Occupying a barrier island between Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean in South Florida, Miami Beach is famous for its warm weather, vibrant nightlife, and gorgeous sugar-sand beaches bordered by turquoise water. The city is home to about 83,000 permanent residents across 15.22 square miles, but every year, Miami Beach—and Miami proper, on the mainland— hosts more than 570,000 spring-breakers who flock to the coastal resort city in search of beachside relaxation, entertainment, and dining.
The South Beach neighborhood of Miami Beach, in particular, is where residents, snowbirds, and vacationers alike go to see and be seen. A favorite among the rich and famous, this vibrant neighborhood bustles with activity 24/7, as it’s home to countless designer boutiques, acclaimed restaurants, trendy nightlife hotspots, and of-the-moment fitness studios. South Beach is also where you’ll find Miami Beach’s Art Deco Historic District, which boasts the country’s largest concentration of Art Deco architecture; you’ll notice the sleek and modern style exhibited by hundreds of apartment buildings and hotels and other structures built between the 1920s and 1940s.
Given all that Miami Beach has to offer, it’s no surprise that the homes in the city are in high demand among homebuyers—with high real estate prices to match. Miami Beach real estate has a median price of $662,250, up from a high of $495,000 one year ago. The area is currently a seller’s market, which means that more buyers are looking for Miami Beach single-family homes than homes available for sale. In a seller's market as strong as this one, sellers may experience multiple offers that exceed their asking prices and, in some cases, lead to bidding wars.
If you need a break from the buying-and-selling bustle, four easy day trips are just a hop, skip, and a jump from Miami Beach.
Everglades National Park
Travel about 30 miles due west from Miami Beach real estate, and you’ll reach the Everglades National Park, a 2,357-square-mile expanse of land and water representing the largest tropical wilderness in the United States. Here, you’ll encounter habitats such as freshwater sloughs, hardwood hammocks, mangrove forests, coastal lowlands, and more, each contributing to the delicate balance of the Everglades ecosystem. Look a little closer, and you might just spot one of the many living creatures that call the Everglades home—think panthers, alligators, crocodiles, egrets, and manatees, to name a few.
The park features hiking trails and boardwalks where visitors can opt to view the wildlife up close. You can also explore the park by canoe or kayak. For a bit of a thrill, take an exhilarating, high-speed airboat tour of the park with a knowledgeable guide sharing fascinating facts about the area and its inhabitants. Note that it’s illegal to feed the wildlife within the park, so leave your snacks for the family only!
Biscayne National Park
An excellent destination for outdoor enthusiasts is Biscayne National Park, located about 41 miles south of Miami Beach real estate. Accessible only by boat, this 173,000-plus acre park (which is 95% water!) exists to protect and preserve the area’s underwater ecosystems and creatures, including dolphins, sharks, manatees, manta rays, and sea turtles.
Diving enthusiasts can explore endangered coral reefs and old shipwrecks, while those who prefer land will enjoy the many walking trails in the park. Another fascinating spot within Biscayne National Park is Stiltsville, a grouping of seven stilted buildings rising from the shallow seagrass beds of Biscayne Bay.
If the thought of living in a house on stilts makes you queasy, head over to the park's biggest island, Elliott Key. You can embark on a hike throughout the maritime forest before settling down for a relaxing picnic at the end of the day. You can also extend your day trip by spending the night at the Elliott Key campground.
Palm Beach
Palm Beach is located about 70 miles north of Miami Beach and is home to approximately 43 of the nation's billionaires, such as Stephen Ross, the owner of the NFL's Miami Dolphins, and Leonard Lauder, the former CEO of the Estee Lauder Company. While you may need deep pockets to reside in Palm Beach, you don't have to be a billionaire to visit.
After a day at the beach, take a stroll down Worth Avenue, a landmark shopping destination where luxury boutiques and courtyard cafes set the scene for retail therapy and alfresco dining.
After a day at the beach, take a stroll down Worth Avenue, a landmark shopping destination where luxury boutiques and courtyard cafes set the scene for retail therapy and alfresco dining.
Nature and animal lovers can reconnect with the great outdoors at Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge. You could run across turtle nests as you take a relaxing stroll along the untamed beach—the largest contiguous section of undeveloped beach in Southeastern Florida. At Jonathan Dickinson State Park, outdoorsy types can indulge in a boat, canoe, or kayak ride, camp by the river, or ride horses, all to get back to the beauty of nature. History buffs can marvel at a secret training camp that dates back to World War II. There are educational programs for the kids, or they can join their families for biking and hiking on designated trails. Anglers are allowed to fish on the riverbank or opt to do so from a boat.
Key West
Although you can get to the world-famous Key West community by boat or plane, the true delight of this destination is the fantastic car journey over The Overseas Highway (U.S. Route 1). This 113-mile stretch of highway is the southernmost portion of U.S. Route 1 and is also known as the "Highway that Goes to Sea." There are many stretches of the road that are practically at sea level.
Once you reach Key West, a visit to Duval Street is necessary. However, parking here is difficult, so park at a lot or garage outside the town and catch a shuttle bus or rent an electric buggy to reach downtown.
Take a guided tour of Ernest Hemingway's home across from the Key West lighthouse, and don’t be surprised if you cross paths with cats as you explore the estate. More than 60 polydactyls (i.e., six-toed) cats make a home at Hemingway House, and they’re all descendants of Hemingway’s original polydactyl pet, Snow White.
Afterward, head over to the Key West Aquarium and the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory before concluding your day with Mallory Square’s nightly Key West Sunset Celebration. Street performers and food vendors there entertain and delight guests as the sun sinks in the orange-pink sky.
Local realtors are experts at helping you buy and sell Miami Beach homes, and they'll be knowledgeable about other hotspot day trips to satisfy your wanderlust. Ready to start looking at houses? Reach out to one of the trusted local experts at the APT Team today!
