Backyard Vacations
At my house, we’re planning a summer full of Mini Escapes. Traveling outside of Miami is not in my vacation budget right now. We just began a long awaited kitchen renovation, so for us that means staying close to home while planning some “chill time” at relaxing places all over Miami. A nice dinner out, a beachfront hotel stay, an aromatherapy massage, a cool swim on a hot day – these are my secret weapons for surviving the noise and dust (and unexpected surprises) of a home renovation project.
So I’ve made a list of all my favorite places to unwind, from restaurants that never fail to cheer me after a long work week, to free (or nearly free) ways to chill out and let life’s little stresses float up, up and away. Some of these may appeal to you – even if you don’t have plaster falling over your head and workmen discovering Fifties-era cowboy wallpaper behind your kitchen stove.
First let’s get to the free stuff. I’m not embarrassed to admit that my daughter and I occasionally head over to Dadeland Mall in the evenings and queue up for one of those free massage chairs at Sharper Image or Brookstone. We are certainly not alone, I can tell you. I silently chuckle at people’s jiggling midsections when the chair hits “vibration mode” and they are too relaxed to care what their fellow shoppers may think of their rolling layers of flesh. And as soon as there’s a spare chair, I am happy to join them! As the “customer” before me wanders away in a trance, I hop right in, grab the remote and adjust the setting to “Upper Back”, “Lower Back” or “All Over.” Go ahead and laugh; it’s cheaper than a chiropractor.
Other malls that induce a personal state of relaxation include Village of Merrick Park, which, for me, is more “park” than “mall.” Most of the designer boutiques at Merrick Park are out of my price range – even at sale time -- but I have found it to be a lovely place to stroll and people-watch. There are plenty of teak benches and comfy lounge areas scattered about, and several nice restaurants where drinks and a light meal won’t totally wreck my budget.
I’ve also saved up for a real massage at some point this summer. My favorite place to have one is at Elemis Spa, which happens to be located at Merrick Park. I am always impressed by the friendliness of the staff here. The elegant marble lobby, aromatherapy scents wafting through the air and the softly lit “calming lounge” with soft suede chairs and pitchers of freshly brewed iced tea and lemon water are an added bonus. The whole environment of this day spa is extremely relaxing, and they even offer Happy Hour discounts for massages booked on weekday evenings. It’s a great place to chill.
A cool dip on a hot day is the ultimate summertime escape. My perennial favorite is Venetian Pool in Coral Gables. Cool waterfalls, fanciful bridges, tropical foliage and a mini-beach make swimming a pleasure here. This deep, cool pool is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can wander through the lobby area and see old photographs of swimmers in un-sexy Twenties-era bathing suits and beauty queens of yesteryear posing poolside. I like Venetian Pool because the water is always cool and refreshing, and the pool’s large size means that there’s enough room for both me and the (sometimes noisy) summer campers who frequent it this time of year.
Re-doing a kitchen usually means eating lots of takeout, but in Miami we are blessed with tapas bars in nearly every neighborhood. So when my husband and I get tired of conjuring up “easy meals” in our “temporary” kitchen space, we’ll be out drinking a nice bottle of merlot and nibbling small plates of something yummy. Who needs a big meal on these languorous summer nights anyway?
When the dust really starts to fly in my kitchen, my Ultimate Escape Plan will go into effect. I’ll put down some extra dry food for the cats, pack a weekend bag, grab the family and head for a beachfront resort. Perhaps it will be the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, with its terrific sandy beach and resort-isle seclusion; or maybe the Sagamore, with its art-filled rooms and South Beach cool. Planning is half the fun, anyway. And the quick time it takes to arrive at my mini-vacation paradise may turn these “backyard getaways” into a regular habit. Who needs the hassle of airports and surly TSA staff? If I have to remove my shoes, it ought to be for a walk on the beach.
Bargain hotel rates are part of what makes summer exciting in Miami and Miami Beach. One handy place to find them is right here, in the Special Offers section of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau’s web site. (Signing up for Special Offers lets you browse all kinds of deals from our members, including hotels, restaurants, spas, attractions, museums, water sports, and more. You also get a monthly e-mail newsletter to remind you about new deals.)
I’ve noticed that more and more of my co-workers are vacationing close to home, choosing the ease of driving a few miles up the road over an extended road trip -- where the gas alone may end up costing more than the hotel stay. So I’m getting ready; I'm calling around to inquire about summer packages and -- don't you love the ring of it -- cabana rooms. I can already see myself lounging by the infinity pool, Key lime mojito in hand and a spa treatment booked for later in the afternoon. And having my dream kitchen finished sometime before the school year starts….
So I’ve made a list of all my favorite places to unwind, from restaurants that never fail to cheer me after a long work week, to free (or nearly free) ways to chill out and let life’s little stresses float up, up and away. Some of these may appeal to you – even if you don’t have plaster falling over your head and workmen discovering Fifties-era cowboy wallpaper behind your kitchen stove.
First let’s get to the free stuff. I’m not embarrassed to admit that my daughter and I occasionally head over to Dadeland Mall in the evenings and queue up for one of those free massage chairs at Sharper Image or Brookstone. We are certainly not alone, I can tell you. I silently chuckle at people’s jiggling midsections when the chair hits “vibration mode” and they are too relaxed to care what their fellow shoppers may think of their rolling layers of flesh. And as soon as there’s a spare chair, I am happy to join them! As the “customer” before me wanders away in a trance, I hop right in, grab the remote and adjust the setting to “Upper Back”, “Lower Back” or “All Over.” Go ahead and laugh; it’s cheaper than a chiropractor.
Other malls that induce a personal state of relaxation include Village of Merrick Park, which, for me, is more “park” than “mall.” Most of the designer boutiques at Merrick Park are out of my price range – even at sale time -- but I have found it to be a lovely place to stroll and people-watch. There are plenty of teak benches and comfy lounge areas scattered about, and several nice restaurants where drinks and a light meal won’t totally wreck my budget.
I’ve also saved up for a real massage at some point this summer. My favorite place to have one is at Elemis Spa, which happens to be located at Merrick Park. I am always impressed by the friendliness of the staff here. The elegant marble lobby, aromatherapy scents wafting through the air and the softly lit “calming lounge” with soft suede chairs and pitchers of freshly brewed iced tea and lemon water are an added bonus. The whole environment of this day spa is extremely relaxing, and they even offer Happy Hour discounts for massages booked on weekday evenings. It’s a great place to chill.
A cool dip on a hot day is the ultimate summertime escape. My perennial favorite is Venetian Pool in Coral Gables. Cool waterfalls, fanciful bridges, tropical foliage and a mini-beach make swimming a pleasure here. This deep, cool pool is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can wander through the lobby area and see old photographs of swimmers in un-sexy Twenties-era bathing suits and beauty queens of yesteryear posing poolside. I like Venetian Pool because the water is always cool and refreshing, and the pool’s large size means that there’s enough room for both me and the (sometimes noisy) summer campers who frequent it this time of year.
Re-doing a kitchen usually means eating lots of takeout, but in Miami we are blessed with tapas bars in nearly every neighborhood. So when my husband and I get tired of conjuring up “easy meals” in our “temporary” kitchen space, we’ll be out drinking a nice bottle of merlot and nibbling small plates of something yummy. Who needs a big meal on these languorous summer nights anyway?
When the dust really starts to fly in my kitchen, my Ultimate Escape Plan will go into effect. I’ll put down some extra dry food for the cats, pack a weekend bag, grab the family and head for a beachfront resort. Perhaps it will be the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, with its terrific sandy beach and resort-isle seclusion; or maybe the Sagamore, with its art-filled rooms and South Beach cool. Planning is half the fun, anyway. And the quick time it takes to arrive at my mini-vacation paradise may turn these “backyard getaways” into a regular habit. Who needs the hassle of airports and surly TSA staff? If I have to remove my shoes, it ought to be for a walk on the beach.
Bargain hotel rates are part of what makes summer exciting in Miami and Miami Beach. One handy place to find them is right here, in the Special Offers section of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau’s web site. (Signing up for Special Offers lets you browse all kinds of deals from our members, including hotels, restaurants, spas, attractions, museums, water sports, and more. You also get a monthly e-mail newsletter to remind you about new deals.)
I’ve noticed that more and more of my co-workers are vacationing close to home, choosing the ease of driving a few miles up the road over an extended road trip -- where the gas alone may end up costing more than the hotel stay. So I’m getting ready; I'm calling around to inquire about summer packages and -- don't you love the ring of it -- cabana rooms. I can already see myself lounging by the infinity pool, Key lime mojito in hand and a spa treatment booked for later in the afternoon. And having my dream kitchen finished sometime before the school year starts….
posted by Carolyn Keating at
8:47 AM
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