by Emily Krause
Last updated: 3:00 PM ET, Mon December 24, 2018
One of my favorite things about travel is the opportunity to experience life through someone else's eyes, allowing me to gain new perspectives on how other people around the world eat, drink and speak. Sometimes it feels like you need to go halfway around the globe to have a life-changing cultural experience, but the truth is that in a country as diverse as the United States, you don't even need a passport.
There are few places with more opportunity to find heritage communities than Miami, Florida. With legacy immigrant neighborhoods almost as old as the city itself, cultural traditions and histories remain alive and well and ready to be shared with the world. Though Miami is full of kid-friendly activities, sometimes it's fun to dig deeper and discover new neighborhoods.
Miami celebrates Arts & Heritage Month during the months of December and January, which is just one category of the Temptations Program that highlights the best Miami has to offer in culture, health, museums, hotels and more. The featured locations and events are discounted for a short period of time so locals and visitors have a chance to experience them.
Little Haiti
Bright colors, strong coffee and vibrant music awoke my senses as we followed our tour guide to the most storied and significant spots in Little Haiti.
Tours of the neighborhood start at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, a spot where the community can gather and participate in classes and programs. We got to wander through the Caribbean Marketplace, known by locals as the Mache Ayisyen, where we perused the handicrafts and fruit stands-and there were even tables inside where kids could color.
Then we stopped at Ti Georges, the little caf in the corner of the marketplace, for a strong cup of coffee. He also makes the best patties, a flaky pastry with a savory center that every member of your family with love.
The tour takes you to the colorful murals painted on the sides of buildings representing local heroes and Haitian life and on a Tap-Tap bus ride that takes you to the local park as well as the urban Earth-N-Us farm. You'll love Libreri Mapou, a local bookstore and community hangout with a large collection of Creole language books.
During Miami Arts & Heritage Month bus tours of Little Haiti are 10% off.
Little Havana
Is Little Havana kid-friendly? Just ask my kids who danced to the rhythms, were captivated by the Cubans playing games in Domino Park and enjoyed the best chocolate and ice cream the neighborhood has to offer.
During our tour of this lively neighborhood, we got to taste sugarcane juice and learn about tropical fruits at Los Pinare?os Frutera, learn about the giant rooster statues scattered throughout the neighborhood and order caf Cubano from a ventanita. If you haven't already tried Cuban coffee, know that those tiny cups of sweet caffeine will change your life. It's that good.
Make sure to try the Abuela Maria flavor of ice cream at Azucar, a delicious, creamy blend of guava, cream cheese and Maria cookies blended with vanilla ice cream. From there it's only a short walk to Guayaba y Chocolate, a Venezuelan chocolate shop that serves only the finest single-origin chocolate artisanal confections. This shop also offers 10% off through January 31st.
I've experienced this community on my own with kids in the past, and I'm a former Spanish teacher, but learning from a local who is an expert on the culture and history of Little Havana brought my understanding and admiration to a deeper level.
I would highly recommend that anyone planning to visit this neighborhood try one of the tours, which are discounted during the months of December and January for Miami Arts & Heritage Month.
Stay at the National
To immerse yourself in the Art Deco District of Miami Beach, stay at the iconic National Hotel. The unique collection of art and original floors and furnishings from the 1940s give the hotel that opulent ambiance so reminiscent of the Art Deco movement. The hotel's beachfront location and sizeable infinity pool ensure that you'll always have something to do with your kids.
Make sure to dine at Tamara's Bistro during your stay to experience delicious French-American cuisine. You'll feel like you're eating at a sidewalk caf in Paris, but instead of a view of the street you'll be gazing upon the sparkling blue water of the infinity pool and swaying palm trees. Our kids couldn't get enough of the breakfast buffet, which we enjoyed al fresco on the beautiful terrace.
Espa?ola Way
Originally designed to be an artist's quarter in the bohemian style, this pedestrian-only thoroughfare is now a foodie's paradise. From Cuban fare at Havana 1957 to the Parisian-style caf A La Folie, visitors can find authentic cuisines from all over the world right next to each other on Espa?ola Way.
Our family enjoyed a genuine Italian meal at Hosteria Romana where we enjoyed the finest pasta, pizza and cured meats that tasted like they were straight from Italy. The kids stayed entertained throughout the meal with the lively music and charming staff. As anyone with small children knows, it's a miracle to get a toddler to sit through an entire restaurant meal, but Hosteria Romana made it feel like a breeze.
Latin Caf
Right before heading home, we made one more stop for mouth-watering Cuban fare at Latin Caf in the Brickell neighborhood. The food was prepared from scratch and served in large portions that kept everyone in our family full and satisfied for our long journey home.
We chose to dine on the patio to experience the lively atmosphere, complete with upbeat Latin music and twinkling bistro lights strung from the ceiling. There was even a ventanita where we could grab a cafecito to go at the end of our meal.
If you're planning to visit Miami soon, consider adding cultural activities to your agenda. You won't regret it!
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