And as of this writing, places we still live (but not for much longer). These days you can find us in North Miami Beach, which is the calmer and more residential counterpart to the ever famous South Beach. If you're thinking about moving to Miami, and you've got a choice, we would recommend North Beach as a soft place to land.
Some of our favorite things about the neighborhood:
1. A community-like atmosphere. As it's a largely residential area, you'll often see families wandering around and chatting. This is helped along by food truck events held every month and events at the bandshell.
2. It's a great place to exercise. The beach path that runs parallel to Collins Ave is here and waiting for you. It's the perfect spot early in the morning to go for a long walk or run and there are volleyball courts and playgrounds dotted along the path. Not to mention the view of the beach and ocean on the other side.
3. The beach. It's literally right there. No matter where you live, you're just a few short steps away from the water.
4. The parks. Including the North Shore Open Space Park, which is a great shady spot for parties, BBQs, and hanging out with friends. A bonus? Fairly consistent tree coverage means that it remains a fair bit cooler even during the middle of the day.
5. Convenience. It's not a far drive to get to a bridge to take you back to Miami and all the neighborhoods over there. It's also an easy trip by car to get to Bal Harbour to the north or South Beach.
North Beach is special to me because it is Bekir and I's first real home together. When we got married, I was living in Spain to start. Then when I moved back here, we traveled for the first 9 months or so - until arriving in North Miami Beach. Bekir lived here for many years prior to us meeting, so it seemed a natural place to return to. But California is calling so we must go :)