After arriving in Miami, head to The Standard Spa, Miami Beach on Belle Isle. From Miami International Airport, allow roughly 25–40 minutes by rideshare or taxi, depending on traffic; the airport’s Metrorail and Metromover connections are less convenient for this waterfront location. Check your luggage at your hotel if the room is not ready, then make your advance spa reservation the priority—hydrotherapy access, sauna time, and massages are subject to availability. Set aside about 2–3 hours, and bring a swimsuit and sandals for moving between the spa facilities.
From The Standard Spa, a rideshare to Lincoln Road generally takes 10–15 minutes, though walking is possible if you are comfortable with a longer route across South Beach. Spend about an hour wandering the pedestrian promenade, browsing the shops, and settling into Miami Beach’s first-evening rhythm. December is usually pleasant but breezy after sunset, so a light layer is useful. The district stays lively into the evening, but individual store hours vary.
Continue to Yardbird Table & Bar for a relaxed Southern dinner; reserve ahead if possible, particularly for a Saturday night. Plan on approximately $35–$60 per person before drinks, tax, and tip, and allow about 1½ hours. After dinner, take an easy 45-minute walk through South Beach along Ocean Drive, where the illuminated Art Deco façades are at their most atmospheric. Keep the walk leisurely rather than trying to cover the whole district, and use a rideshare back to your hotel if the evening breeze or tiredness sets in.
Start with a reserved visit to The Spa at Carillon Miami Wellness Resort in North Beach. Allow two to three hours for the thermal experience or a treatment, and confirm whether your booking includes access to the full spa circuit—availability and inclusions can vary by package. Arrive a little early for check-in, and bring a swimsuit for the hydrotherapy areas. From central Miami Beach, a rideshare north along Collins Avenue generally takes 15–25 minutes; allow extra time on a Sunday morning if you are coming from South Beach. Spa treatments and day access are commonly a significant splurge, so check the current package price before booking.
After the spa, continue a few minutes north to North Shore Open Space Park. This is one of the better places on Miami Beach for a slower shoreline walk, with more breathing room than the areas around Ocean Drive. Follow the paved path through the greenery, then take time on the sand before the midday heat builds. There is generally street and municipal parking nearby, but a rideshare is easier if you plan to have cocktails later. Bring water, sunscreen, and a light layer—the winter breeze can feel surprisingly cool.
Head south toward Miami Beach Botanical Garden, about 15–25 minutes by rideshare depending on Collins Avenue traffic. The garden is compact, so 45–60 minutes is enough for the Japanese garden, palms, orchids, and shaded paths; check the current Sunday hours before setting out, since garden access can change for events or maintenance. Afterward, take a relaxed break at your hotel rather than filling the gap with another attraction.
In the early evening, make your way to The Broken Shaker at Freehand Miami for inventive cocktails and light fare. A rideshare from the garden typically takes 10–15 minutes. The courtyard atmosphere is at its best before it becomes busy, so arriving around 5:30–6:00 PM is a good bet; expect roughly $25–$45 per person for drinks and snacks, before tip. Sunday service and kitchen hours can change seasonally, so check ahead, and use a rideshare back to your accommodation rather than driving.
Start with a relaxed rideshare from Miami Beach to Crandon Park, allowing about 45–60 minutes in December traffic rather than relying on the best-case drive time. Ask your driver to use the MacArthur Causeway and Rickenbacker Causeway, and confirm the exact beach entrance before setting off. The park’s broad shoreline and palm-shaded paths are ideal for an unhurried two-hour start; bring water, sunscreen, and a towel, since beach amenities can be spread out. Expect a modest vehicle entry or parking fee, with higher demand on weekends than on this Monday.
Continue south through Key Biscayne to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area, roughly 15–20 minutes by car. Spend time around the historic lighthouse, then follow the quieter shoreline and shaded paths rather than trying to cover the entire park. Lighthouse climbs and interior access depend on the day’s scheduled tours, staffing, and weather, so treat the tower visit as a bonus and check availability at the entrance. The park generally operates from morning into early evening, with a separate per-vehicle admission fee; pack snacks or buy something simple at the park café, as choices are limited.
Drive about 10 minutes back toward the village for Key Biscayne Village Green Park, a pleasant place to sit beneath the palms and take a short stroll along the surrounding village streets. Allow around 45 minutes here—this is a good reset after the beach and park rather than another sightseeing stop. Finish at Rusty Pelican Miami beside Rickenbacker Marina, where the outdoor or window tables have especially good sunset views toward downtown. Reserve ahead for dinner, budget approximately $60–$100 per person before drinks and tip, and allow 90 minutes. A rideshare back to Miami Beach typically takes 25–45 minutes, but weekday evening traffic over the causeways can push that closer to an hour, so request it shortly before you finish rather than waiting outside.
Leave Key Biscayne around 8:00 AM by rideshare or taxi, allowing 45–60 minutes via the Rickenbacker and MacArthur causeways in weekday traffic. Ask to be dropped at Pérez Art Museum Miami’s main entrance; the museum opens at 11:00 AM on many Tuesdays, so check the December 22 schedule and shift your departure accordingly rather than arriving too early. Spend about two hours with the contemporary collection and waterfront gardens. Admission is typically around $16–$18 for adults, with timed tickets or special exhibitions sometimes priced separately.
Afterward, it’s a short rideshare or roughly 15-minute walk north to Bayside Marketplace. Take an hour for a coffee, browse the open-air shops, and enjoy the bayfront promenade, but treat it as a casual break rather than a major shopping stop. For lunch, choose one of the waterfront counters here, keeping it light before your afternoon treatment; rideshare pickup can be congested, so use the marked pickup area rather than requesting a car directly beside the busiest entrances.
Continue to Faena Spa in Mid-Beach by rideshare, allowing approximately 20–30 minutes depending on traffic. Your treatment or thermal experience will take about two hours, and advance booking is essential—confirm arrival time, cancellation terms, and whether thermal facilities are included. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early; the resort is polished and security-controlled, so allow a little extra time getting through the entrance.
After the spa, take a short rideshare south to The Bass on Collins Avenue in South Beach, usually 10–15 minutes. This intimate contemporary-art museum is easy to explore in 60–90 minutes, though exhibition hours and admission—often around $15—should be checked before you go. You’ll have a pleasant window afterward to stroll the quieter blocks around Collins Park or return to your hotel to change before dinner.
Finish at Joe’s Stone Crab, a short rideshare from The Bass or about a 20-minute walk if you feel like stretching your legs. Reserve well ahead, especially for a December celebration, and arrive promptly: the restaurant is famous for stone crab when in season, but the menu also includes generous seafood and steak options. Expect approximately $75–$150 per person before drinks, tax, and tip. It is a classic, lively Miami Beach finale rather than a quiet spa-style dinner, so request a more relaxed table if available and allow 1½–2 hours.
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