The Long Way Through

Sometimes the best trips are the ones you almost don’t have time to take. This one started with a late flight, a birthday, and a little bit of audacity. My husband and I snuck away to Miami for his birthday weekend, flying from Nashville into Fort Lauderdale. Our flight didn’t land until 11:50 p.m., and by the time we made our way down to South Beach, it was close to 1 a.m. Not exactly the leisurely beginning you’d picture for a long weekend in Miami. But maybe that’s the point. We weren’t there to maximize our time or squeeze every last drop out of a destination. We were there to be somewhere else together. And sometimes that’s enough. Friday: Letting Miami Come to Us

Friday morning, we made our way to the beach. Our hotel, Casa Sobe, included beach chairs, which meant we could settle in without much fuss. We found our spot, put our feet in the sand, and did something that can feel surprisingly difficult on vacation:Nothing. Well, almost nothing. I spent some time admiring Miami’s lifeguard towers. Each one seemed to have its own personality—bright, colorful, and completely different from the one beside it. It was one of those little details that could easily be overlooked if you’re rushing from one attraction to the next. But we weren’t. We were paying attention. And that’s when I think travel starts to feel less like sightseeing and more like actually being somewhere. Eventually, we peeled ourselves away from the beach and went to pick up a scooter for the weekend from Motobay Miami Beach Scooter Rentals. Our manager was incredibly kind. He gave us a full tank of gas and even added three extra hours onto our 24-hour rental. That small gesture stuck with me. Maybe because travel has a funny way of reminding you that some of the best moments aren’t the things you planned. They’re the people who are generous with you along the way. With our scooter fueled up, we headed out.And suddenly, South Beach got a whole lot bigger. There were corners of Miami we never would have reached on foot, and we loved having the freedom to wander without a particular destination in mind. We cruised through some of the beautiful, wealthy Jewish neighborhoods, taking in the homes and architecture along the way. There was no checklist. No we have to see this before we leave. Just the two of us, a scooter, warm air, and the freedom to turn whenever something caught our attention. Eventually, we stopped for a quick bite at The Naked Taco. I ordered the Naked Buffalo Chicken Taco, while my husband went with the Americana. Mine was exactly what I wanted in that moment—satisfying and flavorful without leaving me feeling like I’d just eaten a brick.That evening, we made a very glamorous stop at Trader Joe’s. Because as wonderful as South Beach is, it is not exactly gentle on the wallet. We stocked up on snacks and quick meals, and honestly? It was one of the smartest decisions of the trip. There is something delightfully unromantic about eating Trader Joe’s snacks in a hotel room in Miami. But travel doesn’t have to be extravagant at every turn. Sometimes the long way means knowing when to save a little money so you can spend it where it matters.

Saturday: Saltwater, Sunshine & Italian Pizza

The next day, we traded the energy of South Beach for something a little slower. We used ResortPass to get beach club access at The Savoy Hotel and Beach Club. It was exactly the reprieve we needed. We had private beach access and poolside lounging, and for a while, the rest of Miami seemed very far away. We soaked in the ocean. We soaked in the sun. We had a light poolside picnic and virgin coladas. Eventually, we reached that point where we’d been in the water long enough to become less human and more prune. So we decided it was time to go. Naturally, we chose to leave by scooter. Because if you have a scooter in Miami, you might as well take advantage of it. We went out for some wind therapy before returning it later that evening. There is something wonderfully freeing about riding with no real agenda—the breeze, the palm trees, the city moving around you. Then we did something else that doesn’t always make it into the travel brochures: We took a nap. A very good nap. Travel can be exhausting. And sometimes the most meaningful thing you can do with a few free hours is close the curtains, turn the air conditioning down, and sleep. When we woke up, we were ready to head back into the streets of SoBe. And that’s when we found it. The pizza. La LeGGenda Pizzeria. I don’t say this lightly, but this was some of the best pizza we’ve ever had. Authentic Italian pizza, absolutely out of this world, served by a wonderful server who was Italian himself. There are meals you eat because you’re hungry. And then there are meals that become part of the memory of the place. This was the second kind. It was the perfect cap to the evening.

Sunday: Finding the Kid in Each Other

Sunday was our last hoorah with Miami. We had half a day before heading back to the airport, and knowing how much my husband loves art, I wanted to squeeze in as many artsy experiences as I could. Our first stop was Museum Garage. And yes, I braved the pink slide. Because apparently, this is who I am now. From there, we headed to the Museum of Ice Cream Miami. And this place? Incredible. Not sophisticated. Not serious. Not remotely concerned with whether you’re too old to have fun. Just pure, wholesome joy. Around every corner was another surprise, another ridiculous burst of color, another invitation to play. And watching my husband experience it was better than experiencing it myself. He had a permanent smile on his face. I watched the boy in him come out. And there are certain moments in marriage when you realize how lucky you are to get a front-row seat to someone’s joy. That was one of them. We laughed. We played. We explored. And then we slid down into a pool of sprinkles. Yes.A pool. Of sprinkles. It was the coolest. But honestly, what I remember most isn’t the attraction itself. It’s his face. It’s the way he beamed at every new surprise. It’s how happy it made me to see him that happy. Maybe that’s what travel is really about. Not the places we see, but the people we become while we’re seeing them. After the Museum of Ice Cream, we headed to Wynwood Walls. What a sight. We wandered through the exhibits and took in the murals, some of which offered interactive experiences through your phone. Scan a code, open your camera, and suddenly the artwork comes alive. It was art that asked you to participate rather than simply stand and look. And after a weekend spent paying attention, it felt fitting. Miami seemed to keep reminding us that there was more to see if we were willing to look a little closer. Our final stop was Harley-Davidson Miami for a little farewell shopping. Then it was time to head back to Fort Lauderdale. Our flight was at 6:30 p.m. And just like that, our little birthday escape was over.

The Long Way Through

We didn’t see everything Miami has to offer.We didn’t try to. We didn’t visit every famous restaurant, photograph every iconic building, or pack every hour with something to do. We rode a scooter. We ate tacos. We bought Trader Joe’s snacks. We sat on a beach. We got pruned in the ocean. We took a nap. We ate incredible pizza. We played like children in a museum made of ice cream. We looked at art. We wandered. We laughed. And somewhere between the lifeguard towers, the scooter rides, the saltwater, the pizza, the murals, and that ridiculous pool of sprinkles, we remembered something that is easy to forget:Travel isn’t about how much ground you cover.It’s about how much you notice.It’s about the conversation you have while you’re getting somewhere.The kindness of a stranger who gives you a little extra gas.The meal you didn’t plan on loving.The neighborhood you accidentally discover.The afternoon nap you didn’t feel guilty about taking.The look on your husband’s face when he finds his inner child again.Those are the things that don’t make it onto an itinerary.And yet, they’re the things we bring home.We flew to Miami for a birthday.But we came home with something better than another destination checked off a list.We came home having paid attention.And that’s why we take the long way when we can.Not because it’s efficient.Because it’s human.Travel for meaning, not miles.