Miami’s urban energy and glittering cityscape are obvious attractions. But if you slow down and look more closely, you’ll find a quieter side to this exciting destination. Natural attractions – and nature-focused activities – are as much a part of Miami as modern, man-made diversions. And no visit here would be complete without seizing the opportunity to experience them.
To start, consider swapping city streets for the shaded nature trails of Miami’s parks, which offer pockets of retreat and renewal amid urban forests and wildlife. At Crandon Park on Key Biscayne, staff at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center lead walking tours of the former coconut plantation’s diverse ecosystems, which include dunes, maritime hammock, mangrove forest and seagrass beds – home to a host of wildlife, including sea turtles, manatees and more than 200 species of birds. Visitors to Oleta River State Park in North Miami Beach can commune with nature by running or mountain biking along 15 miles of trails, or kayaking through verdant mangrove wetlands so tranquil they feel far removed from bustling Downtown Miami, just 30 minutes away.
Taking a walking tour at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables reveals nature’s bounty, including world-class collections of rare palms, tropical fruit and flowering trees. Nature exploration continues on the water, which teems with life. There’s easily accessible snorkeling on South Beach, just opposite the 2nd Street lifeguard tower, where you can swim out to the Jose Cuervo reef, a shelter for corals, sponges and fish such as Spanish mackerel and snapper. Or you can book a half-day boat charter or rent a paddleboard to explore Biscayne Bay and its islets, where you just might encounter manatees and dolphins at play.
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