Sometimes the best vacation stories are the ones you never planned.
“I dreamt of your Airbnb.”
Brandi told us this on her last day at Miami Pool Cottage, our tropical garden retreat in El Portal, Miami. Her family’s original reservation had been abruptly canceled because of flooding, leaving them scrambling for another place to stay. When she discovered our Miami vacation rental, something instantly clicked.
“It was really meant to be,” she said.
A Miami Cottage That Felt Like a Dream
By the time Brandi shared her story with us, her family had already spent several days enjoying the calm rhythm of the cottage. Her children spent hours splashing in the pool, while she and her husband savored the rare chance to slow down, relax beneath the lush canopy, and simply be present. Each day, they posted snippets of their stay on Instagram, which we loved watching.
Then Brandi said something that made us stop in our tracks.
“I dreamt of this place.”
She described an earlier dream in which she stood surrounded by dense tropical foliage, listening to the birds and picking fresh fruit in a secluded, sun-drenched garden. It matched her experience at our El Portal cottage almost down to the leaf.
Except for one detail: in her dream, she had been picking pears.
The One Fruit You Won't Find in A South Florida Garden
Miami is wonderful for growing tropical fruit, but pears are another story. Many traditional pear varieties need a period of winter chill to produce reliably, and Miami's warm climate doesn't provide the conditions they typically require.
Our garden is filled with mangoes, starfruit, papaya, bananas, loquats, and tamarind. But pears? They weren't going to be part of Brandi's stay. Or so we thought.
Then she pulled out her phone to show us her favorite photos from the week.
The Avocado That Made Her Dream Come True
Every morning, Brandi stepped into the garden and picked fresh avocados straight from the trees for breakfast. Looking at her photos, we realized how perfectly this simple routine captured the experience she'd envisioned: waking up, walking into a vibrant green garden, and picking something fresh to eat.
That's when we smiled and asked her a question.
“Did you know avocados used to be called alligator pears?”
Brandi stopped. She looked down at her arm, then back at us with wide eyes.
“I'm getting goosebumps,” she said, smiling. “I guess my dream did come true after all.”
Just like that, the missing piece of her dream was right there in her hands. What had seemed like an impossible detail turned into the most unexpected connection between her dream and her real-life stay.
Discovering a Different Side of Miami
When people plan a trip to Miami, they often picture beaches, nightlife, and the city's unmistakable energy. But there's another side to Miami: quieter, greener, and full of unexpected discoveries.
At Miami Pool Cottage, that might mean enjoying a peaceful morning in the garden, letting the kids spend an afternoon in the pool, or discovering fresh tropical fruit growing just outside. For Brandi, an unexpected change of plans led her family to a place that felt strangely familiar, as though she'd dreamed about it before.
Sometimes, the best part of a vacation isn't what you planned. It's what you discover along the way.
What Will Your Miami Vacation Story Be?
We love the stories our guests take home with them. Every stay is different, and sometimes the smallest moments become the memories that last long after the luggage is unpacked.
Want to see Brandi's story for yourself? Follow us on Instagram @BestMiamiVacationStays to watch her reel and discover more moments from our tropical corner of Miami.
We can't promise you'll dream about Miami Pool Cottage before you arrive. But we hope your stay will give you something worth remembering, whether that's a peaceful morning in the garden, time together by the pool, or an unexpected discovery of your own.
And if you're planning a trip, explore Miami Pool Cottage and imagine what your own Miami story might be.
We make dreams come true.
Where can I stay in Miami with a tropical garden?
Residential neighborhoods like El Portal can give you a welcome breather from Miami's glam and glitz.
We love the hustle and bustle of Brickell and the craziness of South Beach, the shopping in Aventura, and the amazing restaurants that are all over the city.
We recommend you find a place that allows you to exhale, to refresh and to rest. There are few places in Miami like the Miami Pool Cottage, that sit on half an acre of lush, tropical, native landscaping with fruits you can eat off the trees where birds sing and butterflies dance in the morning sunlight.
Consider a tropical graden stay, where you can get quiet enough to rest and dream.
What fruits grow in Miami?
Miami is a unique place in the US: it's a tiny sliver of what gardeners call Zone 10b - think Hawaii - which means we can grow fruits that don't grow anywhere else in the country.
There are many more tropical plants you'll experience in our garden, but here are some that grow in Miami (we've bolded the ones we have in the graden).
- avocado
- mango
- papaya
- coconut
- banana
- lychee
- longan
- jackfruit
- soursop (guanabana)
- sapodilla
- mamey sapote
- starfruit
- calamondin orange
- key lime
- meyer lemon
- grapefruit
- peaches
- plums
- figs
- Passion fruit
- dragon fruit
- muscadine grapes
- blackberry
- strawberry
Can you grow pears in Miami?
Growing traditional pear trees in Miami is very difficult because the climate lacks the cold winter temperatures (chill hours) required for proper dormancy and fruit production.
In other words, it's too sunny and too warm for pears, but not for us :)
What is an alligator pear?
An alligator pear is an old word for avocado.
The name evolved through a linguistic corruption of early English renderings like "avogato pear," which itself stemmed from the Spanish word aguacate (derived from the Aztec word ahuacatl).
Settlers and early commercial growers in places like Florida and California frequently used the term "alligator pear" through the 19th and early-to-mid 20th centuries.
In the 1910s, agricultural associations (such as the early California avocado groups) pushed to phase out "alligator pear" because they felt it sounded unappetizing or reptilian, officially marketing it as the "avocado" to boost consumer demand.
What is El Portal, Miami like?
Nestled in the heart of Miami-Dade County, El Portal is the county's smallest village, offering both proximity and tranquility.
Less than a mile from I-95 and close to Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports, it offers seamless access to the best of Miami.
A short drive takes you to pristine beaches, as well as world-class shopping and attractions in downtown Miami.
The neighborhood exudes a serene charm, perfect for leisurely strolls or invigorating runs along tree-lined streets. El Portal is the epitome of peaceful luxury, a refined haven just moments away from the pulse of the city.
This small neighborhood boasts a rich history, with unique architecture that tells the story of Miami’s past. Its quiet streets offer a rare sense of tranquility, ideal for outdoor activities amidst lush green spaces, such as the nearby El Portal Park.
Beyond the serenity, El Portal's central location places guests just minutes from the vibrant Wynwood District, where art, culture, and gourmet dining await. Whether seeking relaxation or exploration,
El Portal is the perfect balance of calm and convenience.
What are unique vacation rentals in Miami?
Well, we're biased. Miami Vacation Stays properties are designed with the traveler in mind who is looking for a place to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life.
Yes, there are amazing condos that overlook the beach in South Beach or let you be in the middle of downtown Miami, and if you're looking for the valet-parking-doorman-elevator-chrome-plated rental, please don't stay with us.
What we do offer, is hosts who genuinely care about their guests, and love to create encounters with real Miami hospitality.
If you're looking for something like that, come stay with us.
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