LITTLE HAVANA – MIAMI, FL

LITTLE HAVANA, MIAMI, FL – USA

Little Havana is just like Cuba but it’s located right here in Miami, Florida – USA.

For my husband and I to get to Cuba we had to first fly to Florida. It’s worth a trip to Florida’s “Little Havana” before hopping over to Cuba as most Cubans say it reminds them of their homeland. 

Located in the heart of Miami, Little Havana is where many Cuban immigrants settled. There is definitely a close knit Cuban vibe here. About a block east from the Little Havana Visitor Center is a park locales call ‘Domina Park’.

Men, and a few women, sit around all day in groups of four playing dominoes. Officially the park is called, “Maximo Gomez Park” named after Maximo Gomez who fought for Cuban independence from Spain.

Cigar shops are on just about every corner in Little Havana. Cigar smoke smell is thick in the air in Little Havana. I wondered if they were the famous Cuban Cigars?  We watched as cigar shop owners roll their own Cuban cigars just like their forefathers did in Cuba. Unlike most cities, the atmosphere is one of close family where everyone seems to know everyone. Entertainers and street buskers fill SW 8th street. There is a free walking tour of Little Havana (typically at 7pm). Call the Little Havana Visitor Center to find out more about the tour.

 

At Domino Plaza (Calle 8, between 13th and 17th Avenues)on the third Friday of the month, Little Havana Viernes Culturales takes place.  It’s Miami’s popular art and culture festival. 

It seemed fitting to go to the La Carreta Restaurant for lunch because the owner was from Cuba and they claim they serve “original Cuban cuisine”. I ordered a Cuban sandwich which I didn’t find very appealing. Not liking this restaurant’s food made me wonder if I may not be eating when we got to Cuba if this was how Cuban food tasted. However, happily, I found Cuban food is REALLY GOOD, so this restaurant was not a good opening for my taste buds portraying Cuban cuisine. It turns out, the Cuban Sandwich was not created in Cuba. It was created by Cuban Americans right here in the USA.

Biltmore Hotel – Coral Gables, Florida

About 3 miles away, is the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. It’s a grand building originally built by George Merrick (founder of the University of Miami) in 1924-1926 as a country club with an entertainment facility and 400 rooms. Its Moorish and Spanish architecture is the same you can see in Cuba. 

Royalty and celebrities have stayed there from the Duke & Duchess of Windsor to Judy Garland and President Roosevelt. It turned into a hospital during WWII and fell into decay in 1968. 

In 1983 the city of Coral Gables restored the Biltmore to its former glory to the tune of $55 million. It remained open for three years then closed again in 1990. Finally in 1992 Seaway Hotels Corporation took over operations and sank another $40 million into a 10 year restoration project that included a large pool (one of the largest hotel pools in the USA). Rooms are about $280 to $405 a night. If you don’t stay there, it’s still just a wonderful, beautiful place to walk through as you try to imagine what it was like in the 1920’s when it was in all its grandeur.  

CLICK on the town to explore!

• DAY 1 – LITTLE HAVANA, MIAMI, FL – USA  
  (spent 1 night in FL)
• DAY 2 – HOLGUIN (spent night in Holguin – Hotel Paradisus)
• DAY 3 – BIRAN & SANTIAGO 
  (spend 2 nights in Santiago – Media Hotel)
  
• DAY 4 – SANTIAGO & CAYO GRANMA
• DAY 5 & 6 –  BAYAMO & CAMAGUEY 
  
  

  (spent 1 night in Camaguey – Hotel Santa Maria)

• DAY 7 – SPIRITUS SANCTI, VILLA CLARA (Santa Clara) & CAYO SANTA MARíA CAY  
  (spent 2 nights in Cayo Santa Maria Cay – dinner all inclusive – Iberostar Hotel)

• DAY 8 – REMEDIOS & CAIBARIEN
• DAY 9 –CIENFUEGOS & HAVANA 
  (spent 2 nights in Havana – Melia Habana)
• DAY 10 & 11 – HAVANA