Five Things To Do In Miami + Nantucket

A few of my favorite things from the Magic City, and the Little Grey Lady of the Sea...

This past month, I’ve been on the road from Miami to Nantucket (twice) to West Coast wine country. Since it’s been a whirlwind, it’s easy for the first half of the summer to get buried, so I wanted to be sure to highlight a few of my favorite things from my trips to the Magic City, and the Little Grey Lady of the Sea.

Miami 

As much as I want to like Miami, every time I visit, I tend to get overwhelmed by the heat, pool parties, and general grandiosity of the city. Therefore, I haven’t spent much time in this part of the states. In fact, the last time I visited Miami was on spring break in college—maybe that’s what molded my impression of this city, now that I think of it. Regardless, on my recent trip, I was pleasantly surprised with some of the off-beat restaurants and cafes I discovered during my stay in South Beach at the recently unveiled Moxy Hotel. Here are a few must-visits:

Como Como is located in the Moxy but it’s SO much more than a hotel restaurant. The marisquería, or seafood restaurant, offers a menu so tantalizing it’s a challenge to narrow down its greatest hits. Since I have to, start with dressed oysters (topped with the likes of uni and blue crab), move onto the yucatan ceviche with tender octopus, coconut and sour orange, then split the fried rice and whole butterflied snapper. 

Rosetta is an unassuming bakery on Collins Ave, with pistachio and chocolate-filled croissants that say otherwise. They serve a number of other pastries, sweets and coffee but arrive early to make sure you get dibs on your treat!

Dulce Cafeteria was another hole-in-the wall that made me smile. Two Cuban women greet you with a smile and broken English behind a simple counter of fruit, used in their fresh juices. Order up a colada for an authentic Cuban caffeine kick.

Las Olas Cafe was recommended to me by a stranger on the beach, and sometimes that’s how the best interactions and experiences come about! Order a traditional Cuban sandwich here for a perfect on-the-go lunch.

Traymore by Michael Schwartz is in the Como Hotel, and again, SO beyond the realm of a stereotypical hotel restaurant. The crab coconut curry and octopus are worth booking a trip back for, alone—seriously.

Nantucket

Last September when I visited Nantucket, the island was reasonably coping with Covid-19 restriction, but, inevitably, still struggling. This year, it was thrilling to see the island more alive, even if that meant scurrying to find a reservation (seriously, book dining restaurants as far in advance as you can). For my first trip this summer, I flew to the island, to my surprise, on a larger plane than the puddle jumper I anticipated (thanks JetBlue!). Note: CapeAir still relies on the Cessnas. The second time, I reverted to the ferry, but I still can’t tell which one is more convenient. The plane is fast and efficient, especially during holidays and weekends, however, much like my preference of taking the train to NYC over the plane, taking the ferry allowed me to knock out some work prior to arriving on the island. I’ll leave the transport decision up to you, but the below are must-dos:

The Proprietors bar & table for craft cocktails and fresh produce from Bartlett’s Farm (the menu is seasonal but their Bartlett’s tomato salad was a highlight for me in case you get there in the next couple months). 

Nautilus for shishito peppers, tempura east coast oyster tacos and blue crab fried rice. The small plates menu is filled with tempting dishes, so bring your appetite. *Note: if you’re going with two people, your best bet is to walk-in when they open at 5:30 p.m. (or a little before if you’re willing to have an early dinner). For bigger parties, be sure to call for the latest information on reservations.

Cisco Brewers is one of the most highly recommended things to do on the island for a reason. Craft beer, food trucks from the island’s most famed restaurants, including a raw bar, and rotating live music brings in the crowds at this outdoor beer garden. 

Sandbar offers a more relaxed vibe than most restaurants on the island. Sit at a picnic bench or adirondack chair in the sand and order up a lobster roll for a casual afternoon.

Main Street is the island’s—you guessed it—main street, catering to a range of stunning local boutiques, from interior decor to luxe beachwear to Nantucket trinkets. Venture off to the side streets for even more variety, and if you walk all the way down to the docks, you should enjoy a stroll along the harbor, where superyachts tend to frequent.

Industry News:

Marriott International witnessed a healthy and encouraging second-quarter occupancy. AP reported that the hotel brand's key U.S. & Canada and Greater China markets rose to 56.1% and 62.4%, respectively, compared to 19.6% and 35.5% a year earlier.

One of my favorite travel companies, The Bushcamp Company in Zambia is running a giveaway for an all-inclusive seven-night safari at their lodges in South Luangwa National Park. You’re automatically entered to the giveaway after donating to the company’s local conservation and community projects around the park. In case you’re new here, I’ve written about my experience with them a lot, including this personal essay about the circle of life. 

AP News Wire reported travel achieving another pandemic high. I wanted to use this as an opportunity to piggyback off air travel and delays caused by increasing numbers during an understaffed period. Though travel picking back up is good, may I say ecstatic news, for the industry, there are still many caveats that the industry is struggling with, especially the airlines.
Last week when I was flying from Denver to Medford, Oregon, United had overbooked the flight and was asking volunteers to transfer to a later flight for a $1500 travel voucher as compensation. Earlier in July, Delta made headlines for a similar situation with one man walking away with $4500 in credits. These are incredibly hefty credit lines when compared to the average $400-$600 bump fee offered by airlines pre-pandemic. As thrilling as these numbers may be for a flexible traveler, it’s further exasperating the airlines who are still running limited routes, and of course, recovering from over a year in profit loss. And for the less flexible traveler, you may suffer the subsequent consequences of an overbooked flight as the airlines waste time bartering with customers, in turn, delaying your flight, or worse bumping you involuntarily. Be sure to keep an eye on your airline and your upcoming trip to ensure you don’t get stuck in a bind.

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Xo,
J