By Kevin Gray
South Florida’s Gold Coast, a 70-mile, sun-kissed corridor that encompasses major seaside cities from Miami to Palm Beach, has risen to a level of world-class sophistication. Immense commercial growth has connected these cities like never before, making the coastal A1A Highway apt for a luxurious weekend road trip.
Each destination brings its own distinct personality to the mix, making for a getaway packed with varied sights, sounds, and flavors.
Miami glitters with bold contemporary art and scene-y restaurants, while Fort Lauderdale, once known for spring break revelry, now thrives with an upscale dining and shopping scene. Pompano Beach has transformed into a paradise for luxury beachfront living but hasn’t lost its laid-back appeal, and farther north, the refined elegance of Palm Beach can be enjoyed through its historic architecture and blue-chip galleries. Whether exploring your own city or embarking on a weekend escape, we’ve gathered the best of what South Florida has to offer.
Day 1: Explore Miami’s Art and Design Districts
Start your day off in style by renting a yacht at the fashionable Joia Beach Club, set on a private beach with a dining venue that serves up just-caught seafood, grilled meats, and live music. More adventurous types can head to Coconut Grove Sailing Club, which offers comprehensive sailing programs from beginner to advanced levels with certified instructors on a range of boats.
Art aficionados will want to spend the afternoon museum-hopping across the city. The Herzog & de Meuron-designed Pérez Art Museum Miami is a modern marvel in itself and houses 20th- and 21st-century works by artists like Olafur Eliasson and John Baldessari. For old-world grandeur, check out Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in Coconut Grove, a National Historic Landmark overlooking Biscayne Bay. Built in the 1920s, the 34-room Italian Renaissance mansion is a treasure trove of European art and antiques. Miami’s Allapattah neighborhood has emerged as the city’s newest cultural corridor, transforming industrial spaces into galleries, including the latest iteration of the Rubell Museum, stocked with one of the world’s largest private contemporary art collections, and, across the street, Superblue, a 50,000-square-foot space with interactive digital and contemporary art exhibitions from the likes of James Turrell. Now in its 25th year, the open-air museum Wynwood Walls continues to give prominent street artists a platform to showcase their work, while Locust Projects, Miami’s longest-running alternative art space and incubator, recently moved to an 8,000-square-foot warehouse in Little River to showcase even more emerging creatives.
For dinner, pop into The Moore for modern American dishes at Elastika served beneath a four-story sculpture by Zaha Hadid, or Mother Wolf for rich and soulful Italian. Of course, there’s always Joe’s Stone Crab, a Miami Beach institution since 1913, famed for its stone crab claws served with a tangy mustard sauce.
Day 2: Shop and Attend a Soccer Match in Fort Lauderdale
The next day, drive north to Fort Lauderdale, which has gracefully evolved from a rowdy spring break destination into a well-mannered coastal haven. Las Olas Boulevard serves as the city’s stylish spine, where upscale shops, from Saks Fifth Avenue to Tiffany & Co., are housed in Mediterranean Revival architecture. Nearby, Vinos Wine Bar and Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar are popular spots for after-shopping peckishness.
History buffs will love Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, a 35-acre estate just steps from the beach, which offers intimate glimpses into 1920s coastal living through its collection of Impressionist artwork and orchid-filled gardens.
Sports fans should head to Chase Stadium to watch Argentine soccer legend Lionel Messi play for his team, Inter Miami CF; the stadium underwent significant expansions to accommodate the unprecedented demand for tickets.
Dine downtown at The Katherine. James Beard-nominated chef Timon Balloo named the restaurant after his wife, Marissa Katherine, with dishes that celebrate their shared history and travels, including short rib orecchiette, which is an ode to their sojourns in Italy.
Meanwhile, the riverwalk promenade is buzzing thanks to a recent upgrade. Sitting at the west end is the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, whose exceptional productions rival any metropolitan stage. Similarly, The Parker, a cornerstone of Fort Lauderdale’s cultural scene, hosts everything from classical orchestras to contemporary dance troupes in its renovated performance hall.
Day 3: Relax in Pompano Beach
Often referred to as the “wreck capital” of Florida, Pompano Beach is a prime spot for scuba diving and snorkeling. A designated Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve, the SS Copenhagen, which sank in 1900, lies in shallow waters, making it accessible for snorkelers and divers to get a close-up view.
On land, the Sample-McDougald House, located within Centennial Park, is worth a tour. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 4,700-square-foot Colonial Revival residence showcases early 20th-century Floridian architecture and design. Afterward, climb to the top of Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse, opened in 1907, for panoramic views.
There’s always something on show at “The Amp”—Pompano Beach Amphitheater. The almost 3,000-seat, tensile-fabric-covered structure is one of South Florida’s most beloved venues. On show in 2025 are the likes of Neil Diamond, Chase Rice, and ZZ Top.
The culinary scene at Pompano Beach reaches its apex at Oceanic, where floor-to-ceiling windows frame expansive ocean vistas and you can enjoy a fresh-seafood menu (the lobster roll is a crowd favorite). At Café Maxx, an institution since 1984, order its perennial standouts: sweet onion-crusted snapper and tuna sashimi pizza. For the ultimate oceanfront sundowner, sip on a grapefruit smash at the rooftop lounge at Beach House Pompano.
Day 4: Savor History in Palm Beach
Palm Beach unfolds along palm-lined boulevards with storied mansions, luxury boutiques, and upscale restaurants frequented by high-society snowbirds escaping cold weather climates.
In 1902, railroad titan Henry Flagler flaunted his wealth by building Whitehall (now known as the Flagler Museum), a 75-room winter retreat that epitomizes Gilded Age opulence. Take a guided tour of the Beaux-Arts masterpiece’s grand halls and Louis XVI-style grand ballroom.
At the 1940s-era Norton Museum of Art, founded by industrialist Ralph Hubbard Norton to house his private art collection, more than 8,000 artworks are on display, from Chinese ceramics to Jackson Pollock paintings. Don’t miss the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens nearby, where more than 100 works from the late artist are housed in her former home, including eight monumental brick sculptures in the garden.
To indulge in posh window shopping, stroll down Worth Avenue, where designer boutiques like Lilly Pulitzer and Ferragamo sit shoulder to shoulder. The active set can get moving outdoors by renting a bike and cruising the Palm Beach Lake Trail along the Intracoastal Waterway or tee off at the glitzy Palm Beach Par 3 to enjoy ocean and waterway views.
In the evening, revel in a French-inflected culinary experience in West Palm Beach’s Pistache, serving bistro classics, or Le Bilboquet, whose Cajun chicken has reached near-mythical status. Seafood lovers should head to PB Catch for just-shucked oysters and lobster.
