Any ideas for a walkable neighborhood for us? (Miami, Miami Beach: renting, home)

[mmovesalot]

My husband and I are considering a move to the Miami area.

A little bit about us and our wants: We are both in our early thirties with no children. Husband is a pilot so he will need to be within a half hour or so of the airport. I'm a nanny. We will be renting. We're looking for a walkable neighborhood near farmer's markets, easy opportunities for volunteering, fairly liberal, decent public transportation, and a nice and smooth trail nearby for rollerblading and bike riding would be pluses.

Any ideas for us?

[luvsofla]

Pinecrest/South Miami. There is a Farmer's Market in the Pinecrest Gardens parking lot, right next to the public library. Always people rolling blading around there/walking/bike riding.

[doggiebus]

Look into South Beach, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami and Key Biscayne

[Coconut1]

I would second Brickell and South Miami. The new Metrorail extension to the airport will be opening this spring and that will really help your husband with his commute. Both Brickell and South Miami are easily accessible to a Metrorail station.

[jasper12]

South Miami.

[xS☺B☺s]

Anywhere on the beaches - Miami Beach, Surfside, Sunny Isles etc. Make sure you check these places out. Life on the island blows away life on the mainland. Plus it's 5 degrees cooler.

[FlyMIA]

South Beach, Downtown Miami, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables on Coral Way Ave.
As for metrorail to the airport probably not a great idea since it is not 24 hours and of course flights can leave anytime of the day and more importantly last flight home to the base can arrive at anything due to delays etc.. But if you dont mind picking him up metrorail will go right to the airport soon and Downtown Miami/Brickell area does have easy access to the metrorail. Price range would help us a lot and give you more precise locations. I know a lot of pilots these days make much less then the work they do deservers so your budger can help us make better recs.

[JimboUSMC17]

I'd say Brickell if you want to stay within 30 min. of the airport. And thta may be a stretch depending on whether it is during rush hour.

[mmovesalot]

ugh, I posted quickly earlier and it must have not gone through! Let's try again.

Thanks for all of the ideas. I've been seeing these same areas mentioned and so I'm happy to see some familiar names. We'll be there to look around this weekend and will take a look at these. Do any of these areas have community events like movies or concerts in the park? Are there "main street" areas that we should look at?

FlyMIA, We are trying to stay under $1200 but could go higher if we had to. You're right about those salaries certainly dropping.

[hurricaneMan1992]

Coral Gables, South Miami, Coconut Grove. Also plenty of work for a nanny around there. You probably have to settle for 1-br or small/older 2-br. Brickell is probably out of reach, but downtown would be borderline-doable. Metrorail/metrobus is not practical if you need to get to/from the airport within a half hour at all hours, everyday.