10/17/2026
Day One: Miami, we made it!
Left the house this morning and TSA was quick and easy — well, for me. Jim, on the other hand, got the full treatment. Belt off, shoes off, pat-down. Every. Single. Time. It never fails and I laugh every time. (Sorry babe.)
Flight was smooth — left on time, landed early. Then Miami airport decided to test our legs: that walk from the gate to baggage claim felt like five miles. We even stopped for a bathroom break and STILL beat our luggage to the carousel.
Little travel tip from your advisor: don't call the Uber until your bags are in your hands. I waited, and good thing — we'd have been standing on the curb watching our driver circle.
We're posted up at the Elser Hotel in a two-bedroom suite — king in one room, queen in the other, three bathrooms, full-size fridge, even a washer and dryer. This place is built for extended stays. You tap your key card in the elevator and it only lights up the floors you're allowed on, which I love. Stayed here once before with my daughter, and coming back with Brady this time made those two bedrooms perfect.
Bayside Marketplace is right across the street, so of course we wandered over. Jim and I have a rule: if there's a Ferris wheel, we ride it. The Skyviews wheel did not disappoint — the night views over the water are unreal.
Dinner took a turn — Hard Rock Cafe is closed (pour one out), and Margaritaville wanted a 40-minute wait at 6:30 at night. Hard pass. We landed at the Argentina Steak Grill instead: all-you-can-eat, straight off the grill — steak, chicken, sausage, sweet potatoes, grilled peppers stuffed with cheese — plus a salad bar that went on forever, a bottle of w**e, and dessert. Absolutely worth the detour.
Finished the night wandering the shops with a coconut slush in hand. Because tropical. Because coconut. Non-negotiable.
Tomorrow: shuttle to the port, and we board the MSC World America. Day two, let's go.
Who's been to Bayside? What's your go-to spot there?
