Trips of a lifetime: the best drives from Miami

Spin the car around and head back north for an afternoon at Wynwood Walls, a free outdoor museum of colourful, clashing street art. For a quick bite in Wynwood, check out fashionable 1-800 Lucky, an open-air food hall with six Asian-inspired restaurants – though for dessert, grab an ice-cream cone from the legendary Taiyaki NYC.

Finally, hop over to Miami Design District, a neighbourhood devoted to high fashion and innovative design. Spend the afternoon shopping at glossy flagship stores from the likes of Hermès and Dior, or check out the larger-than-life art installations, including the space-age Fly's Eye Dome. The Design District also has food options aplenty, from chic, all-day diner Sadelle’s to the more laid-back MIA Market. Alternatively, head back to the hotel to dine waterside at La Mar by Gastón Acurio.

About an hour and a half’s drive north from the hotel is the town of Palm Beach, with its memorable museums, historic landmarks and world-class shopping. Start your day on Worth Avenue, edged by rustling palms and upscale designer boutiques. Loaded with shopping bags, rest up at one of the many alfresco cafés and restaurants. Café Via Flora channels Tuscany, with a side of Floridan style; think pan-seared Key West snapper with artichokes, perhaps, or lobster-stuffed ravioli. Keep the Italian vibes going with a stop at Piccolo Gelato, a charming gelato joint tucked away on historic Via Mizner.

Walk off the calories with a tour of the Flagler Museum – an impossibly grand, column-fronted mansion, built by oil tycoon Henry Flagler. Alternatively, make for the sleekly modern Norton Museum of Art, with its standout collection of modern and contemporary art (don’t miss the jungly gardens, dotted with big-ticket sculptures).

The Florida Keys are part of a 125-mile string of islands that start at Key Largo and end in Key West – which is around four hours by car from Miami. The drive down there, though, is the experience of a lifetime, with far-reaching views and mind-bending ‘floating’ highways.

In Key Largo, about an hour south of Miami, you’ll find the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, famed for its scuba diving, snorkelling and kayaking.

The next notable stop is Marathon – the halfway point to Key West – near Bahia Honda State Park, home to one of the best beaches in the Florida Keys. Hop back onto the highway across the famous Seven Mile Bridge to make your way onwards to Key West.

On arrival, try a classic slice of pie from the Key Lime Pie Bakery, then hit some of Key West’s historic sites. They include former President Harry S Truman’s Little White House, with its bespoke poker table, and the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum. Finally, join the crowds over at Mallory Square for the nightly sunset celebration, as the sun sets in the Gulf of Mexico, streaking the sky with colour.