Winter is definitely here. Your bathing suits have long been put away, and you and your closest group of girlfriends have resigned to nights sipping wine while covered in layers of chunky knit sweaters. Perhaps you’ll go shopping or to a movie, but there is no way you’ll be having a girls’ night out in warm weather any time soon. That is unless you plan the ultimate girls’ trip to Miami this winter.
Here are five reasons why you may want to. And who knows, perhaps you and the girls find yourself house hunting for a winter home in one of the Magic City’s luxe digs at brand-new locations like Missoni Baia.
1. The Shopping
Miami is an international city where some of the world’s wealthiest people choose to live. That means you’ll find the same amount of luxury brands you’d come to expect from any world city in outdoor shopping centers like Mary Brickell Village in the Brickell neighborhood. And the best part of shopping here: it’s warm. While clomping down Fifth Avenue in NYC during a snowstorm has its charms, there’s a certain freedom when you can just casually stroll from boutique to boutique and only have to worry if you put on enough sunscreen.
2. The Weather
Pack your suitcase, but don’t pack too much you won’t need anything other than a few bathing suits and some light dresses for an evening on the town. Miami’s winter weather is unbeatable for anyone who enjoys not feeling trapped in a goose-down parka jacket. With temps in the 70s and tons of sun, you and the girls can sip cocktails on the beach instead of mulled wine in a dark bar.
3. The Nightlife
Cyndi Lauper said it best: “Girls just wanna have fun.” And whether you’re single or married for the last 30 years, Miami gives you a chance to let loose and shake off the cares and worries of your day-to-day life. Dance clubs, music venues, and cocktail lounges abound where you and your besties can have a few sips or several — it’s up to you. For a once-in-a-lifetime blowout head to the “circus-themed” Story club. This sprawling space offers a massive dance floor and DJ booth where A-list DJs like Calvin Harris have been known to stop by and spin. And if you really want to party, E11even is the spot. It’s open 24-hours a day, so remember that you and your friends might want to refrain from any late-night social media posts.
4. The Food
The best part of any girl’s trip is getting out of a rut whether that’s emotionally or culinarily. Miami is the best location to get out of both of them. With a novel fusion of Latin and North American cuisine, Miami holds a top spot for chefs and high-end foodies alike. Head to South Beach to the industrial-chic space of “Top Chef” winner Jeremy Ford at the Stubborn Seed where you’ll be treated buttermilk pancakes at brunch that will be just what to doctor ordered after that night out.
5. The Culture
But like the New York Times says, you can “forget the one-dimensional image of the ’90s and early aughts, when the place was synonymous with sun worshiping and unbridled partying.” Today, Miami has become one of the worldwide beacons of culture thanks to a thriving arts scene in places like Wyndam where the walls are tagged by some of the top names in street art, galleries like Dimension Variable, and the most significant art celebration in the Western Hemisphere Art Basel Miami.
