The Alternative Guide to Spring Break in Miami

If you’re looking for a dose of heart-pumping fun during your stay, but aren’t a fan of jet skis, try your luck on a jet boat. These super-fast boats can carry you and your friends across the Atlantic during a bright spring day while giving you an adrenaline rush. It’s great for groups and those who are seeking an alternative to drinking and sitting on the beach. The price for a boat ride starts at about $30 per person, making it reasonably affordable.

If you believe laughter is the best medicine, you’ll be able to get your fix all throughout the city. Comedy shows take place at the Magic City Casino and the Fillmore Miami Beach, and some local comics put up a good show at Just The Funny. This troupe uses improv and sketch comedy to make its audience laugh, and it’s always a good time. Purchase a snack or a cold beer (or both!) at the front desk, and be prepared to laugh hysterically. These guys know how to tickle your funny bone.

There are quite a few places to get your salsa on, but one of the best is at Cultural Fridays, which takes place the last Friday of every month underneath the glowing moon on Calle Ocho in Little Havana. This area of Miami is where the height of Cuban culture lies, and there are plenty of people who will teach you how to salsa. They’ll show you the footwork and have you twirling around and around in no time. You’ll have so much fun dancing to the sounds of beating drums, and others will join you in on the fun so that you’re not alone. Don’t forget your shot of Cuban coffee and cigars! This free festival is tons of fun.

If you’re in Miami, you should make room for the arts district, where both guests and natives flock to see some of the best street art around. The area is not only home to galleries that open to the public and display amazing exhibitions but also to some great food spots and bars. Have a burger and some cold beer at Wood Tavern on a lazy Sunday, or head to Brick House for some great music and cocktails at night when the party gets started. To see some of the most vivid and inspiring street art pieces, head to the Wynwood Walls and use that as your starting point for the rest of your Wynwood tour.

Try your hand at making some delicious candy that you can either eat all by yourself or share with your friends and family back home. Spun Candy Miami is a great place for friends to go and have fun, sans alcohol. A company that was originally based in London now has a Miami store where guests can visit and take “Masterclasses” in different kinds of candy-making, including lollipop and candy flower making. The classes are generally about 1.5 hours and cost from $25 per child and $60 per adult. Get ready to make some sweets this spring break!

You might be a little taken back at first, but these classes are a ton of fun, especially if you round up a group of your best girlfriends. In your head, it’s something sexy to learn, and maybe something you can take home and show your boyfriend, but in reality, it’s a lot of thighs smashing against poles and sore abs. However, it does make for a great laugh. Instructors jump around on the poles and slide down gracefully, while you might have a hard time even getting off the floor. Pole dancing is an art, and you can learn it at Pole Dance Miami. Even though you won’t learn it in a day, it’s a fun workout.

Escape rooms are essentially huge interactive puzzles. Locked inside of a room with some friends (or strangers), you have to work together to figure out how to crack a code and get out. You have to search for clues that help you piece together a puzzle, and with that information, break a code or find the key to escape. The rooms all have a theme, from Sherlock’s library to the president’s bunker to pulling off a diamond heist. Can you find your way out? You have about 60 minutes.

Take a trip around Star Island via boat and soak up the sun while you get a peek at some of Miami’s most expensive homes. Some of these amazing houses belong to celebrities and athletes. Boats go out each day for about 1.5 hours and cost about $30 per ride. On the island, you can find properties owned by Gloria Estefan, Stewart Miller, Vladislav Doronin, and Leonard Hochstein. The multimillion-dollar houses will blow you away, and you’ll get a nice tan while you’re at it. Also, the boat has a full bar!

This place isn’t just your average bar! Step inside the world where fire and ice collide. Using 100,000 pounds of pure glacial ice to construct the Fire & Ice Bar, the interior is at the freezing temp of 23ºF (-5ºC). Guests wear fur coats and gloves provided to them upon arrival, and then they will get to enjoy their favorite drinks. The bar also holds parties and special events with DJs and other performances, so you’ll want to keep an eye out for that on the calendar. If you get too cold, visit the fire lounge and warm up – it’s the best of both worlds.