So the company is sending me and a few office mates on a one night cruise aboard the brand spanking new Norwegian Cruise Line Pride of America. We get a whole 12 hours of sailing time on the ship before they kick us off. But since the company is paying for a flight I figured I might as well take advantage of the free airfare and spend an extra day and half in this very interesting city.

Our Hotel:
Holiday Inn- South Beach
2201 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
http://www.miamisouthbeachresort.com/

I am so excited about this hotel, it is very cheap for the area and free parking and beach chairs- both of which I hear are hard to come by in South Beach. No free breakfast at this one- and I hear the one you can purchase isn’t so good. This hotel is right on the beach and has its own pool but oddly enough does not have any balconies.

Things to see:
The beach- no kidding
Ocean Drive
Lincoln Rd.

Little HavanaI don’t know why but I have a serious hankering to visit this part of town. Maybe buy a few cigars and try some Cuban food…yum! “Little Havana consists in 10 blocks of SW 8th Street in Downtown Miami, where everything (shops, restaurants, etc.) is basically cuban. Walk around during the daytime, and you’ll feel as if you were in Cuba. While there you must visit a cigar factory and drink a little shot of cafe cubano. Also, there is a small domino park (Máximo Gómez Park), that you should not miss.”

Eats:
Pizza Rustica
863 Washington Avenue
Washington Avenue on the corner with 9th Street

I am all about cheap food, and ever better pizza! I don’t think I have gone on vacation without trying some pizza from the area. The house speciality is the “Rustica” (creative!) and all slices are under $4.

Big Pink
157 Collins Ave

Apparently they have quite the cheesecake menu and serve TV dinners- yes dinner is served in little compartmentalized trays- this place has my name all over it!

Joe’s Stone Crabs
11 Washington Avenue

So this is a sort of institution in Miami, great crab and the price tag that comes with such a landmark. Maybe we can make it for lunch.