Greater Miami & Miami Beach is a fascinating place for outdoors lovers to explore, thanks to the area’s unique ecosystems. Begin your epic adventures in Miami’s national parks. Spanning 1.5 million acres to the west and south of Miami, Everglades National Park is a thrilling place to spot alligators, bald eagles, white-tailed deer and maybe even an endangered Florida panther. Go hiking, biking, canoeing and camping in this park, which is known as the “River of Grass.” Biscayne National Park is unique for the fact that 95 percent of the park is underwater. Whether you arrive by boat or through the Dante Fascell Visitor Center in Homestead, you’ll find amazing opportunities for snorkeling, diving, boating, swimming and sunning.
Another popular destination for outdoor explorers is Oleta River State Park, near Sunny Isles Beach. Here, just a 30-minute drive from Downtown Miami, you’ll find a tropical oasis where you can kayak or canoe through mysterious mangrove tunnels, go mountain biking along 15 miles of trails and stay in a rustic cabin.
Opportunities for outdoor exploration abound in Miami – especially when it comes to watersports. Check out sailing charters in Coconut Grove, stand-up paddleboarding around Virginia Key, snorkeling or diving on shipwrecks and coral reefs, and sightseeing cruises around Biscayne Bay. Or simply take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean, just steps from your lounge chair on the beach.
