This is why I drive instead of fly. By the time flights are re-arranged, cancelled, end up in the wrong cities, etc. you could have driven there. I just got back from south Florida and I drove the S. 12 hour drive. It's long but so what? I graduated from the S1997 school of travel.

 

Four hours is definitely too short to leave. Nine hours is long enough to give you some time to do something, but not a whole lot of it.

All else being the same, I would probably just want to sleep somewhere as long as I could stretch out and lie flat.

When I went through Heathrow last spring I happened to have been upgraded to first class. BA has a really nice lounge for the first class passengers there. I wouldn't have minded all that much being stuck in it for a few more hours than I was.

 

Try driving to Hawaii.

 

Mike, you are such a kidder. Does everyone is Seattle have your wit?

 

I'd try to grab lunch at Joe's Stone Crab, 11 Washington Ave., Miami

www.joesstonecrab.com

 

No, thankfully.

 

Driving to Aruba would be a good idea. So, I called the Science Center here in Pittsburgh and inquired about tying my Durango on top of their submarine and sail me down.
I do agree with you airlines always have a way to screw with your vacation.

 

BG, that's not new for the area. I flew down to Miami for a business meeting almost 25 years ago, and couldn't get directions at a gas station (per-GPS). MIA was only a little better at that time.

JG, you could drive to Venezuela and take a puddle jumper across. Although the ride across eastern Panama and Columbia might be a bit of an adventure, come to think of it, the whole thing could be quite an adventure.

 

OK here goes NOTHING....

CLUBS : Level, Space, Crobar, Deep, Howl at the Moon, Banana Joe's, Oxygen.... don't know many others.

People Watch & : Wet Willies, Fat Tuesday (Both Cocowalk & SoBe), Mangos, Clevlander.. most are on Ocean Drive in South Beach.

Places to Eat: Mango's (as well as drink/people watch) China Grill, Versalles, PF Changs, Bed, La Caretta, Los Novillos, Larios, Cheese Cake Factory, Hustons, Flannigan's.
Drive : Up and down Ocean Drive, Washington Ave, Collins Ave (All Miami Beach), US1 through the Gables. Head up for Ft. Lauderdale and do Las Olas/Riverfront.

Things to do/visit: The Collection in Coral Gables. Gotta check out them Ferrrari's. Village @ Merrick Park, Sunset Place, Lincoln Road, Aventura Mall has cool shops in it. South Beach.. obviously. Riverfront in Lauderdale. Lots of small bars to hit.

Overall I would say South Beach because most of the places are within walking distance.

I think I've pretty much thought up enough for now. If I remember something else I'll post it. Good luck on your trip.

"WELCOME TO MIAMI, HAVE A NICE DAY!"

 

Couldn't they just use the Miami Transit System to get around?