Amber Love Bond

Memorial Day is a national day of remembrance in America, but it's also the unofficial start of summer—a glorious few months filled with weekend getaways, family vacations and summer camp (if you're lucky). It also means an extra day off from work for many—and what's not to love about a three-day weekend? Before you think it's too late to book your Memorial Day getaway, let us be the first to tell you it's not. There's still time to book, whether a quickie trip to a nearby town or a cross-country escape with help from a can't-miss flight deal. Below, we've highlighted 10 great destinations where you can unwind, honor and remember our soldiers and spend time with loved ones this Memorial Day.

September 2019: We love our desserts as much as we love our South Beach diet, admittedly. It’s called balance, folks. And when the sugar cravings hit, we don’t squander calories on mediocre treats. Nope, we make sure to seek out the city’s top confections to ensure ultimate caloric pleasure. Case in point, this list of the best desserts in Miami, which we freshened up with family recipes, icebox cakes and pies big and small—some tiny, in fact. Size notwithstanding, every single one of these sweets is sure to impress.  Looking for the best desserts in Miami? We understand. Not everyone has a sweet tooth, but the ones who do know that dinner is only a warm-up for the course that really matters. Sure, we’ll grin through a meal at the best vegetarian restaurants in Miami and accompany you to the best steakhouses in Miami—but what we’re really looking forward to is dessert. Whether it be an off-the-wall flammable dish or a new twist on an old classic, we want it on a plate in front of us. We don’t care it if ruins our beach day abs.

Lincoln Road restaurants often get a bad wrap due to the strip’s nature of being known as a bit of a tourist trap filled with pushy hostesses vying for your attention. But this pedestrian-only stretch of shops, galleries and restaurants is actually home to some pretty great places to eat. Whether it’s date night or you’re looking for a quick bite after spending the day on a Miami beach, there are a lot of options for restaurants on Lincoln Road, but you’re bound to find something great if you know what you’re looking for. It may seem shocking but, three of the best rooftop bars in Miami are located along this iconic strip. Stroll through during the day and you’ll be greeted with local vendors who set up shop on different days of the month, plus you never know when there will be live music playing making for a perfect playlist as you explore the area.

Strawberry picking in Miami is a popular winter and springtime activity. Come weekends, if folks aren’t spending time at one of the many Miami beaches then they’re heading somewhere south for a chance to scoop up fresh berries. It’s not only a fun thing to do with kids in Miami but it’s also a great cheap date idea and an ideal way to spend some time outdoors besides heading to a Miami park. While we’d like to think of strawberry fields forever, most of these spots are only in season until approximately mid-April, weather permitting. So grab the family, or your fellow berry lover, and head to one of these farms for a sweet adventure.

Cookie delivery in Miami? It’s a thing—and we’re not complaining. Fresh, warm cookies might be the best dessert out there and there are no shortage of people in Miami willing to bring them right to your doorstep. It may sound strange, but—trust us—it comes in handy. A little too busy to leave the house? Cookie delivery! Earned your cheat day from grinding at the best gyms in Miami? Cookie delivery! Just got home from the best bars in Miami and need something sweet? You guessed it: cookie delivery! Now it’s time you meet some of our favorite Miami cookie deliverers.

When it seemed that Miami would miss out on the popular shaved ice cream trend, Mr. Bing rolled in to save the city from dessert obscurity. But what is it exactly? It’s ice cream you can eat with a fork, and it’s all the rage in Taiwan. To make it, Mr. Bing freezes cylindrical blocks of dairy and then shaves them down into paper-thin ribbons of frozen deliciousness. There are a variety of toppings and syrups that allow you to customize each creation. Enjoy one of the classic mixes, like the Cereal Killa with vanilla ice cream, strawberry drizzle and Lucky Charms cereal—or create your own. Don’t be afraid to try the taro ice cream either, it’s a fan favorite. The original Mr. Bing food truck remains parked inside the Wynwood Yard.

It’s just like the name says: The Pain Remover at beloved Coconut Grove watering hole Monty’s makes all the hurt and stress—and, frequently, all memory—go away. Known by all who frequent the staple waterfront haunt as the PK3, this tropical delight is made with dark rum (three shots of it), cream of coconut, pineapple and orange juice. It goes for a very cute $6 Monday through Friday during happy hours, but everyone knows when 4pm on Friday hits, it’s prime PK3 time. Monty’s currently shakes up between 35 and 40 thousand PK3 cocktails every year. The spiked punch affectionately known as PK3 (short for Painkiller 3) to anyone who has witnessed far too many sunsets at Monty’s is officially listed as the Pain Remover on the menu, with strength options #1, #2 and #3 indicating the number of rum shots. But who are we kidding? The extra rum only sets you back an extra dollar, and it’s been a long week. You’re going all-in for the three. You might regret it tomorrow, but tonight you’re living your best life. Monty Trainer founded Monty’s in 1969 and it’s been home to countless movie scenes, family gatherings and, of course, co-ed debauchery ever since. Eventually, Trainer’s partner and partner’s son, Steve Kneapler, took over operations of the Grove hot spot. Kneapler was all about island life and did a fair amount of traveling through the Caribbean. In his adventures, he came across the Soggy Dollar Bar, home to the original Painkiller cocktail. Created in the 1970s by Daphne Hende

Everybody, it seems, has a Moose Juice story. It’s nearly impossible to talk about the glory days of Coconut Grove without mentioning the infamous and terrifying pink cocktail that was served at the now defunct Mr. Moe’s. The details differ with each tale but every story shares one thing in common: they rarely end well. Even though it’s been closed for a few years now, you can still visit Moe’s Yelp page and read great gems like this: “There's this sugary concoction they make called a Moose juice, I'm pretty sure they unload a full bottle of Popov vodka in that mother...shiz will get you WASTED.” Or this accurate tidbit from user Stephanie L.: “The moose juice is great cuz it tastes like jolly ranchers and gets you sloshed.” For years college kids in Miami flocked to Mr. Moe’s—a truly odd western bar equipped with a mechanical bull—almost every night of the week. Today, many of them can’t even hear the words “Moose Juice” without having some sort of nauseous flashback. It’s one of those mistakes that’s easy to see in hindsight. How could anyone think those things were a good idea? They look like something you’d give to a sick horse. A post shared by Mr. Moes (@mrmoes) on Feb 16, 2014 at 8:57am PST Moose Juice began not-so-innocently enough, as a way to clear out a closet full of “way too much booze after a killer party,” according to Alex Alfonso, a former Mr. Moe’s bartender who concocted the hunch punch recipe. It was adjusted over time before finally landing on a s