This article is part of the Miami FT Globetrotter Guide
It’s pretty difficult to drive through Miami without hitting the water. Trust me, I know. Like that time at university when I missed a turn and approached the canal (I couldn’t see it from anywhere). And I stumbled while chasing my friend’s runaway dog at South Point Pier in Miami Beach, almost knocking down the railing into the Atlantic Ocean.
Still, I would always take these risks as Miami gave my friends and me the unusual opportunity to live an exciting urban life with an accessible waterfront escape. This complex metropolitan city is embraced by the Atlantic Ocean and ripped into natural rivers filled with manatees and mangroves. When you add up the rivers, coastlines and canals, my city has a whopping 470 miles of waterways. It is located between New York and Cleveland or London.
The Miami Siren song always calls us to the water. Unlike other cosmopolitan coastal American cities like New York and San Francisco, you can easily access safe and swim waters that allow you to soak in the ocean during your lunch break.
After a lifelong study, I compiled some of the best ways to enjoy Miami water – from paddle boards to boating, fishing, straight swimming. Remember: The sun is hot here, bring your hat and sunscreen is your friend.
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For kayak and paddleboarding
Oreta River State Park
When my friend and I want to extract ourselves from the flashy veneers of Miami, we often head to Oreta River State Park. There is a simple carbride 30 minutes north of downtown Miami, and it feels like years from the shiny surface of the city. Here you can go past visitors who have barbecued on many grills in the park and come across an old Florida flavour. The untouched landscapes filled with wildlife, from soaring grets and egrets to meandering turtles.
You might be surprised that places like Oreta exist in Miami. It is Florida’s largest urban park and is about 1,000 acres of natural oasis sandwiched between the bustling urban corridors of Collins Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard.
The Oleta River State Park is one of my favorite places to launch my paddle board. Gear rentals pass through the Oletta River Outdoor Centre (open from 9am on weekdays and 8am on weekends). The kayak costs $25 per hour and the stand-up paddle board costs $30. The waterways here are aimed at both beginner and experienced paddlers and kayakers, but if you’re not good at steering, avoid narrow parts. As I have, you may try to remove the kayak from the native mangrove roots, as I have.
If you’re hungry, there’s a great casual restaurant on the northwest side of the park with a reggae vibe called Blue Merlin Fish House. It has been historic since 1938. Originally, it was a smokehouse and trading post for local fishermen.
Good: Fall rest. Early mornings bring cool weather, warm up within a few hours, and after a good paddleboarding workout, soaking in the water is the perfect cooldown
Not very good: insect phobia. Bring a repellent as flies can get worse during the summer
FYI: Parking hours are 8am every day, but come early as they close frequently when capacity reaches its capacity. Also, there are no lockers for personal items, so you can leave your valuables at home or take out a waterproof bag.
Website; Directions
For sailing and boating
Biscayne Bay
Biscayne Bay hosts the best images for your Miami postcards. You have ubiquitous images posted by influencers, skyscrapers in the background, and aquamarine water in front. The Bay is a lagoon filled with live species from wild fish to wild parties, and its view has helped solidify the city’s identity in many Hollywood films, including 2 Fast 2 Furious and Scarface.
Biscayne Bay is a Miami version of the Hudson River in New York. What if it were a tropical bay with unimaginable blue oceans where Hudson shines. Northern Tip runs along downtown Miami, passing through its huge skyscrapers before extending about 40 miles south to nearby City of Homestead. Among them is Paradise: 221 square miles of water. This includes Biscayne National Park (see below) and a small, charming island with lush greenery of gambolimbo and mangrove trees.
There are several ways to ride a boat in Biscayne Bay. Tickets for a 90-minute boat tour with Miami can be purchased over the water on a two-storey boat ($35 for adults and $26 for children). For more premium options, you can charter private boats along with Miami Yacht charters for fleet ships including mega yachts and catamarans.
Good: Take Instagram posts that make your friends jealous
Not very good: loneliness. If you want to avoid crowds, come on weekdays
For reference: Book a boat plan in advance – Things get full
Website; Directions
For swimming
Bill Bugs Cape Florida State Park
Certainly, one of the most basic and fun things you can do in Miami waters is swimming in it. The best place to do that is at the beaches of Bill Bugs Cape Florida State Park. There, soft sand beckons you, dropping the towel and jumping. The water is turquoise and very calm, thanks to nearby coral reefs that buffer the waves.
The park has a renowned history. Named after an influential Miami newspaper editor who defended civil rights and ecological preservation, it was an important site on the Underground Railroad for runaway slaves to descend into the Bahamas. At the southern tip of the beach is a 95-foot tall lighthouse built in 1825. If you have stamina, you can climb it. (Lighthouse tours will be available from 10am and noon Thursday through Monday.
The beach is located south of Key Biscayne. Key Biscaine is a five-mile-long barrier island connected to the rest of Miami, with its long, fundamentally grounded areas of the bay. You can take a taxi, but I recommend renting a car. On your way to the beach, stop by for takeout for Mestizo Latin Cuisine & Coffee for a quick Miami-style picnic. I like their arepas and empanadas.
Good: calm and beautiful sea and truly friendly locals
Not very good: Party – it’s remote and reserved. However, it’s perfect for hangovers
FYI: Admission is $8 per vehicle. Rental chairs are available for $15 at the park’s concession stand and $25 at the beach umbrella
Website; Directions
For snorkeling
Biscayne National Park
Biscayne National Park covers some of the world’s third-longest coral reef system, and has over 600 native fish. It’s a great thing for a national park so close to Miami’s bustling downtown.
The park at the southern tip of Biscayne Bay is one of the crown jewels of Miami. It is almost completely submerged (95% of the 173,000-acre park is underwater) and is the final resting spot for dozens of shipwrecks that have not yet reached the Florida coast. It’s bad for them, but it’s perfect for curious snorkelers.
To surpass the Visitor Center, you will have to board a boat, so book in advance for a full-day or half-day guided tour (starting at $115) with the Biscayne National Park Institute and drive to the nearby departure point at Homestead (approximately 35 miles from Central Miami). The always clear water is fairly shallow, making it a well-managed place for beginner snorkelers. And if you like scuba diving, they do so too – knowledgeable institute naturalists can take you on an underwater adventure.
Good: novice snorkelers and family, if everyone is above average swimmer
Not very good: a simple trip – this takes a day. Please book a guided experience in advance
For reference: Pack lunch, snacks and water bottles. There is no food service for parks or boats at Biscayne National Park Institute
Website; Directions
For fishing
Transportation Inlet and Beach Park
The Northern Miami hauling inlet is filled with blackfish tuna, sailfish, mutton snappers and black grouper, making it a jackpot for hunting thrill lovers. A few years ago, a group of anglers caught a 400-pound swordfish.
It’s not just fish that are packed into this area. The artificial channel between Sunny Isles and Miami Beach bridges the northern tip of Biscayne Bay in the Atlantic, making it a dynamic place where many converge. Tuesday nights bring a lively crowd thanks to Tuesday food trucks from 5pm to 10pm. Near Bilbird Marina, there are rows of vendors and energy pumps from live DJ sets.
Before you start fishing, make sure you have a valid fishing license that is easily available at gooutdoorsflorida.com and book a rod and reel combo with reel play fishing rentals. You can then use Haulover’s short Lyft Ride to purchase bait at Haulover Marine Center. Then cast.
Good: Experienced anglers love it here – they enjoy the unpredictable ocean challenge
Not very good: Relaxed conversation. Crowds and spectators tend to get excited when large catches are carried
For reference: The sun is oversized here. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, hats and UPF rated clothing
Website; Directions
Have you ever been to these spots? Are there any tips for enjoying Miami in the water? Share them in the comments below. Follow FT Globetrotter on Instagram at @ftglobetrotter
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