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Florida may not be the Maldives, but there are some truly incredible beach destinations you can visit all year round.
Clearly, through no fault of its own, Florida has seen the bad side of the headlines lately, with Mother Nature wreaking havoc across the South.
Fortunately, much of the ‘Sunshine State’ still lives up to its name, including a lush beach town nestled between two of Florida’s most popular cities.
We all know how crazy Miami can be. As one of America’s most iconic cities, it attracts all walks of life all year round.
Now that winter is just around the corner, more travelers will seek out the winter sun, but you won’t be bothered by the city grind.
One of Miami’s neighboring beach towns offers a more idyllic setting of blue Atlantic waters with soft white sand.
Sunny Isles: Florida’s hidden beach haven
Have you ever been to South Beach or even Little Havana? Then you probably know the feeling of coming back to the hotel room and breathing a sigh of relief after strolling through the hectic streets.
Well, that doesn’t have to be you again.
Or if it’s your first time in the area, Sunny Isles is a great introduction.
With the opposite vibe of South Beach, this underrated beach resort was ironically called North Miami Beach until the late 1930s, before changing its name.
Now also known as “The Florida Riviera“It is perfectly suitable for a beach holiday for all ages. Well, except for that one beach where clothing is optional: awkwarrrrrdddd.
As long as you avoid an unwanted anatomy lesson, Sunny Isles is flawless and easy to get around.
Home to lavish resorts, paradise beaches and a largely Family-friendly atmosphere, Sunny Isles is perhaps Florida’s best-kept secret, overshadowed by Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
Travel tip: You don’t need a rental car free SIB shuttle Operating 7 days a week with 3 separate lines (including trips to the beach!). The service also has an app to track when the bus arrives in real time.
Miami by day, sunny islands by night?
Planning your trip in and around South Florida can be done in several ways, but first you need to choose your starting point.
Miami and Fort Lauderdale both have busy airports with plenty of connections, but in my opinion Fort Lauderdale is much better!
Smaller, less crowded and easier to navigate, FLL is the best choice for a successful entry into South Florida unless you just really like cheap decor and a chaotic atmosphere.
Sunny Isles is about 35 minutes from both airports, so it’s literally right in the middle. Depending on what type of traveler you are, you can easily spend all your time in Sunny Isles or take easy day trips.
Despite the chaos in Miami, it is a very nice city. But come sunset you may understandably be ready for some peace and quiet, and that’s where Sunny Isles comes into the picture as a more idyllic vacation spot.
If we’re being honest, the beaches are so much more postcard-worthy and beachfront resorts are a lot lighter on the wallet.
However you plan your trip, Sunny Isles is a surprising gem that you should definitely consider as your mainstay.
Paradise beaches and luxurious resorts
Despite being neighbors to the ‘Venice’ of Florida and one of America’s icons, visiting the beautiful beaches of Sunny Isles and staying at one of the many luxury resorts is your best bet.
Be warned to avoid the north side of Haulover (there your eyes may witness more than ugly Speedos!).
In addition, there are plenty of beaches to visit, with white sand and vibrant blue water. Sunny Isles Beach has an impressive 4.8 rating on Google, and we all know people love to complain!
A recent visitor claimed: ‘I was pleasantly surprised by this public beach’ and commented on how clean and peaceful it was.
But as nice as the beaches of Sunny Isles are, the resorts may be even better.
According to TripAdvisorThese are the 3 most popular beach resorts in Sunny Isles:
- Solé Miami, a noble home resort
- Marenas Beach Resort
- Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort
The latter has great rates in December between $114 – $150 for one One Bedroom Suite.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
