Miami is one of my all-time favorite cities in the U.S. I actually lived in that area for a brief time in my late teens (I like to consider it my “college experience” since I went to a commuter college and never lived on campus). Throughout my 20s as I was working my way through school, I would dream about one day making a grand return to Miami and writing for Ocean Drive Magazine, living in a glitzy condo on Brickell Bay, wearing gorgeous designer clothes, and walking my teacup chihuahua, Louie (I never actually had this dog, just part of the dream!). My life did not exactly turn out this way (I like to think less fancy, more fulfilled?) so now I settle for a semi-annual pilgrimage back to my old stomping grounds. This review is of the South Beach area. There is a whole second life to Miami in the downtown area with amazing fine dining and resorts, but I am a beach girl, so that’s where you will find me in Miami.

My home away from home in Miami is always Nautilus by Arlo. I love everything about this boutique hotel. From the location to the amazing staff, everything there is done just right. I do enjoy staying in the oceanfront resort area on Collins as opposed to the trendy downtown area hotels like SLS LUX Brickell. As a beach lover, there is just no substitute for being able to walk right out to the ocean. I also LOVE their saltwater pool and tiki bar area. The walkway out to the beach with the twinkle lights is also so magical. When I am in a stressful situation and am told to close my eyes and imagine my happy place, this hotel is it for me.

I traveled here right before getting married and having kids with my husband, and he felt the exact same way about the vibe here. You are just automatically transported right into vacation mode. I also introduced two of my girlfriends to this hotel on a recent girl’s trip and they both agreed they would not want to stay anywhere else. I love starting the day here with breakfast at The Cabana Club. I remember after my husband and I went there, we went home and watched an episode of Ballers and there was The Rock eating there on the show! It’s such a cool place and also has great food for breakfast and lunch. I’m sure their dinner menu is great too, I’ve just always ventured out on the town for dinner in Miami.

After a delicious breakfast, I would highly recommend a poolside massage. My friends and I did this on our recent trip and it was such a treat. After that, we headed down to the beach where we rented a beach cabana for the day. They also have servers on the beach to bring you lunch and drinks so you can just relax and enjoy your vacation. I love to split up my day and spend the morning at the beach and head back to the pool after lunch for some shade and the “pool party” vibe later in the afternoon. They always have the best music playing and drinks flowing at this time of the day. It’s always a really fun atmosphere. The hotel also has an awesome coffee bar where you can grab a quick pick-me-up before heading back to your room to shower and get ready for a night on the town. *Momoir advice- be sure to hydrate all day and maybe sub in some mocktails during the daytime ;)

One of my favorite things about Miami is the great restaurant scene. I love to spend my first night in town on Ocean Drive. My favorite “experience” restaurant is the iconic Gianni’s at the Former Versace Mansion. This place is as Miami as it gets. It is a really great special occasion restaurant to get a bottle of champagne, oysters, and a “Mansion Board.” Their whole menu is really great. On our recent visit, we ate outside by the pool which was really cool, especially when you think about all of the history there. This would be my number 1 dinner recommendation, just be sure to make reservations in advance.

Other favorite restaurants of mine in Miami are the Prime restaurants, both Prime Italian and Prime 112. Prime 112 is the fancier option of the two with amazing prime steaks and a good chance of catching a celebrity dining there (you’ll definitely need a reservation). Prime Italian is a little bit more tourist-friendly with amazing Italian food. I come here pretty much every time I am in town for their spaghetti with the giant kobe meatball, yum! They also have Prime Fish, but I have never tried that one as I save my seafood night for Joe’s Stone Crab. This is another awesome special occasion restaurant with amazing food and service. There are so many amazing restaurants in Miami, it really is so hard to choose!

My other must-try recommendation is Nikki Beach for brunch. This is probably my favorite brunch on Earth, and I am quite the brunch connoisseur! The environment here just makes you feel like you are somewhere special with a fun DJ, the ocean breeze, a gorgeous ambiance, and an amazing selection of food (including sushi!). Both my husband and my friends agreed that this is the place to be in Miami. You can also spend the whole day here and rent a beach cabana. I usually take Wednesday-Sunday trips, so this is usually my last stop before I head back home to reality.

The nightlife in Miami is also world-class. The Fountainebleau is home to the famous LIV nightclub, where you can find the best DJs all year long. E11even and Story are two other great choices. I am a grandma these days and prefer to grab a glass of champagne at SLS or the Lobby Bar at Nautilus before heading to bed by 11 PM ;) But back in my day, these were (and surprisingly still are) the clubs to check out. Another nightlife place I like to check out after dinner is Mango’s Tropical Cafe on Ocean Drive. This is just a really cool Miami experience that you can’t really get anywhere else. It’s fun to grab a drink and see the amazing dancers. Just DO NOT go to this area during spring break! It has become so insanely crowded and rowdy these days. I made that mistake on my last girl's trip. We were able to grab a nice dinner at A Fish Called Avalon (another favorite) but we got out of there before 9 PM and headed back to the SLS/Nautilus area which was much more tame.

Miami is such a cool city with so much culture and flare, you really feel like you are in another country. The service industry down there caters to high-class clientele all year round, so you really get top-notch service wherever you go. It’s definitely a place you want to dress to impress and bring your life savings ;) but it is such a good time. It’s not somewhere I really have any desire to take my kids (I do love nearby Fort Lauderdale for a family trip) but for a couple's getaway or a girl’s trip, Miami is the place to see and be seen!