I always enjoy discovering public art and this large green turtle put a smile on my face when I saw…read moreher near the beach in Surfside. Florida Loggerheads are the most common type of sea turtle in Florida and they are the mascot of the beach town Surfside, Florida. You can find artistic renderings of them all over including in front of the town hall. Sea turtles come to the beaches of Surfside to lay their eggs on the sand in May through October and the town takes protecting their nests very seriously. There were once millions of sea turtles but now they are a threatened species. Surfside is leading efforts in sea turtle research, conservation and advocacy. Plastic straws are banned in Surfside and they work closely with the Miami-Dade County Sea Turtle Conservation Program and third-party organizations like Debris Free Oceans and Miami is Not Plastic. This large green turtle can be found at the entrance at 95th Street. She is named Ké and was created by student artist Aylin Chaparro in partnership with the Miami International University of Art and Design. The installation honors the sea turtles who come to lay their eggs and Florida's first people, the Tequesta who lived in the area now known as Surfside for 2,000 years. The Tequesta became extinct through disease and slavery when the Spanish came to Florida in the 1500's. Ké is the middle syllable of the Tequesta word Tekesta meaning planet earth. I love the history and environmental message of this piece. Ké is standing guard over the beach to remind everyone who comes to the area to protect the nesting sea turtles and respect the earth.

Fleurs De Villes Voyage is a 10 day cultural arts event that is launching at Bal Harbour Shops…read more Local florists have covered the malls mannequins in a stunning array of flowers. This years theme, Voyage was inspired by Baroness Karen Blixen whose memoir inspired the film Out of Africa. Some of the figures are historical while others are global. I especially liked Amelia Earhart located on the second floor. She took off on her final flight from Miami. Humphrey Bogart from Casablanca is holding court on the first floor in Rick's Cafe and a stunning Geisha and her Japanese cherry blossom tree are on the third floor celebrating the Cherry Blossom Festival in Kyota, Japan. Some of the entrances to the stores are wreathed in more flowers while there are even more surprises surrounding the mall. Before you leave you can vote for your favorite scene in the ACCESS Suite. Your vote will give you a chance to win a prize. During this Voyage the mall is hosting special events including an afternoon tea, craft Titanic-inspired botanical cocktails at the St. Regis Bar, special spa treatments at the The St. Regis Bal Harbour Spa, a special dining experience at the Artisan Beach House in The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour,a complimentary floral scented themed yoga class and a special floral aromatherapy session in the Exhale Spa, a children's floral art class, and a pop up floral market in the center courtyard. Check the Bal Harbour Shop's web site for more information. This was my first time visiting Bal Harbour Shops. This outdoor mall is beautiful and makes the perfect backdrop for all of the unique floral creations. Hurry over because you only have until March 12th before the bloom is off the rose and Voyage moves on to L.A., Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver, New York City, and Boston. ‍

Nothing but nice things to say about this place! My husband…read moreand I traveled all the way from San Diego for a wedding and had many issues with our first hotel. We found Altair and the staff was more than accommodating and got us a room late at night. Everyone at the front desk was so friendly and helpful. The room was perfect and clean. We felt like our vacation actually started once we arrived at Altair. When we visit in the future this is where we will stay and recommend to friends! Thank you Altair staff! The Schmitts

The hotel charged me for one night that I did not stay, plus a cancellation fee. There were severe…read morerestrictions on basic amenities use, and the overall hotel conditions were poor. They refused to waive the cancellation fee and the one-night charge, even though I left shortly after check-in and did not stay overnight. There are many similar complaints from other guests over the last several years about misleading advertising, hidden restrictions, and lack of clear information before booking.

Love this studio and how it offers something for women of all ages. I'm in my late 50s and…read moreespecially enjoy the adult zumba, circle mobility and adult ballet classes. The teachers are excellent and make everyone feel welcome. A++

Awesome little dance school! My little girl loves it and has made some great friends there…read more Recommend!

Amazing! What a place to see beautiful pieces of art at the gallery located in Wynwood, also known…read moreas Miami's art district. It has a very modern design and decor. I enjoyed viewing all of the unique pieces of art and collections. The gallery frequently changes its artwork and exhibits. I was greeted with kindness and knowledge by the gallery team. A must go to explore and immerse yourself in quality art. I definitely will be back when I am in the Miami area of Wynwood.

If there is something Wynwood doesn't lack of is art in all shapes and colors. I love all the art…read moregalleries opening in this area. The Wall Art Gallery is not the exception and I enjoy their art collection. While pricing is kind of prohibitive, it costs nothing to enjoy the fine art they have. Looking forward to my next time at this place to see if they have refreshed their collection. All in all, I appreciate the work of those artists and the Wall Art Gallery for offering a place to exhibit those.

Hotel is not ADA compliant. No elevators anywhere. Had issues with the shower not turning off.read more

Beyond DISGUSTING! Torn carpet, torn wallpaper, paint chipping, mold in the shower and filthy…read more Left immediately after I walked into the room. I was told that night that Amanda , the manager, would contact me about a refund. That never happened. Called her several times and no call back. No idea who is writing these fake reviews!!

If you are coming to Miami, and your calendar is manageable, make your visit land on Second…read moreSaturday. If you make it on Second Saturday, well, all galleries are open late, and many galleries offer free drinks. Many galleries also have cash bars, if you really want to hang. If you like walking around, this could be a problem. The streets are packed with art lovers. If you like to sit down, this could also be a problem. It's overcrowded, and finding a seat may be a hard commodity to find, but don't lose hope. If you come to Second Saturday, you'll have fun.

Had a great day with my family during the wynwood event! I'm a Miami lyfer and I love what wynwood…read morehas become, also excited for the future development that's in store for this downtown area. If ever vacationing in Miami must come by to check out art, food, and culture!

I always get chills driving thru Surfside on Collins Ave and 87th...remembering the tragic collapse…read moreof the 12 story Champlain Towers condo building killing 98 people at 1:14 am. Most were asleep at that time. This was national news for weeks. Only three individuals were pulled alive from the debris in the immediate aftermath. It was very upsetting to us as we live very close by there and frequently drive by. This happened 4 years ago. There is a new building going up now. Surfside is a small one-square mile oceanfront area that is a walkable, residential beach town located between Miami Beach and Bal Harbour. It is known for its quiet, family-friendly atmosphere, pristine beaches, luxury oceanfront condos and charming downtown with unique shops and restaurants. It offers a mix of luxury and small-town appeal, with beautiful parks, and public art installations like the "turtles" on a corner of Collins Ave. It is so pretty there during the Christmas season with all the lights up. Many tourists stay in Surfside instead of South Beach because it is more peaceful and quiet.

These are pictures of outside the Surfside community center. As it is a coastal community, the…read moreTown of Surfside has made it a part of its mission to save the planet--and with that, Florida Loggerhead sea turtles. That is why turtle art features outside. This multi-purpose Community Center was built with amenities that include a recreational pool with lap lanes, plunge pool and slide, children's activity pool, and Jacuzzi. Additional amenities include two multipurpose rooms to host a variety of activities and programs for all ages. It is also equipped with locker room facilities, family restrooms, and a first aid station. To the east of the center is a green space, the perfect setting for party rentals and community events. Enjoy a snack or bite to eat at the onsite snack bar and grill. Since the opening in June 2011, the Community Center is home to the Parks and Recreation and Tourist Bureau administrative offices.

We went on a walking food tour through Little Havana with Marietta. She brought Cuba to life with…read moresuch a zest and excitement for the culture and the food that we could not help but have a great time! And the food was absolutely outstanding.

I cannot recommend this tour enough! We had Toni as our guide for the Little Havana Food Tour. She…read morewas so energetic and knowledgeable, and so prepared! She brought ponchos so we could continue on as it rained. It was beautiful to learn about and see this neighborhood through the eyes of someone who grew up here. Toni knows so much history and seemed to know so many of the people, too! The tour has so much food - I was honestly more than full at the end and I didn't even finish all of my portions. I think it was a really good range of drinks, desserts, and food. Even though that coffee cup looks small, that's a full serving size and it was strong! I really really appreciate that this tour not only accommodated for vegetarians but also chose options for me that were realllllly good. Instead of the cubano, I had these fried plantain cups stuffed with veggies. They were SO good and seasoned well! And the spinach and cheese empanada was also amazing. My friend who got the meat options also loved her food. This tour is the perfect way to learn more about Cuban history, the history of the neighborhood, see all the street art, watch a game at domino park, and experience some of the best food in Miami. I cannot recommend this enough!!!

St. Regis strikes again!!! Arguably one of the most…read morebeautiful and luxurious property from Marriott, The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort and Residences exceeds all expectations and provided the most unbelievable experience any hotel stays can offer. I booked 3 basic rooms with points, days before check in we were upgraded to TWO-2 Bedroom Royal Suites, both Royal suites were high floor ocean front with amazing south beach views, at check in I told the the hotel they can keep the third room, cause with the two-2 bedroom Royal suits we basically have 4 rooms already I do not need the third room which they also upgraded, I told them I was not worried about the points spent and let some other guests enjoy the third suite, the hotel actually cancelled my third room reservation and returned all my points, these 2 royal suites have a combined value of $8,000, I was super happy about this upgrade. Everyone and everything at this resort was perfect, from the beach attendants to pool servers and all staffs, everyone was very attentive and friendly. All kinds of complimentary treats throughout the day like champagne and free ice cream, treats by the pool often and pictures by the beach Welcome gift was breakfast for all guests, hand wrote welcome letters, huge fruit baskets and sparkling water was delivered to the room by our butler. Oh did I mention the house car was a $300k Bentley, the house car took us to dinner and back with ease. This resort is everything a luxury resort should be, we have been to all kinds of top tier resort from Marriott and Hilton, The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort hands down is the best of them all

It's luxury and has all the expected attendants and amenities. There are abundance of Zionists…read morestrutting around so maybe it's owned by them? I'm not impressed as I used to be by luxury and extreme service for your every need. But I had a lovely time with my friends and the price tag is a pain but oh well.