The sun, sand and sea of South Florida is a triple threat, attracting globetrotters from fashionistas to classic car fans to polo players. But for anyone escaping a cold winter with a visit to sub-tropical USA, deciding between hot spots Fort Lauderdale and South Beach can be like Sophie’s choice.
Both destinations have strong draws. South Beach is infamous for it’s colourful art deco beauty, and a model and party scene born from long-ago halcyon days starring Madonna and Gianni Versace. Meanwhile, Fort Lauderdale has over the years risen to become a premiere destination in it’s own right, with a burgeoning ‘where the cool kids go’ party scene, the shopping and resto delights of Los Olas Blvd., and the sexy queer boys and girls who frolic on the beach at Sebastian Street between Sunrise and Las Olas Boulevards.
And no coat checks in either town, anywhere, ever.
But for every problem – and admittedly this is a nice problem to have – there is a solution, and this one actually allows equal access to the best of both worlds, while offering it’s own tempting attractions: Sunny Isles Beach.
Located on a barrier island in the northeast corner of Miami Dade County, it’s a city of sun and sea boasting a 2 ½ mile-long fine sand beach. Smack dab between South Beach and Fort Lauderdale, the area described as Florida’s Riviera was ranked in 2008 as the #1 U.S. destination by Tripadvisor’s Travelcast and enjoys a million vacationers a year.
By making this international resort community your South Florida holiday home base, you gain not only easy access to both South Beach and Fort Lauderdale, you’re also atop attractions such as Oleta State Park, The Cloisters of the Ancient Spanish Monastery, and Everglades Safari Park. In fact, Sunny Isles Beach is surrounded by beautiful parkland, and all parks have free wi-fi.
GGTravel Tip: Sunny Isles Beach is accessible by either Fort Lauderdale airport or Miami International, but Fort Lauderdale airport is closer, and in most cases, as all the budget-conscious airlines fly there, a less expensive flight than most that fly into to Miami International.
Accommodations: The picturesque enclave of Sunny Isles Beach offers a range of properties from 2-star to 5-diamond. My fiance Eddie and I stayed at the brand-new Solé On The Ocean Resort & Spa, a boutique-styled 249 room and suite property overlooking shimmering sands and turquoise waters. Solé only just opened its doors this winter season but were sold out while we were there. Given all the hiccups that come as any new business finds it’s footing, they are doing an excellent job of keeping up.
Our 12th floor individually-climate-controlled suite, with it’s wraparound balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows offered both a view of the ocean and the city, as well as one of my favourite sights whenever I visit: yachts moored outside Spanish-style homes snaking along the Intracoastal Waterway:
Stainless steel appliances in a state-of-the-art kitchen contained all the cooking and dining basics. Gerbera daisies and a bright-coloured beach ball awaited us in the living room, as did two LCD TVs, wireless high-speed direct Internet access, an MP3/clock radio and a bed I must say was easily one of the most comfortable hotel beds – European duvet! – I’ve ever stayed in.
As a tall man (6’4”) it was also so nice to discover that our bath – part of a sexy wet area featuring designer fixtures and frameless glass shower doors and a rain-head shower – was one I could actually sink into to relax each night. Solé also has accessible guest rooms for those with special needs, featuring bathrooms with wide doorways, hand rails, roll in showers, doorbell lights and other conveniences.
Solé guests have access to amenities such as a fitness centre with cardio machines and free weights. Personal trainers are available by appointment, as are massage and spa therapies. I had a massage in my room within 90 minutes of arriving and was blissed-out for the rest of the day (as the beginning footage of the home movie Eddie made where I can barely speak attests.)
Solé‘s oceanfront pool, pool bar, and private beach area with beach chair towels and umbrella services are both wonderful ways to spend the day watching yachts and cruise ships sail on the horizon, or rent a wave runner on the beach and enjoy some water play.
Our ‘Be Your Gay Self Comfort Rating’ for Solé On The Ocean Resort & Spa: 4 out of 5.
Hot Look For The Beach: Vilebrequin swim trunks and Jack One sunglasses by Oliver Peoples.
(Caveat: Due to the strip of high-rise hotels, the sun disappears behind the buildings beginning mid-afternoon. If full sun from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. isn’t enough for you, Haulover Beach is a short walk away, where the area’s only clothing optional section is located and, suffice to say, bushes abound.)
Dining: The immediate area has plenty of options to suit a variety of food fancies. Across the road from Solé, Epicure is a gourmet market that is a must, especially if you have a kitchen where you stay. This is where you can stock up on fresh fruit, baked goods and other breakfast items, wines and cheeses and delicacies to make your vacation space feel like home. (I love not having to think about ‘where and how’ when I’m lazing on the beach but feel peckish.)
Fun Epicure Moment: 33-year-old Eddie was carded while buying wine there. I fought the urge to slap someone.
Must Dining: The H Restaurant. Before leaving for our long weekend in South Florida, Eddie and I had agreed to speak French the entire trip for practice (mostly for me), so coming across the genuine French atmosphere of The H Restaurant seemed like lovely kismet.
In a fun, eclectic setting just up the road from Sole, chef Julien Herisson fuses typical American options with genuine French flair. Joined by his parents Karin and Gerrard Herisson, the transplanted French family together have created a boite Eddie and I just loved. Try their angus burger – with foie gras, or the frog legs from the Everglades swimming in butter, or Ahi tuna with potatoes and onions and a wonderful sauvignon blanc from the Sonoma Valley. All above par; no wonder they’re packed solid on a Saturday night.
(Caveat: Their rich French food is served in American (over) sized portions; doggie bag!)
Watch to learn more about what propelled The H Restaurant’s Herisson family to leave France and open a restaurant in Sunny Isles Beach (2 minutes 11 seconds):
Lazy Beach Option: The Tiki Bar at the west end of Sunny Isles beach is a great place to stop in ‘as you are’ for oysters and Long Island Iced Teas. That’s where we saw these models emerging to pose for Vogue Italia:
Shopping: I love shopping in South Florida. Their penchant for bold (think glitter, animal prints, summer colours) always makes for some fun wardrobe finds to bring home. The area also houses many of my favourite shops that Canada doesn’t have, from big boys like Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom to my new favourite, Desigual, the Barcelona-based casual clothing brand featuring atypical Spanish wear for men, women and kids with a colourful, positive messaging twist. Must visits:
The Village At Gulfstream Park: A Mediterranean-inspired walking village combining shopping and international dining. Boutiques, spas, and home stores such as Pottery Barn and fusion restos like Texas de Brazil.
The Aventura Mall: Is a $7 cab ride from the Sunny Isles Beach strip, anchored by upscale Nordstrom’s and featuring the aforementioned Desigual (PS: Dear Desigual, please come to Canada).
Bal Harbour Shops: This is where you find Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, D&G, Fendi, Gucci, Tiffany, Bulgari, Zegna, you get the high-fashion picture. Caveat: Here, due to it’s location, expect to pay an additional 7% resort tax in addition to the 7% state tax charged everywhere else.
South Beach Update:
Having spent a week with Eddie in Fort Lauderdale less than a year ago, I was longing for South Beach, and so when we weren’t poolside, seaside, or shopping, we decided to spend time in a place where both of us have had way too much fun, but never together.
New Daily: Beach Yoga at 7 am and 6pm on the ocean at Third St.
New In Culture: In January, the Frank Gehry designed New World Symphony Complex overlooking Lincoln Park opened. Typical of Gehry’s trademark forms it includes a six-story atrium and a 7,000 square-foot exterior projection wall for live simulcasts, bringing new meaning to the words Miami sound machine.
New In Design: Check out the Herzog & De Meuron-designed parking garage at 1111 Lincoln Road, the latest star in South Beach. Held up with zig-zag columns, you don’t just park your car, but shop at the likes of Y3, Chrome Hearts, and a Taschen bookstore where you can stop in and add to your Tom of Finland collection.
New Hot Nightclub: Nope, still Twist. The longest-running gay club in Miami is still going strong after 18 years, constantly reinventing itself.
Afternoon Adventure: Eddie has a thing about getting his haircut in different places we visit, and so held to that habit, visiting Hall Of Fame, who see lots of celebs come in for a cut, but are famous most recently for where the boys from Jersey Shore got did during Season 2. It had a pretty hard straight vibe, but luckily for me Dash Miami, the shop Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian opened in their E! reality show was just up the street. Off I went.
Hmmm. What an obvious front for the show, period. Very little clothing (I had hoped to find something for a girlfriend’s upcoming birthday), some lame tee ‘Dash Miami’ shirts, and water with the three sisters’ faces for sale for $10 a bottle (I could never be so thirsty). I’m a fan of the girls, so was disappointed they hadn’t made full use of the space to merchandise, merchandise, merchandise the crap out of it; other fans of their shows were a constant, snapping photos, popping in – Dash Miami was a license to print money, but instead was just a run-down disappointment. Not that that stopped me from spending $100 on two rhubarb-scented Dash candles. So sue me.
After, as I waited outside the store on a bench while Eddie got his hair cut, I ended up playing photographer to tourists. As one woman left the store, I overheard her say: ‘Well that kinda goes with what the reviews said.’
Return Again To Sunny Isles Beach Grade : 8 (out of 10)
Save The Date:
– Feb 24 – 27: South Beach Wine & Food Festival
– March 26: Ibiza Pool Party
– May 26 – 30: Sizzle Miami
GGTravel Tip: If you’re a product whore like I am and prefer bringing all your tubes, jars and bottles with you rather than use whatever teeny-tiny offerings await at your hotel, the best travel bag bar none I have ever had is from Victorinox, made by the same company who make the Swiss Army Knife. I’ve used the same one for years and, packed smartly, holds everything I would use every day at home. And like I said: product whore.
– Shaun Proulx
I want to go on vacation with Shaun and Eddie!!!
Luv those spiffy hats / poolside..!!
Mike C…..;o)