As the only city in the United States bordered by two National Parks – the Everglades National Park and the Biscayne National Park, Miami is rich with vast natural resources guaranteed to rejuvenate the spirit. So, rub on that sunscreen and grab a water bottle as you prepare to embrace your adventurous side with wildlife encounters and thrilling adventures found within Miami’s subtropical surroundings.
Twenty minutes from South Beach, the Virginia Beach Outdoor Center strives to provide exclusivity and organizes a special version of “Paddle with Pride – Sunset Kayak and Paddleboard Tour” during Miami Beach Pride where all participants paddle to the North Point to catch a sunset and then return to the Virginia Beach Outdoor Center for a nice bonfire with marshmallows. The center also offers mountain & beach cruiser bike rentals & tours, full moon kayak & paddleboard adventures, manatee photo safaris (November to mid-April), private and group fishing trips and lessons, and paddleboard yoga throughout the year.
Love The Everglades Movement is your one-stop shop for connecting to the Everglades, including places like the River of Grass, Big Cypress National Preserve, Everglades National Park, Miccosukee & Seminole homelands, and other places where the mysteries & magic of nature continue to sparkle. They welcome everyone, but have a special mission to ‘Queer Up the Everglades’ – to embrace friends & family in the LGBTQ+ communities and share with them unique activities like hiking, airboat rides, canoeing, kayaking, camping, meteor shower viewing parties, art activities, educational excursions, and clean-ups. Their TLGBQ+ / BIPOC Hikes in Big Cypress are about decolonizing our bodies: dis/orienting ourselves from the built environment, and recalibrating ourselves with a protocol of joy that help us to create new relationships with our relatives in the natural world. This includes practices of deep listening, guided meditation, mutual storytelling, and hearing from invited LGBTQ+ guest speakers that help to educate us on various aspects of the ecological wonders.
When you’re ready for some camping or glamping, Flamingo Adventures, located within the Everglades National Park, is the only place in the United States where you can stay in a Houseboat, Eco-Tent, or both. The eco-tents are 186-sq feet with either to two double beds or a Queen bed, chairs, floor lamps, fans, drawer chest and electricity. Their 42-foot houseboats sleep a maximum of six people with all the necessities and modern amenities. Onboard, these houseboats have two staterooms, gas oven/range, and gas-electric refrigerator with a freezer, microwave, and more. The Flamingo Everglades’ daily narrated boat tours are back for those who love to sight-see on the water. This one-of-a-kind wilderness experience on a single or double-decker tour boat is the perfect opportunity to get up close with the magnificent manatees, crocodiles, birds, and other wildlife found throughout the marina. There are also backcountry boat tours every Friday-Sunday at 1 pm and 3 pm to give a more in-depth look into nature. Flamingo Adventures also offers an RV site, 8-passenger pontoon boats, sift boat rentals, single and double kayaks, canoes, and bike rentals.
Additional Miami Ecotourism activities:
· Scuba, Snorkeling, & Kayaking
· Miami’s guide to the best RV & camping facilities can be found here.
· A guide to camping and glamping in Miami's National Parks can be found here.
· Miami’s best nature walks and hiking trails can be found here.
From north to south, above land or below the sea, natural and man-made gems are yours to experience in Miami. For more information, visit www.MiamiandBeaches.com.