Miami tours and excursions
Miami tours
Kayak tours
The Blue Moon Outdoor Center offers a unique way to see Miami and its outlying natural areas by kayak and bike. Self-guided tours and expedition packages of varying length and difficulty are offered, most of which start in the Oleta River State Park at the northern end of Biscayne Bay.
Tel: +1 954 781 0073Website: http://www.bluemoonoutdoor.com
Walking tours
Miami is not always the easiest place to explore on foot, but the Miami Design Preservation League is hoping to change all that with daily, 90-minute walking tours of South Beach's Art Deco historic district departing from its Art Deco Welcome Center. Self-guided audio tours are also available.
Tel: +1 305 763 8026Website: http://www.mdpl.org
Miami excursions
Everglades
One of the largest national parks in the entire US, the Everglades is home to 10,000 sq km (4,000 sq miles) of marshes, mangrove forests, freshwater and saltwater areas and open grass prairies. Gator-spotting is one of the main attractions in this vast subtropical wilderness, which is also home to an abundance of rare plants, birds and animals - including wild orchids, Florida panthers, ospreys, manatees and giant loggerhead turtles. Visitor centres are run by the park authorities, which also lay on walking, boat and tram tours.
Tel: +1 305 242 7700Website: http://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm
The Keys and Key West
A cluster of small coral-and-limestone islands south of Miami, the Keys offer some of the best sport fishing, scuba diving, boating, swimming and snorkelling in the world. Key West is its quaint and festive jewel, offering a myriad of museums, Caribbean-influenced restaurants and art galleries. Back towards Miami, the main draw is Key Largo, which is home to a dolphin rehabilitation centre. It also has a protected marine park that shimmers with tropical fish.
Tel: +1 305 352 5397Website: http://www.fla-keys.com
