Aqua Shop Indoor Surfing

Miami's party scene is legendary, from the nightclubs of South Beach to the block parties of Calle Ocho in Little Havana. But there's a quieter side to the city as well—lush gardens, pools, and parks that preserve the ideals of Old Florida in the midst of a bustling metropolis. Elegant attractions blend into the tropical landscape at several spots south of downtown Miami. In Coral Gables, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden enlivens the senses with an extensive collection of orchids, butterfly gardens, and rare palms from around the world. Built in 1924, the nearby Venetian Pool is an 800,000-gallon lagoon fed straight from the Floridan aquifer, surrounded by coral outcroppings and tiered waterfalls. While tourists flock to Lummus Park Beach, part of the lively and often crowded strip better known as South Beach, locals often prefer the more secluded stretches along the barrier islands that line Miami's coast. Here, spiky palmettos, live oaks, and strolling ibises and egrets provide an image of what South Florida looked like before the skyscrapers arrived. The area’s protected parks also offer a serene getaway for those looking to take advantage of Florida’s natural scenery. Hop on the Rickenbacker Causeway bridge to Key Biscayne, home to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Here, you’ll find scrub-covered sand dunes, sea-turtle nests, and a lighthouse that's the oldest-standing structure in Greater Miami. Up in North Miami Beach, Oleta River State Park fronts the placid Biscayne Bay harbor, and attracts kayakers with mangrove stands clustered around river inlets. Back on the mainland, Matheson Hammock Park is a circular, sandy lagoon that draws visitors for its spectacular views of the Miami skyline—Frommer's called it the city's Best Scenic Beach.

Although much of Miami’s reputation for world-class, sun-worshipping hedonism is well deserved, the city isn't all clubbing till 4 a.m. and hard bodies on the beach. Miami offers plenty of attractions that appeal to people who prefer quiet contemplation to bacchanalia. Coral Castle Museum is a monument to solitude. Latvian immigrant Ed Leedskalnin broke ground on this monument to eccentric obsessions in 1923, carving and setting the structure's 1,100 tons of coral stone in tribute to the fiancée who is said to have left him the day before their wedding. Leedskalnin, who died in 1951, before his life’s work was completed, was as given to understatement as he was grand gestures; he engraved on the castle’s welcome sign this promise to visitors: "You will be seeing unusual accomplishment." In contrast to Coral Castle, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens was commissioned as the winter residence of industrialist James Deering and constructed by more than 1,000 workers. Designed to resemble an Italian villa, the estate consists of 34 decorated rooms and sits on 50 acres, comprised of the 10-acre, Rennaissance-inspired formal gardens and 40 acres of native jungle. For another dose of a bygone era, the Wolfsonian-FIU art and design museum just off South Beach houses a 120,000-object collection focusing on modern art produced between 1885 and 1945. The size of the museum is modest, but that’s all the more reason to linger over the collection and temporary exhibits, which have recently surveyed media images from the Spanish-American War and advertisements inspired by the invention of the light bulb. Oleta River State Park beckons the outdoorsy introvert north of the metro area. Grab a copy of Walden and lie out on the secluded beach, or speed down the miles of novice and expert bike trails. Other popular (and peaceful) activities include hiking, kayaking, and saltwater fishing. If you’re stranded in South Beach, escape to Terrace Bar and Cigar Lounge. Located on the second floor, Terrace is not only literally above the bustle of the club scene, but also temperamentally outside of it; sheer curtains billow in the wind out on the terrace as guests sip cocktails and sample fine cigars.

When people ask me why I started blogging, my answer to them is simple, I’m that “go-to” friend who loves to talk about the latest store openings, or the perfect happy hour spots and let’s not forget the best local groomers for your pets. I’m the one you call when you’re trying to pick the perfect place to go out for dinner and I just so happen to live in a pretty hip, up-and-coming neighborhood in South Florida called Midtown Miami. I like to think of Midtown Miami as our own little version of Brooklyn. To some, that might seem preposterous, but to me, it’s my reality and I have some pretty decent insights as to why I can make that comparison. Midtown Miami is centrally situated right alongside Biscayne Bay, directly across from South Beach. It’s a 12-minute drive from the airport, directly north of downtown and a little bit further away from Brickell. Not only is it set in an ideal location, Midtown Miami is a haven for those of us who enjoy being near the madness that can be South Beach but also relish in savoring local foodie spots such as Sugarcane, Gigi’s and Sakaya Kitchen. Midtown is the place that artists, young professionals and families of all different backgrounds and cultures can call home. Everywhere you look, you’re bound to see a dog being walked, a stroller being pushed or the occasional bum roaming the streets. I didn’t say Midtown was perfect, but it provides the type of environment that many city dwellers crave. Local bars and lounges such as Bardot and the Electric Pickle have even caught the attention of Brickellites and the Beach crowd. All in all, Midtown Miami offers its locals the same vibe, venues and vida as does Brooklyn to its residents. While the area directly west of Midtown is still considered to be impoverished, gentrification is slowly taking place and residents find themselves being able to walk to more places to grab a cup of coffee, get their hair cut and shop for clothes. I love living in Midtown, as it provides me access to all the things I love; intriguing art displays, live music venues and a plethora of locally owned restaurants to eat at and have Sunday brunches at. I invite you to come check it out anytime.