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Miami Herald

Clock out and chill out: Fantastic ways to spend summer Fridays in Florida

In Florida, everything slows down in the summer. Many workplaces honor 'Summer Fridays,' allowing employees to cut out early on Fridays and jump start their weekend with extra daylight. With deals on everything from spa treatments to dining, and experiences from indoor golf to fancy tea times and even mingling with flamingos, there are plenty of ways to make the most of those bonus hours. Set your summer vibe with these Summer Friday plans. Skip Out Early for Indoor Golf Leaving work early to play golf on a Friday is a summer flex. Playing golf outside in the dead heat of summer, however, is not. Perfect your game at indoor, air-conditioned golf bays like the ones at The Tips Golf, a new golf studio in Miami's Brickell neighborhood with elevated food and drinks. Take a lesson with a pro, or rent a bay fitted with simulators that offer insight about your swing and game. Bay pricing is $65/hour during off-peak hours and $90/hour during peak hours (after 4 p.m.) Head to TopGolf, with locations across Florida, where both golf pros and newbies can enjoy private, climate-controlled bays, fun games, and cold drinks. Want to brave the outdoors? Try PopStroke, an elevated mini-golf experience with 18-hole courses designed for all ages. With spots across Florida, including West Palm Beach, PopStroke amps up the fun with jumbo TVs, restaurants and bars, outdoor games, and even monthly memberships for regular players. It's the perfect way to turn Summer Friday into a group adventure. Fridays Are Made For Mingling with Flamingos Summer is also the time to visit Florida's many animal attractions. From zebras to giraffes, roaming animals are the stars of the 300-acre Lion Country Safari, a drive-through safari experience in Loxahatchee in Palm Beach County. New this summer, mingle with the park's flock of Caribbean flamingos. During the immersive 'Flamingo Mingle Encounters,' guests can feed the pretty pink birds and snap social media-worthy photos. The experience is offered twice daily. Tickets can be purchased online or on site in the park's walk-through adventure area. Gather The Gals For Gabbing and Tea Sipping on tea while gabbing with your best pals after a long work week is sweet medicine for the summer soul. Our pick for a swanky afternoon tea is the signature St. Regis Afternoon Tea at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort. Set inside La Gourmandise, where light flows through the floor-to-ceiling windows, diners are treated to an array of fine teas and sweet and savory delicacies nestled inside pretty bird cage towers. This summer, the afternoon tea adds a tropical twist with an all-mango seasonal menu. Another unique option is High Tea at Amal restaurant in Miami's Coconut Grove neighborhood, which takes a Lebanese spin on traditional tea. For $38 a person, you'll sip on Turkish coffee or premium teas while nibbling from a tower lined with Lebanese bites such as grape leaf rolls and truffle rakakat (cheeses wrapped in phyllo pastry), along with baklava, lady fingers and other sweets. Treat Yourself To A Spa Deal If your Friday vibe revolves around relaxing, leave early for a spa treatment. Spas around Florida offer special deals during the summer, so it's worth checking your favorite spa's website or calling to find out about discounted spa specials. During Miami Spa Months, which run from July to the end of August, treatments at participating spas are reduced to $109, $159 and $199. Top spa picks include Lapis Spa, located within the Fontainebleau Miami Beach (it's worth going just for their water features) and Tierra Santa Healing House at Faena Miami Beach. Escape For A Pool Day At A Fancy Resort Thanks to Resort Pass, you can enjoy resort-level perks at participating Florida hotels for the day without an overnight stay. For those craving extra comfort (and sweet, sweet A/C), the Day Room option is a game changer, giving you a private space to relax, recharge, or even sneak in a little work. One standout pick: the Kimpton Shorebreak Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. Wrap up your Summer Friday with their rooftop sunset happy hour — think DJ beats, drink specials, and golden-hour views over the west-facing horizon. Prefer a pool party? Known for its rowdy weekend pool parties at Strawberry Moon, The Goodtime Hotel, Miami Beach, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, can be your Friday kick start to the weekend. The new Top of the Rox in West Palm Beach, which is a rooftop bar and pool fitted with cabanas and daybeds, is all about daytime pool parties and DJs after dark. Happy Hour starts at 4 p.m. on Fridays and runs until 7 p.m. Reserve A Long, Leisurely Lunch During the summer, you don't have to power through lunch, gobbling down your meal in a race back to work. Instead, book a long, leisurely lunch at one of your favorite restaurants or one that you haven't yet sampled. Italian food lovers can graze their way through Eataly's new two-story marketplace inside Aventura Mall, blending shopping with a flavorful food crawl. If watching the parade of boats on the Miami River sounds like the perfect midday escape, head to Seaspice for the Summer Lunch special, a $39 prix fixe menu that runs Tuesday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. During August and September, look for Miami Spice deals, with discounted three-course prix fixe lunches for $35 at participating restaurants. If you want to experience Michelin magic, try lunch at Michelin one-starred Cote Korean Steakhouse in the Miami Design District, which will host an epic lunch deal during Spice. In Fort Lauderdale, Visit Lauderdale's annual Dine Out Lauderdale Restaurant Months kick off Aug. 1 and run through Sept. 30.