A Miami Girl Explores New Sights and Sounds in South Florida

I’ve lived in Miami for the past 18 years so I pretty much consider myself a native at this point, but there’s still so much I’ve yet to discover in this beautiful city. I had the opportunity to team up with Chevrolet and drive the 2017 Chevy Malibu Hybrid to finally explore all the gems South Florida has to offer.

Photo: Courtesy of Gina Tinoco

As soon as I hopped in the sedan it felt just as spacious as an SUV. I was stunned by the gorgeous attention to detail; this mid-sized car felt completely luxurious. Plus the car comes with it’s own Wi-Fi hotspot, allowing me to stay in contact with everyone while I was on the road.

I hit the road early in the afternoon on a Wednesday and went straight to a salsa concert at Ball and Chain, a traditional bar that has existed since 1935 located in Calle Ocho, known as well “Little Havana.” The concert was so much fun. Before the night was over I devoured a Cuban Ropa Vieja meal and a strawberry ice cream dessert. So good!

Photo: Courtesy of Gina Tinoco

The next day, I decided to go to Key Largo but before I went on my adventure, I had to stop at Robert Is Here, a spot in the middle of a field in Homestead where they sell smoothies and local fruits. The freshness of the fruits amazed me. I tried papaya, passion fruit, and guava – they were delicious! It was the perfect snack for the 30 minute drive.

While driving I was able to get familiar with the car’s Teen Driver Technology that allows any parent to control their child’s speed, while helping encourage safe driving habits for new drivers. This is really awesome for you ladies who have teenagers at home. I will have teens soon and love that this feature will give me peace of mind for when they start driving. It not only protects your kids from an accident, but gives you a report of your teen driving behavior. I was also amazed with the fact that they won’t be able to listen to music if they don’t buckle up first! This car is truly a parent’s best friend!

Later in the afternoon I went with my Miami girls to watch this live band, The Elastic Bond. Their music is very cool and blends elements of ’60s girl groups, rhythm-guitar-driven dance-pop, horn-backed tropicalia, and whirling synths. My favorite song is “Honey Bun“, from their recent album.

As you can probably tell, I cannot imagine life without music! I’m totally a classic Colombian party animal. So after all this fun, I decided to relax for a half hour and freshen up.

Photo: Courtesy of Gina Tinoco

After some much-needed relaxation, I went to a great restaurant in Wynwood called Wynwood Kitchen, which serves up American (New) cuisine and Latin American tapas. After the restaurant my friends and I stumbled into a place named Coyo Taco, on the same street as Wynwood Kitchen. I thought we were looking for coffee next door to wake up after eating all that food, and then going to a club, but I was definitely mistaken. Coyo Taco is a secret spot that I don’t think that even locals know about. When I first looked inside I saw a normal taquería that was rather small. To my surprise, at the entrance of the bathroom, the door connects you to a bar. Immediately the doors opened and we all started to dance to DJ Mr.Pauer. Oh yes, what a night! Miami, thanks for showing me that I can have so much without going far from home!