How to Relax in Busy Miami

It’s a major understatement to say Miami is busy, but it has to be said: Miami is busy – frustratingly busy sometimes. For instance, people drive fast here – like, extremely fast, and with an obvious disregard for traffic laws. Miami Beach 411 writes, “If you came to Miami with the idea that people were going to yield to you in crosswalks, guess again…In Miami, drivers are more likely to stop for one of our many stray roosters than for a pedestrian.”

Miami’s fast buzzing culture can make finding a place to relax difficult, but it’s not entirely impossible. If you know where to look, you can find an abundance of locales and activities that will add calm and relaxation to your life.

Visit One of Miami’s Quietest Beaches

The beach – whether it’s busy or not – always offers some peace of mind. Miami’s beaches are sometimes crowded, but even a crowded beach offers a picturesque view of the ocean, and the ocean is decidedly relaxing. The following beaches aren’t always devoid of human life, but they’re relatively unknown, and therefore your best opportunity for a quiet beachside moment.

• North Shore Open Space Park
• Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Beach
• Haulover Beach Park (caution: nude beach!)
• Homestead Bayfront Park

Visit the Miami Museum of Science and Planetarium

Outside of a few “oohs” and “ahhs,” you’re not going to hear much peanut-gallery-chatter when you visit the Miami Museum’s Observatory Friday nights between 8 pm and 10 pm. The Miami City Guide reports that every Friday night, the Weintraub Observatory offers “close-ups of the planets, four moons of Jupiter, rings of Saturn and deep sky objects like galaxies and nebulas.” After sunset, when the masses are bombarding the area’s bars and restaurants, you’ll be taking your nightlife with a side of tranquility.

Get a Massage At-Home

Miami is home to some very busy spas and salons. If you haven’t yet indulged yourself in the area’s incredible self-care scene, go ahead and try to secure an appointment at Salon Vaso. Don’t expect to just “walk-in.” The upscale salon is very busy, as are most of Miami’s salons and spas. If your ideal spa experience doesn’t include a lot of voices and foot traffic, you may want to book someone to come to your house.

A massage at home is often more relaxing because you’re surrounded by the quietness and comfort of your personal effects. There is no waiting room, no need to disrobe around other patrons, or deal with employee chatter. To make it even more peaceful, try putting on soothing music, or plugging in a water fountain. The following massages are available to take place in your home, at any time:

• Deep tissue
• Swedish
• Sports
• Couples

Visit the Secret Woods Nature Center

As CBS Miami puts it: “It’s hard to imagine in the hustle and bustle of busy South Florida that you can find a quiet, restful piece of nature, but there are several nature centers that offer quick getaways from the concrete jungle into the wilds of South Florida.” And, South Florida is wild! Despite Miami’s soaring skyscrapers, there’s plenty of opportunities to view mangroves and bird watch. Just check out one of these nature centers:

• Secret Woods
• Anne Kolb
• Fern Forest
• A.D. Barnes
• Bill Sadowski

Miami is wonderful in a lot of ways, but the city’s high-energy can be overwhelming at times. During moments of stress, it’s important to seek out your favorite low-energy locales, and indulge in the peace and relaxation they offer.