Island Queen Wants You to Enjoy South Florida — Here’s the Top 10 Things To Do In Miami

Miami is one of the best vacation spots in the United States, drawing millions of visitors to its endless beaches and exciting nightlife.

If you’re wondering when the best time to visit Miami is, well, if you don’t mind hot weather, any time is a good time, but if you prefer milder temperatures, the best time to visit Miami is between November and March, when there is still warm weather (but not too hot!) and gorgeous sunsets. That said, what are the best activities to do while you’re visiting Miami?

There are so many things to do in Miami that it can be overwhelming for first-time visitors. To make your trip as enjoyable as possible, we’ve put together an itinerary packed with some of our best suggestions. Read on for more!

1. Island Queen’s Millionaire’s Row Cruise

Our own Millionaire’s Row Sightseeing Cruise is one of the most popular excursions in Miami. This is a narrated trip that takes you around the bay to see all of our fabulous islands, including Monument Island, Fisher Island, homes of the rich and famous, the port of Miami, and of course the beautiful Miami skyline.

2. Wynwood – Miami’s Creative and Cultural Hub

Miami prides itself on its eclectic offerings of the arts, shopping, eateries, and cultures, and nowhere is this more apparent than at Wynwood, Miami’s creative and cultural hub!

North of downtown Miami and west of Miami Beach, this neighborhood that was once a collection of warehouses has been transformed in recent years into one of the premier destinations in the world for art, fashion, and creative enterprise. With a wide variety of restaurants, bars and shops, Wynwood also offers one of the largest open-air-street-art installations anywhere. From its vivid murals that adorn the buildings to the innovative use of space by entrepreneurs, Wynwood is a feast for the eyes and ears and leaves visitors with a real-life views of Miami’s past, its present, and its future.

3. Horseback Riding at MM Equestrian Farm

One might not think of horseback riding when listing the top things to do in a metropolis like Miami, but a trip to MM Equestrian Farm, gives visitors a calming and therapeutic environment away from the pulse of the city. Founded by Melissa Benton 2018, MM Equestrian Farm is conveniently located in the Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park in North Miami. The serene setting stands in contrast to the vibrancy of most of Miami and the farm provides a positive, wholesome and therapeutic environment for all ages. Adults who grew up on a farm will have memories stirred and kids will be overjoyed at the interactive exposure to farm animals and horses.

4. Miami City Tour by Helicopter

You can’t get better views of Miami than with a helicopter tour with Island Queen Cruises & Tours.

For many, the television show Miami Vice captured the essence of Miami’s beauty during the opening credits as a helicopter flew over the turquoise ocean. Due to the show’s popularity, those opening credits were viewed by millions and helped promote Miami around the world.

Island Queen’s helicopter tour is a look at Miami that you can’t get anywhere else. Take in a bird’s eye view of the most scenic sights in Miami, West Palm Beach, Key West, Key Biscayne, Biscayne Bay, and all the beauty and grandeur of South Florida. The beaches, coastlines, high-end condos, Art Deco, Millionaire’s Row, and the homes of the rich and famous all over Miami. You get to see the fishing boats, speed boats, jet skis, and parasailers. Take in the magnificent downtown Miami skyline, the Port of Miami and upper Miami.

A helicopter tour of Miami is a thrilling event that you’ll cherish for the rest of your life!

5. Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tours

Miami’s Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tours offers sightseeing in Miami, including the world-famous South Beach and Coconut Grove. The tour not only allows you to get up close with Miami from street level, but it also allows you to get off and on the bus at your leisure to explore on your own.

The Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour is an ideal way to see Miami, as it allows you to pick and choose the sights you want to get a detailed look at. After a dip in South Beach’s beautiful waters, walk along Ocean Drive and try some of Miami’s best restaurants. Visit some of Miami’s most prominent museums to get a taste of the city’s history and art. Visits to different neighborhoods throughout the city provide insights into all of its elements that help contribute to making it such a melting pot. See why Miami is such a popular tourist destination.

To get more bang for your buck, you can combine the Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour with a Millionaire’s Row Cruise for a more complete tour of Miami!

6. Miami Riverwalk and Miami Baywalk

The city of Miami takes pride in the way it looks. Wherever you are in the city, there is an abundance of sights and sounds that are unique to Miami and are an advertisement to the diversity of South Florida.

Water is a key component in the makeup of the personality of Miami, and for the most amazing views of the Miami River and Biscayne Bay, head down to the Miami Riverwalk and the Miami Baywalk. A stroll along these pathways will give you a real feel for what Miami is all about!

There are a number of great walking/jogging paths at the water’s edge. These walks will not only provide some great exercise, but give you extraordinary people watching as the paths are full of joggers, skaters, commuters, and tourists alike.
The Riverwalk and Baywalk are alive with the pulse of Miami and are a great way to get in your daily exercise!

7. Dinner at a Bayside Marketplace Restaurant

From the iconic Hard Rock Café to La Industria Bakery, The Knife, or Sugar Factory, Bayside Marketplace is home to some of the best restaurants in Miami and one of them is sure to give you or your group exactly what you’re looking for in an unforgettable dinner.

Located on beautiful Biscayne Bay, there’s no better place for handcrafted cocktails, boozy shakes, or the legendary Steak Burger collection than at the Hard Rock Café.

Located just steps from downtown Miami and a short drive from South Beach, the Hard Rock is your perfect destination for great food, drinks, and music.

The food at La Industria Bakery & Café is out of this world and will be a meal you never forget! Opened by musical superstar Nicky Jam, this bakery/eatery will delight you for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

For an all-you-can eat experience like none you’ve ever had before, head to The Knife at Bayside Marketplace.

The Knife’s “All-Inclusive” rates offer you the opportunity to enjoy a large selection of grilled meats, traditional Argentinian cold appetizers, wide variety of fresh and grilled vegetables and salads, homemade desserts and drinks. Standard lunch and dinner rates include your choice of a bottle of house wine, 2 draft beers or soda, and a dessert.

8. Breakfast at La Sandwicherie, then Kayaking Through Biscayne Bay

Catch a quick bite for breakfast before taking advantage of one of the best things to do in Miami – kayaking through Biscayne Bay. Whether you choose to go alone or with a group, it is best enjoyed around sunrise when it is cooler outside.

9. Everglades Tour and Transportation

One of the most intriguing spots in Miami is the Everglades. Island Queen Tours & Cruises offers an incredible Everglades Tour with transportation. This tour offers you the best chance to enjoy Miami’s treasured ecosystem, the Florida Everglades. Our package includes transportation to the Everglades, an amazing airboat ride and a Wildlife Nature Show. This Everglades Tour with Transportation is the most complete Everglades tour in all of Miami.

Enjoy the colorful Miami scenery and relax one of our coach buses to the phenomenal Everglades. From there you will journey into nature’s secretly preserved wilderness, made up of 1.2 million acres of grasslands and hardwood hammocks aboard one of Island Queen’s airboats. A professional tour guide will narrate your thrilling airboat ride as you glide through the jungle of wilderness, coined, “The River of Grass.”

You’ll know you’re not on South Beach as your tour guide will lead you through the natural wonder where you will encounter breathtaking views, lush vegetation, and peaceful tranquility. You’ll explore the wonder of the Everglades amidst alligators, racoons, deer, and wild boar in their natural habitat. A truly memorable and exhilarating adventure – a must see!

10. Bayside Marketplace

For an ecletic experience including a ferris wheel, the Hard Rock Café, and plenty of great people watching and live entertainment, check out Bayside Marketplace.

With a wide variety of shops, bars, and restaurants, Bayside Marketplace is a fantastic hub that gives you a ton of great options all right in the heart of Miami on Biscayne Blvd.

Miami is truly one of the most unique cities in the world – a veritable melting pot of styles, cultures, landscapes, and languages that come together to create a city that is nothing short of magical. We hope you enjoy your stay and are able to visit some of the destinations on this list – Miami is definitely a city that offers a variety of locations and experiences!