27 Travels Reveal Their Favorite Places in Miami

Step into the sun-soaked allure of Greater Miami & Miami Beach through the eyes of Gabi and Shanna, a dynamic lesbian travel duo whose passion for exploration knows no bounds. Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, Gabi's photographic finesse and Shanna's skills as a videographer and editor converge to give life to their travel chronicles on 27 Travels. What began as a humble Instagram account in 2016 has blossomed into a profound creative outlet with both their blog and Instagram. Gabi and Shanna realized early on that the LGBTQ travel community lacked the comprehensive guidance it sought. In response, they created 27 Travels as a beacon of information and inspiration for fellow wanderers (27 is the date of their anniversary). As they unveil their favorite places in Miami, Gabi and Shanna invite you to embrace travel as a transformative force, breaking barriers and fostering open-mindedness through the lens of diverse cultures.

What Attracted You To Visit Miami? 

Shanna: The Miami Dolphins! My dad is a huge Miami Dolphins fan. He has never lived in Miami, but he grew up watching the Dolphins because they were really good when he was growing up in the ‘70s, so he became a fan even though he's lived in New York his whole life. 

My love for the Miami Dolphins comes from him. We normally go to games in New York, and, of course, we're the only Dolphins fans at the stadium, so it was it was really cool to get to go in December and experience a home game at Hard Rock Stadium. It was so much fun, and, of course, they won, so that was the best part. 

Gabi: To go to Hard Rock Stadium, we took the Brightline train, and we loved it. It was very clean, almost new, and it felt like we were on a European train. We liked the food service, too, and it was so easy since the staff came around the train cars offering different drinks and snacks.

What Makes Miami So Unique? 

Shanna: We just love Miami! The energy in Miami is so contagious, and we love the weather. We also enjoy the culture, the colors and all the different activities you can do. Miami always feels like a safe haven, and we always feel like we can truly be ourselves there. 

Gabi: Miami is just a great place to visit because in a way, it's kind of a melting pot of all different cultures, identities and sexualities. And there's so many different things you can do in Miami, so I think it's perfect for any kind of traveler that wants to go because they’re going to be able to find what speaks to them there.

Shanna: We always feel welcomed and safe, and Miami does a really good job of showcasing that if you're a member of the LGBTQ community, you are welcome there. 

Where Did You Stay? 

Shanna: We stayed at The Palms Hotel & Spa, and we loved that it was very sustainable. They do many things to remain sustainable, such as limiting how much energy they're using, and their room cards are made from wood. The hotel even has buckets so you could pick up trash on the beach for yourself and return it to them so they can dispose of it or recycle it. We thought that was really cool.

The hotel also has direct beach access. It was a great amenity to have during our stay since the hotel would set up chairs for us on the beach to enjoy. When New Yorkers like us are coming down to Miami, all we want is to sit by the beach, so that experience was perfect. 

What’s Your Favorite Beach? 

Gabi: During our previous trip, we hung out at the gay beach on 12th street [11th/12th Street Beach] a lot. I think, in general, whenever we see a space that's overly inclusive, such as this one, which has the rainbow lifeguard stand, the rainbow crosswalk, the memorial to the LGBTQ rights movement in Miami and then, obviously, Palace [bar & restaurant] is over there, too … it just feels welcoming, and we feel like we can be ourselves. That area has a really great sense of community. We know we're going to be safe and welcome there, and we just always have a good time because we're with our people. 

What Were A Few Of Your Favorite Food Spots In Miami? 

Shanna: We love the vegan food scene in Miami. PLANTA South Beach is, obviously, incredible. They have such good food, and we love it whenever we get to go there. We recommend ordering the crispy rice nigiri, lettuce wraps and ahi watermelon maki. We also went to SoBe Vegan. The SoBe vegan burger and queso burger are really good. The restaurant has this breakfasty, brunchy kind of vibe, which we loved. Another place we checked out was Full Bloom, and we had an amazing time there because the staff was friendly and really welcoming. We loved the restaurant’s ropa vieja patacones, drunken noodles and raw som tam. 

Gabi: We're also big coffee people, so we got to check out a few different coffee shops, including Panther Coffee. We've heard a lot about Panther online, and it was actually so good. And, oh my god, we loved The Salty Donut. We had the carrot cake donut, and it was the kind of donut experience you dream about! 

What Cultural Activities In Miami Did You Enjoy The Most? 

Shanna: We loved Vizcaya Museum & Gardens. We had never been there before or, to be honest, ever heard about it before this trip. It was our first time, and we just thought the property itself was so beautiful with interesting history. It's also one of those spaces where you can just walk around and get lost – it was pretty magical! There was also a lot of wildlife there, which we didn't expect to see.

Gabi: We also were able to see the colorful “Miami Mountain” installation [by artist Ugo Rodinone] in Collins Park at The Bass that's similar to the “Seven Magic Mountains” in Vegas. It was so nice to walk around that area of Miami Beach. 

What Would You Recommend To Someone Traveling to Miami? 

Shanna: We would say to do it all because we're just those kinds of travelers. If you're going to Miami for the first time, I think you have check out the beach, the arts, the culture, the food. Just do as much as you can because Miami has everything to offer. 

Gabi: For us, being from New York, it's really nice to have a space like South Pointe Park, where you can see the water and be surrounded by palm trees – and best of all, it’s open to the public for everyone to enjoy.

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