Miami Beach Family Easter Break

Before we even touched down in Miami, the holiday got off to the perfect start. We travelled down from Silverdale (South Lakeland) to London Heathrow and stayed overnight at a hotel near Heathrow airport.

On the day of our flight, we dropped our car at our pre-booked parking at Terminal 3 at Heathrow airport and from dropping our car at meet & greet on Level 4, to walking straight over to the Virgin Atlantic check-in desks and dropping our bags, everything just flowed effortlessly. We were greeted by lots of happy, friendly Virgin staff, and within 35 minutes of leaving the car, we were through security and airside. Honestly, I’ve travelled from Heathrow many times for work, but this was our first time flying as a family — and I’d absolutely do it again.
Onboard, the amazing service continued with the Virgin Atlantic crew, and I have to say… the best gluten-free meal I’ve had on a flight in a long time

After landing in true “Parry style”, we powered through to a 6 am UK bedtime — because clearly, sleep is optional when you’re in Miami, we kicked things off with the warmest welcome at the Kimpton Surfcomber, our gorgeous home in Miami South Beach, complete with celebratory “fizz” (always a good sign of things to come!).

The next day, it was straight into holiday mode with a relaxed mooch along Miami Beach Boardwalk, followed by breakfast at Café Americana at the Uma House Hotel, then pool time, because no Miami trip is complete without soaking up that sunshine, and honestly, I fell completely in love with the vibe of Miami South Beach 🩷

South Beach Days & Nights

Afternoons by the pool quickly become a favourite. We also managed to secure a cabana for the day (pre-booked in advance for a $50 fee and a $250 minimum spend!) on Easter Saturday, with a DJ set around the pool.

Whilst in Miami, we enjoyed some fabulous evening meals at:-

- Hosteria Romana in the Art Deco district — amazing food, buzzing atmosphere, and definitely one to recommend.
- Maxine’s – Collins Avenue
- Gianni’s at the Versace Mansion restaurant, and wow, what a building, this is a “must do” dining in Miami in my experience.
- Wilde on the Porch – Collins Avenue
- Taco Taco - Collins Avenue
To name but a few…

On one of our days in Miami, we had booked a private boat charter with MYA Boat Charters for two hours… which somehow (happily!) turned into three, setting off from the Miami River and heading out towards downtown Miami, it turned into one of those truly magical experiences you just can’t plan. Within moments of setting off, we were surrounded by a pod of dolphins, playfully following and circling the boat. Along the riverbanks, we spotted giant iguanas basking in the sun, pelicans gliding overhead… and then, the highlight — manatees in the wild at Virginia Key, just incredible.

We cruised past Watson Island, Fisher Island, and Star Island, catching glimpses of some seriously jaw-dropping homes belonging to celebrities, including:
• Antonio Banderas
• Jackie Chan
• Rihanna
• Julio Iglesias
• Enrique Iglesias
• Gloria Estefan
• Jennifer Lopez
• Pitbull
• Philip Frost (otherwise known as Mr Viagra, whose “Miami Palace” is huge!)
It really was a pinch-me moment.

Our boat, a sleek Sea Ray and our skipper Eli (who was absolutely brilliant) made the whole trip unforgettable. After docking, we took Eli’s recommendation and headed to Casablanca for a fantastic lunchtime meal, before stopping off in Little Havana for a wander — such a vibrant, lively area with so much character.

On one of our days, we hired a car (around £90 for 24 hrs) and swapped city vibes for island life with a drive down to Key Largo — the stunning “Gateway to the Keys.”

Did you know – Key Largo is:-
💚 The first of the Florida Keys
💜 It’s home to the first underwater state park in the U.S.
💚 Known as the “Diving Capital of the World”
💜 Famous for the Christ of the Abyss statue
💚 Part of North America’s only living coral reef system
💜 Linked to Hollywood history through the classic film Key Largo
💚It’s also an absolute paradise for nature lovers.
We enjoyed a fabulous waterfront lunch at Snappers, followed by a stop for our girls, for Crumbl cookies and ice cream for us, and a little retail therapy at an out-of-town retail park, before heading back to Miami, arriving at 9 pm after a full but amazing day.

I can honestly say… I’d love to come back and explore even more of the Florida Keys.

From seamless travel and sunshine vibes to dolphins, manatees, celebrity mansions, incredible food, and those wonderfully unexpected “only in Miami” moments… this trip has really been unforgettable.

If you are interested in taking a trip to Miami, then get in touch for a chat...

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