Miami vs Los Angeles – Which Vacation Spot Is Best?

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Both Miami and Los Angeles offer near-year-round sunshine and several beaches. But which one is best for vacation?

I’ve been to Miami and Los Angeles with and without kids several times. The cities are practically the same but also completely different. Miami is best for a beach vacation, but Los Angeles has more to see and do.

That’s not to say Los Angeles doesn’t have great beaches, and that’s not to say Miami doesn’t have things to do. Instead, it’s just that Los Angeles has more iconic attractions. Think the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills, and Disneyland.

While, in my perhaps controversial opinion, South Beach in Miami is better than Venice Beach in LA. There, I said it!

Of course, that’s not the only thing you should consider when deciding between Miami and LA. Instead, I also suggest thinking about:

1. How far each city is from where you live
2. The specific attractions you want to see

The first is pretty self-explanatory. If LA is a three-hour flight but Miami is seven, you should consider that. However, what you want to see and do should have the biggest influence on whether you go to Miami or Los Angeles.

As I mentioned, there’s much more to see and do in LA. But if you want to see Little Havana specifically, you can only do that in Miami. Just like if you really want to see the Hollywood Sign, you can only do that in LA.