Miami + Bimini

Ahhh I am fresh off my Miami girls trip and I can not stop thinking about it! First off everyone needs a beach getaway in their lives and taking one with your best friends is the ultimate way to feel rejuvenated from life’s crazy busyness that never seems to stop. My Miami vacation was for my bachelorette however, my party party days are far behind me. I wanted beach, sun and a little bit of adventure and lucky for me I got everything I wanted out of my trip. I will say being a planner definitely helps you make the most of your time. The last thing you want to do is arrive to your destination with no idea of what you want to do, leaving you spending your precious vacation time researching! So here are some of the top favorite parts of my Miami vacation which will hopefully help you plan your next trip!

Where to Stay

Fontainebleau is the perfect hotel to stay at! An oceanfront room with a balcony…now we are talking! Luxury resort life is definitely for me. I was contemplating staying at a rental but I really did not want to have to worry about cooking my own food or making my own drinks on this trip so that I could focus on the most important thing RELAXING! With multiple pools, an amazing beach and numerous restaurants and bars I could not be happier with my choice of staying at Fontainebleau!

Adventures

Bimini

Upgrade your beach experience and take it to the Bahamas! That’s right people Bimini Island in The Bahamas is a two hour ferry ride away from Miami.  We took the FRS Caribbean departing at 9am and arriving at 11am and returning back 6:30 – 8:30pm. Check in was a breeze and our ferry arrived right on time! Do not forget to pack your passport as you will be going through customs.

What To Do on Bimini Island 

Rent a golf cart on the ferry before it docks, grab your receipt, jump on a quick shuttle ride to the rentals and get in your cart! This is a must do! The island is 7 miles long but the main road didn’t seem to span that far. The cart is a perfect way to see the island and have fun while doing it. Don’t forget to drive on the opposite side of the road! We took the cart all the way to the end of the road where it turns into dirt and kept going right up to the beach. The water is absolutely beautiful with stunning shades of blue and green that will have your jaw dropped in awe!

After you get your fair share of beach time get in your golf cart and drive back down the main street. You can stop at shops and support local vendors. Also make sure to check out all the brightly colored houses and buildings. They make for fun photo opps and I am all about that!

The ferry only makes the Miami to Bimini trip on the weekends and we went on a Sunday. Something to keep in mind is that most local businesses are closed on Sundays because of church making it hard to enjoy the local cuisine or even find a bottle of water without having to go all the way to the Hilton on the other side of the island.

Bimini is pretty run down and lots of buildings are boarded up and look as though they were not repaired after the last hurricane. Despite the depressed state of the housing on this tiny island that inhabits almost 2,000 people, the locals were very happy and kind to tourists.

All the sun probably has you hungry at this point! If you are up for it stop at a local restaurant (if it’s note Sunday) and grab some conch which the island is known for or head straight to the Hilton the biggest resort on the island. We ate lunch at the Hilton Hotel Casino on the main level. The Caesar salad was one of the best I have had no joke. The food over all was great! Make sure when you buy your ferry ticket to add in the $10 pass to go into the Hilton; it is well worth it! After eating we headed to the lazy river pool which spanned almost the entire length of the building. It was one of the coolest pools I have seen. We spent the rest of day relaxing and swimming. The trip was actually the perfect amount of time to spend on Bimini island. Some people opt to spend the night and the Hilton is absolutely gorgeous but we got our fill of Bimini in a day! If you decide to stay there are some excursions you can take from the hotel including snorkeling, jet skiing and fishing.

What to Pack

• Passport -A passport is required to make the Bimini trip!
• Water Bottles and Snacks – It is best to come prepared and bring some water and snacks to hold you over through your beach excursion since shops on the island are limited.
• Sunscreen – Obviously! The sun feels way more intense in Bimini than it does in Miami.
• Change of Clothes – I brought sweat pants and a sweater for my ferry ride back so I could be super cozy.
• Camera + Go Pro – Other obvious items to bring! You are going to want to capture your super fun adventure day in Bimini!
• Portable Phone Charger – Since you will be out and about most of the day come prepared with a portable phone charger to keep you going through the day.

Wynwood Walls

Spend an afternoon in Wynwood and soak up some Miami culture!

Wynwood Diner was a great spot to grab brunch with its brightly colored walls and cute ambiance. We sat on the patio, ordered mimosas and eggs, so basic but amazing and had a fabulous brunch. After eating we fueled up at Panther Coffee and then made our way to Wynwood Walls.

Wynwood Walls is an outdoor collection of large, colorful and eclectic murals. Walking through this creative space was a really unique way of seeing local art. Not only are murals located inside the official Wynwood Wall area, they are also all along the Wynwood district, which makes strolling around the shops and streets super fun!

Healthy Food

When I travel I always pack healthy snacks and make it a point to plan some healthy breakfast and lunch spots to go to so that I don’t feel horrible about eating all kinds of bad food as most people tend to do on vacation.  Dreamer in Miami not only has delicious açaí bowls with all kinds of yummy toppings like fresh fruit, gluten free granola, sweet honey and bee pollen, they also have the dopest island vibe ambiance. YES, for real two of my favorite things: açaí bowls and Instagram worthy decor! I am talking pink flamingos and palm tree wall paper. If you want some healthy food, great coffee and a cute picture to prove how trendy you are then I highly recommend putting Dreamer on your list of stops in Miami!

That wraps up all my favorite things about my Miami and Bimini trip! Looking back on all these vibrant photos has me seriously craving another vacation. Where will I go next? Looks like it is time to start planning!

Miami + Bimini / Jill E. Gallien / April 21, 2018