Searching for the perfect honeymoon locale? Look no further than these great American cities!
MIAMI
Art Deco style, Latin flavor and all those wide, golden beaches make this southern city a perennial hotspot. In recent years, Miami has evolved past its Spring Break-meets-retirees origins to become a center of music and fashion (it hosts the annual Winter Music Conference and two yearly Fashion Weeks), an important design force (its downtown Design District houses many top showrooms) and a diverse community with activities for all types of travelers.
BY DAY: After lazing on the sands of South Beach, learn about the area’s historic Art Deco architecture with an iPod walking tour, available at the Miami Design Preservation League Visitors Center. Or explore the area via Deco Bike, which rents rides for anywhere from an hour to a month. To get a feel for the city’s strong Cuban roots, stroll along Calle Ocho in the vibrant Little Havana neighborhood and note commemorative murals, knick-knack shops, bakeries and domino-playing seniors before stopping at the 40-plus-year-old, open-air Los Pinarenos Fruteria for a sweet cafecito and homemade tamale. In Miami Beach, the National Historic Landmark Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, with its massive Main House and extensive fountain-lined gardens, takes you back to a time when wealthy industrialists built elaborate European-inspired vacation mansions along Biscayne Bay. Along with regular guided tours, the Museum offers special Moonlight Garden visits throughout the year. Set along the Atlantic Ocean on the northern tip of Miami Beach, Bal Harbour is a charming enclave known for its lovely beaches, trendy restaurants and world-class shopping. It’s also become a fun spot for events, ranging from fashion shows, happy hours and food festivals to live music and beachside movies.
WHERE TO EAT: At Tantra, a romantic Miami Beach restaurant inspired by the ancient Indian philosophy, enjoy the silk-covered walls, ultrasuede banquettes and a menu of “aphrodisiac” cuisine. Also in Miami Beach, Smith & Wollensky serves fine steaks and sunset drinks against a backdrop of views of the downtown skyline and passing cruise ships. At the beachside The Redfish Grill, seafood risotto and conch fritters are served under illuminated palm trees, or splurge at the gourmet candlelit Gibraltar restaurant at the Grove Isle Hotel & Spa, set on a private island just off Coconut Grove.
AT NIGHT: Watch the sun set over shimmering waters on an evening champagne catamaran cruise past Miami Beach’s Millionaire Row and South Beach’s Deco District. For a taste of Miami’s legendary nightlife, head to glam Skybar Miami Beach, site of the red lacquer- floored Redroom, the open-air Redroom Garden and Rumbar, serving over 75 kinds of rum. Other hotel hotspots include the sophisticated Rose Bar at the Delano and the Rat Pack-retro Oasis at the Raleigh Hotel. You can’t leave Miami without a taste of its spicy side: Stop by Gloria and Emilio Estevan’s Larios on the Beach for flavored Mojitos, Cuban eats and—come late-night—a packed dance floor.
WHERE TO STAY: The 56-room Tempo Miami, a RockResort is set among the shopping, restaurants and nightlife of the downtown design district. Along with modern rooms offering water-view balconies, and a 14th-floor Sky Pool Deck, there’s a spacious spa. Get the Adagio couple’s service, which includes massage for two, and a soak in a rose-petal-infused bath—and a split of champagne (room rates start at $249 a night; tempomiami.com). In honor of its 10th anniversary last year, the Mandarin Oriental, Miami—set on Brickell Key—underwent a top-totoe renovation that resulted in sunny, chic rooms, a totally re-done spa with six VIP duo suites and the Oasis Beach Club, with a private white sand beach, luxe cabanas (with flatscreen TVs), an infinity pool and an outdoor sushi and tapas bar (room rates start at $249 a night; mandarinoriental.com).
The Mandarin Oriental Miami's pool.
Inside the gorgeous Mandarin Oriental. (Photo Credit: George Apostolidis).
