Join an exhilarating airboat ride at Everglades Holiday Park near Fort Lauderdale.
EVERGLADES HOLIDAY PARK
You can't visit Florida and not venture into the Everglades, a vast, swampy wilderness that's home to alligators, turtles and countless bird species. Accessing the Everglades National Park from Miami without a car is tricky, so the next best thing is to join an exhilarating airboat ride at Everglades Holiday Park near Fort Lauderdale. As you explore the mangroves, you're almost guaranteed to spot said alligators, cormorants and tri-coloured herons. The park also has an informative show using rescued alligators and offers kid-friendly animal encounters. The $US75 ($110) VIP tour includes transfers or Big Bus Miami has a tour package for $US44. See www.evergladesholidaypark.com; bigbustours.com
WYNWOOD WALLS STREET ART TOUR
Credit: iStock
Started in 2009 as an outdoor museum for street art, Wynwood Walls has blossomed into a rotating gallery of more than 50 stunning murals by some of the planet's best street artists. To get the most from your visit, join a guided tour by one the museum's resident experts, many of whom are artists themselves. Not only will you learn about the different styles and techniques, but you'll also get a fascinating insight into the artists who created them. Some have gone on to enjoy extraordinary commercial success. Cost $US17. See thewynwoodwalls.com
MILLIONAIRE'S ROW BOAT CRUISE
Large swathes of Miami are located on reclaimed land and man-made islands, so one of the best ways to sightsee is by boat. Island Queen Cruises' 90-minute Millionaire's Row tour provides panoramic views of the city's spectacular skyline, bustling container port and enormous cruise port (the world's largest). However, what everyone really wants to gawp at are the opulent waterfront mansions of the rich and famous. See where the likes of Oprah, David Beckham, Sean Combs and a host of hedge fund managers choose to invest their squillions. Cost $US30. See islandqueencruises.com
LITTLE HAVANA FOOD TOUR
Cubans fled to Miami in the 1960s, creating a dense pocket of Latin culture in the heart of the city. Today the area is known as "Little Havana" and the best way to experience it is on a 2.5-hour walking tour with Miami Culinary Tours. You'll sample iconic Cuban cuisine (including delicious beef empanadas, sweet sugarcane juice and, of course, a Cuban sandwich) and gain valuable cultural insights by visiting a memorial commemorating the Cubans who died during the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion and a park where spirited games of dominoes have been played for 40 years. Cost $US69. See miamiculinarytours.com
BIG BUS MIAMI
Miami is not a walkable city. Strolling between South Beach and Little Havana would take you 2.5 hours (and at least three litres of perspiration). Fortunately, there's a less taxing alternative – Big Bus Miami's hop-on/hop-off open-top bus service. Running every 30 minutes in a loop, it will deliver you to the city's main tourist hotspots (including South Beach, Wynwood, Little Havana and Downtown) with informative commentary and stellar top-deck views. Upgrade to a deluxe tour and you'll also get tickets for the Millionaire's Row cruise and Everglades Holiday Park. From $US39. See bigbustours.com
ART DECO WALKING TOUR
It's only thanks to the efforts of the Miami Design Preservation League that the city can boast the world's largest concentration of art deco buildings. By creating the Miami Beach Architectural District in the late 1970s, they ensured that dozens of gorgeous pastel-hued, terrazzo-floored, neon-lit masterpieces could be enjoyed for generations to come. As such, they're the ideal people to show you around. Join a 1.5-hour MDPL walking tour to see the best of South Beach's art deco, Mediterranean Revival and Miami Modern gems. Cost $US30. See mdpl.org
Rob McFarland was a guest of Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (miamiandbeaches.com).
Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter
Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.