When my husband travels for work, I often accompany him. On this particular trip, my sister joined us in Miami for part of the stay, a pleasant and unexpected surprise. While my husband attended his conference, my baby sister kept me company. We had never vacationed together before. Since our teenage years, we haven’t lived in the same place: I live in Colorado with my husband and son, while she remains in Puerto Rico with the rest of our family.
When we first arrived, my husband and I visited a Cuban restaurant. Latin food is one of the few things I truly miss about living in Miami, as the Cuban restaurants in Colorado just don’t compare. The hotel concierge recommended Sazón Cuban Cuisine on Collins Avenue, and it did not disappoint.
After breakfast the next morning, we spent some time relaxing by the hotel pool. The hotel has three adults-only pools, offering plenty of space to cool off and unwind. That evening, after showering and getting dressed, we headed out for dinner and clubbing. A Peruvian restaurant called Ceviche caught our attention, serving amazing food at very reasonable prices. Our night continued at Mango’s, a popular club known for its live Latin bands and performers. Despite the ten dollar cover charge and pricey drinks, the entertainment made it worth it. While the dance floor is small, there’s always room to dance along the walkways.
On Sunday, after breakfast, we headed to South Beach for lunch and shopping. Zara, one of my favorite stores, has two locations there, and thankfully my suitcase still had plenty of room.
Later that afternoon, my husband and I returned to the pool before he headed off to his conference. That evening, I had dinner on my own at one of the hotel’s cozy restaurants, Pizza & Burger.
The next morning, before 9 a.m., my sister was already waiting in the lobby while my husband left for his conference and I was overjoyed. After breakfast, my sister and I took an Uber to South Beach, where the real shopping began. Later, we cooled off by the pool, enjoying refreshing drinks.
That evening, we chose El Patio Wynwood for dinner and drinks, and it was an excellent choice. I loved the food, the atmosphere, and especially the music. South Florida’s vibrant energy is something I’ve missed since leaving more than 20 years ago. We had such a wonderful night that I stayed out until 2 a.m. far past my usual bedtime in Colorado.
The following morning, after breakfast, we took a long walk along the boardwalk and stopped for lunch at a tiny Cuban café on Collins Avenue. The walk gave us much-needed exercise, so afterward we headed to the beach to soak up the hot Miami sun.
For dinner, we returned to the hotel’s pizza restaurant, the most affordable of all the hotel dining options, in my opinion. Afterward, we drove to downtown Miami and ended up at a sports bar with great mojitos and salsa music. Since my flight back to Denver was at 11 a.m. the next morning, we kept it low-key: a few drinks, a little dancing, and an early night.
There are truly no words to describe how much fun I had spending those few days in Miami with my sister. We had never shared an experience like that before, and it meant more to me than I can express.
As for the Fontainebleau, I wasn’t able to confirm whether my father had ever worked there, but being there with my sister made us feel closer to him nonetheless. While the hotel’s historic charm, its marble floors and rich architecture, is undeniable, I found it somewhat outdated for its $300-per-night price point, and its location felt far from many bars and restaurants. Still, it was a memorable experience, and I’m deeply grateful for the time we spent there together.
