Don't Blow it Miami: 10 Ways to Enjoy Your Long Summer Days

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At some point during the course of any 24-hour span, you’re going to have to confront the wet blanket of humidity that is summer weather in Miami. Yes, even if it is just for the brief few seconds it takes you to make your way from front door to car door. But if you truly want to make the most of summertime in Miami, we say embrace the weather, the beaches, and the fabulous bronze tinges Miami’s buckets of sunshine can bring. If you want to take the minimalist route, simply grab a towel and a bottle of sunblock (trust us on that one) and stake out your claim on a patch of South Beach’s famously white sand. Better yet, book a room at a hotel that includes free beach chairs in the room rate or one that boasts its own beach club. The Catalina Hotel & Beach Club is one well-priced option that offers the latter, as well as complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport (saving you at least $80 in taxi fare) plus a nightly happy hour crawl in conjunction with four of their sister properties, where the cocktails are free between 7 and 8 p.m. nightly.

Okay, so “crash” might be a bit of a strong word, as many of the city’s most popular hotel pool parties are open to the public. Just be forewarned that these are not the G-rated pool parties of your youth. And that you’re likely to see more posturing and posing for Instagram snaps than you are actual toes being dipped in the water, as the emphasis lies on the “party” half of “pool party.” And Sunday is the day they usually goes down. At the Shore Club, it’s a Shore Thing—a weekly après-brunch pool party where DJs set the tone (and tunes) from 1 p.m. until sunset. At the nearby Delano, Privileged Sundays offer a decidedly more pampered vibe, with partygoers being able to order up a series of poolside spa treatments.

Throwing back a cold one in the dark confines of a dive bar is one way to spend an evening. But in Miami, where you choose to drink is just as important as what you choose to drink. And in the case of the former, it’s all about three things: location, location, location. If it’s a beachfront locale you’re craving, The Pool & Beach Bar at The Setai offers the perfect mix of seclusion with a view (and a prime perch for people-watching). On Miami Beach’s Bayside, the aptly-named Sunset Lounge offers some of the most breathtaking sunset views around. Midway between South Beach and Miami proper, the Lido Restaurant & Bayside Grill makes it feel as if you’re floating in the middle of Biscayne Bay. And at Area 31’s Terrace Lounge, you can take in the city skyline—not to mention some expertly mixed cocktails—from a 16th-floor vantage point.

Leave it to Miami to build a nightclub in the middle of a baseball stadium. When the Marlins unveiled their state-of-the-art new park in 2012, there were a handful of details that fell into the “Only in Miami” category, like a retractable roof to protect players—and patrons—from Miami’s wild weather patterns, which can go from blinding sunlight to torrential downpour, often in a matter of minutes and without warning. There’s also The Clevelander, an outpost of South Beach’s anything-goes entertainment venue that originated on Ocean Drive. For folks who want to watch the game, there’s a huge glass wall through which you can do just that. For those who simply want to party, there are scantily clad waitresses, live dancers, DJs, body painting parties, and a swimming pool. Yes, a swimming pool. Throughout the summer, they’ll also be hosting a regular lineup of Beerfests.

Miami’s reputation as one of America’s hottest food cities is no joke. And it almost seems as if a day doesn’t go by without a new culinary hotspot openings its doors. Among the city’s most booked tables are The Bazaar by José Andrés, Zuma, Il Mulino New York, and Cecconi’s at Soho Beach House—none of which is particularly easy on the wallet. But in August and September, Miami Spice makes it possible to indulge in all of the city’s best culinary offerings at a fraction of the price (about $20 for a three-course lunch or $40 for dinner).

Having a Lamborghini on land is one way to paint yourself as a total Miami player. (If you don’t already own one, South Beach Exotic Rentals will be more than happy to loan you one for the low, low price of $2,000 a day). But having a boat to which to drive said sports car is even more of a baller move. And the open sea is one way in which you can get a small reprieve from the stifling city air. If you don’t have your own boat, having a friend who does (and is willing to play along when you use words like “my boat”) is the next best thing. And if neither of those options is a reality in your world, like all things in Miami, there’s a way to make it happen. From pint-sized powerboats to luxuriously appointed mega yachts, you can rent—or charter—any kind of marine vessel you can conjure up. (Luxury Yacht Charters is a great starting point.) Making you like a new millennium Sonny Crockett.

Sunshine, humidity, and alcohol consumption all come with the territory of spending a summer in Miami. And all have been known to wreak havoc on one’s beauty regimen. Throughout the months of July and August, Miamians can combat these good-time effects during Miami Spa Month (which would more accurately be called Miami Spa Months). During this period, $99 will get you a range of first-class treatments at dozens of the city’s top spas, including Bliss South Beach, Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa, Acqualina Spa by ESPA, and Exhale Spa. Your face will thank you.

Before you roll your eyes derisively and think, “Great! A museum! What better way to while away the dog days of summer!” consider these three things: 1. It is hot outside. 2. Museums are air-conditioned. 3. When it comes to art and culture, Miami is one of the world’s most forward-thinking cities. Which would explain why it's the American home of Art Basel. And why it has one of the world’s coolest outdoor street art parks (Wynwood Walls). It’s also worth noting that the city’s sexy, party-loving reputation extends to its cultural institutions. Parties are a regular thing at the newly opened Pérez Art Museum Miami as well as the Bass Museum of Art. And if you’re looking for artistic inspiration of a different variety, there’s always the World Erotic Art Museum.

Miami may not have been quick enough to officially adopt the moniker of “The City That Never Sleeps,” but it’s certainty an apropos description. If you want to fit in and not look like a tourist, there are four simple rules to remember: 1. Locals never get sunburnt. 2. Making a dinner reservation before 9 p.m. is a no-no. 3. Arriving to a club before 11 p.m. is the surest way to guarantee you’ll be the only one there. 4. And if you want to pull a legitimate all-night party session, you can—at E11EVEN MIAMI, one of the city’s newest nightclubs that just happens to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Expect music, dancing, cocktails, and female acrobats.

It may sound counterintuitive. But when you realize just how vast the “Greater Miami Area” really is, you’ll understand that there are hundreds of mini-adventures just a short (air-conditioned) car ride away. For a day trip, a journey into The Everglades—complete with swamp boat ride—can feel like you’ve traveled to another country altogether. If you do want to journey to another country altogether, hop the SuperFast to Bimini, where a casino provides on-board entertainment and snorkeling with sharks and shipwreck diving are just a few of the ways to entertain yourself once you get there. For a true Florida excursion, set aside a weekend to cruise back and forth to Key West.