Fall foliage. Photo courtesy of jdn.
One of the best times to visit Miami is in the fall. During this season you can enjoy mild temperatures in the high 60s and low 70s Fahrenheit (low 20s Celsius). Moreover, because it’s shoulder season it will be easier to find great deals on flights, accommodations and tours. During autumn, you’ll be able to enjoy an array of seasonal activities and events, some of which include:
Explore the outdoors
Fall weather in Miami is beautiful; not too hot, not too cold. It’s the perfect time to enjoy sunny skies and a comfortable climate in the outdoors. In Miami, you can head to one of the state’s most important natural attractions, Everglades National Park. Encompassing 1,508,538 acres (610,484 hectares), there are many opportunities for outdoor adventure, like hiking, cycling, taking an airboat ride, kayaking, canoeing, seeing wildlife shows, holding alligators and spotting wildlife like ospreys, manatees, Florida panthers, turtles, crocodiles and bottlenose dolphins. Biscayne National Park is another great place to spend time in the outdoors. Made up of 181,500 acres (73,450 hectares), you’ll have plenty of space to enjoy beautiful landscapes and activities. And of course, no trip to the city would be complete without visiting Miami’s best beaches, some of which include Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, South Beach and 85th Street Beach. Partaking in outdoor recreation is one of the top things to do in Miami.
Sample farm-to-table culture
There’s something about autumn that makes people want to farm and enjoy fresh produce and local ingredients. Get in the spirit by visiting some of the local farmer’s markets in and around Miami, like Normandy Village Market Place (Saturdays from 9am to 5pm, year-round), Lincoln Road Farmers’ Market (Sundays from 9am to 6:30pm, year-round), and Coconut Grove Organic Farmers Market (Saturdays from 10am to 7pm, year-round). You can also dine in the city’s farm-to-table restaurants, some of which include 1500 Degrees (4525 Collins Avenue), Essensia Restaurant (3025 Collins Avenue) and Florida Cookery at The James Royal Palm (1545 Collins Avenue).
Attend a festival
Festivals abound in Miami during autumn, making it a great time to visit for added fun. Attend the Miami Carnival, an event focused on Caribbean culture that takes place every October. You’ll enjoy a Mardi Gras-style parade, live music and delicious Caribbean food. Oktoberfest also takes place in Miami during the fall on the last two weekends in October. Attendees can immerse themselves in German culture through music, food, dancing, fashion and, the highlight of the event, beer. If visiting Miami during the fall, make sure to also check out the world famous South Miami Art Festival, which has been taking place for over 40 years. Over the course of two days in November, 50,000 people will attend the event, perusing juried art from a wide variety of mediums and getting the chance to interact with the artists.
