It's a little trippy to think that exactly a month ago today, I stayed up late, packing for our anniversary trip: destination Miami Beach, Florida.

When we realized that Danny would be able to take the entire week off of work, he asked me where I wanted to go, and what I wanted to do. I told him, I didn't really want to do anything, I just wanted to be on a nice beach somewhere. After some budgeting and brainstorming, we decided on Miami Beach.

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When you get married in Georgia in early November, the weather can be hit or miss.

November 1, 2013 was absolutely gorgeous, perfect weather, not too hot, and not too cold. I know this because I ate lunch outside that day and took a picture.

November 1, 2014, our wedding day, was freezing. It actually snowed in the early morning, that's how cold it was. Snow, our own little wedding miracle!

Thankfully, we were able to escape to Jamaica for our honeymoon.

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This time around, we left 30-something-degree weather in Atlanta, only to be welcomed by Miami's warm weather. We were prepared in our layers.

Here's a summary of where we stayed, what we ate, and what we did!

Where We Stayed (Sleep)

We took a lot of things into consideration when deciding on our accommodations, including: price, what was included, and the ability to move about freely. In the end, we opted for an AirBnB.

The house we stayed in sat on the Intracoastal Waterway, and Miami's North Beach (a less crowded, quieter, and more relaxing alternative to South Beach) was only a few city blocks away. We would walk to the beach in less than 10 minutes.

We really liked the convenience of being able to walk to the beach and nearby restaurants, and having the option to catch a free trolley.

We saved shared ride services for longer distances.

The house also included Kayaks, bicycles, and beach accessories like an umbrella, noodles, and even chairs, which was really nice for us because we packed light.

What We Ate (Eat)

Our first food stop was for lunch in Little Havana. We went to Caribe Restaurant. It's a charming spot that attracts visitors and locals alike because of its commitment to authentic Cuban cuisine. It was good!

The photo doesn't do it justice. They also had all natural juices available, I had the passion fruit juice and it was awesome!

One morning for breakfast we went to MM69 Sabrosos Latin Bistro. It's definitely not as fancy as some of the other eateries on Collins Avenue, but we liked that it was quiet and homey and was frequented by the locals.

For our anniversary dinner we went to Italian restaurant Due Baci. We went around 8p and we were one of maybe three couples, which made it all the more romantic. Inside the restaurant is gorgeous, but it was such a beautiful night that we decided to eat on the patio.

The food was delicious—simple and too the point and made of fresh, high quality ingredients. The staff was also very attentive but not overbearing. We started with Crab Cakes and I had the Papardelle Bolognese, which featured housemade fettucine pasta and meat sauce.

One day for lunch we had burgers from BurgerFi, which is not unique to Miami, but it was still the first time for Danny and I. Our sandwiches were yummy! A little small, but that's probably a good thing!

With access to a kitchen and a nearby Publix, we were able to make our own breakfast and dinner a couple times as well.

What We Did (Do)

We didn't go to Miami Beach with an itinerary. My only goal was literally to enjoy the beach and warm weather as much as possible. I enjoyed being a beach bum and not having to do anything.

Still, we did get some sightseeing done. We walked Little Havana, and explored Calle Ocho (8th street in downtown Miami). We got really familiar with Collins Avenue, and we went to the Lincoln Road Mall.

I hung out on the hammock behind the house. Danny went bicycle riding and took the kayak out on the Intracoastal.

On our last night we went to Duffy's on the water to meet up with family and friends. It was a beautiful night!

All in all, a trip to Miami Beach was a great way to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary.

Although, both Danny and I lived in South Florida at one point, we've never gotten to know Miami or Miami Beach the way we did this trip. It was to be more of a tourist than a former resident, even if we did follow the lead of the locals. Miami Beach, you were good to us, thank you for a beautiful time!

Anniversary Trip: Destination Miami Beach

Where We Stayed (Sleep)

What We Ate (Eat)

What We Did (Do)

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