For beauty & photography, Bal Harbour is hit or miss.
Calm, polished, and moneyed — a quiet, well-kept beach and an open-air luxury mall (Chanel, Gucci, Hermès) wrapped around koi ponds and orchids. The honest read on fit: this is a serene half-day for luxury shoppers or for guests already staying in Bal Harbour/Surfside who want manicured calm next to the sand. If you're not shopping designer or based nearby, there's simply nothing to do here — it's a stroll, not a destination.