How To Plan An Adult Spring Break Vacation To Coral Gables
The exterior of Biltmore Hotel Miami Coral Gables
Though Miami is one of the most popular spring break spots for its golden beaches and vibrant nightlife, it can feel rowdy this time of year. So if you're an adult—because grown-ups also deserve time off from the daily grind—who wants to visit The Magic City, but don't want to be in the thick of things, consider Coral Gables.
Sra. Martinez is one of the best restaurants in Coral Gables.
Just seven miles from downtown Miami, Coral Gables is a postcard-perfect city—no wonder it's nicknamed the 'City Beautiful'—that's adored for its stunning Mediterranean architecture, charming tree-lined streets, and upscale lifestyle. Enticing restaurants abound: Newcomer Sra. Martinez by James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein and her husband David Martinez sends out out Spanish- and Mediterranean-influenced fare (think: oxtail paella, mushroom shawarma, harissa-rubbed prawns) in a swanky dining room filled with live music. Coral Gables is also home to high-end shopping and wellness. (Be sure to try one of Toska Spa & Facial Bar's celebrity-loved facials.)
The grand lobby of Biltmore Hotel Miami Coral Gables
As for where to stay in town, the answer is obvious. Opened in 1926, The Biltmore Hotel Miami Coral Gables is a local legend that's famed for its storied history—it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986—distinguished guests from Judy Garland to Franklin D. Roosevelt, and elevated but laid-back experience. Nearly a century later, The biltmore still holds court as one of Miami's best hotels.
For starters: the design is spectacular. A striking example of Mediterranean Revival architecture, the 315-foot-tall property stretched across 150-plus acres commands your attention long before you've pulled up. Inside, the lobby continues to impress with hand-painted barrel-vaulted ceilings, towering marble columns, and handsome mahogany furnishings. Instead of a bland playlist, you ears will pick up on the cheerful chirps of finches from their nine-foot-tall birdcages.
A Junior Suite at Biltmore Hotel Miami Coral Gables
Thanks to a $25 million renovation that wrapped in 2018, the 271 guest rooms and suites are spacious retreats, boldly accented with shades of deep amethyst, robin egg blue, and gold, and classically done up with the essentials for a good night's sleep. Even better? All of the accommodations offer breathtaking views, whether you're overlooking the 18-hole championship golf course or taking in the city skyline.
The Biltmore Spa at Biltmore Hotel Miami Coral Gables
Since The Biltmore is a full-service resort, you might not want to leave after you've checked in. The massive outdoor pool is among the country's largest—and best enjoyed with a private cabana—while golf and tennis fanatics will flip for the Donald Ross-designed championship course, Jim McLean Golf School, and nine hard courts. When it's time to unwind, head to The Biltmore Spa, a 12,000-square-sanctuary for massages—the Deep Vine Theraputic Massage is ideal after a long day out—and facials delivered with expert care.
Fontana at Biltmore Hotel Miami Coral Gables
Though the Biltmore's signature restaurant Fontana is open all day and has a stunning fountain-adorned courtyard—which provides a pretty backdrop when the weather is nice—dinner stands out with craveable handmade pastas like the Aragosta Fra Diavolo (spicy lobster linguine) and perfectly grilled meats. And on Sundays, Fontana comes alive for its legendary Sunday Brunch, an extravagant all-you-can-eat affair of caviar, sushi, carved meats, and bottomless sparkling wine.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘We are not a theme park': Overtourism protestors plan huge Mallorca demonstration
A Spanish campaign group leading a movement against overtourism in Mallorca has announced a large-scale protest in June that will see 60 organisations stand in solidarity. Menys Turisme Més Vida (Less Tourism, More Life), an organisation which has led mass protests against the increasing number of tourists jetting off to the island each summer, has revealed it will yet again take to the streets on June 15 to demonstrate. Mallorca, along with other Spanish destinations, is a popular summer hotspot for tourists seeking hot temperatures, sandy beach resorts and villages tucked away at the foothills of limestone mountains. The group was behind a large anti-tourist protest that filled the streets of Palma de Mallorca last summer, demonstrating against skyrocketing housing prices in the wake of a tourist boom on the popular holiday island. Around 10,000 protesters showed up to take part on 21 July 2024, with people walking carrying models of planes, cruise ships and posters reading 'no to mass tourism' and 'stop private jets'. This year, Menys Turisme Més Vida said it will be holding another protest on 15 June, with 60 other anti-tourism groups, trade unions and environmental organisations taking part. The group is calling on Mallorcan residents to join them on the streets at 6pm in Plaça Espanya on the day of the demonstration. Speaking of the successful turnout of last year's mass protest, it said that it will again be protesting to make it 'clear that our territories are not for sale'. The group has called for limits to be put on tourism and the need for a strategy that will not exploit 'the territory, its resources and the marginalisation of residents and their vital needs for the benefit of tourist capital'. In a statement, the campaigners claimed that the tourist industry impoverishes people, makes it hard to access housing and diverts focus from the public sector. The organisation also draws attention to the environmental impact of overtourism, including pollution and carbon emissions. It called out the tourism sector for describing businesses as sustainable, stating that this is a 'manipulation' of language and a denial of the issues. Areas such as Sóller, Artà and Palma are already being affected by tourists, the campaign group said, saying daily life has become 'unbearable'. 'Entire roads and paths cut off by tourist-sports events, record numbers of cruise passengers, streets, squares and markets saturated with tourists, occupied and commercialised, and the situation of the housing problem increasingly bloody and without solutions,' it said. Menys Turisme Més Vida followed up with a statement on its social media that said while 'Mallorca is not against tourism', it cannot be a 'theme park open 24 hours a day'. 'Of course we want you to come. To get lost in the narrow streets of the old town, to sit by the sea in winter, to taste a freshly made ensaimada or listen to Mallorcan in a market. We want to share all that. But without meaning that we stop being who we are,' it said. The group said it will be standing in solidarity with hospitality workers in negotiations for better working environments during the high season, as there is usually an 'exploitation' of the working class during this period. 'We are taking to the streets again to say 'enough', and we will do it as many times as necessary,' it concluded.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
The risk of death is greater than safari goers would like to believe
There's a mistaken assumption that heavy rains halt play for most wildlife. But one thing I've learnt from my 50-plus safaris is that animals – particularly predators – are reliably unpredictable. My most recent uncomfortably close encounter occurred earlier this year during the height of Kenya's rainy season. Thick grey clouds had gathered over the luxury lodge where I was staying on the edge of the Maasai Mara, accelerating the onset of dusk. During daylight hours, it's generally considered safe to walk freely between rooms – even in unfenced areas – so with the sun still hovering above the horizon, I assumed a short dash to the communal dining area would be fine. As I left my fancy villa, furiously scrolling through emails on my phone, I heard a growl far louder than peals of thunder tearing across the plains. Looking up, I saw the back end of a lioness prowling through the undergrowth and I did exactly what I've always been told not to do – I turned around and ran. In reality, she was probably more terrified of the giant two-legged creature encroaching on her territory – but bumping into a big cat in Africa doesn't always end so well. On May 30, businessman Bernd Kebbel was mauled to death by a lioness as he stepped out of his tent to use the toilet. He was camping in Namibia's Hoanib Valley, a remote area where desert-adapted lions roam along seasonal riverbeds. I'd visited the region only two weeks previously and had been thrilled to spot a lion in a region historically ravaged by drought. According to a survey carried out by Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) in 2022/2023, there are less than 100 desert-adapted lions in the country, with numbers fluctuating due to human/wildlife conflict. That population declined further when Charlie, the lioness responsible for the attack, was shot dead by authorities. What happened to Mr Kebbel was tragic, but it's not the first time that foreigners have had fatal run-ins with animals. Last year, an American tourist was killed when an elephant charged their vehicle in Zambia's Kafue National Park. A month earlier, a Spanish traveller was trampled to death by a breeding herd when he stepped out of his car to take a photograph in a South African game reserve. As the safari industry continues to thrive and our appetite for wild encounters grows, our guards have dropped faster than the fences which once enclosed many camps. I've always been an advocate for opening up corridors, allowing elephant herds to follow traditional migratory routes and predator-prey dynamics to naturally evolve. But living alongside wildlife requires careful and cautious planning and as human populations continue to grow, that relationship hangs in a delicate balance. The real problem is not 'them' but 'us' and the safari industry is partly to blame. Cultivated by marketers eager to sell holidays, the romantic, Disneyfied notion of an idyllic wilderness is misguided. On countless game drives, I've watched vehicles edge uncomfortably close to potentially dangerous animals in the hope of getting a better iPhone photograph. There's also an assumption that booking a room in a five-star lodge gives us carte blanche to wander around freely as we would at home. Despite repeated warnings from staff, it's all too easy to switch off our senses – ironically detaching ourselves from an environment where we're encouraged to feel immersed. To their credit, many camps – like Angama Amboseli in Kenya and Dukes in Botswana – are attempting to educate travellers about the true struggles of human and wildlife co-existence. But due to a combination of complacency and over-confidence, too many have lost a healthy, respectful fear for the wild. Of course, not every creature in Africa's forests, plains and oceans is actively set on killing humans. Far from it. Most would prefer to be left to continue their lives undisturbed. But blurring the invisible boundaries which should exist between humans and wild animals can lead to fatal accidents. Every time I look into a lion's eyes, I shudder. Hearing their guttural roars outside my tent still sends me into shivers. That tingling fear is humbling – a reminder of the awesome wonders existing within our natural world. Several years ago, I joined a mobile safari through northern Namibia with the late conservationist Garth Owen Smith. One night, we camped on a dry riverbed, close to the Hoanib Valley. As we fell asleep, listening to lions roar, I asked Owen Smith why nobody had thought to pack a rifle for protection. 'Because we might be tempted to use it,' he replied matter-of-factly. Years later, his response makes total sense. Far more effective than bullets, fear, respect and caution are the greatest weapons we have to protect ourselves in a world which should always be alluringly but dangerously wild. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Spanish Muslims retrace ancient Hajj travel route on horseback from Andalusia to Saudi Arabia
CAIRO (AP) — Three Spanish pilgrims performing the Hajj in Saudi Arabia rode on horseback to Mecca, traveling thousands of kilometers in snow and rain and along a path they said had not been trekked for more than 500 years. Abdelkader Harkassi Aidi, Tarek Rodriguez and Abdallah Rafael Hernandez Mancha set out from southern Spain in October, riding through France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria and Jordan to arrive in Saudi Arabia in May. It was an emotional moment for the trio when they reached Mecca. No pilgrim had traveled this way since 1491, they said. Harkassi said the group's path from Spain took them across about 8,000 kilometers (nearly 5,000 miles) before they reached the Kaaba, the black cube structure in the Grand Mosque in Mecca. 'We had crossed so many kilometers to be there and Allah had replied to our wish,' he told The Associated Press on Thursday from Arafat, southeast of Mecca. "We were in front of the Kaaba and had the opportunity to touch it. So, that 8,000 kilometers became nothing.' During their monthslong journey they came across scenic stretches of nature and historical landmarks in Syria, including the Aleppo Citadel and the Umayyad Mosque. They also found an old railway track built during the time of the Ottoman Empire that connected Istanbul to Saudi Arabia. They followed it for days to help guide them to the desert kingdom. But there were challenges, too. They lost their horses in Bosnia, only to find them later in a landmine zone. Nobody could fetch the horses because of the explosives, but the animals eventually made it out of the area unharmed, Harkassi said. The human element of the trip was the most valuable for the team, he added. 'When we didn't have anything, people helped us with our horses, with our food, they gave us money. When our assistance car got broken, they fixed it for us," Harkassi said. "People have been incredible. I think it's proof that Muslims are united, that the one ummah (nation) that every Muslim longs for is a reality."
