Escape The Hustle & Bustle With These 4 South Florida Excursions
While there’s plenty to do and see right on Miami Beach, if you want to take a break from the back of your scooter and escape the hustle and bustle of the city, check out one of the 4 day trips to experience a quieter side of Florida.
Everglades
Everglades National Park was established in 1947 to restore the delicate wetlands ecosystem that was being destroyed by settlers for farmland in the early 1900s. The park now encompasses 1.5 million acres of pristine preserved wilderness and is home to countless native Florida wildlife. There are many ways to explore the Everglades, including boardwalks, hiking trails, and canoeing, but the most exhilarating way by far is from the front of an airboat.
From Miami, there are several tour companies that offer Everglades excursions, and many even include transportation. Depending on where you go within the park, expect about 1-1.5 hours to travel from Miami Beach.
John Pennekamp
If snorkeling or scuba diving is on your agenda, rent a car and hit the Overseas Highway to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo. At just under 1.5 hours from South Beach, the easy drive down US-1 is well worth it for the destination. John Pennekamp is the first underwater state park in the United States, spanning about 70 nautical square miles. The park boasts natural coral reef, an abundance of marine wildlife, remnants of a Spanish shipwreck, and a 9′ tall bronze statue of The Christ of the Abyss which was placed underwater in 1965. Visitors can swim off a white sand beach, rent kayaks, canoes or paddleboards, charter a fishing boat, view the reef from a glass-bottom boat, and of course, snorkel or scuba.
Naples Sunset Cruise
Sure, you can see a decent sunset from the water in Miami, but for an unforgettable sunset cruise, make the easy 1.5 hour drive across Alligator Alley to Florida’s ultimate west coast destination: Naples. Make a day of it and explore Naples’ prestigious 5th Avenue South and soak in the sun as you sink your toes into the powder-white sand that west coast beaches are known for. Then, make your way down to Naples City Dock for an early dinner at The Dock ahead of sunset. While there are many tour companies that offer sunset cruises, you don’t want to miss the Sweet Liberty, a 53′ sailing catamaran that has been offering sunset cruises in the Gulf of Mexico for more than 25 years.
Fishing Charter
To really escape the hustle and bustle, spring for a private charter boat and your very own captain and head out to the open waters for a day of deepsea fishing. Miami’s offshore waters feature an abundance of fish any time of year, but winter is the prime season for sailfish sport fishing as well as kingfish, dolphin, tuna, and wahoo. Check out Trip Advisor’s top 10 list of deep-sea fishing charters to start planning your adventure.
When You’re Done Adventuring, Your Scooter Will Be Waiting!
It’s always fun to get off the beach and see what else Florida has to offer. But when you’re done exploring, Scooter Rental will be here waiting to get you back on your scooter! Reserve your scooter online today or contact us to learn more.