The Keys to Florida

Published Oct 22, 2014

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Miami, Florida - Hasmita Nair travels across the US, sampling tastes of all sorts. In this first of a three-part series she explores Florida with its signature cuisine, distinctive scenery and unique attractions. The “sunshine state” is home to Walt Disney World in Orlando and South Beach in Miami and has enough to entertain you for weeks on end. While these are obvious attractions, she chose to spend more time in non-touristy destinations. Here’s how to make the best of your stay.

Miami is a great way to begin your Florida adventure. Palm trees line the wide roads of South Beach, while downtown Miami boasts sweeping horizon views. I spent most of my time in South Beach, where the party’s at.

Stay

The Royal James is a boutique hotel located on South Beach, in the heart of all the action. It fits perfectly into the art deco scene of the area, with quirky furniture and interesting artwork.

Our room overlooked the pool and the ocean. I spent many hours on the balcony soaking up the view and even more time walking along the sunny promenade, which the hotel has direct access to. Here, I also enjoyed the best blueberry pancakes of my life – American style, light, fluffy and as big as a dinner plate. www.royaljameshotel.com

Do

Miami Culinary Tours is a great way to see the city and sample some of its cuisine, much of which is Cuban influenced. I thoroughly enjoyed the South Beach Food Tour, where I sampled what locals claim is the best gelato in Miami, traditional Cuban coffee and delicious chicken empanadas, all while learning about the history of South Beach. www.miamiculinarytours.com

Eat

In Miami, locals love going out for brunch over the weekends. Morgan’s, a converted house, offers huge portions of Florida-style cuisine – think fried chicken and waffles, pancake stacks and fried squid. The restaurant is focused on organic produce, and makes everything in-house. www.morgans.com

For a meal with a view, head to Juvia, Miami’s latest hot spot. Floor to ceiling glass wraparound windows ensure a bird’s eye view of the city, while the enticing cocktail menu will make sure you linger on the purple velvet couches. www.juvia.comNo stay in Florida would be complete without experiencing Key West, situated at the very end of the Florida Keys, a collection of islands.

This tiny island is a three-and-a-half hour drive from Miami, and has only one main street, Duval Street, but it certainly packs a punch – there are dozens of bars and restaurants to keep you entertained. Duval Street is fun to walk along at night, when it gets very busy. The southernmost point of the US is situated here – a nice photo opportunity.

Stay

When staying at a hotel, space is the ultimate luxury. Parrot Key Resort offers just that – suites come complete with two bedrooms, bathrooms and balconies, plus a kitchen and lounge area.

These have an island feel – crisp white linen is contrasted with pastel blue and green furnishings. The resort isn’t within walking distance of the attractions within the town, so you will need to hire a car, but thankfully parking is free – a rarity in the US. With four pools and a range of water sports on the premises, you may not want to leave. www.parrotkeyresort.com

Do

Visit Mallory Square at sunset. You’ll struggle to find parking, but the view is spectacular, as are the street performers, which include fire dancers and acrobats, who gather here every night.

Browse the stalls at the night market and take home a shell engraved with your name.

If you’re an Ernest Hemingway fan, a visit to his house is a must-do. Admission includes a 30-minute guided tour, where you will be able to see his writing room, bedroom and lounge, plus the strange polydactyl (six-toed) cats which are descendants of Hemingway’s original pet cat, Snowball. www.hemingwayhome.com

Eat

For one of the best doughnuts I’ve ever tasted, head to the Glazed Donut, where everything is made from scratch, from the dough to the sprinkles. Flavours range from exotic options like candied kumquat and pumpkin pecan praline to plain doughnuts with vanilla icing. www.glazeddonuts.com

From Key West, you can either fly to your next destination, or drive back to Miami. If you choose from the latter, stop over in Islamorada, also part of the Florida Keys.

This is a fisherman’s haven, and also offers fantastic opportunities for snorkelling, sportfishing and water sports. You can charter a boat and find over 500 species of fish.

Stay

Cheeca Lodge is a luxurious oasis of calm complete with its own salt-water lagoon, nine hole par-three golf course and world-class spa. Rooms are fabulous – our king size suite had a jacuzzi-style bath on the veranda, overlooking the ocean.

The hotel’s signature restaurant, Atlantic’s Edge, is a great way to try food that is signature to the Florida Keys. Seafood is fresh, having been caught on site. If you are lucky enough to catch a fish during the day, the restaurant can prepare your catch for you in the style of your choice. www.cheeca.com

Do

If you’re an animal lover, you’ll love the Turtle Hospital, the mission of which is to rehab injured sea turtles and return them to their natural habitat, as well as educate the public about keeping beaches and water safe for sea turtles.

Here, a guided tour allows you complete access to the hospital, where you can see the surgical rooms, hear about success stories, and meet some of the patients in the rehabilitation area. Turtles range from tiny babies to larger ones that weigh over 200kg! www.turtlehospital.org

There is no direct flight to Miami from Joburg. The easiest option would be to fly via New York or Washington, but this does mean a long commute. We opted to shorten waiting times before both the international and the domestic leg of the flight, by sending our bags to the US ahead of our trip, with First Luggage. Arriving at the airport, boarding pass in hand, and going straight to security without having to check in bags was a real treat.

A completely seamless experience from start to finish, your bags will be collected from your home about a week in advance and will be waiting in your hotel room at your destination. In the interim, you’ll be kept updated on the location of your bags to give you peace of mind. First Luggage operates in most cities around the world, with very few exceptions. www.firstluggage.com

l Hasmita Nair was hosted by some of the establishments for the purposes of this review.

Hasmita Nair, Sunday Tribune

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