Check into the gay-friendly Tropics Hotel/Hostel, a block from the beach on Collins Avenue. Location can't be beat and the property is clean, but don't expect a bouquet of amenities in the no-frills private rooms and dormitories. It does have a large pool and a cookout area where in hostel tradition you can fix your own meals.

For breakfast, walk one block west of the beach to Washington Avenue where eateries have far less charm, lower prices and bigger servings than landmark cafés along Ocean Drive like the Front Porch Café and News Cafe.

La Playa Café, a Cuban hole-in-the-wall at 1515 Washington St. is just around the corner with huge portions and big bang for the buck whatever meal you're eating between 6 am and 4 pm.

Next stop is a short walk down Washington at the LGBT Center in the historic Old City Hall at 1130 Washington (M-F 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; S-S 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Here's where you can tap into a community network of information, social events and bargains. The pace is faster during the winter, but there's always some LGBT activity on the calendar, many of them free or budget.

Proceed to Ocean Drive and - like Goldilocks - pick out the beach that fits you. The broad activities-packed Lummus Park beach is flanked to the north by the 12th Street Gay Beach and to the south 3rd Street Beach where hunky Brazilians play a mash-up of soccer and volleyball. Plop down and enjoy.

Stroll Ocean Drive and check out the Art Deco Information Center, the Versace Mansion, The Palace, the teeming masses of other pleasure-seekers. The street theater may include some overflow from The Palace drag show.

If you want to tool more around SoBe, sign out a bike at a convenient Citi Bike rack.

Head back to the hostel to cook up a little something by the pool and rest up before heading for a late night at Twist, the mega dance club with seven different bars and no cover at 1057 Washington.