What To Do In Miami For Labor Day

With miles of shoreline as far as the eye can see, what better way to spend Labor Day Weekend than with plenty of time at the beach? For a lively scene, head to South Beach along Lummus Park and Ocean Drive. For a relaxed, family-friendly setting, Sunny Isles Beach and Surfside will do the trick. If you’re up for an adventure or if you prefer to commune with nature, explore the beaches along Key Biscayne or Oleta River State Park. Hey, it’s a three-day weekend, maybe you can hit them all!

Miami is famous for its lavish poolscapes like the Fontainebleau’s cabana-lined wonderland. The pool scene is a major factor in selecting your Miami Beach hotel, especially over Labor Day Weekend when it’s the perfect time to relax or party poolside. Many hotel pools (think, SLS South Beach, Kimpton Surfcomber, Delano, The Confidante) throw parties over Labor Day Weekend that are open to the public, so being a guest is not always a requirement.

Miami Spice is in full swing over Labor Day Weekend, making it the perfect time to indulge in Miami’s finest restaurants. During this two-month long promotion over August and September, participating restaurants offer special, three-course, prix-fixe menus for $23 during lunch, $23 during brunch and $39 during dinner. Now’s the time to dine at that trendy Miami restaurant you’ve been daydreaming about all summer long.

Visit the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science and unlock a whole new world of incredible exhibitions, laser light shows and larger-than-life screenings inside the Frost Planetarium. The centerpiece of the museum is the stunning, three-level aquarium containing multiple habitats, ecosystems and subaquatic depths. South Beach’s Wolfsonian-FIU museum offers a free,guided tour at 6:00 p.m. on Fridays. With more than 180,000 objects and counting, The Wolfsonian is among the largest university art collections in the country. So stick around and explore.

There’s a world of discovery in South Dade, Miami’s heartland, and Labor Day Weekend is a great opportunity to take the road less traveled, the road south. Come out to Schnebly Redland’s Winery & Brewery on Friday night for happy hour with live entertainment and tropical wine and beer tastings amidst their sprawling grounds. Take a walk on the wild side with a day at Zoo Miami or journey back in time by strolling along Cauley Square Historic Railroad Village.

What makes South Beach’s skyline so distinct? The incredible collection of historic Art Deco and Tropical Moderne buildings concentrated along Ocean Drive and throughout the Art Deco District. Join the Miami Design Preservation League at the Art Deco Welcome Center for a walking tour through this historic district where you’ll learn about the history of Miami Beach through its architecture.

The Miami Home Design & Remodeling Show, taking place over Labor Day Weekend, has a new home at the Mana Wynwood Convention Center. It is the southeast’s largest home improvement and design event showcasing thousands of products and services for home decorating, remodeling and improvement. Check out the latest trends, take advantage of special offers exclusive to the show, enjoy seminars, learn design tips and more. Swing by the convention center and get inspired!

Summer weekends are a prime time for farmers markets and that includes Labor Day Weekend. On Saturday, Brickell City Centre’s Farmers Market peddles Zak the Baker bread, local honey, orchids, smoothies, Argentinian empanadas, artisanal olive oil and cheeses and a wide selection of prepared foods.

On Sunday, stroll down Lincoln Road where you’ll find stands selling everything from locally grown organic fruits and vegetables to honey, jams and jellies, fresh ceviche and guacamole, artisanal baked goods, teas and spices, fresh cut flowers and tropical fruit smoothies.

If you’re in South Miami on Sunday, then you’ve got to stop by the Farmers Market at Pinecrest Gardens for a convergence of top local sustainable, organic farmers and food purveyors from the Redlands, Homestead, Clewiston and Fort Pierce.

Who couldn’t use a little free yoga to balance out bustling Labor Day Weekend? Saturday morning is the time to take advantage with these three free class options around town. Get your namaste on at Brickell City Centre at 10:00 a.m. with a free class sponsored by Friends of the Underline, the forthcoming linear park that will wind its way south from Brickell, and Lululemon.

Take advantage of Coconut Grove Business Improvement District’s Free Historic Bicycle Tours of Coconut Grove on Saturday over Labor Day Weekend. They’ve partnered with Royal Palm Tours and local historian Frank Schena for a cruise beneath palm tree canopies to Coconut Grove’s most historic sites from 9:30 a.m. to noon. BYO-Bike or rent a CitiBike.