As much as I want to leave home for college, I can not help but already mourn the privileged life I have led as a Miami native.
Where else is it socially acceptable to trade t-shirts for bikini tops and have that perfectly sun-kissed skin year-round? Or, sporadically run into influencers like Alix Earle or billionaires cruising down the streets in McLarens?
While home to the rich and famous, Miami and its suburbs cater to us all. Living in the Palmetto Bay/Pinecrest area, I have always complained about the ordinary days in the small suburb, but the location is truly superb. Fifteen minutes from Coconut Grove for fabulous food, or from Merrick Mall for a shopping day and you can even venture the 30-minute trek to Crandon Beach for a day. Being in the nook of Miami is not so bad after all.
A few weeks ago, I walked the Key Biscayne bridge, relishing in the beachy breeze and the mesmerizing Miami Skyline, and thought, “How could I ever leave?”
I mean, the shopping options are simply amazing. From bougie boutiques in Bal Harbour and tacky tourist shops on Miami Beach to easy access to up-and-coming malls like Dadeland or Aventura. Miami locals know how to stay in style.
Moreover, Miami’s niche areas like Wynwood and Design District have colorful, creative activities and shops for everyone to enjoy. Candlemaking, vintage shopping, art galleries and knick-knacks galore–these one-of-a-kind places provide visitors with an equally unique experience and are only a metro ride away.
Aside from location, let’s talk locals—they are truly the spark of Miami. Friendly yet fierce, Miami has a special cultural blend that many cities do not see. I mean, my cousins from New York have never had Cuban food. That was a culture shock for me to hear. As Miamians, we have grown up hearing different dialects, appreciating foreign foods and dancing to the beats of all sorts of drums.
I look around the halls of my school and see people from so many different backgrounds and cultures, knowing that many across the country may not be accustomed to such flourishing diversity.
Miami is proud of its plethora of cultures, it honors and celebrates them from murals to parades; you can see them in ethnic hubs such as Little Havanna, to the Caribbean culture in Overtown.
Every group is a piece to the beautifully complex city we call home—the rich cuisine and the blending of traditions and music make Miami culture distinct from the rest—and when you leave, I promise you will miss it.
