This summer hasn’t been so easy for the heat sensitive. And when you live in the tropical Miami, Florida it’s not so easy to escape the sweltering sun, even if you are spending the day at the beach.
My friends and I have been searching for new ways to stay cool this summer without using so much energy from our air conditioners. The ever so popular Miami Beach gets unbelievably crowded even before 11a.m. that you’re sharing beads of sweat with your next towel neighbour. It hasn’t been easy. Every step you take outside produces a climbing heart rate that nears you to towards heat exhaustion.
These are a few tips we’ve come up with to ease the summer heat while minimizing your detrimental footprint, and expand the footprint you make by contributing to the destination.
1. Stay away from crowded beaches
Try visiting beaches that aren’t so crowded that you’re sharing a beach towel with the stranger to either side of you. If visiting Miami, the beaches a few streets north of South Beach may be thinner by size, but are less frequented by other tourists. If you’re really up for it, the drive to Palm Beach via A1A is not only beautiful, but the beaches that far north from the Miami-Dade county line are more quiet from the rowdy bunch of South Beach.
2. Head to the open fields
It’s true what they say. A city like Miami and New York capture much of the heat during a hot day. One weekend a group of us drove about an hour and a half south to Homestead, Florida. This part of Miami-Dade county is known for the open fields where farmers usually grow organic vegetables and fruits. One such farm, Knaus Berry Farms, allows you to pick your own strawberries, tomatoes and even other veggies like peppers. Knaus Berry is also famous for their sweetly made cinnamon rolls. I haven’t ever been a huge fan since my teenage days of spending afternoons in the mall where the smell Cinnabon enriched the food court, but the Amish bakers of Knaus Berry Farms have outdone themselves. Even I couldn’t stop at just one sticky cinnamon roll.
Standing in the middle of Knaus Berry strawberry fields. Yes... that's me.
In Homestead, while this part of the state isn’t as close to the coast, the openness makes you acutely aware of the summer breeze that tangles your hair (if you’ve got long hair that is).
If you’re going to make the trip to Homestead you’ve got to stop at Robert Is Here. Starting when he was six years old, Robert would sell limes on the corner of his house. Since his first few days were a miserable no sell, Robert’s father made a sign saying, “Robert Is Here” to notify passing drivers that Robert is indeed there. Some 30 years later Robert is still there. Only these days he’s selling much more than limes. Robert is known for these delicious and enormously served fresh fruit shakes to help you cool down even more.
3. Lounge by the bay
Having Biscayne Bay as a backyard is perfect for these hot summer days. The wind tunnels through and over the bay to hit the shores and cool down the lucky. And lucky you are if you plant your perfect spot on the bay in Coconut Grove. Here, boats are docked, fishermen come and go, and if you think your hair got tangled in Homestead, that was an understand.
A view of the boat docks of Biscayne Bay
Best day to spend a day by the bay would be Saturdays, when the Coconut Grove farmers market is open on Grand Avenue and you can pick up your choice of an organic lunch. This is where the farmers from Homestead come to you with organic fruits, veggies, grains and anything else you can possibly conjure up. You can even pick up a freshly made avocado salad and other ready-to-go servings or pies, juices and more.
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Is it hotter outside than usual? Or is it just me?
This summer hasn’t been so easy for the heat sensitive. And when you live in the tropical Miami, Florida it’s not so easy to escape the sweltering sun, even if you are spending the day at the beach.
My friends and I have been searching for new ways to stay cool this summer without using so much energy from our air conditioners. The ever so popular Miami Beach gets unbelievably crowded even before 11a.m. that you’re sharing beads of sweat with your next towel neighbour. It hasn’t been easy. Every step you take outside produces a climbing heart rate that nears you to towards heat exhaustion.
These are a few tips we’ve come up with to ease the summer heat while minimizing your detrimental footprint, and expand the footprint you make by contributing to the destination.
1. Stay away from crowded beaches
Try visiting beaches that aren’t so crowded that you’re sharing a beach towel with the stranger to either side of you. If visiting Miami, the beaches a few streets north of South Beach may be thinner by size, but are less frequented by other tourists. If you’re really up for it, the drive to Palm Beach via A1A is not only beautiful, but the beaches that far north from the Miami-Dade county line are more quiet from the rowdy bunch of South Beach.
2. Head to the open fields
It’s true what they say. A city like Miami and New York capture much of the heat during a hot day. One weekend a group of us drove about an hour and a half south to Homestead, Florida. This part of Miami-Dade county is known for the open fields where farmers usually grow organic vegetables and fruits. One such farm, Knaus Berry Farms, allows you to pick your own strawberries, tomatoes and even other veggies like peppers. Knaus Berry is also famous for their sweetly made cinnamon rolls. I haven’t ever been a huge fan since my teenage days of spending afternoons in the mall where the smell Cinnabon enriched the food court, but the Amish bakers of Knaus Berry Farms have outdone themselves. Even I couldn’t stop at just one sticky cinnamon roll.
Standing in the middle of Knaus Berry strawberry fields. Yes... that's me.
In Homestead, while this part of the state isn’t as close to the coast, the openness makes you acutely aware of the summer breeze that tangles your hair (if you’ve got long hair that is).
If you’re going to make the trip to Homestead you’ve got to stop at Robert Is Here. Starting when he was six years old, Robert would sell limes on the corner of his house. Since his first few days were a miserable no sell, Robert’s father made a sign saying, “Robert Is Here” to notify passing drivers that Robert is indeed there. Some 30 years later Robert is still there. Only these days he’s selling much more than limes. Robert is known for these delicious and enormously served fresh fruit shakes to help you cool down even more.
3. Lounge by the bay
Having Biscayne Bay as a backyard is perfect for these hot summer days. The wind tunnels through and over the bay to hit the shores and cool down the lucky. And lucky you are if you plant your perfect spot on the bay in Coconut Grove. Here, boats are docked, fishermen come and go, and if you think your hair got tangled in Homestead, that was an understand.
A view of the boat docks of Biscayne Bay
Best day to spend a day by the bay would be Saturdays, when the Coconut Grove farmers market is open on Grand Avenue and you can pick up your choice of an organic lunch. This is where the farmers from Homestead come to you with organic fruits, veggies, grains and anything else you can possibly conjure up. You can even pick up a freshly made avocado salad and other ready-to-go servings or pies, juices and more.
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