New Year's Day in Miami

We had an airline voucher with American Airlines we've been sitting on for 2 years that expired the first week of January 2020. Not to leave "money" on the table, we decided to take advantage of the new direct flight from Columbia, SC to Miami, FL.  We included it in our Take A Leap Travel trips, and invited others to join us. We had a blast bringing in the New Year on the Wharf, and exploring Miami and it's rich culture over a period of three days.  Day #1 was shared in a previous post. 

We'll now share Day #2

We had a relaxing morning to take in the full view of the golf course adjacent to the hotel. It was there that we decided to go on a guided tour for the first new day of the year. After taking a ride-share to Collins Ave and walking the streets, we came upon a special deal for a 2-day Hop-on Hop-off bus pass.  This allowed us to take in a full view of Miami and Miami Beach over the course of two days.  Just before we hopped on the bus, we went to The Licking: Fingalicking, a popular soul-food and hip-hop music playing restaurant, on the suggestion of our ride-share driver.  It' didn't disappoint, and we had a bowl of spicy rice and seafood pictured below. 

Once we were aboard the bus, we took to the top of the double decker in the open air.  As the commentator shared with us the history of both Miami and Miami Beach, we were able to see the full view of Miami, 360 degrees.  We went to Biscayne Bay, Wynwood, and Little Havana.  Some of the sights to be seen from atop the bus were the AmericanAirlines Arena (Miami Heat), the mural walls in Wynwood, and the tricked-out cars in Little Havana.  At Biscayne Bay and the Bayside Marketplace, we jumped on an hour and half tour of celebrity homes.  We saw the homes of Sean Combs (Puff Daddy), Ricky Martin, Shaquille O'Neal, and LeBron James. The latter two areas, Wynwood and Little Havana, would be explored on the ground on Day #3.

​Have you ever explored a city using a hop-on hop off bus? 

Rhonda and Sharee

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