By Mika Turim-Nygren, Travel Correspondent

Old World–Style Charm near Miracle Mile

Along iconic South Beach, sunbathers flit from umbrella to umbrella like butterflies, flashing trendy fashions and flocking to the latest hot spots. Yet just across the causeway, beyond the tranquil waters of Biscayne Bay, the solid edifice of Hotel St. Michel in the historic city of Coral Gables defies of-the-moment glitz—its lineage traces to 1926 and its walls surround carefully restored antiques. Past the original mosaic archways of the front hall, a lift attendant hoists guests in a hand-cranked brass elevator that, according to hotel legend, has never broken down in 85 years of service. As the accordion-style lattice shutters close and the cab glides upward, visitors feel transported to an era of Jazz Age luxury and French-inspired elegance.

Upstairs, individually lit oil paintings of Parisian boulevards gild the corridor walls, and handsome hardwood grandfather clocks guard corners from the ghosts of flappers. Within Deluxe queen rooms, hand-selected furnishings from various time periods and styles complement quirky angles and alcoves. In some rooms, the anachronistic glow of a flat-screen TV shines on a curlicue bench of a treadle-powered Singer sewing machine, and others link entourages of art deco armoires and vanities. A silver serving tray bears drinking glasses, each eager to catch fresh pours from the included bottle of wine.

Come morning, nearby church bells toll on the hour, reminding drowsy dreamers to meander downstairs for breakfast. A light self-serve spread of pastries and yogurt rests along with coffee, orange juice, and gourmet tea in the front-hall sitting area from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Diners can nibble beneath chandeliers rescued from an old theater, peer past gossamer draperies to discern the day's weather, or tickle the keys of a grand piano at the end of the hall until it raises its lid in surrender.

Coral Gables: 1920s Magnificence Alongside Cuban Culture

Along Ponce de Leòn Boulevard—named for the Spanish explorer who once reputedly searched the area for the fountain of youth—the Coral Gables trolley reinvigorates the historic city southwest of Miami much like the fabled fountain itself. Originally dreamed up by 1920s real-estate developer George Edgar Merrick, Coral Gables' neatly aligned boulevards still bear the Mediterranean Revivalist mansions that once served as summer homes to Merrick’s contemporaries. Beneath the arching boughs of ancient live oaks, the blocks of Coral Way hide the fluted columns and terra-cotta tiles of Venetian-inspired villas, including the museum and former Merrick manor known as the Coral Gables Merrick House. While sojourners wander nearby avenues, signs demarcating local and national landmarks pop into view as frequently as brown anole lizards dart across the sidewalk. To the south, the elongated business district of the Miracle Mile shelters popular restaurants and independent boutiques.

Nearby, the neighborhood of Little Havana speaks to a different history, one filled with cigar-making secrets, intensely strong cafecitos, and the alliance of Hispanic cultures that helped shape Miami's modern identity. Calle Ocho, or Eighth Street, brims with Spanish-language cafés and restaurants that serve everything from coconut-laden Nicaraguan cuisine to Cuban sandwiches pressed as flat as an elephant's flip-flops. Nestled at the center of Calle Ocho, Domino Park reverberates with the click of gleaming game tiles as masters of the classic game play from dawn until dusk. The area buzzes with live music, gallery openings, and free walking tours led by historian Dr. Paul George during Viernes Culturales—or cultural Fridays—held on the last week of every month.