Hi friend! Welcome to a fresh, new week! All is right in my world again with the kids home this week! 
I’m so happy to have them here, I miss them so much when they are at their dad’s- I just try to stay busy and keep in touch with them on the phone.
A couple weeks ago, my son and I went on our second annual mother/son trip, just the two of us. He’s 13 and it’s fantastic to get that alone time with him. Last year we went to Minnesota, and this year he picked Miami. His main goal was to go to a baseball game, and we did that, but we also packed a lot into the couple of days we were there.
Today, I’m sharing where we stayed in South Beach and what we did while we were there.
I also got recommendations from you on what to do with kids while in Miami, so I’m including those below too!
Miami Recap | Things to Do in Miami with Kids
Calpak Bag • Tank • Joggers • Sneakers • Crossbody
We had an early flight to Miami which is just a 3 hour flight from Houston. We arrived before we could check into our hotel, so we took advantage of the down time and walked around South Beach.
LINCOLN ROAD
If you go to South Beach, you must take a stroll down Lincoln Road. It’s pedestrian friendly and known for its unique blend of shopping, dining, and entertainment. The Lincoln Road Mall has an eclectic mix of boutiques, world class restaurants and vibrant street performances.
The stores like Lids, Nike, Apple and souvenir shops were my teenagers’s favorite stores to visit.
Tank • Shorts • Sneakers • Crossbody • Hat
We got lucky with the weather, it was really warm, but not too hot and definitely not as hot and humid as it is in Houston right now. I wore activewear for strolling around town, my Lululemon shorts, a Vuori tank and super comfortable sneaker. A hat is a must, along with a crossbody bag.
MARLIN’S BASEBALL GAME
James chose to visit Miami because he’d never been before, but also because he wanted to go see a Marlin’s baseball game at their stadium. We took a short Uber ride to get to the stadium (about 20 minutes from the hotel), but unfortunately the Marlin’s lost. 
At other times of the year, your teen may enjoy seeing a basketball game at the American Airlines Area or a Miami Dolphins game at the Hard Rock Stadium.
SOUTH BEACH
You cannot go to Miami without visiting South Beach!
It was funny because, although we were in Miami, James didn’t want to spend too long at the beach. I told him we had to at least dip our toes into the water!
Visor • CoverUp • Swimsuit • Sunglasses
Well, we didn’t stay long there, but we did make it to the pool for a bit – more on that below when I share the hotel we stayed at.
RIDING BIKES
What we did most of the second day was stroll around Miami on rented bikes. We saw a few people on motorized scooters, but turns out those were scooters the people owned or rented as a longer term rental.
We just wanted something for a few hours, so we found the Citibike app, which tells you were bikes are located around the city and then you can rent one and drop it at another Citibike location.
The first bike we rented ended up having a flat tire, and you want to make sure you choose a bike that sits at your height.
Once we got the flat tire bike replaced, we had a great time biking around the city. My son actually took control of our GPS and guided us around- he’s very good at directions.
WHAT WE ATE IN MIAMI
I got a DM from one of my readers recommending we eat at La Sandwicherie, which is within walking distance of the Loews hotel.
Turns out, La Sandwicherie is a legendary destination for locals and visitor seeing a delicious handmade sandwich. What sets them apart is their commitment to using fresh ingredients and creating sandwiches with a French flair.
There’s only outdoor seating at this casual restaurant, but it’s comfortable and perfect for people watching while you eat.
The menu features the famous La Sandwicherie Special with ham, turkey and Swiss cheese and their infamous tangy homemade dressing that pours out of squeeze bottles for each guest. They also offer fresh smoothies, fresh squeezed juices, and desserts.
I ordered a turkey and brie sandwich on a croissant and it was delicious.
James was crazy for the pizza and mozzarella sticks at the Italian restaurant right next door to our hotel. As much as I would’ve preferred to try different restaurants, he had his heart set on going there every.single.day!
And we also got ice cream. I can’t NOT mention how expensive it was though. I was floored when the cashier told me it was $12 for one scoop in a cone!
The Loews Hotel
We definitely enjoyed our stay at the luxury Lowes Hotel. I’d been there before with my girlfriend, so I knew it was a lovely place to stay and convenient for easy sightseeing.
The Lowes is beautiful hotel and perfect if you’re seeking a blend of relaxation and excitement. From it’s prime oceanfront location to its impeccable service and top-notch amenities, you’ll feel right at home (but better!) here.
The Lowes hotel is located on Collins Ave, right in the heart of the vibrant South Beach neighborhood. From the hotel, you have easy access to several attractions like the iconic art deco district and walking distance to Lincoln Road Mall.
Our hotel was really nice, and we ended up with a Suite with a city view, but we could see some of the beach from the balcony.
We did enjoy some downtime in the room and I was so glad we ended up with a suite- not sure how that happened. It was fun to cozy up in the plush hotel robes and relax and enjoy room service.
THE POOL
The Loew’s has a fantastic pool surrounded by glorious palm trees. It’s kid and adult friendly and they serve food and drinks with waiter poolside service.
I thought this was one of the prettiest fruit bowls I’d seen.
BUS TOUR
On the day we left, we got a ticket for a bus tour around the city. The Big Bus Tour was perfect for sightseeing the best of Miami, since it took us to all of the most popular landmarks, neighborhoods and iconic sites.
We got to see Coconut Grove, the Holocaust Memorial, Port of Miami, art deco district, the Barnical historic state park, Lummus Park, and the Miami Beach Botanical Garden.
We also went through Little Havana, Miami’s vibrant Cuban neighborhood. You can stroll along Calle Ocho, sample authentic Cuban cuisine, watch live music performances and salsa dance.
It’s cool that you can hop on and off the bus at the different spots if you want to explore a little more. And, while you’re on the bus, you can wear the earphones and listen to the commentary of interesting facts, historical context and local insights as you pass by the different locations.
Wynwood Wall is a open-air museum that showcases vibrant street art and murals created by renowned artists. My son and I both appreciated the creativity and transformation of the city as we passed each work of art.
TRAVEL MUST HAVES
I found these large toiletry bags super cute and convenient for our little getaway. They hold a ton and I like how each labeled bag helps keep you organized.
And these magnetic cord keepers are genius for keeping your cords neat and tangle free.
I was happy to try out a real packing situation with my hat to see if it would survive being crammed into a suitcase, and it did! 
I fit everything we packed into my carryon luggage and Calpak, and James brought a backpack. I’m so crazy for the Calpak- it’s huge and holds nearly as much as a second suitcase.
The Calpak has a luggage trolley sleeve (super convenient), interior shoe compartment, multiple interior and exterior pockets.
It’s also lightweight and the material is scratch resistant. It’s such a worthwhile investment, I only wish I had it sooner!
Yeti Backpack • Calpak • Suitcase
THINGS TO DO IN MIAMI WITH KIDS
I asked y’all on stories for your recommendations of what to do in Miami with kids and y’all did not disappoint.
Airboat Gator Tour – we almost did this, next time!
Airsoft – there’s a really cool indoor spot in Hialeah called Miami Airsoft
Art – so many murals and art
Boat Trip from South Beach to Key West
Lincoln Road has shops, restaurants and fun atmosphere
Miami Zoo – amazing, best I’ve been to, I’m from Canada and been to a few all over
If you have more ideas to share of things to do in Miami with kids, please let us know in the comments! If you want to see a video of me and James enjoying Miami, click here!
Now let’s go kick Monday’s booty!
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