The Top 5 Reasons to Visit Bal Harbour, Florida Now
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A tranquil and luxurious enclave at the northern tip of Miami Beach—Bal Harbour is famous for the upscale Bal Harbour Shops and lavish oceanfront resorts with white sand beaches. With Haulover Inlet as its northern border, Biscayne Bay to the west and endless Atlantic Ocean to the east, the views are picturesque from any vantage point. These are the top five reasons why Bal Harbour, Florida should be on your bucket list.
Source: Visit Bal Harbour
1. THE SHOPPING
Discerning shoppers from around the globe seek out the Bal Harbour Shops featuring premier luxury brands, designers and boutiques. As an internationally renowned shopping destination, and favorite playground for socialites, fashionistas and celebrities—discover an exquisite collection of designer boutiques, department stores and restaurants in a lush tropical garden setting.
Retailers at Bal Harbour Shops include Salvatore Ferragamo, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Brioni, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Goyard, Harry Winston, Prada, Richard Mille, Van Cleef & Arpels, Versace, and luxurious Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue department stores as anchors.
2. THE ART
Known for its provocative and innovative exhibitions, Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami has numerous installations on display each year and is always seeking a fresh approach when examining art of our times. MOCOA is also the permanent home to more than 400 works of art from worldwide contemporary artists such as Keith Haring. This collection has also been on loan in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, London's Tate Modern and Barcelona's Contemporary Museum of Art to name a few.
Source: Visit Bal Harbour
The most striking feature is a vast fountain at the entrance of Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami that's often activated to showcase some sort of floating or water-friendly art piece. The plaza space through which you’ll pass before heading inside is often dressed with art as well—whether hanging from the palm trees or strung in the air, every cubic inch is used to display art to the community.
Nestled in Miami’s hip Wynwood district, Wynwood Walls is a feast for the eyes. Miami’s original street art museum encompasses 80,000 square feet of internationally renowned outdoor murals, created by more than 50 artists spanning 16 countries since its inception. Experience the world’s most celebrated urban revitalization projects and an oasis for cutting-edge creativity up close while walking through the streets of Wynwood.
3. THE COCKTAILS & CUISINE
The palm-fringed Champagne Bar at Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club reflects the soulful charm and glamour of The Surf Club’s early years, enhanced by a modern collection of imaginative cocktails. For your artisanal cocktail fix, we recommend trying the Surf Club Sling—concocted with Hendricks Gin, passion fruit, maraschino, benedictine, pineapple, lemon, and house-made toasted coconut grenadine.
Chosen for evoking the leisurely lifestyle of an Italian summer, Lido Restaurant and Terrace at The Surf Club celebrates its place as the best oceanfront dining experience in the Miami Beaches. Signature dishes include Branzino with Mediterranean sea bass, rainbow chard, salsa palermitana, and citronette, Filetto with filet of beef, cippolini onions, roasted sunchoke and red wine sauce, Capesante with Hokkaido sea scallop, Siberian caviar, puffed farro, and ver jus, as well as Bluefin Tuna Tartare with rhubarb, preserved lemon and wild rice.
Take the time to indulge your sweet tooth and enjoy one of many decadent desserts such as Tiramisu with mascarpone cream and espresso or Key Lime Pie with toasted meringue. Hungry yet?
4. THE GARDENS
The Miami Beach Botanical Garden is a lush, tropical oasis in the heart of Miami Beach. The three-acre landscape is filled with 100 palm species, orchids and native plants such as the corky stem, which attracts Florida’s state butterfly, and the black-and-yellow striped zebra longwing. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of South Beach to enjoy the beauty of stunning orchids, the tranquility of the Japanese Garden and the beautiful koi pond.
The Miami Beach Botanical Garden has several distinct garden areas to explore. Highlights include spotting orchids in the trees and along the ground, marveling at the garden’s largest and oldest palms in its northeast corner, and breathing in the sweet scent of the ylang-ylang tree. Meander through the gardens and enjoy a tropical escape in the heart of Miami Beach.
5. THE ARCHITECTURE
Construction of the Monastery of St. Bernard de Clairvaux began in the year 1133 A.D. in Sacramenia, near Segovia in northern Spain. In 1925, William Randolph Hearst purchased the Cloisters and the Monastery's outbuildings. The Ancient Spanish Monastery was dismantled stone by stone, packed in more than 11,000 wooden crates and shipped to the United States.
Soon after the shipment arrived, Hearst's financial problems forced most of his collection to be sold at auction. The massive crates remained in a warehouse in Brooklyn, New York, for 26 years. One year after Hearst’s' death in 1952, they were purchased by two entrepreneurs for use as a tourist attraction in Southeast Florida. It took 19 months to put the Ancient Spanish Monastery back together. In 1953 Time magazine called it “the biggest jigsaw puzzle in history.”
WHERE TO STAY IN BAL HARBOUR, FLORIDA
Arrive to the storied entrance and explore the sights and scenery of The Surf Club as you stroll down Peacock Alley. Ushering in a new era of elegance, the five-diamond Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club might have a storied past—a glittering list of names including Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor and Winston Churchill—but the sense of possibility and timeless values for which it has always been cherished remain as strong as ever. Surrounded by hand-painted vines and lush greenery, you’ll feel connected to the hotel’s legendary past.
The hotel's location within the Surfside district gives guests a quieter, beautiful stretch of beach lined with cushioned lounge chairs and umbrellas, and includes food and beverage service. Two heated outdoor pools can be found between the hotel and the beach. With views of the Atlantic Ocean or the city, guest rooms and suites are bathed in natural light by floor-to-ceiling windows and feature a refreshing color palette that echoes the classic Surfside combination of sand, sea and sun. Opt for an ocean bungalow, with privileged beach and pool views, the true soul of the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club. Book below to reserve your room at the lowest price, guaranteed.
Note: This information was accurate when this article was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
