Cruising South Florida Style
By Bobbye Miller Kenyon
The tropical South Florida waters boast a superlative style of their own, so chart a course and dock your boat at one of these amazing port-of-calls. As a native Miamian, I've logged countless boating excursions along South Florida's stunning aquatic roadways. My home offers a pair of dazzling cityscapes, Fort Lauderdale and Miami, which provide great boating experiences for everyone on board that include exceptional marina facilities, great dock and dine spots, chic along-the-water-shopping sprees and unique nature retreats.
With over 300 miles of navigable canals, channels and waterways, Fort Lauderdale—also known as The Venice of America—has transformed itself from a spring-break stop to a bustling commercial and cultural center.
What's great about cruising Lauderdale is the variety of outstanding marinas. These include Bahia Mar Yachting Center, the area's largest facility/resort property, which affords access to a seven-mile stretch of legendary Fort Lauderdale Beach via its hotel skywalk, and the City of Fort Lauderdale trio of marinas – Cooley's Landing, Las Olas Marina and New River. These three are located in strategic hubs of the City and Intracoastal Waterway (ICW); the latter is just steps away from the brick-paved lively Riverwalk district in downtown Fort Lauderdale. For those opting to dock along the ICW, the iconic Pier Sixty-Six has undergone a multi-million dollar renovation and is ready for transients.
Whether you prefer to cruise aboard your boat or hail a water taxi, a day trip along the ICW is the way to go. One stop not to be missed is the new Shooters Waterfront, welcoming boaters to its casual, upscale fare served in an impeccably re-dressed dining locale with 340-feet of dock space. Further north you'll find lots of shopping at the Galleria Mall, then plan to catch a perfect sunset from what's considered "Fort Lauderdale's Best Place to See a Sunset"–Pelican Landing—before taking an evening stroll down Las Olas Boulevard, which is lined with art galleries, boutiques and restaurants.
Just South of Port Everglades, John U. Lloyd State Park offers the closest access to the cut, making this natural setting a favorite for anglers to get oceanside for a day of boating and fishing in the Atlantic. The beachfront park is an ideal launching spot for a canoe or kayak journey along Whiskey Creek, and its manatee sanctuary provides an aquatic adventure that winds through the park, beckoning boaters to beach their craft for an idyllic picnic stop at the northern end.
And for those who happen to be cruising in November or December, make sure your schedule includes one of these mega boating events: the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) and Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade. The FLIBS docks in late October/early November at the Bahia Mar Yachting Center and attracts a global and local boating audience to the World's Largest In-Water Boat Show, while the World's Most Watched Boat Parade cruises the holiday season to a sparkling start as the traditional Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade launches from the New River and heads north along a 12-mile ICW route in mid-December.
Whether it's the dazzling nightlife of South Beach, the international business hub of downtown or pulsating Little Havana, this region comprises a dynamic blend of cultures that welcome visitors to experience an eclectic ambiance found only in Miami.
Miami welcomes boaters with an array of full-service facilities including Miami Beach Marina, conveniently located to Government Cut, which offers Atlantic Ocean access, and Dinner Key Marina, situated in the heart of trendy Coconut Grove.
A variety of landside things to do beckons you to spend the day basking in the South Beach sun, enjoying an Art Deco Walking Tour or taking in the Bass Museum of Art, while shopping excursions along Lincoln Road and Ocean Drive are a must for the fashionista on board.
A cruise along Biscayne Bay features panoramic views of the city and lures with a "must-stop" at Bayside, adjacent to the American Airlines Arena and downtown. From there, chart a southerly course that takes you under the Rickenbacker Causeway Bridge, then past Key Biscayne and the stately Cape Florida Lighthouse at the southern end. As you power further along, experience historic Stiltsville (dating back to the early 1930s), and its mesmerizing wooden stilt houses set atop wood or reinforced concrete pilings above the water. Getting hungry? Simply head back across Biscayne Bay and over to The Chart House for a casual afternoon lunch in a tropical setting.
The natural beauty of area boasts a pair of incredible treasures for nature enthusiasts: Biscayne National Park and Matheson Hammock Park. The tranquility of Biscayne National Park, with its 172,000-acre aquatic playground is home to delicate coral reefs and amazing tropical fish. Boating along the shallow waters of this fragile eco-system can be extremely challenging, and visitors might opt to complete their excursion of the largest national marine park via a 53-foot glass bottom boat or a 45-foot diving/snorkeling catamaran.
It's an easy trip to 630-acre Matheson Hammock Park, where boaters can dock at the adjacent Matheson Hammock Marina and explore the county's first park, which opened back in 1930. The park, home to the region's last surviving hammocks, features a manmade atoll pool flushed naturally with the tidal changes of adjacent Biscayne Bay. Incredibly delicious seafood can be found at the park's noted restaurant, The Red Fish Grill. Housed in the original beach pavilion, this fine-dining experience affords an option for breathtaking views, either outside at the edge of Biscayne Bay or inside in the historic stone dining room.
Think you'll be cruising around Miami during the winter months of December to February? Then check the calendar for annual globe-attracting events like Art Basel Miami Beach, the Miami International Boat show or the South Beach Wine and Food Festival...Each of these offers a wonderful take on the diverse Miami lifestyle.