There Aren’t Any Mountains In Miami

A few weekends ago, we decided to try out the ever popular mountain biking at Oleta River State Park, Florida’s largest urban park. Located off of Biscayne Bay, this adrenaline junky’s paradise is best known for its miles of  off-road bicycle trails, ranging from novice to advanced. These paths are marked with signs and should be taken seriously. For first time off-roaders like us, the intermediate trails proved to be difficult and dangerous!

Mountain bikes can be rented on site, along with the helmet. The fee is based on an hourly rate. We rode for two hours and turned in our bikes, physically exhausted but feeling great.  

Impromptu Picnicking

Impromptu picnicking is always exciting especially with a trip to the local fresh market beforehand. We picked up a bag of some goodies at the local market within the Coconut Grove Marina and  headed to Bill Baggs State Park . On our picnic table, we proudly displayed our array of ingredients…a soft warm baguette, creamy Brie cheese, Italian dry salami and a ripe juicy tomato. We effortlessly prepared the Italian inspired baguette and sprinkled this masterpiece with  Olive Oil (loving the spray can packaging). Not sure if it was our hunger or the action of picnicking itself…but those baguettes were divine. To tell you, we finished off the whole loaf with an extra-large bottle of Rogue Dead Guy. For dessert, we topped ourselves off with some chocolate chip cannolis… Magnifique! .

To digest the simple yet delicious gastronomical journey we embarked on, we decided to pack up and take a walk around the beach. Sadly however, the lighthouse at the end of beach was closed. Usually, one can climb to the top for an expansive view of the coastline, as well as the remnants of the Stiltsville.

Chalkboards Aren’t Just for the Classroom

Our new obsession is Chalkboard Paint! Simple and quick, this paint adds creativity to any space. It took us a can and a half to paint two coats at $10 a can. We let it dry for 3 days as the directions instructed, and before we knew it, we had an ample canvas for expressing our ideas, inspirations, goals, and doodles.

We haven’t tried it yet but we heard the 3-D chalk from Crayola is pretty cool!

A Shop that Lives Up to it’s Name

At first glance, the little shop on 1st Ave, caught our attention, with their logo and their  creatively catchy name.  The friendly purple hippo with a sideways hoagie too large to fit in its mouth, played to our youthful side as it brought us back to Milton Bradley’s  ”Hungry Hungry Hippos”. However, this sub shop delivers more than just nostalgia with their size-able fresh subs, home-made soups and crisp salads. Newly opened on January 10th, we decided to give Hungry Hippos a bite.

We ordered a classic, “The Italian,” and their signature sub, ” The Hungry Hippo”. Both subs were packed to the brim with fresh meats, ripe and vibrant vegetables and an unbeatable freshness. Although the subs were delicious, I wasn’t able to finish mine.  Thankfully, my “hungry hippo” of  a boyfriend willingly obliged to finish the job.

Free delivery for orders over $10 and decently priced subs considering their abundant composition, Hungry Hippos is an idyllic spot to indulge a hoagie craving. Check out their Facebook page for daily specials and click here for their full menu.

“The only difference between me and a madman is that I’m not mad.”

He was one of the founding fathers of surrealism, egotistically bizarre, some would even say he was a madman; but at the end of the day Salvador Dali was just a man chasing the unconscious…the world within our dreams. 

It was this cult icon’s paintings that subliminally led us to his museum in St. Petersburg, Fl. A sleepy town which now holds a new and provocative space to display equally provocative art. This three story architecturally modern building has a seemingly never ending spiral staircase and a plethora of imagination. Our favorite, was the Portrait of Abraham Lincoln. One of the museum guards let us in on a secret on how to easily decipher the hidden image within the painting. (Hint: use the reflection of your sunglasses).

The beach side town of St. Petersburg encompasses a boardwalk-esque street lined with local restaurants, shops and historic hotels. The city pier offers panoramic views of the bay, the mainland, and the local airport. Not to mention, a quaint yet entertaining aquarium. 

If you are looking for a unique pitstop while road trippin’, St. Petersburg is definetely worth the while. Lucky for us, we went during the Christmas season and were surprised to find that the park adjacent to our hotel was adorned with lit up Christmas decorations and a faux ice skating rink. 

Recommendations:

The Grayl’s Hotel (built in 1922, old fashioned charm with modern amenities)

Bella Brava Trattoria 

The Dali

The Ale and the Witch

“The Terrific Turkey Taco”

Simple yet colorful, mexican inspired dinner 

Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Cook Time: 15 Minutes

INGREDIENTS  

1lb. ground turkey 

1/2 green pepper

1/2 yellow pepper

1/2 red pepper 

diced tomatoes 

diced white onion

1 tablespoon of minced garlic 

1 teaspoon taco seasoning 

salt, red pepper flakes (discretionary) 

flour tortillas

shredded Mexican cheese blend

DIRECTIONS 

1. Cook turkey on medium heat, as turkey cooks add seasonings 
2. On separate pan, add onions, then add vegetables. Saute.
3. Fold vegetables into fully cooked ground turkey. 

A Cuban “Starbucks”

If you find yourself on the corner of 1st Ave and West Flagler Street in Downtown Miami, the aroma of freshly brewed Cuban coffee will lure you to enter the new coffee shop that is making it’s mark in the city streets. Equipped with a Victoria Arduino expresso machine, fresh pastries, live cuban band and an outdoor terrace perfect for people watching, Roho Cuban Coffee Company has become one of our favorite Sunday morning walking destinations. 

On our last visit, we saw their newest promotion, which we have yet to check out: Sunday’s Unlimited Mimosas for $18.