Activities to Enjoy in Miami Before and After Your Cruise

Now that you’ve secured your cruise and are considering flights to and from Miami, you might be wondering: What can you do if you have some time to spare before or after your cruise? Fortunately, you’re in Miami!

Miami, famously known as the "Magic City," offers a plethora of experiences! You might want to allocate at least an entire day and night to your Miami adventure while planning your cruise itinerary. Explore these Activities to Enjoy in Miami Before and After Your Cruise to kick off your vacation with excitement!

Kid-Friendly Fun

Spend a Day Relaxing on the Beach

Naturally, this tops my list. You absolutely cannot visit Miami without experiencing the beach at least once! Picture turquoise waters, vibrant beach umbrellas, and stretches of white sand as far as you can see.

Bring a picnic, grab a beach towel, and head to South Beach (or Crandon Park if you're looking for a more family-friendly beach vibe). Don’t forget your sunscreen! My favorite place on South Beach is just off 5^th Street, where you'll find public restrooms and a lovely grassy area close by.

You can also indulge in some shopping on the nearby Lincoln Road or dine at one of the many trendy restaurants lining Collins Avenue when you need a break from the sun.

Experience the Water

Miami boasts a wide variety of watersports, ensuring there's something for everyone. You can take a water taxi to explore the islands, rent a jet ski for some beach fun, or set off on a kayaking adventure in the bay! When you book your cruise with Dinogos, you'll discover numerous fantastic shore excursions available during your Miami visit, and they handle all the arrangements for you!

If you're eager to venture onto the open waters, consider booking a snorkeling or diving expedition, a glass-bottom boat tour, or even a romantic sunset dinner cruise! You can also arrange fishing charter trips or rent a sailboat while in Miami!

Discover The Florida Birding Trail

Miami occupies a unique ecological niche, situated close to both the ocean and the Florida Everglades, which consist of marshlands and pine forests. As the saying goes, birds migrate south for the winter, and many of them make their way to Miami!

Throughout Miami, you can spot pelicans, both juvenile and adult Blue Herons, and many other bird species in their natural surroundings.

You'll find highway signs along US1 that guide you to the right locations. Here’s a tip: many of these exotic birds can be seen in our local waterfront parks, where they hunt for small fish in the shallow waters. If you take Old Cutler Road through Southwest Miami, my favorite birdwatching location is Deering Point, a public park on 176^th Street (that’s where my photos were taken). If you prefer not to drive that far south (it’s about 25 minutes from Downtown Miami), just keep an eye out for Florida Birding Trail signs along US1 to help direct you.

Explore Monkey Jungle

Nestled in Southwest Miami, Monkey Jungle Miami is a hidden gem for wildlife enthusiasts – or perhaps not-so-wildlife! In 1933, animal behaviorist Joseph DuMond introduced six Java monkeys to Miami to initiate a zoological study, and nearly a century later, we now have a flourishing troop that roams freely among the treetops at Monkey Jungle Miami.

What makes Monkey Jungle Miami unique compared to other animal attractions is that the monkeys are at liberty, while visitors are the ones behind enclosures! It’s more like a protected walkway, but you get the idea.

Almost 400 primates enjoy free rein over the 30-acre reserve, which is one of the few protected habitats for endangered primates in the United States. You can look through the fencing to watch them playing in the trees, caring for their young, and even feed them raisins through small baskets placed throughout the park.

Monkey Jungle Miami is the ONLY protected habitat accessible to the public.

This experience is truly one-of-a-kind, and I highly recommend that all animal enthusiasts make a visit the next time they find themselves in Miami!

Experience an Airboat Ride in the Florida Everglades

Head to one of our numerous parks in the Florida Everglades for a thrilling adventure – an airboat ride!

The Florida Everglades is teeming with a variety of bird species and reptiles, including the iconic American Alligator. This is a fantastic way to soak up some sun while discovering a different side of Miami. Your airboat guides will entertain you with sharp turns and splashes, taking you deep into the Everglades to observe the wildlife while sharing insights about the ecosystem. It’s both educational and enjoyable! You can book an excursion to the Florida Everglades through your cruise line’s shore excursion department, or visit any of the visitor centers within Everglades National Park to arrange an airboat ride. Dinogo also provides Everglades excursions, complete with luggage storage and transfers to Miami International Airport or Fort Lauderdale Airport.

Experience a Miami HEAT Game

If you're in Miami for your next cruise, don’t miss the chance to catch a Miami HEAT game and immerse yourself in the thrill of the city’s sports culture. HEAT games are always action-packed, and the Miami HEAT Dancers know how to put on an amazing show during halftime.

You can also download the Miami HEAT mobile app to purchase tickets, keep up with player interviews, standings, news alerts, and engage in Game Night Chats!

Indulge in Miami’s Culinary Scene

Miami is renowned for having some of the finest cuisine in the nation, and I don’t say that lightly as a local. The city is a vibrant cultural melting pot, offering authentic dishes from virtually every corner of the globe right here in the Magic City.

Dining out is a social affair in Miami, and you never know which celebrity or famous athlete you might encounter! Whether it’s a chic French bistro in historic Coconut Grove or a classic steakhouse in downtown Miami, keep your eyes open—you could be in for a treat!

Disclaimer: I am not a celebrity. However, if you do happen to spot me, please act as if I am one so that my dinner companions will be impressed.

Looking for fine dining right by the water in Miami? You’re in luck! South Beach and the waterfront in downtown Miami are lined with an array of restaurants and boutique shops.

Bonus: Dining along Brickell Avenue in downtown Miami provides a luxurious experience, stunning views of Biscayne Bay, and proximity to the Port of Miami!

I can’t think of a better place to enjoy a meal before setting sail on a Caribbean cruise!

The only thing that rivals the breathtaking view is the incredible meals featured on our menus.

Are you a fan of classic steakhouses? We have an abundance of those to choose from!

Are you searching for a chic bar or lounge in South Beach that offers expertly crafted cocktails and great music, allowing you to spend the evening like a true Miamian?

We might have a few… or maybe even 300! Collins Avenue, stretching between 5th Street and Lincoln Road, is filled with upscale bars and lounges where you can enjoy happy hour and dinner — plus, the hottest nightclubs on South Beach are just a short walk or a quick cab ride away!

Miami boasts a diverse culinary scene with flavors from around the globe. Whether you’re craving Cuban, Dominican, Jamaican, or Haitian cuisine, along with Italian, Spanish, French, or German dishes — whatever you desire, you’ll discover it when you step out for a night on the town in Miami.

For the finest dining experiences in Miami, make your way to South Beach and explore the many restaurants lining Collins Avenue. You’ll discover an array of fresh seafood (it’s always fresh here!), delicious Cuban dishes, fusion cuisine, and, of course, your go-to pizzerias and burger joints.

Naturally, you don’t have to wait until nighttime to indulge in Miami’s culinary delights!

And then there are the food trucks… an abundance of them! Many of our food trucks are operated by top chefs from the area or serve as satellite locations for our best restaurants.

You can discover the best food trucks in Miami at Tamiami Park (11201 SW 24TH ST.) during the weekly “Food Truck Friday” event on Friday nights. Food trucks are scattered throughout Miami all week long; to find out where they’ll be and when, take a look at this convenient list: http://burgerbeast.com/miamifoodtrucks/miami-food-trucks-list/.

What do you think? If you’ve sailed with Dinogos from the Port of Miami in the past, I’d love to hear about your favorite activities to enjoy in Miami before and after your cruise!

This article was created for Away We Go with Dinogo, your go-to source for getting into the vacation mindset.