On holiday one of the things that many people like to do is shop. Airports have almost become retailers as well as places to catch flights and when we get to our destinations, there are shops to galore to pander to our whims. In some places it hardly seems as though you are abroad since the names often seem the same. There’s another Gucci, another Yves St Laurent,, another Hugo Boss.
Why go if you can already find it close to where you live. Otherwise the only reason is because it might be cheaper than back home.
So what might appeal would be something different. How about combining shopping and the opportunity to sightsee?
In Miami in Florida there is something called Bayside which is a shopping complex as well as a base for boat tours. It is also about 10 minutes away from the cruise terminals so its easy to stop off either on your way to join a cruise or on your way back to catch the flight home.
There are over 100 shops and most are open 365 days of the year, yes even Christmas day and Easter Sunday. There are 37 restaurants or take-aways. You can hire a bike to ride around for the day or you can just sit and watch the views on the water. The boat tours (there are only 11 so the problem might be which one do you choose?) can take you around the port or into Biscayne Bay to see the houses of the rich and famous or some fishing. Hire a jetski or if you don’t fancy the shopping you might fancy trying one of 130 beers at the Yard House.
Try also visiting it at night. It’s open until 10pm most nights and the bay looks very different when its lit up at night. And don’t forget when you arrive, go to the information desk because, like most American shopping centres, there are books of vouchers. You may not use all of them but there will be some that at least help reduce your meal bills!