Oh FL – a place I would never live, but really enjoy visiting! This fall, I had a quick few days in Toronto between trips to get my sh*t together, and then I was heading out again to visit Florida. At this time, it was already starting to feel very cold and fall-y in Toronto, so I was looking forward to getting some of that Florida sunshine. I spent just over a week in South Florida, and truly had a blast enjoying those sunshine vibes. Read more for what I consider to be the perfect South Florida itinerary – for any time of year!

Ft. Lauderdale and Boca Raton

My journey started landing in Ft. Lauderdale, and I have to say – I don’t really like any of the Florida airports. I’ve been to Orlando, Miami, and now Ft. Lauderdale, and I honestly feel like none of them are that great. However, Ft. Lauderdale is the one I despise the least – though I did have a big debacle with getting my rental car once I landed, which took absolutely foreverrrr. But thankfully, I made it in one piece and checked into my hotel. I was going to be staying in Ft. Lauderdale for five nights, so I chose to stay in a hotel suite that included a kitchen. For me, being able to cook my own food actually makes a big difference when I’m on the road, and if I’m in one spot for awhile I like to do so!

For more of my well-being on the road tips, check out my previous blog here.

I started my adventures off bright and early the next morning with a full day of work ahead of me. It was a busy day exploring Ft. Lauderdale and Boca Raton, and by the time 3pm hit, I was absolutely starving. I found an incredibly delicious, healthy restaurant called Farmer’s Table where I had an AMAZING late lunch. I definitely recommend checking them out if you’re in the Boca area! From there, I hit up Trader Joe’s to prep for the week (classic) and enjoyed a chill rest of the evening.

*For your itinerary: start off the journey by exploring Boca Raton and Ft. Lauderdale. There is a ton of shopping and great restaurants in this area.

Miami Beach

The next day, I had a busy agenda with some time in Ft. Lauderdale and a drive down to Miami Beach! If you’re familiar with the traffic between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, you’ll know it can be an absolute nightmare to get from one to the other. I tried to give myself well over an hour to do the drive, but it STILL took longer – and that was in the middle of the day, when traffic wasn’t actually too bad. So, a word of caution: always give yourself extra time and BE CAREFUL on the roads! Since I did that drive all the way to Miami Beach for a visit, I decided to spend some time there afterwards and hit the beach. I usually prefer visiting mid-beach rather than the more chaotic areas of south beach, but this time I wound up kind of in the middle of the two.

After some time enjoying the beaches, I wanted to grab dinner, so I walked along the boardwalk and visited Limoncello, which is located in the north area of south beach. I had heard incredible things about this Italian restaurant, and it did not disappoint! ALL of the waiters that spoke with me were Italian and absolutely hilarious, just like my family, which made me feel right at home. I had a limoncello spritz which was divine, and the pasta I had was SO flavourful. It was truly an incredible experience, and I am so glad I went – make sure to check them out if you’re in Miami Beach! By the time I finished dinner, it was a bit later so traffic wasn’t too bad getting back to Ft. Lauderdale – just as I had planned 😉

*For your itinerary: check out Miami Beach, enjoy swimming and sun-tanning at mid-beach if you want a calmer spot or south beach if you want something more lively. In the evening, go for dinner at Limoncello, an excellent Italian restaurant located in-between mid and south beach.

A Weekend in Ft. Lauderdale

Before I knew it, it was the weekend! I was so lucky to be able to spend the weekend in Florida, and I knew that I wanted one day to be a full-on beach day. Of course, there are countless beaches in Florida, so I had a hard decision ahead of me! I decided that I didn’t want to have to drive too far, and wanted more of a chill vibe. I wound up choosing a beach in Ft. Lauderdale that was quite close to my hotel and was described as a bit quieter. That location was Lauderdale-by-the-sea, which wound up being perfect.

I rented a chair and umbrella for the day, brought all my own snacks and water, and got to fully enjoy the beach! It was a bit cloudy on this day, but it was definitely still warm enough to enjoy the water and go in for regular dips. Swimming, sun-tanning, and just relaxing was soooo nice and well-needed. I did a short walk around the town area to check out some of the shops, which were cute. On my way out, I decided I wanted ice cream, and got one of the best salted caramel ice cream that I’ve ever had! Sooo delicious. I went back to my hotel and cooked dinner there, finishing off with a relaxing evening. Definitely a perfect Saturday, if you ask me!

On Sunday, I needed to do a bit of work so wanted to stay within my hotel. Luckily for me, they had an outdoor pool! With perfect weather, I got to swim and suntan for most of the day outside, and did some work later on. The hotel pool was great: I was surrounded by gorgeous hibiscus flowers and the Florida geckos, plus hardly anyone was at the pool so I had it to myself for most of the day. I highly, highly recommend getting a hotel with a pool if you’re visiting Florida – most of them have one, and they are just the best! Overall, it was a great weekend relaxing in Ft. Lauderdale.

*For your itinerary: enjoy a beach day at Lauderdale-by-the-sea and local ice cream. It’s a much quieter atmosphere and will be very relaxing. Bring some snacks with you, and you’ll be all set!

South Miami

The next day, I was heading towards South Miami. I spent a lot of time exploring along the Biscayne Bay area – it was absolutely stunning to be so close to the water! My hotel was in Coral Gables, a super boujee area located near a Tesla dealership. It was next level and had a rooftop pool and patio, with views of the city! Later on, I took a brief excursion on Rickenbecker Causeway to Virginia Key. This is a super cool small island with beaches, looking towards downtown Miami and the coast. You can continue along the causeway to Key Biscayne, which I have visited previously, but this time I decided to head back towards South Miami.

I chose to stop in Coconut Grove for an early dinner at Bayshore Club, a gorgeous spot located right on the harbour overlooking the bay! I highly recommend having at least one meal in Florida overlooking the water, it is so gorgeous. Shortly after, I went back to my hotel for a final dip in the pool. Before I knew it, it was time to pack my things and get ready to head back home to Toronto. The weather turned out perfect during my time in Florida, and I’m so glad I was able to soak up some more sunshine before heading back to full-on fall in Toronto.

*For your itinerary: Take the Rickenbecker Causeway over to Virginia Key and Key Biscayne, where there are plenty of beaches and views of downtown Miami to explore. In the evening, head back across the Causeway to Bayshore Club, a restaurant located right on Biscayne Bay. Eat a delicious dinner and take in the views from the bay.

Your Itinerary

Here’s a recap of the highlights and a full itinerary that you can steal for your next trip to South Florida:

Day 1 :

• Start off the journey by exploring Boca Raton and Ft. Lauderdale. There is a ton of shopping and great restaurants in this area, including Farmer’s Table. You can definitely get your fix of shopping and great eats here!

Day 2:

• Enjoy a beach day at Lauderdale-by-the-sea and local ice cream. It’s a much quieter atmosphere and will be very relaxing. Bring some snacks with you, and you’ll be all set!

Day 3:

• Time for a pool day at your hotel, preferably on a rooftop if that’s your vibe! Being close by means you’re free to come and go as you please, and enjoy as much time sitting poolside as you’d like. Plus, in the evening you can cook your own meal in your suite, or dine at your hotel’s restaurant if you’d prefer.

Day 4

• It’s time to explore Key Biscayne and Biscayne Bay. Take the Rickenbecker Causeway over to Virginia Key and Key Biscayne, where there are plenty of beaches and views of downtown Miami to explore. In the evening, head back across the Causeway to Bayshore Club, a restaurant located right on Biscayne Bay. Eat a delicious dinner and take in the views from the bay.

Day 5

• Check out Miami Beach, enjoy swimming and sun-tanning at mid-beach if you want a calmer spot or south beach if you want something more lively. In the evening, go for dinner at Limoncello, an excellent Italian restaurant located in-between mid and south beach. Take in the sunset right on the ocean to finish off your night!

There you have it, the perfect South Florida itinerary! I hope your visit is as rejuvenating as mine was. Comment below where you want to visit next!!