Visit a 12th Century Monastery on Miami Beach

One of the last things I expected to explore while visiting Miami Beach in Florida was a 12th century monastery, ancient and grand amid the hustle and bustle of swimsuit clad tourists. However, that is exactly what I found myself doing last October.

Bike Along the Shores of South Beach in Miami

During the planning phase of my trip to Miami, which happened in October, I read several blog posts and articles about how to get around Miami Beach most effectively. Walking along the boardwalk, taking shuttle buses to and from your hotel to the various beaches, grabbing an Uber - there are many different ways to access the different hot spots in Miami Beach. One that I knew my husband and I would want to try was to rent a bike and cruise along the streets and boardwalk, taking in the sights while getting some healthy exercise.

Fontainebleau Miami Beach: The Glitz and Glam of Miami Beach

In October of 2016, my husband and I had the opportunity to stay in a five-star hotel resort in Miami, Florida during Joey's annual work AGM. We would probably never have had the chance to stay in such a swanky place on our own, so I was incredibly excited for the occasion to explore a hotel of that rating. (Thank you, MNP, for the amazing work retreat! It was fabulous!)

Stroll the Grounds of Villa Vizcaya in Miami

Miami might be most famously known for its neon lights, wild nightlife, and sandy beaches. But those features only scratch the surface of what the city of Miami has to offer. An amazing variety of art instalments, historical buildings, and unique architecture can be found both in the mainland portion of the city and on the various islands, or 'keys', around the area.

Stop to Smell the Flowers in the Fairchild Botanical Gardens of Miami, Florida

In late October of 2016, my husband and I had the chance to stay in sunny Miami for a week or so. This was mainly achieved because Joey’s company was holding their annual general meeting, or AGM, down there for three days, and spouses were invited to tag along. (Even if we hadn’t been invited, there was no way Joey was going without me!) So for three of the days I was in Miami, Joey was unable to explore the city with me due to the AGM, leaving me to check off items from my list on my own.

Explore Miami's "Little Havana" Neighborhood

Miami, Florida is geographically very close to Cuba. So naturally, the city of Miami has a strong Cuban community and culture. Wet met a ton of people from Cuba or with strong Cuban heritage: my Uber driver, my hotel waiter, and the server at Subway were all from Cuba and proud of it.

Alligators and Air Boats: Touring Florida's Everglades

Right now, at this very moment, I am sitting in a fuzzy white hotel robe, snuggled into a queen-sized bed of my very own, sipping wine from a water glass and very much enjoying my life. My husband's company is holding their annual AGM in Miami, Florida this year, and I got to tag along. We arrived a couple of days before the AGM began so that we could do a little exploring of this vibrant city and its surrounding areas, and explore we did! Today we spent the morning touring the Florida Everglades, which is an excursion you cannot skip if you find yourself in Miami.