How to Spend 24 Hours in Miami

{Pictures via Pinterest}

I was in Miami not too long ago and I loved every minute of it. From the retro colored buildings to the streets lined with palm trees, the crazy beautiful people and the blaring music -the city has a lot to offer! It is a fabulous tropical getaway for those of you who are after one. But I got to thinking, lots of people fly in for business or for a weekend vacation, so I decided to make a list of things to do if you had only one day to spend in this hot (literally and otherwise) city!

Quick Tips: The best way to see the city is to have your own car or rent one. The public transportation system is not so great and you can end up spending tons of money on cabs. Grey Line's Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours offer an inexpensive travel option as well and takes you around the best sight seeing spots. Also keep in mind, a lot of the action happens in Miami Beach (a.k.a. South Beach, a.k.a. SoBe). All the fancy hotels are located here and it is practically one ginormous party all day long! With only 24 hours to spare, I suggest sticking to this area, otherwise you will only spend most of the day stuck in traffic.

Alright then, no time to waste - let's get moving!

9:00 AM 

Start with a walk along the boardwalk and explore Ocean Drive which is surrounded by colorful Art Deco buildings. To make things easy for you, there is even an Art Deco Walking Tour so all you have to do is show up and get guided! If you are a museum kind of person, there are plenty to keep you occupied in the morning! Of course, no morning is a good one without some much needed coffee, and Miami's got the the best of the best - Cortaditos. What's that you ask? It's a Cuban espresso with milk, foam and sugar. It's pretty strong and very tasty, even Khloe Kardashian got addicted to them while she was in Miami! 

{Picture via Google Images}

11:30 AM

When you're done savoring your coffee and people watching, head on over to the Bayside Marketplace, with it's lovely views; great music and dancing; and cute little souvenir shops. Go on a boat ride and enjoy the gorgeous blue of the ocean. The smell of salt water and your hair blowing in the wind while you enjoy the scenery is a wonderful feeling, especially if you haven't been out on the sea for a while! Also if your tour boat takes you far enough you can even see a little bit of the Bahamas and the Bermuda Triangle! This kind of boat ride is a good two and half hours long, but there are shorter ones if you ask around.

{Chilling at Bayside Marketplace}

2:30 PM

You can eat right in the Bayside Marketplace, or you could drive to the Miami Design District for some quick lunch and more sight seeing. Here you will find galleries, showrooms, and high-end boutiques. Do check out the much-hyped Wynwood Walls which pays tribute to big international artists. If you got lost in the beauty of the district and forgot lunch, drive over to Coconut Grove, another gorgeous place with plenty of window shopping (stuff is expensive!!) and cute eateries.

4:30 PM

You must go to Little Havana, which is basically Cuba in Miami! I love love love it here, the atmosphere is wonderful and you are sure to have a good time even if you can't speak much spanish. Try a hand-rolled cigar and a cup of café con leche (coffee with milk). 

{Pictures via Pinterest}

SOMEWHERE IN HERE HIT THE BEACH!!!! It's not as hot after 4:00 PM and there will still be a crowd, so catch some rays and take a dip in the cool ocean.

5:30 PM

If you haven't done any shopping yet, drive to Lincoln Road where you will find a variety of high street as well as name-brand stores and everything in between. If you're a book lover, your day will be made when you walk into Books & Books. There is also much for the art lover at the Art Center.

6:30 PM

Head back to your hotel room for a quick nap, the whole point of which is to stay awake later and dance into the night! Shower and get dressed up for a night on the town like you've never seen before. Also carry enough cash because cover charges/drinks/random spending can add up! There are a million places to go to dinner, but try something with seafood since they do get some really fresh catches which taste divine. 

8:00 PM

After dinner, stop by Mango's for a mini carnival-like experience, complete with sexy dancers and Spanish music from salsa to samba. Trust me if you love Spanish/Latin culture and the vibe as much as I do, you will spend a good two hours here!

10:00 PM

Start drinking if you haven't already! The party doesn't start till almost Midnight, so the best thing to do is get buzzed now and find your happy place so you don't have to waste any time once you get inside the clubs ;) 

12:00 AM

Let's go! Head on over to the South Beach/Ocean Drive area if you are not already there. Get inside the clubs and party hard! It would be wise to plan ahead and make some calls to get your name on the guest list a while before you arrive. This way you don't have stand in line forever before you actually get in. Hopefully you got a great power nap in earlier because if you're doing it right, you won't be leaving until 6:00 AM at least!

Party Hard!!

XOXO - Chrissy

According to Amanda: Ten Favorite Places in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Here's the first of my guest posts! This one will actually be a recurring feature called According to Amanda (if you didn't guess from the title!). I am so glad to have my friend Amanda be a part of this blog - I have known her since way back when in grade school and she is the sweetest! Amanda lives in Sri Lanka and will be updating us frequently on the world according to her!

Hey everyone!!!!

A couple of weeks ago, my beautiful friend Chrissy asked me to write about my life and travel experiences for her blog “Silk & Spice” and I jumped at the opportunity! I truly would be honored to be a part of this amazing and super spicy blog! 

I haven’t travelled much but boy oh boy have I been bitten by the travel bug…all I ever watch is the travel channel and while at work I only day dream of eating macaroons under the Eiffel tower in Paris.

But for my first post, I’m going to start right at home - in Colombo, Sri Lanka! 

ODEL Unlimited – From its humble beginnings in the trunk of a car to its rapid transformation into an exclusive shopping hub, ODEL is without a doubt Sri-Lanka’s biggest and most cosmopolitan department store. Ranging from designer perfumes to Belgian chocolates, Odel is definitely a must if you’re in Sri Lanka. The store carries global brand names like Ralph Lauren, Bulgari and Donna Karan as well as Sri Lankan brands like the fabulous beachwear brand Arugumbay! Shopping can be exhausting, so if you ever feel hungry there’s a cozy food court at the entrance and two amazing restaurants inside as well - Nihonbashi for all you sushi fans and Deli France, a cute little eatery which boasts some wonderful chocolate croissants. 

Burger’s King – Located in Slave Island’s busiest junction, this little gem serves up the most AMAZING burgers! Despite the name sounding very similar to the famous chain Burger King, this street shop has a story all its own. It is somewhat of a fold away shop – they literally set up to open at around 5:00 pm – don’t go before, you won’t find anything. It’s all very Platform Nine and Three Quarters (a la Harry Potter). The portions are huge and everything is served hot. Hygiene is good and prices are cheap. You can either choose to sit and pig out in the comfort of your car or you can sit on the sidewalk and enjoy the smells wafting your way from the kitchen! The staff are so friendly and you get your order in minutes…every order comes with a huge portion of French fries. The prawn burger is a must have - soooo yummilicious!!!!

Secondhand Books Maradana - Boasts a string of second hand bookshops, which are renowned for their vast collection of old and rare books at bargain prices. This place is every bookworm’s dream. You can find the classics like Jane Austen and Charles Dickens or you can bury your nose in chick-lit and science fiction – you name it, they've got it.

Kama – Colombo’s most exclusive night club! All you party loving, club hopping lads and lasses, this is the place to be on the weekends. The music will make you dance like there’s no tomorrow and if you get hungry from all that dancing, they serve the best chicken club sandwiches ever! The ideal time to get in is around 11:30 -12pm, the party goes on till 7 in the morning and the hangover is definitely worth it!! Kama is the place you wanna go to if you've had a bad day, the music and ambiance instantly puts you in a good mood!

Source

Pettah – “A Bargainer’s Haven”. Your Colombo shopping experience isn’t complete without being thrust in to the hustle and bustle of Pettah which is famous for it's open air bazaars. With almost anything being available in the many narrow streets, you will have plenty of shops to choose from that will satisfy your retail needs. Shops are located in clusters, with specific types of items being sold in each cluster. Although driving through and parking maybe problematic, the entire stretch of shops are located within walking distance. Whatever you choose to purchase, be sure to polish your bargaining skills, which is important to fetch the best prices. Tips – carry a sling bag and wear flip flops, loose the jewelery (you want to avoid being a victim of pickpocketing) carry your ID/Passport securely and keep you money close to you at all times!!! Also beware, street vendors/hawkers might try to sell you items that are not genuine/fake. Follow these and you’ll come out alive!

Pilawoos – is the best place for good ol’ Sri Lankan street food and yes, the best place to prepare for an impending hangover. This is where you go for the legendary “Cheese Kothu” which is to die for! The delicious dish is made with Happy Cow cheese triangles (shame on you if you are Sri Lankan and don’t know about Happy Cow). Another must try on the menu is the Chocolate Rotti made with Nutella. Pilawoos is open till the wee hours, so party all you want and head on over! 

7 Degrees - This is the most insanely romantic bar in Colombo (located at Cinnamon Lakeside). Perfect for dates, you can chill to jazz music and sip on a Margarita while overlooking the bera lake which looks is a pretty sight at night. 7 degrees would be the place you wanna go to have a couple of amazing cocktails/mocktails to get the party started! Perfect for a relaxed evening. They always serve the most exquisite tapas in the world!

Paradise Road – The antique lover’s sanctuary, you truly feel like you walked into nirvana when you enter Paradise Road! The scents from the incense sticks are divine and oh so relaxing. If you want to make your home look like Bali or create a Zen atmosphere, Paradise Road is the place for you! From Egyptian cotton fabrics to beautiful china, they’ve got you covered. My favorite purchase is the scented candles. 

Majestic City – Colombo’s oldest shopping mall, this place is frequented by all kinds of little cliques, but very popular among the teens and tweens. Shops sell everything from movies to electronics and shoes. If you ever find yourself here, you must try Pepper’s Pizza.

Carnival – It is truly a carnival of colors and flavors in this little ice-cream parlor. This place is basically a household name. The ice-cream is beyond fabulous, very milky and creamy – if happiness was a flavor, it would be the flavors of Carnival ice-cream. My fave is Hawaiian Ice Cream Paradise which comes in a huge glass bowl - perfect for two!

Have you visited any of these places? What was your favorite thing about them?

Until next time,

Amanda

(Chrissy Casinader also contributed to this post)

Must-Haves For Your Spring Break Vacay!

Since my spring break will be spent working full-time and studying for some tough exams, I thought I would fantasize a little and make a list of my vacation must-haves. Hey, at least you guys can take a look and be inspired! 

Starting from left, clockwise:

1. Your choice of island getaway - this picture is of Jamaica. I have always wanted to go, and one of my best friends, Natalie, gets to call this beautiful place home.

2. Victoria's Secret Wheelie - What's a perfect spring break without the perfect little bag to carry all your cute stuff?

3. Monokini - Every girl loves a good bikini, but these stylish new one-pieces just beg to be worn.

4. Sundress - Nothing says vacation like a bright, flirty sundress. Take one or five, you just can't go wrong.

5. Floppy Hat - This is a beach/vacay essential. It hides your face from the harmful sun and gives you the instant chic factor. Don't forget the sunscreen.

6. Denim shorts  - Denim cutoffs are an easy-to-wear beach essential. Wear it as a cover up and throw a crochet knit on top so your colorful bikini still shows.

7. Sandals - No heels on the beach missy - some people still need to be told. Wear easy flats for comfort. Neutrals can be worn with anything. Take a pair of heels or wedges for the clubbing.

8. Sunglasses - Shield your eyes from the sun and look like a celebrity. No, seriously, sunglasses give you that ultimate oomph and completes your ensemble.

Now all you need is to actually get to your destination, lie under the blazing sun with a glass of your favorite tropical drink and sigh with contentment.


Promise you'll think of me?

xo-Chrissy


{Images not linked are from Google Images}