Visiting Miami on a Budget

There are many wonderful ways of seeing Miami without going overboard on your budget. Growing up there I often ventured out and could spend a whole day seeing fabulous things without spending any money other than for gas. You can fill a day or two with sightseeing that doesn't cost a single penny or at minimal costs so that you can fit more into your vacation while in Miami. The first thing to do is to find a place to stay and if you are really on a budget there are still some nice places to stay that you can afford. Try to remember that you don't take a vacation to sit in a hotel room so they only need to be clean and cheap. It's just a place to lay your head at night and take a shower so it does not have to be the Ritz to be comfortable.

Places to Stay:

The Clay Hotel and International Hostel and the South Beach Hostel, both located on Washington Avenue in Miami Beach, are perfect for the younger travelers. At the Clay you can get a room with a private bathroom, refrigerator, etc. for well under $100. The South Beach Hostel is a little different, with dorm-like rooms and shared bathroom; however the cost is less than $20 per person per night. There are also several other hostels located right on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach. If these types of accommodations are quite up your alley then there are plenty of other options. The Best Western Atlantic Beach Resort, also located on Collins Avenue, is a good option as far as a typical hotel chain is concerned. You can probably get a room during the summer months for under $100 and you know what to expect from a hotel chain such as this. Other options are the Royal Palm South Beach and the Chesterfield Hotel, again located on Collins Avenue.

Things to Do and See For Free:

Miami Beach Botanical Gardens - 2000 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach. Stroll the grounds of this 4 1/2 acre viewing beautiful orchids, tropical plants and trees, a Japanese garden and a "living wall" vertical landscape. You can also attend cultural programs and learn more about native plants and flowers. They offer a Japanese Spring Festival in April, International Museum Day in May and a Bamboo day in June.

Holocaust Memorial - 1933-1945 Meridian Avenue, Miami Beach. Located across the street from the Botanical Gardens, you can visit this outdoor memorial which only takes donations. Walk past the Memorial Wall to see the names of victims of the Holocaust, the many bronze statues signifying the plights of the Holocaust victims and the Arbor of History where you can see photographs of the tortured Holocaust history. You cannot leave this memorial without being emotionally changed in some way as it will yank hard at your heart.

Other simple things to do include taking a drive over to Key Biscayne to visit the beaches and Crandon Park (which used to be a zoo I frequented often) where you can now take a picnic lunch and enjoy the native wildlife such as birds and turtles. I often spent afternoons driving around Coral Gables and Coconut Grove to look at beautiful homes and people watch. Take an afternoon to stroll Lincoln Road Mall to window shop or grab a bite to eat.

Some other places to visit which I can remember many school field trips and family trips to would be the Miami Seaquarium which runs adults about $35. The good thing is that this would be a great place to spend an entire day as there is a lot to do. The park is set on 38 acres of tropical paradise offering eight different marine animal shows and a lot more. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is an incredible piece of property built in 1916 by James Deering. Take a walk through the main house which is filled with old treasures and then stroll around the ten acres of formal gardens and hammock trees overlooking Biscayne Bay. The admission is $12 for adults and $5 for children 6-12.

One final place I must recommend since I can remember many visits as a child to would be the Venetian Pool which is located in Coral Gables. The pool will be reopening in April, 2009 after a major renovation is completed. This place is so worth the trip as I guarantee you haven't seen anything like it. The kids will absolutely love swimming here among the coral rock caves and palms, the Spanish fountain and shaded porches and cascading waterfalls. The pool was built in 1924 and is fed by underground artesian wells. There is also a three-story observation tower to overlook the incredible free-form lagoon. During peak season near summer the rates are $10 for adults and $6.75 for children 3-12. They do not allow children under 3 at this pool or any child who is not at least 38". You will not regret a visit here and plan on spending a good part of the day because I doubt you and the kids will want to leave.