Attractions Nearby Miami, Day Trips and Excursions

(Miami, Florida - FL, USA)

If you are vacationing in Miami and looking to escape the confines of the city for just a day, then various outlying attractions lend themselves to excursions, with the most popular being located to the southwest. Many people choose to take a day trip to the Florida Keys, although at roughly two hours away, you will need an early start to make the most of your visit.

Considerably closer and just over 30 minutes to the north of Miami, the John Lloyd Beach State Recreation Area stands near to the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport and comes with picnic pavilions, boating, volleyball and the opportunity to hire both kayaks and canoes.

Most people are familiar with the Miami Everglades National Park and its famous alligators, and these expansive subtropical wetlands were once partly drained following the construction of a series of canals in the early part of the 20th century. Today, much of the Everglades has been returned from agricultural land to its former purpose as a wildlife haven, with lush swamps and huge sawgrass prairies.

Miami Everglades National Park

Address:
Gulf Coast Visitor Center: 815 Oyster Bar Lane, Everglades City, Florida FL, 34139, USA
Shark Valley Visitor Center: 36000 Southwest 8th Street, Miami, Florida FL, 33194, USA
Chekika Day Use Area: 24200 Southwest 160th Street, Miami, Florida FL, 33187, USA
Ernest Coe Visitor Center: 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, Florida FL, 33034, USA
Flamingo Visitor Center: 1 Flamingo Lodge Highway, Homestead, Florida FL, USA
An hour's drive away from central Miami is the Everglades National Park. This is one of the largest natural parks in Florida and is a truly unique ecosystem, made up of large swamps and marshes. Air boat tours are available to safely negotiate the Everglades - these flat bottom boats do not damage the plants and are an exciting way to travel. There are numerous alligators in the park and these are usually quite docile, although they should always obviously be admired from a distance.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: charge per vehicle or individual

John Lloyd Beach State Recreation Area

Address: 6503 North Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, Florida FL, 33004, USA
Tel: +1 954 923 2833
The John Lloyd Beach State Recreation Area makes for a popular excursion and is within reasonable reach of Miami, being found within the Greater Fort Lauderdale area, next to Port Everglades. This large state preserve covers more than 250 acres / 101 hectares and is full of wildlife. Attractions include sea turtles that lay their eggs on the beach every year, protected manatees, an enormous quantity of colorful wild birds and a coastal forest. There are also a number of sporting activities available here, such as swimming, canoeing and fishing, as well as plenty of picnic areas and snack bars.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to dusk
Admission: charge per vehicle or individual

Dolphin Research Center

Address: Dolphin Research Center, 58901 Overseas Highway, Grassy Key, Florida FL, 33050, USA
Tel: +1 305 289 0002
The Dolphin Research Center is situated just under a two-hour drive from Miami, on the Grassy Key. These fascinating and mysterious creatures are very intelligent and there are around 15 friendly dolphins living at the Research Center, which is a non-profit making organization. The center has an enormous statue of a mother and baby dolphin out the front, so it really is quite hard to miss! Founded over 30 years ago, the attraction offers half-day programs on dolphin biology and methods of communication, culminating with a opportunity to meet, touch and communicate with the center's dolphins. It is also possible to swim with the dolphins as part of the Encounter Program, although reservations usually have to be made in advance.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for seniors and children between four and 12 years old, children four years old and under are free

Crane Point Museum and Nature Center

Address: Mile Marker 50.5 Bayside, 5550 Overseas Highway, Marathon, Florida FL, 33050, USA
Tel: +1 305 743 9100
The Museum of Natural History of the Florida Keys is situated within the city of Marathon and is slightly more than two hours to the southwest of Miami, residing on the nearby Florida Keys. The museum serves as the island's preeminent archive of ancient artifacts. Among the most popular attractions here is a large shipwreck, complete with many items commemorating the numerous fortune seekers whose ships sank on the dangerous reefs of the Florida Keys. The museum includes a children's Activity Center and a Gift Shop.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 09:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for seniors and children between five and 13 years old, children five years old and under are free

American Police Hall of Fame and Museum

Address: 6350 Horizon Drive, Titusville, Florida FL, 32780, USA
Tel: +1 321 264 0911
The large American Police Hall of Fame and Museum is full of education exhibits and displays and attractions include more than 10,000 items relating to law enforcement in Florida and America as a whole. These include a jail cell, a retired gas chamber, a real electric chair, complete with descriptions of how prisoners were executed in this chair, information on famous convicted criminals, futurist police equipment, a marble law enforcement memorial and there is also a crime scene, where you have to examine the clues to solve the crime.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge, discounts for seniors and children under 12 years of age