Things to Do in Miami/South Florida Before the Tourists Return

South Florida is a great place to get some winter sun and enjoy a vibrant culture, pristine beaches, and exciting nightlife in one unforgettable vacay. But did you know that Miami and its surrounding areas offer just as much fun and frolic in the fall? September and October boast festivities like Oktoberfest, concerts, and nightclubs minus the crowds, lines, and high prices. It's the perfect time to roam with Roami and experience the best of what the Sunshine State has to offer. From Miami Beach to Fort Lauderdale, let's dive into the top things to do in South Florida before the tourist wave hits!

Go Big: Iconic Magic City and South Florida Fun

While Roamers get less of an offseason vibe hitting big-ticket items like catching a Miami Heat game or touring Everglades National Park, shorter lines and less traffic make it easier to enjoy the big stuff. There's Miami Tower and Vizcaya Museum to explore, Bayside Marketplace to peruse, and Biscayne Bay jet skiing to cool you down. No guide is complete without mentioning them! Roamers can check out more cool options by reading 🔗Popular Things To Do In Downtown Miami and guides on 🔗Roami's Blog.

Catch Live Music on Miami Beach or a Big Downtown Concert

Tourism's low season is the unsung hero of live music on Miami Beach, so autumn means shorter lines and elbow room to salsa, merengue, or whatever moves your feet. No more dancing with arms overhead to fit onto the dance floor; this is the time of year for couples to dance their dance Miami-style. Local talent takes center stage for a more genuine cultural experience. Whether enjoying Puerto Rican-inspired music and showing off your reggaeton moves at the Miami Beach Bandshell or catching the Jonas Brothers at nearby Kaseya Center, getting great seats and dance-floor spots is easier this time of year.  

Fall 2023 brings the Ocean Drive Music Promenade Series, a musical walkabout with artists like Puerto Rican singer/songwriter Pedro Capó: La Neta Tour, the Latin Hip-Hop of Mala Rodriguez, and the wild rhythm-and-blues of Seattle's The Dip. Early October boasts Miami Beach's Billboard Latin Music Week (Oct 2 – Fri, Oct 6). Along with Jonas Brothers (Oct 14), Kaseya Center hosts Depeche Mode (Oct 12). Hop the Brightline to catch groups like Band of Horses (Oct 4) in Fort Lauderdale or book a stay at nearby 🔗Roami at The Palm.  

South Beach Miami Nightlife

After the sun splashes in the ocean, glam it up and hit the nightlife fun in South Beach. The low season makes it easier to get around, so you get more time to chic up before you get down. SoBe nightlife is about being seen and showing off, so let those flouncy sequined skirts fly to the bachata and DJ mastery. With less tourist competition, you'll have your choice of the best bars and clubs and dance the night away. Then there’s nothing better than heading back to your posh Roami, like 🔗The Collins Ave Penthouse by Roami, and cooling off in a rooftop pool with a view.

Savor the Best Restaurants and Best Seats in Miami

From Little Haiti to Little Havana, Brickell to Downtown, and the Upper Eastside, Miami is a melting pot of culture and cuisine. The offseason means more accessible reservations and loads of love on each plate. Not to be outdone by beach fun and nightlife, Magic City's foodie experience is an adventure. Imagine savoring a spicy tuna tartare on a quiet patio, enjoying mojitos as the sun sets—or rises—hey, you're on vacation! Best of all, Miami's dining scene knows why you're here. Even the upscale spots like to blend dining, revelry, and TikTok-tastic views.

The low season is a great time to go big. So, after a day of shopping and perusing the art galleries in Miami Design District, try Contessa Miami for Northern Italian eats like spicy lobster capellini under an eye-catching chandelier. Stroll up to COTE Miami for some Korean-style steak, or party at Mayami Wynwood and enjoy grouper a la Veracruzana. There's Miami Beach's Nossa Omakase for Portuguese tuna and caviar and downtown's Gekko for Japanese olive-fed wagyu steak. Sound tasty? It’s low season, but these are hotspots, so sleep in your Roami, not on those reservations!

Where to stay? We recommend 🔗Roami at Habitat Brickell for immediate access to Brickell Village and Brickell City Centre’s great shopping and a slew of Downtown gourmet restaurants.

Oktoberfest and Brewery Hopping in Fort Lauderdale

While there are, of course, fantastic beers to sip any time of year throughout South Florida and an Oktoberfest in Miami (Oct 13-15 and 20-22, 2023), Fort Lauderdale is the place to be-er when it comes to craft brews and festivities. The Fort Lauderdale Ale Trail offers 500 beer options at over thirty pubs serving beers from over twenty breweries. Many offer guided tours and double-hopped Florida hospitality. Learn more by reading our 🔗Guide to The Fort Lauderdale Ale Trail.

As though FTL's regular brew scene isn’t enough, the Venice of America turns into America's Munich in October. The city's official pub crawl is Oct 8. However, there are ample imbibing events, German dancing, delicious bratwurst, sauerkraut, concerts, and parties in late September and October.

Miami Roamers can ride the Brightline to Fort Lauderdale, book 🔗a Fort Lauderdale Roami like 🔗Roami at The Palm, and enjoy wispy palm branches over a fabulous pool in easy walking distance from the festivities and Fort Lauderdale Beach.    

Coffee Shop Explorations in Miami Beach

First, coffee. Cuban, Haitian, Mexican, Italian… The coffee options in Miami Beach are so yummy traveling here just for the caffeine scene is darn near a thing. And there's nothing better to wake up to after a night of clubbing. While there's plenty of Jo in your Roami, Miami Beach streetside coffee shops are just the thing to out-caffeinate last night's high-octane fun. Open late, they're great for rallying the troops for more dancing and club hopping.  

Take a leisurely morning walk down Collins Avenue, and you'll find cute, Instagrammable coffee shops that offer al fresco fans or good ole AC, sometimes on freeze-mode to beat the heat. There's nothing better than an early-morning sea breeze and an iced Cuban coffee to jumpstart the festivities, and this time of year means plenty of open two-tops for intimate moments with no rush.  

Try the local fave Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar for great lattes, smoothies, and maybe lunch. Or hit up IL Macchiato South Beach for some Italian roast and panini. Pro tip: Crema Gourmet is a quick walk from 🔗Roami at 250 Collins.  

Low Season Room to Roami

From live music on Miami Beach to dining on the best Cuban sandies in Little Havana, ambling down the Ale Trail, or shopping it up in Brickell, South Florida has loads of fun and sunshine to offer in the fall. All that with elbow room on SoBe dance floors and cozy coffee for two in quiet cafes, you've got the perfect tropical vacation. Great sunset views and so much to do, minus the tourist rush!

🔗Book your low-season South Florida adventure with Roami today, and enjoy the season less traveled for a memorable South Florida adventure!