What To Do: New Year's 2026 In Vice City For Red Raiders
Texas Tech fans will be making the trek to Miami, otherwise known as Vice City for the Orange Bowl game versus either #5 Oregon or #12 James Madison for a spot in the College Football Playoff Semifinals. RedRaiderSports breaks down the best spots to visit for day-specific events and places you can check out any day of your visit to the 305. This was put together using various local rankings, overall nationwide ratings, and the Greater Miami Visitors Bureau.
Food
Top 10 new restaurants in the Miami area from The Infatuation
#1, Cotoa (Ecuadorian, North Miami)
#2, Double Luck (Chinese, Upper East Side)
#3, Daniel’s Miami (Steaks, Coral Gables)
#4, Bar Bucce (Pizza, Little River)
#5, Dojo Izakaya (Japanese, Coral Gables)
#6, To Be Determined (American, Coral Way)
#7, Fratesi’s Pizza (Pizza, Downtown)
#8, Tina In The Gables (Latin, Coral Gables)
#9, Marc’s Artisanal Pizzeria (Pizza, North Beach)
#10, Sticky Rice Lao, Thai & Sushi (Lao, West Kendall)
Top 10 rated restaurant’s from Yelp
#1, Sanguich (Cuban/Sandwiches, Little Havana)
#2, The Taco Stand (Mexican, Wynwood)
#3, World Famous House of Mac (American, Converge Miami)
#4, House of Food Porn (Sushi, Little Haiti !BY RESERVATION ONLY!)
#5, Jrk – Miami (Caribbean, Downtown)
#6, Apocalypse BBQ (Barbecue, Miami)
#7, Fresh Florida Fisheries (Seafood, Miami)
#8, Limoncello (Italian, Miami Beach)
#9, Pierogi One (Polish, Park West)
#10, Yardbird Table & Bar (New American, Miami Beach)
Attractions
Walt Disney World (Lake Buena Vista, FL)
Although a three and a half hour drive from Miami, if you’re looking to branch out a little bit around Florida I can’t recommend the WDW area enough. I actually leave in a few days for a family trip to the resort, so I’ll be spending almost all of the next few weeks outside of Christmas Eve and the few days after, in the state of Florida. Disney Springs is free admission if you don’t want to visit the parks and dine somewhere, but I’d definitely recommend checking it out if you haven’t been. If you have any questions feel free to DM me on the board and I may be able to give you some pointers.
Universal Orlando (Orlando, FL)
Universal is about the same distance away as Disney World for about a three and a half hour drive from Miami as well. I haven’t personally been to Universal, but some of my other family typically goes now whenever we head down there. Sounded like it may have been more expensive than usual this time around, so I’d keep that in mind if you want to check it out.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not!® Christmas Park (Amelia Earhart Park, Hialeah, FL)
I’ve never been here so I can’t speak on it, but here is the description provided by the Visit Miami site.
Holiday lights, amusement rides and Ripley’s trademark curiosities transform Amelia Earhart Park into a festive wonderland during South Florida’s newest seasonal celebration.
The Ripley’s Believe It or Not!® Christmas Park runs November 13, 2025-January 4, 2026, bringing a mix of carnival attractions, live shows, midway games and holiday trails to Hialeah. Admission includes unlimited access to rides ranging from high-energy thrillers to family and kiddie favorites, along with entry to Ripley’s exhibitions of oddities and unusual artifacts. Guests can also stroll through themed holiday zones featuring elaborate decorations, photo backdrops and the event’s signature Twisted Christmas Tree.
Other highlights include the Fairyland Journey trail leading to Santa Town, dining options with seasonal specialties and photo opportunities with Santa Claus. With hours from 5 p.m. to midnight daily and last admission at 10 p.m., the experience offers a family-friendly holiday outing where the magical, the whimsical and the wonderfully weird come together.
Call Ripley’s Believe It or Not!®Christmas Park at 305-927-3440 or email [email protected] to request material in accessible format, information on access for persons with disabilities, or a sign language interpreter (7 days in advance).
Calendar
Here are some date specific events you can attend while you hang in the Miami area prior to the Orange Bowl.
December 27th
Miami Heat versus Indiana Pacers (8:00 PM Tip, Kaseya Center)
Heat Nation, it’s game time! Bring your energy and watch your Miami Heat’s finest light up the court against the Indiana Pacers! Go HEAT! 🏀🔥
December 28th
Miami Dolphins versus Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12:00 PM, Hard Rock Stadium)
Catch the Miami Dolphins in action at Hard Rock Stadium as they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—experience the excitement live in Miami. Fins up! 🐬
December 29th
Miami Heat versus Denver Nuggets (7:30 PM Tip, Kaseya Center)
The Miami Heat host the Denver Nuggets here at the Kaseya Center for an exciting matchup off the week. Go HEAT! 🏀🔥
December 31st
New Year’s Eve with David Guetta (9:00PM, Fontainebleau Miami Beach)
The night sky over Fontainebleau Miami Beach comes alive as international DJ and producer David Guetta takes the stage for a high-energy New Year’s Eve celebration.
Set against the resort’s iconic oceanfront poolscape, the evening features a high-energy performance by the chart-topping DJ, a virtual ball drop and countdown to midnight, and live entertainment throughout the night. Guests can toast to 2026 with premium open-bar service, gourmet dining and exclusive VIP table packages designed for an unforgettable experience.
New Year’s Eve with David Guetta begins Wednesday, December 31 at 9 p.m., offering both family-friendly festivities and glamorous party settings to welcome the year ahead.
&ME: New Year’s Eve (9:00PM, Factory Town)
A leading figure in contemporary club culture brings his distinctive, slow-burn style to Factory Town as &ME steps into the venue for the first time. Known for weaving between house, techno and warm, percussive rhythms, he approaches Miami with the measured intensity and craft that have made his work a fixture in DJ sets around the world.
As a founding member of Keinemusik, &ME has shaped a sound defined by subtle tension, tactile drum work and emotional lift, refined through long-running collaborations with Rampa and Adam Port, as well as remixes including his noted take on Guy Gerber’s “What to Do.” His sensibility remains grounded in a low-ego, DIY ethos that favors feeling over spectacle.
The night takes place outdoors at Factory Town and extends late into New Year’s Eve, with &ME guiding dancers through a set built on patient builds, hypnotic edges and a communal atmosphere. Events are rain or shine, and a valid government-issued photo ID is required for entry.
NYE At E11EVEN Ft. 50 Cent (8:00 PM To 10:00 AM, E11EVEN Miami)
NYE 2026 at E11EVEN MIAMI on Wednesday, December 31 features a live countdown and midnight performance by Hip Hop mogul and entertainer 50 Cent. Enjoy open bar from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.. Doors open at 8 p.m., so arrive early to avoid the lines. In addition to this not-to-be-missed headliner, there will be plenty to captivate the senses from live cirque-style dance performance, go-go dancers, massive state-of-the-art LED video walls, booming sound system, VIP tables, premium bottle service, delectable food menu and more.
January 1st
Texas Tech versus #5 Oregon/#12 James Madison (12:00 PM, Hard Rock Stadium)
The countdown is on! The Capital One Orange Bowl returns to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on New Year’s Day, Thursday, January 1, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for noon. One of the country’s most-prestigious college football bowl games, the Orange Bowl has been a Miami tradition since 1935 and a point of civic pride and celebration as fans and athletes descend on our subtropical paradise to start the New Year.
The 2026 game will be an exciting, high-stakes College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinal matchup featuring one of the top-four seeded teams in the CFP and the winner of a first-round game. The Orange Bowl champion will advance to the CFP semifinals.
Orange Bowl Pep Rally
To celebrate the big game with fans, the Orange Bowl typically hosts a family-friendly pep rally, among many other exciting events. Last January, the pep rally was held on game day on Lincoln Road in South Beach and featured lively performances by team bands, cheerleaders, music, food, giveaways, games and much more. Details on the 2026 event are still forthcoming.
General Tickets & Premium Experiences
While tickets are extremely limited, verified resale tickets are available via Ticketmaster. There are also a few premium experiences still available, including a variety of suites with custom catering, a dedicated attendant, in-suite TVs and parking passes.
The Nine is the ultimate premium experience. These 20-person suites are situated between the 30-yard-lines and offer the best views in the stadium, luxurious, extra-large leather seats, premium all-inclusive food and beverages, premium parking and a concierge. They also include access to the private Nine Club.
The Orange Bowl Hall Of Fame
Every year, the Orange Bowl inducts legendary Orange Bowl players, coaches and other important figures into its Hall of Fame. This year’s Orange Bowl Hall of Fame class includes broadcaster and former coach Lee Corso, former Florida State University and Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher, former USC quarterback Carson Palmer and former University of Colorado defensive end Alfred Williams. They will be honored during an on-field ceremony on game day.
Getting To Hard Rock Stadium
There are a variety of transportation options to reach Hard Rock Stadium. If you’re driving from Downtown Miami, the stadium is approximately 15 miles north via I-95 and Florida’s Turnpike. Parking passes can be purchased in advance.
You can also hire a car or taxi or employ rideshare services, such as Uber and Lyft. Uber will be operating Uber Shuttlefor flat-fare shared rides with dedicated routes running between Brickell and a designated area at the stadium; it will be available for pre-booking.
Additionally, Miami-Dade County’s comprehensive public transit network provides routes via Metrorail and Metrobus.
—By: Shayne Benowitz | October 29, 2025
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