If South Beach [1] is your glamorous high school crush all decked out in next year’s hot fashions and partying until breakfast, Miami Beach is your grandparents. The high-rise condos along the beach are home to battalions of retirees, and although the area has plenty of high-dollar apartment towers catering to young professionals, the difference between this quiet and slightly worn-looking area and the vibrant environment of South Beach couldn’t be starker.
As a result, it can also be somewhat more enjoyable. The beaches are far more accessible and often quite a bit less crowded (though never—ever—empty), and there are pockets of hipness with excellent friendly shops and restaurants that are just about as tired of the shallow South Beach scene as you are.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/florida/miami/sights/south-beach