south of the site.

The Tresor Towers are connected to the main hotel with a connecting corridor. The towers also have their own independent entry and exit away from the main hotel lobby. This adjacent entry is beneficial during busy times. Another bonus of the secondary entry to the tower is that it is located directly adjacent to Cessonis Restaurant. Another benefit of the tower is that it has its own private pool, looking over the southern end of Miami.

Once we settled into our fabulous room, we walk down to the pool area to eat lunch by the pool at Le Cote’ and relax for the afternoon. The vibe was loud and the party was starting at the pool. We bounced over to hang out in the beach for a bit as we made decisions for dinner. The water was absolutely gorgeous.

Dinner was at Soho Beach House - Cecconi's Miami. Eat in the courtyard with the trees and lights. Try the gnocchi. You can walk through the Fontainebleau to this hotel very easily. You might see an actor or model. The artists frequent the SoHo Hotel.

Situated in the Ground Floor Courtyard of Soho Beach House, Cecconi’s Miami Beach is a modern day classic Italian restaurant currently open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. A weekend brunch feast is served on Saturdays and Sundays.

Originating in Venice and with outposts in London, West Hollywood, Berlin, Barcelona, Istanbul and Brooklyn, Cecconi’s has become a critically acclaimed dining destination featuring simply prepared Venetian inspired food.

Cecconi’s offers an elegant and relaxed dining experience to enjoy the cuisine of celebrated executive chef Sergio Sigala.

After dinner we freshened up in the room and headed out for a night walking in South Beach. The Art Deco Hotels and the neon lights are truly something to behold in your lifetime. We made a quick stop for photos at the local CVS. It is actually the site of one of the famous Scarface movie scenes.

The next morning we hung around the pool relaxing as we waited for our trip on the Hop on Hop off bus. We take advantage of the bus tours in many major cities as we are able to see and cover a lot of ground this way.

Lunch was in South Beach at a local Cuban restaurant. We walked south beach and the pier to see the sites before heading to Wynwood and dinner.

Dinner was at Bakan in Wynwood.

BAKAN is a 6,000 square-foot indoor and outdoor restaurant-bar transporting guests to Mexico with its earthy, artsy, modern space, including a cacti-lined outdoor bar and terrace covered with inverted wood pyramid canopies, along with illuminated brown and green hanging basket fixtures.

The 180 seat restaurant-bar conveys a fun, lively and warm environment to enjoy a true Mexican experience – from an open view kitchen allowing guests to witness the art of handcrafted tortilla making to the four-tiered glass case filled with more than 500 mezcals and tequilas.

BAKAN’s Mexican dining experience is centered around three elements that date back to pre-hispanic times: nixtamal, mezcal and wood fire.

Nixtamal

This is the Aztec term used to describe the partially cooked corn that is the key to our tortilla recipe. At Bakan, they grind the nixtamal daily using ancestral organic corn that is imported from Mexico. The hand-make tortillas are made one by one, putting them on the plate as they come out of the comal (griddle) for the freshest possible experience. The goal is for each diner to be immersed in the decadent Aztec history through each bite.

Mezcal

There is a large selection of mezcals, by the sip or by the shot to appeal to the individual diner. Mezcaleando at Bakan describes the art of perfectly pairing the meal to the mezcal to create a one of a kind dining experience.

Wood Fire

The use of a wood fire grill, powered by oak and cherry woods is evident. The toasted tortilla chips are atop the grill, as they cook fish, seafood and meats this way to add a smoky flavor that pairs perfectly with mezcal and our freshly made salsas.

After dinner we enjoyed ice cream and strolling through Wynwood after dark.

The next morning we met our Turo driver in the lobby of the Towers. We rented a BMW Convertible for our ride to throughout the Florida Keys ending in Key West.

We made a quick stop at Robbie’s.

Upon arrival we checked into the Southernmost Resort and unloaded our luggage. After the unload we made our way to the Hemmingway House in Key West for a great walking tour. We spent the remainder of the afternoon strolling along Duval Street in the not so busy time of the week.

Dinner found us at Blue Haven. Opened by a pair of free spirits, Suanne and Richard, Blue Heaven has become its own well-known destination in Key West. The chickens and cats roaming the premises are almost as famous as the food. Blue Heaven is al fresco dining, Key West style: canopies of tropical foliage, improvised art (a leopard-spotted mannequin, a rooster graveyard, jolly-colored coconuts and trap floats) and a sail strung between trees providing shade. But don’t let the whimsical décor mislead you: the food is taken seriously. One taste of the blueberry pancakes, carrot and curry soup, miso-marinated eggplant salad, or scallops provençale and you’ll have no doubt ingredients and the gentle time it takes to prepare fine food are the priorities. the menu barely changes (not even the specials, except to offer seasonal stone crab claws), which means that caribbean shrimp deglazed with red stripe, jamaican jerk chicken or pan-sautéed yellowtail with citrus beurre blanc will be there for you next time, too — even if the reserve selections on the notable wine list may change. heavenly indeed, and home of quite possibly the best key lime pie the island offers, with its mountains of baked meringue topping. (review courtesy of www.guyoh.com)

Located in historic Bahama Village, Blue Heaven, one of the most casual of key west restaurants features indoor & outdoor dining, live entertainment and american, caribbean and vegetarian cuisine.

The next morning we drive back towards Miami and stopped in Key Largo. Our next adventure was in the Playa Largo Resort.

Located in Key Largo, FL, Playa Largo Resort & Spa is ideally situated within 14.5 acres of lush beachfront property overlooking the sparkling Florida Bay.

A destination in itself, the resort invites you to connect with nature and embrace the Florida Keys island life. Choose from 178 rooms, suites, bungalows and a beach house with Florida Bay and eco-rich island views at our luxury resort in Key Largo.

Indulge in delicious cuisine and cocktails at the resort’s restaurants and bars. The Ocean Spa offers a wide selection of healing treatments, massages and wellness services to provide a relaxing getaway. The island resort places you near popular Florida Keys attractions, including Theatre of the Sea, Dolphins Plus Bayside and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

Ranked among the best resorts in Florida by Conde Nast, there is no better place to relax and play in the sand. To top it off, the resort is pet-friendly!

Insider tip: The resort is on the Everglades side of the Keys. This is critical for calm water. No waves. Amazing experience.

We spent the afternoon relaxing by the pool as we watched the gentle water capture the sunset. A little known tradition was witnessed of setting a caldron out to sea. We all wrote our worries on sheets of paper to see them eventually collected to burn your worries away into the night sky. This was definitely worth the price of admission!

The next morning we traveled back to the airport to deliver the Turo vehicle and make our way home. Dreams and memories were made!