Florida may not be the Maldives, but there are some truly incredible beach destinations to visit year-round.
Obviously, Florida has seen the bad side of headlines lately, through no fault of its own, with Mother Nature wreaking havoc throughout the South.
Fortunately, much of the ‘Sunshine State’ still lives up to its name, including one opulent beach town nestled between two of Florida’s most popular cities.
We all know how crazy Miami can be. As one of America’s most iconic cities, it attracts all walks of life throughout the year.
Now that winter is just around the corner, more travelers will seek out winter sun, but you don’t have to deal with the city grind.
One of Miami’s neighboring beach towns offers a more idyllic setting along blue Atlantic waters with soft white sand.
Sunny Isles: Florida’s Hidden Beach Haven
Ever been to South Beach or even Little Havana? Then you surely know the feeling of coming back to the hotel room and breathing a sigh of relief after navigating the hectic streets.
Well, that doesn’t have to be you again.
Or if it’s your first time in the area, then Sunny Isles is a great introduction.
With opposite vibes of South Beach, ironically, this under-hyped beach getaway was named North Miami Beach until the late 1930s before switching names.
Now also known as “Florida’s Riviera“, it’s perfectly suited for a beach vacation for all ages. Well, except for the one ‘clothing optional’ beach – awkwarrrrrrdddd.
As long as you avoid an unwanted anatomy lesson, Sunny Isles is flawless and easy to get around.
Home to lavish resorts, paradise beaches, and a mostly family-friendly atmosphere, Sunny Isles is perhaps Florida’s best-kept secret, overshadowed by Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
Travel Tip: There’s no need for a rental car with the free SIBshuttle operating 7 days per week with 3 separate lines (including rides to the beach!). The service also has an app to track when the bus will arrive in real time.
Miami By Day, Sunny Isles By Night?
Planning your trip in and around South Florida can be done in a variety of ways, but first you need to choose your starting point.
Miami and Fort Lauderdale both have busy airports with ample connections, but in my opinion, Fort Lauderdale is way better!
Smaller, less crowded, and easier to navigate, FLL is your best bet for a successful entry into South Florida unless you just really like cheesy decor and a chaotic atmosphere.
Sunny Isles is about 35 minutes from either airport, so it’s literally sandwiched in the middle. Depending on what type of traveler you are, you could easily spend all your time in Sunny Isles or make easy day trips.
Despite Miami’s chaos, it’s a really fun city. But by sunset you could be understandably ready for peace and quiet, and that’s where Sunny Isles comes in as a more idyllic vacation spot.
If we’re being honest, the beaches are so much more postcard-worthy and beachfront resorts are a lot lighter on the wallet.
Any way you plan your trip, Sunny Isles is a surprising gem you should definitely consider as your mainstay.
Paradise Beaches And Luxe Resorts
Despite being neighbors with the ‘Venice’ of Florida and one of America’s icons, hitting up Sunny Isles’ beautiful beaches and staying in one of the numerous luxe resorts is the way to go.
Just be warned to steer clear of the north side of Haulover (that’s where your eyeballs might witness more than unsightly Speedos!).
Besides that, there are ample beaches to visit, boasting white sand along vibrant blue waters. Sunny Isles Beach holds an impressive 4.8 rating on Google, and we all know that people love to complain!
One recent visitor claimed, ‘This public beach pleasantly surprised me’ and mentioned how clean and uncrowded it was.
But as enjoyable as Sunny Isles beaches may be, the resorts may be even better.
According to TripAdvisor, these are the 3 most popular beach resorts in Sunny Isles:
The latter of which has great rates in December between $114 – $150 for a One Bedroom Suite.
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