Hello Travel Friends!
Today I’m writing from Miami, Florida (USA).
This city has a special place in my heart for a lot of different reasons.
First, most of my family lives here. Though that wasn’t always the case—most of them moved from New York—they have been here for quite some time, and it’s practically home.
It’s also home to me. This is where I’ve started my adulthood.
I moved here from Albany, NY shortly after Graduate school and have been living in the city for 4 years. I remember moving here and being so excited about the city, immediately falling in love with all it has to offer—amazing weather and nice beaches among my top two.
Looking back on that first year, though we were pretty tight on money, me and my partner lived on the 19th floor of a super nice high-rise overlooking the city. We also went out to bars, breweries, and restaurants frequently, and tried to do as much as possible. It was truly an amazing time!
A year in, and right when the pandemic started, we moved slightly out of the city but still within its limits, to a place called Kendall.
Though Kendall’s only about 35 minutes away from the actual city of Miami, it could not be more different. It definitely has a more suburban feel and there’s many more families living in the area.
It took some getting used to at first but I was really happy to be closer to all of my family. Everyone—several aunts and uncles, my grandparents, dad, and a bunch of cousins—are all no further than a 5 minute car ride. Being close to all my family was especially nice during the pandemic and I would not trade the quality time I got to spend with them for anything.
That said, perhaps because of my wanderlust and “revisioning of life”, I have begun to want to live in another city. If I’m being honest, although not everything about the city is perfect, I don’t think me wanting to go somewhere else truly has much to do with the city itself.
Visiting Miami
For those of you who have never visited, I would highly recommend it.
It’s definitely not a budget traveler’s paradise but it is paradise nonetheless! From the lively and touristy South Beach, to the calm and gorgeous beaches of North Miami, you’re never too far away from blue waters and beige sand.
The cultural scene is also quite unique, too. Miami has a huge influx of people who once migrated from all over Latin America, and continue to do so today. For this reason, Spanish is WIDELY spoken; so much, that in certain areas of the city, you might have a hard time finding people who can assist you in English!
There are a few really nice museums, particularly related to the arts. In fact, every December, Miami is host to Art Basel, one of the premiere art weeks where celebrities come into the city in droves. The Design District is another place you’ll want to check out if you’re into the arts.
If you like nightlife, you won’t have a hard time finding a place to party in Miami. One of the best neighborhoods for bars, breweries, and lounges is Wynwood.
I’m sure we all know a neighborhood like this: Wynwood is one of those places that was in not-so-great shape 15-20 years ago, and no resident of Miami would have told you to visit that area as a tourist. However, largely influenced by Richard Florida’s The Creative City, the neighborhood has transformed into a place where the arts meets nightlife. No doubt about it, you feel the buzz walking through Wynwood any night of the week.
In contrast to Wynwood, which still sees quite a few locals, South Beach is the tourist Mecca. Tourists from all over the world come for its beaches and restaurants. If you don’t like crowds, this is not a place you’ll want to spend much time, especially during spring break in March. Having said this, the beaches, while far from the solitude of its northern neighbors, are always a nice escape.
One more thing about visiting Miami: plan to rent a car or take Ubers. You have some areas—mainly Brickell and downtown—that are walkable, but in order to see all the city has to offer, it’s best to get around by car.
Miami and Me
Miami will always be special to me (I’m even writing my dissertation on the uniqueness of the city)! In some ways, I grew up here—visiting twice a year as a kid. But I’m happy to go on and explore other potential cities to live in long-term.
I’m not sure if I’ll ever live here again. What I do know, however, is that it’s always a place I’ll call home, and somewhere I’ll feel comfortable returning to. How many places can we really say that about?
I am so grateful for the memories I’ve made here and the impact the city has had on my thinking. I grew up in NYC, and there were undoubtedly so many different cultures around me. However, experiencing that as an adult is a completely different ball game.
In full transparency, I’m actually getting kind of emotional as I write this…
The city has played such an important role in my adult life and leaving it feels like a new chapter is beginning. That’s super exciting, for sure, but also sad. While the following is true for additional reasons outside of the city, itself, I can’t help but think that I’ll always replay the times here, reflecting on how much I’ve grown and the things I miss about the city.
Dare I say love Miami? LOL! Maybe so…
Anyways, Till Next Time Travel Friends!
