Three Ways to Discover More of Miami Pre- or Post-Cruise

Image: Canoeing in Biscayne Bay is one of many activities offered by Miami EcoAdventures. (Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of the GMCVB.)

by Sara Perez Webber
Last updated: 7:00 AM ET, Fri April 5, 2024

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.

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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