Author: sofla

3 Best Miami Tours For Your Next Vacation

Miami Tours from the air overlooking South Beach

Discover Miami’s hidden gem and take your next vacation in Coconut Grove! A lot has changed since its founding in 1825, but some of its history remains. From the Barnacle, Coconut Grove’s oldest standing house, to the lavish Vizcaya Gardens and Museum, Coconut Grove is full of secrets waiting to be discovered. Today the Grove is a vibrant center for art, food and entertainment.

Tap Tap Tours

Tap Tap Tours offers a walking tour that showcases all that the Grove has to offer! Murals, architecture and breathtaking Biscayne Bay will be on full display. Tours are 90 minutes and take place Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, starting at 10 am every two hours until the last tour at 4 pm. Private Miami tours available as well.

Sailing On Biscayne Bay

Have you ever wanted to have your own tropical island? Well now you can have the next best thing, a tour of one by sailboat! Sailing on Biscayne Bay offers 2 hour to full day tours featuring snorkeling and paddle boarding that start at 10 am and continue throughout the day. Sunset tours are also available, starting between 3 and 4 pm. Photos and refreshments included, longer tours include food as well. Make sure to also inquire about their full moon tours!

Heli Air Miami Helicopter Tours

You’ve walked it, you’ve sailed it, now fly it! Heli Air Miami Helicopter Tours offer a unique glimpse of Miami and more! On your tour you will see South Beach, celebrity homes on Star Island and get an up close look at the Miami skyline. Seeing Miami from the air is a great way to scout your next adventure. Heli Air Miami offers 30-35 minute Miami Mega and Sunset Mega Tours, as well as a 1 hour South Florida Special Tour. Keep an eye out for Sharks, Dolphins and Manatees!

Book your Miami vacation rental today and get a glimpse of all Miami has to offer with these spectacular tours!

Outdoor Dining Experiences not to miss when visiting Coconut Grove/Miami this Winter

When visiting Coconut Grove and Greater Miami during the winter you have to dine outdoors. I mean, the weather is one of the reasons you are visiting so why not enjoy it even when dining? There are some amazing restaurants in Coconut Grove/Miami to enjoy culinary delights while taking in the reason you came in the first place…..the South Florida winter weather! Here are our five favorite outdoor dining spots while vacationing this winter in Miami.

  • Peacock Garden Resto Bar + Grille (2889 McFarlane Road, Coconut Grove): Located on the ground floor of Hotel Arya in the heart of Coconut Grove, the Peacock Garden features a tranquil setting with culinary delights that you most certainly will enjoy. This “secret garden” offers the most relaxing of environments with offerings that include a seafood and raw bar, fresh fish, prime steaks, hearty pasta dishes, fresh salads and daily specials. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner you will enjoy what Forbes Magazine dubbed Miami’s “Hidden Oasis”.
  • Redfish by Chef Adrienne (9610 Old Cutler Road, Miami): Fan of the Farelly Brothers 1998 comedy classic, “There’s Something About Mary”? Then you know Redfish by Chef Adrienne! Located in the historic “coral house” within Matheson Hammock Park in southern Miami-Dade, the former Redfish Grille was battered by Hurricane Vilma in 2017 and stayed closed until it re-emerged in 2019 as Redfish with renowned, South Florida Chef Adrienne at the helm and the reviews have been spectacular. Feast on tasty treats from the land and sea while eating by the Matherson Hammock Beach……what could be better on a cool winter night in Miami?
  • Monty’s Raw Bar (2550 S. Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove): Opened in 1969 by Florida icon, Monty Trainer, Monty’s Raw Bar has served as a backdrop for some legendary TV shows and movies like “Miami Vice”, “Marley and Me” and “Burn Notice”. It also serves up the best frozen drinks, raw bar, tasty treats and scenic bayfront views in Miami under two massive tiki huts adjacent to the Coconut Grove Marina. This open air restaurant and bar’s menu still features Mrs. Trainer’s famous key lime pie recipe……a must desert when vacationing in Coconut Grove!
  • Cafe Bernie Waterfront Restaurant (5600 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach): Cafe Bernie Waterfront Restaurant is a new entry on our favorite outdoor dining spots. Why you ask? Maybe it is the sweeping views of the Indian Creek Waterway from the poolside, outdoor seating deck. Or maybe its’ Chef Bernie Matz’s creative, locally inspired menu featuring unique items like manchego croquettes, mango bang shrimp, sofrito based shrimp pizza or “like butter” boneless short ribs. Or maybe it’s the free valet parking offered at this Mid-Beach, “Millionaire Row” condo building. Whatever the reason, you won’t want to miss out on this waterfront eatery during your next Miami vacation.
  • The Rusty Pelican (3201 Rickenbacher Causeway, Key Biscayne): A Miami landmark, the Rusty Pelican is located at the Rickenbacher Marina and offers unmatchable waterfront views of the Miami skyline right from your table whether dining on the outdoor patio or indoor dining room. Offering an eclectic and impressive contemporary American cuisine and the freshest local seafood, The Rusty Pelican first premiered to natives and visitors in 1972 and was re-built in 1985 after a fire destroyed the structure but you can’t keep in a good thing down. Re-built and then a $7M renovation in 2011 has everyone talking about the Rusty Pelican. You can visit their website at: https://www.restaurantji.com/fl/key-biscayne/rusty-pelican-miami-restaurant-/

Property Owners Through SoFLA

Did you know that for over ten years, the SoFLA team has offered property management, sales, and marketing services to vacation rental property owners? Since 2011, SoFLA Vacations has worked with owners in the Miami and Florida Keys area for high-quality property management services. Owners Andrew Korge and Rebeca Orozco understand just how important it is to maintain a South Florida vacation rental. Our team ensures your property is up to the same standards as a luxury hotel, all the while providing services for you as a property owner and your guests that surpass standard.

 

Listing a property with us means you’ll see a number of benefits. Our sales and marketing services include marketing on major channels such as Expedia, Booking.com. Airbnb, Homeaway, and VRBO. You’ll get deliverables on strategic online marketing programs like Google, Bing, Yahoo, and many other search engines. We’ll stay in contact with your guests through social media and email marketing, and our team will analyze competitors quite often to ensure you get the best pricing and benefits.

 

Along with our marketing services, you’ll also get:

 

  • Maintenance of property standards to ensure they are as high as a luxury hotel

  • Collect guest payments and damage deposits

  • Coordination and inspection of unit cleanings following a stay

  • Scheduling regular and emergency maintenance

  • Preparing yearly tax income forms for owner taxes

  • No limit on owner usage of property

  • Management of renovations with no upfront cost

 

…and so much more! Let SoFLA Vacations help you manage your Florida Keys vacation rental – visit us online to request a free custom revenue forecast for your property.

Vibrant Life in Key Largo

Key Largo is Florida’s largest key with a population of 9,952 residents. It’s continually one of the most popular destinations not only in Florida but in the United States. Founded around 1870 with just 60 people, the 30 miles key is just one of 800 of the most beautiful key locations Florida has to offer. Key is a derivative of the Spanish word “cayo,” meaning small island, and largo comes from the Spanish word for long. So it literally translates as long key!

Key Largo has been home to some notable people over the years, such as Ernest Hemingway, Shel Silverstein, Henry S. Truman, Tennessee Williams, Calvin Klein, Shane Spencer, Jimmy Buffet, and John Dewey.

South Florida vacation rentals in Key Largo are a 60-minute drive from Miami international airport. They are incredibly accessible due to the miles of the Overseas Highway and 42 bridges across the keys region.

Some of the most popular activities in Key Largo are snorkeling, scuba diving, sport fishing, eco-tours, visiting the Everglades (Key Largo is in the backcountry of the Everglades National Park), and of course, relaxing at the beach! For the really adventurous, check out Jules Undersea Lodge at the bottom of the Emerald Lagoon, an underwater hotel that sits 30 feet deep where guests have to scuba dive to get to their room!

For even more outdoor fun, there are plenty of on-shore nature sites like trails, a bird rehabilitation center, and John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which is the first underwater preserve in the country.

For more information on our Key Largo vacation rentals property or Miami vacation rentals, please visit us online.

Where to Celebrate the 4th of July in South Florida

Travel for the Fourth of July holiday weekend is expected to reach a record number this year. If you chose to vacation in South Florida for Independence Day, you made a great choice. There are plenty of opportunities for fun for families, friend groups, and solo vacationers alike.

There are many places and events still canceled for protection against COVID, but it’s safe to say there will be more open this year than in 2020. If you’ve booked your stay with us in a South Florida vacation rental, check out these events.

The Key Lime Festival will be held July 1 through 5, paying tribute to limes, which inspired the Florida Keys’ signature dessert, key lime pie. Enjoy the World Key Lime Pie Eating Championship at 12:30 pm on Sunday the 4th. The event is free for onlookers, and $20 for contestants.

In Key Largo, check out the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce’s July 4 parade at 10 am. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Freedom,” followed by a fireworks display.

If you are staying in one of our Miami Vacation Rentals, check out the Fire on the Fourth in Miami Beach. The North Beach Bandshell plans on transforming into a roller disco with performances from numerous bands and DJs. The event starts at noon on July 4 and lasts until roughly 9 pm, when the fireworks will begin.

 

In Coral Gables, visit the Fourth of July at Fairchild Garden, where families can enjoy many activities like a parade, face painting, and a kid’s popsicle party. Don’t forget to check out local BBQ from Glasshouse Cafe! Tickets ($24.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors, $15.95 for students with valid ID, $11.95 for children, and free for children under 5) will give access to the garden, including the current display, Jurassic Garden.

Upcoming New World Symphony Events

Last month, the New World Symphony announced its 2021-2022 season, which will include a mobile wall that will project live concerts throughout Miami. The 9-by-16-foot installation is a first for the symphony and will feature a high-tech sound system that will be unveiled with the season kicks off in September. If you’re in town for Miami vacation rentals, definitely check this out!

Neighborhoods are yet to be announced, but New World Symphony has been a city favorite among locals for years – in the past, they used Wallcast and allowed patrons inside the New World Center home.

New World Symphony president Howard Herring commented on the new season, “This continues our vision of sharing classical music with as many people as possible… It’s instant community building.” The concert usually draws in around 2,000 people, but after COVID called for a mobile experience, it became popular for its socially distanced, outdoor gathering style.

The symphony originally started on small screens at the Lincoln Center, then moved to the 17th street location that is now the New World Center in 2011. At first, the concert remained a hidden gem, but as Miami locals began to take notice, the crowds became so large that the lawn in front was barely visible.

The live concert season will begin in September, and they will reassess by the end of the summer capacity limits as COVID-19 allows. Wallcast concerts are free for the public, and currently, all guests must wear a mask and practice social distancing.

If you’re in need of South Florida vacation rentals, visit us online to book your stay with us!

Search for Miami Vacations Increase 3x from 2020

Americans are finally ready to get out and travel, especially to warm, sunny, and summer-laden destinations like Miami. In fact, Google reported that the number of searches for “Miami hotels” has increased 3x since November of 2020. Tripadvisor also reported that 67% of Americans plan to travel from June to August, which is a 17% jump for the spring season. Beach destinations – Florida in particular – were the top reported locations.

Tripadvisor spokesperson Brian Hoyt says of the beach hype, “This summer, we continue to see travelers favor outdoor locations like beaches or national parks, locations that continue to enable the practice of social distancing,” and that, “As the vaccine rollout far exceeds the Biden administration’s promised target of 1 million doses administered per day, Americans are resoundingly saying they are prepared to get out there again, to travel and see the world once more to make up for lost time.”

According to VacationRenter.com, vacation rental searches have grown over 100%, particularly with South Florida Vacation Rentals.

While larger cities in Florida – Orlando, Key West, and Miami Beach – make Tripadvisor’s top 10 summer destination list, even smaller cities are seeing huge growth in tourism. Miramar Beach, Anna Maria Island, Siesta Key, Sarasota, Bonita Springs, Pensacola Beach, Navarre Beach, and Rosemary Beach complete eight the list of 11 emerging summer destinations for renters, each seeing the 100% growth effect. It’s a perfect time to book Florida Keys vacation rentals!

There is a backlogged need for travel this summer, so common vacation spots are becoming competitive. It’s clear that everyone is ready for summer and for a vacation!

Hotel Arya is Waiting to be Your Next Vacation Spot

SoFLA: Better Price. Better Service.

Planning your next vacation? South Florida is a popular destination, and for many good reasons. It’s hard to find something we don’t love about it. Miami is home to world-class cuisine, beautiful beaches, parks and reserves for nature lovers, and city sights for those who love architecture. It’s a place where anyone who loves the sun and sand can find something to enjoy!

South Florida vacation rentals in Coconut Grove, Miami are among some of the best places to stay during your vacation, especially Hotel Arya. Hotel Arya sits in the heart of Coconut Grove and features deluxe rooms, studios, and 1, 2, and 3 bedroom condos that can accommodate any group.

Coconut Grove is a trendy, artsy community located on the Biscayne Bay, which rooms in Miami Vacation Rentals have amazing views of, right in the middle of Miami. It remains an area where people can escape the bustle of city life but enjoy all the fun Miami has to offer. It’s the city’s oldest continuously inhabited area.

The neighborhood, or the Grove as locals call it, was founded in 1873 by artists, pioneers, intellectuals, and adventurers who all left their own flair on its culture. Coconut Grove was officially incorporated as Coconut Grove Village in 1919. On the Westside, you’ll find the historical landmarks of Bahamian descendants who came in the late 1880s as laborers of the Peacock Inn – the first hotel on the South Florida Mainland. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, another beloved historic landmark, is one of the most visited historical sites in the area.

After touring the history of Coconut Grove, you can hang out at local boutiques, cafes, art galleries, and of course, water fun like sailboats, fishing, and beach days!

How the Florida Keys Got Their Names

You’ve probably heard hundreds of stories of how the Florida Keys were named. While some are fiction and hearsay, some of them are the real story!

One of those real stories…does the name Charles Brookfield ring a bell? Brookfield, a Philadelphia native, first arrived in Miami at the age of 21 and began a life for himself in South Florida and the Florida Keys. In 1926, he built a boat made to navigate the reefs, shoals, and seagrass shallows and named it Manatee. In 1927, the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey hired Brookfield and his boat to help survey parts of South Florida. As it turns out, that trip was when Brookfield helped name the Bob Allen, Bottlepoint, Bradley, Calusa, and Manatee keys.

While those names may sound a bit random, they each have significance. Bob Allen was named after a man who saved the whooping cranes from extinction, which was no easy task. He had to spend lots of time in the keys, and one island where he helped roseate spoonbills was shaped like a bottle, giving Bottlepoint its name.

Bradley Key is an homage to Guy Bradley, a wildlife officer who helped protect the keys against plume hunting. Calusa was named in honor of the Calusa people native to South Florida. The Manatee Keys were named after Brookfield’s famous boat.

This is just the history of a few of South Florida’s famous keys. The Florida Keys continue to be a popular vacation destination, especially with South Florida vacation rentals. The rich and interesting history paired with the country’s most beautiful weather and beaches makes Florida the perfect vacation spot for the summer. If you’re looking for a relaxing vacation spot or Miami vacation rentals, visit us online!

Florida Cities Make List of Top Vacation Spots

It’ll probably come as no surprise to Sunshine State residents and South Florida locals that 3 Florida cities have made the list of the top 5 most desired vacation spots in the world, beating out cities like Las Vegas, Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

According to Trip Advisor, a new report showing where Americans plan on traveling in 2021, Orlando (number 3), Key West (number 4), and Miami Beach (number 5) all made the top 5 list, among Cancun, Mexico, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

In Orlando, surprisingly, Disney World wasn’t the most sought-after experience. The SEA LIFE Orlando aquarium made its mark as the most booked experience, and the La Luce, an Italian restaurant, is Orlando’s highest-rated restaurant.

In Key West, the Key West Sunset Sail with Full Bar, Live Music & Hors D’oeuvres, which offers a catamaran sailing cruise at sunset, was the most booked experience. Its highest-rated restaurant was the Seaside Cafe at the Mansion, a Pizza cafe and bar located next to the water.

Miami Beach’s most booked experience was the City Half-day Tour of Miami by Bus with Sightseeing Cruise, giving tourists the highlights of Miami by bus. Il Pastaiolo, an Italian restaurant focusing on Neapolitan cuisine, made the list as Miami Beach’s top-rated dining option.

Tourism seems to be making a comeback to South Florida. If South Florida is on your list of places to go, check out our South Florida vacation rentals. There are many things to do and see in Miami, including our Miami vacation rentals, fine restaurant and bars, and parks, with culture and history-rich city sights.