The Best Day Trips From Miami To Take Right Now
We advise packing a change of clothing and leaving on the Best Day Trips From Miami when you’re ready for a break from the best Miami beaches. Or when you’ve had enough of spending Saturday nights at a club. Our choices range from Key Largo, a small but attractive town where you can swim with dolphins, to Bimini, the nearest Bahamian island to the United States, where you may enjoy total seclusion. These locations are also home to some fantastic eateries, fun activities, and iconic natural sites. Ready for a short journey? Check out the day trips we recommend leaving from Miami below.
Day trips from Miami
1. Homestead, FL
Day Trips From Miami Shame on any traveler who makes it this far south and doesn’t carve out at least a little time to wander through Everglades National Park. It is the largest natural subtropical park in the country. Spanning 1.5 million acres, it’s not the easiest national park to tackle. But the wildlife alone—think Florida panthers, alligators, and bald eagles—makes this a fascinating side trip for anyone with a penchant for getting lost in the deep, jungle-y wilderness for a few hours. The laid-back town of Homestead, which is an easy 45-minute drive from Miami, acts as a portal to the Everglades; and while Homestead offers several affordable hotel options, hardcore naturalists will want to make use of the park’s 48 designated backcountry campsites.
EAT:
The family-style restaurant Mario’s is a favorite choice for its hearty quantities of churrasco steak, Cubano sandwiches, and, of course, empanadas, in case you didn’t have your fill of Cuban food back in Miami.
DRINK:
The beautiful estate Schnebly Redland’s Winery & Brewery, known for fermenting unusual fruits like mangos and avocados into wine, welcomes guests for tours of the facility, followed by sampling at the bar.
DO:
Visitors can sign up for an exhilarating airboat tour at Alligator Farm, just outside of Homestead, close to the entrance to Everglades National Park, where you’ll skim the surface of the waters that alligators and turtles call home.
STAY:
Keep things easy at the Best Western Gateway to the Keys, an airy motel with a pool outside, air conditioning (essential during the sweltering summer), and a complimentary breakfast each morning.
If you only take one action…
Drive to the nearby Homestead-Miami Speedway, a renowned racetrack that serves as the site of the annual NASCAR Championship. Not in a hurry to return? During the high-speed event, which draws thousands of racing spectators, camping and RV parking are permitted.
2. Key Largo, FL | Day Trips From Miami
Day Trips From Miami Entering Key Largo feels like entering a massive metropolis after what seems like an eternity of driving through the congested Overseas Highway or, worse yet, Card Sound Road. But don’t go too far in advance. Despite being larger than its neighbors, the first of several Florida keys is nevertheless quaint and full of small-town charm.
EAT:
The Fish House, which has been in operation since 1982, is a reputable supplier of locally caught seafood, house-made chowders, and its signature key lime pie. In fact, the dessert is so well-known that many customers passing by the establishment stop to get complete pies to go.
DRINK:
The boisterous tiki bars of Key Largo are legendary. The majority of patrons arrive at the waterfront bars via boats, however, they may also be reached on foot. Gilbert’s is among the area’s most well-liked restaurants, and the divey ambiance perfectly complements the laid-back character of Largo.
DO:
Imagine that you are on the Flipper set. You may stroke the cute mammals while seated on a floating dock at Dolphins Plus, give them a peck, and even go behind the scenes with trainers to learn how they are cared for.
STAY:
In the Keys, you can choose from a wide variety of motels and bed-and-breakfasts, although there aren’t many luxurious resorts. Playa Largo Resort & Spa is a sizable facility that is both opulent and laid-back, and it is one of the most recent additions to the area. Spend some time relaxing in a hammock, cool down in the lagoon-style pool, and schedule some time to observe the sunset.
If you only take one action…
Pennekamp, John In the roughly 70 miles of open water that make up Coral Reef State Park, visitors can go swimming, snorkeling, boating, diving, and nearly all other types of aquatic activities. Without a water break, a vacation to the Keys wouldn’t be the same.
3. Islamorada, FL| Day Trips From Miami
It’s a common misconception that Miami and the Florida Keys require distinct vacation plans, but this is simply untrue. Highway 1, often known as the “Overseas Highway,” is a completely enjoyable drive from Miami. Once you’re on it, the name makes sense; the 113-mile thoroughfare connects the Keys’ slender, fragmented strip to the mainland. It is stretched out over a glistening blue ocean. The ideal place to start your exploration of what is undoubtedly Florida’s most iconic coastal topography is Islamorada, a small, lovely beach village that is traditionally recognized as a sportfishing capital. The trip from Miami takes less than two hours, but you’ll want to allow more time because of the breathtaking surroundings so you can stop and take pictures along the way.
EAT:
Green Turtle Inn, an all-day eatery that first debuted in 1947, alone is worth the drive to sunny Islamorada for dishes like Barney’s Fish Sandwich and the Ultimate Patty Melt, which landed it a position on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives.