Hit The Road

The ultimate Miami travel guide: Do South Beach like a true Beach God — or at least a damn Kardashian

Miami's South Beach has been the object of celebrity, entertainment and musical affection since the '80s. After a recent trip to the 305, I’ve fallen in love with the sunsets, the year-round bikini season and the perfection that is Ocean Drive all over again.

My favorite places are guaranteed to give you all the spoils SoBe has to offer. A visit to these hot spots will ensure that you eat, sleep and party like the beach gods intended.

Where to stay
Soak in the neon-filled fabulousness of Ocean Drive at the Clevelander. Located in the middle of the Art Deco District's hustle and bustle, the Clevelander offers a 24/7 party equipped with all the go-go dancers, top shelf cocktails and bass you could ask for. The hotel’s unique bar patio attracts more than just hotel guests — Ocean Drive visitors always stop into the Clevelander for a good drink and an even better party.

STORY along with several other Miami nightclubs, stays open until 5 am. Party on.

For a more romantic escape to South Beach, stay at the ultra-luxe Ritz-Carlton, South Beach. Chic resort-style accommodations include personal shoppers, an elevated infinity pool and private beach cabanas. Observe the dazzling art pieces throughout the property (that total a cool $2 million) and treat your special someone to a swanky dinner at DiLido Beach Club.

Grab your closest friends for a weekend getaway at the Beacon. This boutique hotel located in the Art Deco District is ideal for the eager traveler who wants the full SoBe experience. Head to the beach in a quick minute (literally) walk from the lobby and spend your day sunbathing with some of Miami’s most beautiful locals and travelers alike.

Where to eat
Forget all the preconceived notions you may have about hotel restaurants. OLA is an upscale Pan Latin eatery that will take your taste buds on a trip across the Atlantic. Acclaimed Latin chef Horacio Rivadero designed a menu full of Caribbean, Spanish and traditional Latin flavors that give you the essence of the melting pot that is Miami. Try the crispy pork with mustard mojo or the Florida sweet corn empanada. You won’t be disappointed.

Indulge in the deliciousness of Italy at Fratelli La Bufala. Take a seat on the patio and people watch some of the most fabulous faces of South Beach while you listen to the exotic accents as they pass. Order one of the famed –– and authentic –– Neapolitan pizzas for a Miami meal you’ll never forget.

If you’re looking for a bikini-friendly brunch locale, choose Icebox Café. The price point, incredibly nutritious options and local ingredients make for an ideal brunch (or any meal) before hitting the beach. Don't miss “The Mess,” guava-filled French toast. The menu is so good, you may just forget how delish the specialty cocktails are.

Where to party
Strap on some beachy heels and head to STORY for a night you’ll remember forever. With elevated club levels, several VIP tables and an eclectic mix of DJs on any given night, STORY is the ideal place in true SoBe fashion. Are you always fashionably late? Not to worry, STORY along with several other Miami nightclubs, stays open until 5 am. Party on.

Revisit EDM-filled memories at Club Space. Mingle with dub step lovers from across the globe and dance to electronic hits all night long. Club Space brings you all the fun of a rager, minus the obnoxious partygoers and terrible outfit choices.

Famed Miami hot spot Mansion could help you rival your previous “best night ever.” Mansion offers private VIP rooms and tables, a noteworthy lineup of some of Miami’s best DJs, frequent celebrity guests and an overall swanky atmosphere fit for any music video.

Where to shop
A trip to the The Webster is the perfect dose of vacation retail therapy. This luxe boutique carries an inventory that rivals Barney’s and comes with a killer view. Splurge on labels like Alexander Wang, Valentino and Marc Jacobs before hitting the beach.

Take a family outing to Lincoln Road Mall for a fun afternoon of shopping. The abundance of unique shops, sidewalk cafes and lounges make this locale more than just your neighborhood mall.

Humor your inner fangirl with a visit to DASH. The Kardashian-owned storefront is full of cute fashions for the girl-about-South Beach and the staff is incredibly friendly, making it the perfect place to live out that fantasy you have about being the store manager while Kim and Kourtney are in town for a visit. Forgive us, but we just had to.

Meatballs at OLA.

Courtesy of OLA Facebook

Meatballs at OLA.

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Now hear this

New Texas museum shines spotlight on Tejano music history

Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum, San Antonio, tejano music

Photo by Edmond Ortiz

Roger Hernandez serves as board president of the Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum.

For a city that proudly calls itself the capital of Tejano music, San Antonio has long been missing a permanent place to honor the genre’s pioneers and preserve its history. That gap officially closed In December with the opening of the Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum at 1414 Fredericksburg Rd.

The music couldn’t have found a better steward than its founder and board president. Roger Hernandez has had his finger on the pulse of Tejano music for decades. His company, En Caliente Productions, has provided a platform for countless performing artists and songwriters in Tejano, conjunto, and regional Mexican music since 1982.

Hernandez says his wife, who ran a shop at Market Square years ago, would often get questions from visitors about the location of a physical Tejano music museum, a thing that simply did not exist. In 2022, he banded together with friends, family, and other local Tejano music supporters to make the nonprofit Hall of Fame a reality.

“I decided I've been in the music scene for over 40 years, it's time to do a museum,” Hernandez recalls.

Hernandez says a brick-and-mortar Tejano music museum has long been needed to remember musical acts and other individuals who grew the genre across Texas and northern Mexico, especially those who are aging. Recently, the community lost famed Tejano music producer Manny Guerra and Abraham Quintanilla, the renowned Tejano singer/songwriter and father of the late superstar Selena Quintanilla-Perez. Both deaths occurred roughly one week after the Totally Tejano museum opened to the public.

“They're all dying. They're all getting older, and we need to acknowledge all these people,” Hernandez says.

The Totally Tejano Museum — named after Hernandez’s Totally Tejano Television Roku streaming — has 5,000 square feet of space packed with plaques, photos, promotional posters, musical instruments, and other memorabilia honoring the pioneers and stars of the beloved genre. Mannequins wear stage outfits from icons like Laura Canales and Flaco Jimenez, and a wall of photos remembers late greats. Totally Tejano Television plays legendary performances on a loop, bringing the exhibits to life.

The newly opened Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum includes a growing collection of memorabilia. Photo by Edmond Ortiz

Hernandez says the museum will soon welcome permanent and rotating exhibits, including traveling shows, a Hall of Fame section, and an area paying homage to Chicano music crossovers, such as the late Johnny Rodriguez, the South Texas singer-songwriter who blended country with Tex-Mex music. Plans call for the organization to hold its inaugural Hall of Fame induction in February 2026.

Eventually, a 2,000 square feet back room will be converted into additional display space and host industry gatherings, community symposiums, and record and video release parties. The museum also plans to add a gift and record shop and a music learning room where visitors can listen to early Tejano music and browse archival photos. Hernandez is already talking with local school districts about educational field trips.

Much like Tejano itself, the museum is a grassroots production. Hernandez and fellow board members have used their own money to rent, renovate, develop, and maintain the museum space. The board also leads the selection of the Hall of Fame honorees and curates the exhibits.

Hernandez has been heartened by the museum’s reception, both from media outlets and music fans around Texas and beyond.

“We had a radio station come in this morning from Houston to interview us,” he says. “People have come in from Lubbock, Texas. We have had people from Midland, Texas. We have another person who emailed us who’s coming in from New York. People are learning all about us.”

That includes many of the musicians who helped shape the genre. Johnny Hernandez, Sunny Ozuna, Elida Reyna, and Danny Martinez from Danny and The Tejanos are among the luminaries who have already graced the halls.

The Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum is now open 10 am-6 pm, Tuesday-Sunday, and closed Monday. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. Fans can call 210-314-1310 for more information.

san antonio tejano music museums hall of fame music openings