Florida’s Miami area features a number of sights and things to do. With a temperate climate of about 70 degrees year-round, Miami, Florida, is a popular vacation destination for everyone. When visiting South Florida, consider some of these day trips.
Key West Sail and Snorkel Trip
Viator Tours offer one of the best day trips from Miami, Florida. Tour guests are picked up from their Miami hotel and travel for four hours by chartered bus to Key West. Upon arriving in Key West, you may explore downtown and visit landmark attractions such as Mallory Square shopping center and Hemingway House. Next, you will embark on a two-hour snorkeling cruise aboard a 65-foot catamaran called “Aquaworld.” Tour guests will spend an hour snorkeling off the coast of Key West around a large coral reef. Once your snorkeling excursion is complete, complimentary chilled wine and beer is served.
Adventures in the Everglades
The Everglades are a short drive from most Miami hotels and offer a number of exciting sights. Another of the best day trips from Miami, Florida, would be to visit the Everglades Alligator Farm. Viator Tours offers a 6-hour Everglades airboat adventure tour, combined with a cruise on Biscayne Bay. Your Everglades visit will include an airboat ride through the area’s many water channels; all while viewing more than 2,000 resident alligators. Once you leave the Everglades, you will board a boat for a cruise on Biscayne Bay, along the Miami skyline and around Fisher Island and Star Island.
Orlando Theme Parks
The attraction-filled city of Orlando is about a four-hour trip by car. It is not just one of the most popular side trips for travelers, but also one of the best day trips from Miami, Florida. Orlando is home to several theme park attractions such as Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld and Epcot Center. Each offers a full day of fun experiences and rides, plus several eateries and accommodations if you should choose to stay overnight.
Miami Zoos
Miami features a top-rated zoo, as well as a couple of wild animal parks. Zoos are an attraction that the entire family can enjoy. This is what makes them one of the best day trips from Miami, Florida. Zoo Miami is a 740-acre park that has more than 2,000 animals and about 500 different species. Nearby Monkey Jungle is a 30-acre park where “humans are caged, and monkeys run wild.” It is home to several types of primates including gorillas, orangutans, spider monkeys, gibbons and squirrel monkeys. Parrot Jungle Island is another Miami wildlife park that houses various species of big cats, tropical birds, reptiles, fish and primates. Its biggest attraction is the “liger,” a tiger and lion hybrid animal.
Wildlife Encounters
Swimming with dolphins is an exciting way to spend the day, and the Miami area offers wildlife encounter locations. As one of several best day trips from Miami, Florida, visitors can find dolphin encounter experiences at the nearby Miami Seaquarium. Encounters are open to individuals ages five and over, and allow visitors to play, swim and act as a dolphin trainer for a day. Orlando’s Discovery Cove marine mammal park, also allows kids and adults to interact with various marine residents such as dolphins, rays, tropical fish and sea lions.
Sources:
Viator website
Lonely Planet website
Miami for Visitors website
Orlando Tourist Information Bureau