As the cruise capital
of the world, PortMiami welcomed nearly 7.3 million passengers in 2023. Yet
many of those vacationers saw little of the city other than the car ride to and
from the port.
Miami
offers so many cultural and natural attractions that a pre- or post-cruise stay
will significantly enhance your clients' itineraries. In fact, with the convenient
Brightline train service into Miami from Orlando and four South Florida stops,
it’s easier than ever to plan a trip to this dynamic city—as a cruise trip
add-on or at any time.
Here are three
excursions to recommend to clients who want to discover more of Miami’s unique
charm.
Take a Tasting Tour of Little Havana
Little Havana Food & Cultural Tour delves into the historic heart of Miami’s
Cuban community. A knowledgeable guide leads guests on a walking tour of
family-run eateries along a half-mile stretch of the famed Calle Ocho.
As participants
sip Cuban coffee and savor specialties such as pastelitos, croquetas, and Cuban
sandwiches, they’ll hear about the history and customs of the 80,000-resident
enclave, which has been home to generations of Cuban emigres and, more
recently, immigrants from throughout Latin America.
And
they’ll see it all around them, from the elderly domino players competing at Máximo
Gómez Park to guarapo (sugar cane juice) being made from sugar cane
stalks at a fruit market to an expert Toradora hand-rolling cigars. This
taste of Miami’s Cuban culture is limited to small groups, and Miami Culinary
Tours will work to accommodate specific dietary restrictions when possible.
Paddle Through Key Biscayne in a See-Through Kayak
A
variety of naturalist-guided excursions can be booked through Miami EcoAdventures, including a journey through Biscayne Bay’s crystal-clear waters in a
see-through kayak. Through the transparent hull, kayakers can see one of only
two fossilized mangrove reefs in the world, along with marine life, seagrass
beds and sand flats.
Designed
to foster an emotional connection between visitors and the environment, the
programs offered by Miami EcoAdventures—part of Miami-Dade’s parks and rec
department—include many more options for clients who want to experience the
Greater Miami area in its purest form. Another popular excursion is the Half
Moon Shipwreck Snorkel Adventure, in which participants take a catamaran to the
Half Moon Wreck, a 47-foot steel yacht that sank off the coast of Key Biscayne
in 1930, and snorkel above the artificial reef.
The sushi bar at Wynwood’s 1-800-LUCKY Asian food hall. (Photo Credit: Sara Perez Webber)
Explore Wynwood’s Colorful Street Art in an Electric Buggy
Wynwood Buggies. Each tour is helmed by a street artist who explains the vibrant art covering
the neighborhood’s buildings. The guides know the back stories of the artists
and often drive the buggy right up to an artist at work, who may stop and chat.
Guests can easily hop on and off the open-air vehicles, making it easy to capture
photos.
While
in Wynwood, I recommend that clients check out the dining scene. This hip area
north of downtown was once a derelict warehouse district, but now buzzes with
eclectic restaurants, bars and shops. The 1-800-LUCKY food hall, for example, features pan-Asian
dishes from seven vendors, a lush courtyard seating area, and its own vinyl
record store and karaoke room.
The artsy Arlo
Wynwood Miami hotel,
with its rooftop pool-with-a-view, and the soon-to-open Moxy Miami Wynwood place clients in the heart of the action.
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