Coming from DC, staying at the InterContinental in Miami was a smart choice. The main reason was convenience; it's right next to Bayfront Park, and a taxi from the airport was probably only around $20. Since check-in wasn't until 3 PM, and Americans are unlikely to be flexible, we landed around 10 AM and took a taxi directly to Sawgrass Mills—the largest outlet mall in the US—which cost about $50. Our driver was Colombian, and we chatted the whole way. The shopping experience there was even better than Woodbury; they had all the major brands, and especially since Miami is so hot, they had a full range of fall/winter styles and sizes. We reluctantly took a taxi back to the hotel around 4 PM; the Black driver was quite aggressive, and there was some traffic getting into the city. Upon arrival, the bellhop enthusiastically helped with our luggage (a tip was a must), and check-in went smoothly. We booked a partial bay view king room. The room wasn't huge, about 20+ square meters, with a king-sized bed that was about two meters wide. The bedding was very comfortable, and the bathroom had both a tub and a shower. Overall, it felt relatively new, and the cleanliness met InterContinental standards. After a short rest on the first night, we went to the Kaseya Center to watch an NBA game between the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks. We got nosebleed seats on the app for only $32 each, a $12 premium. The arena was just a ten-minute walk from the hotel, very close and convenient. The atmosphere was incredible, much better than Wukesong. Especially with the live DJ, hot dances, and big screen transitions, it truly lived up to its reputation as Shaq and Hardaway's home court. The viewing experience was on par with Madison Square Garden in New York; Americans are all about eating, drinking, and having fun during the game. We embraced the local culture and bought popcorn, pizza, hot dogs, and beer (they didn't ask for ID, but it was a bit pricey at $15). Amidst all the cheering, the Heat won 106:102 in a nail-biter. The next day, we had an early morning shuttle to Key West, so we didn't book breakfast at the hotel. There's a Starbucks inside the InterContinental, and grabbing two packed breakfasts for $40 in the morning was very convenient. The shuttle pick-up point was just a few hundred meters from the hotel, outside the Holiday Inn. We stopped at CVS for snacks and water. The day trip was booked on Viator for only $49 per person round trip to Key West, though activities there cost extra. The shuttle departed at 7:30 AM, stopping at McDonald's for a 30-minute break for supplies around 9 AM. After that, it was a series of 'keys' and scenic overseas highway bridges. Passing Seven Mile Bridge, its beauty certainly lived up to its reputation. We arrived in Key West at 11 AM, with six hours to explore the island. We took the Conch Train for $45 per person, which gave us an hour-long tour of the old town, with the driver also acting as a lively guide. The sea breeze made it incredibly pleasant. After getting off, we went to the mall converted from a Coast Guard building and had a Cuba Queen Coffee. Everyone says Cuban coffee is good, and it really was rich and smooth; I couldn't resist buying two pounds. Then, we walked along the main street, accompanied by various roosters, past Mallory Square, the Little White House, Hemingway's Home (admission $18, with timed tours, and we found six cats!), and the Southernmost Point. We walked past the US-1 Mile Marker 0 sign and made a special trip back to the post office to mail postcards we bought at Hemingway's house. Postage to China was $1.70. It was a tight schedule, but we boarded the return bus before 5:30 PM, arriving back in Miami at 9 PM. We immediately headed to CVI.CHE 105, ranked number one for Peruvian food, and it was the best meal we had during our ten days in the US, very suitable for Chinese palates. We ordered seafood paella and grilled octopus; the desserts were a bit too sweet. About a third of the customers were Chinese. This trendy restaurant was pretty good, costing around $60 per person. It closed at 10:30 PM, and after a satisfying meal, it was just a few minutes walk back to the InterContinental—still convenient. On the third day, we skipped breakfast and took a taxi to South Pointe Park in South Beach at 8:30 AM. It wasn't crowded yet, filled with handsome men and beautiful women, along with uncles, all out for their morning exercise. Walking along the beach, there were already people surfing and playing in the water. Personally, I felt it was much more refreshing than Sanya. We didn't plan to swim, so after a walk, we took a taxi to Wynwood Walls to see the graffiti. It's a huge district; while painting one wall can be considered scribbling, when it's all over the place, it becomes art. Looking at the photos later, it was even more stunning, though the neighborhood itself was a bit messy. Feeling hungry, we took a taxi to Little Havana to try the famous Sanguich, a Cuban sandwich. We were lucky to get a table at 11:30 AM. We ordered the Cubano and Bistec, milkshakes, and hot and iced coffee. The generous amount of meat combined with the perfectly toasted bread was like a Cuban 'roujiamo,' and it was definitely on par with the cheesesteak at Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia—so delicious! Half the customers were Chinese, so be prepared to wait an hour. We returned to the hotel and checked out before 2 PM. We headed to the PortMiami for a harbor tour. Although we missed our planned boat trip, we stumbled upon Thrill Miami. It was a large speedboat, and we were the only two Chinese people on board. It was incredibly thrilling, highly recommended! It cost only $45 per person for about fifty minutes, marking the end of our three-day Miami trip.
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