Best Outdoor Activities in Downtown Miami

"Shark Valley Tram Tours offers two-hour guided tours of the paved loop trail that runs 15 miles through the Everglades from the Shark Valley Visitors Center. This is a great way to spot some wildlife and get a high-level perspective of the park from the Observation Tower at the loop's most distant point. If you're planning on visiting during the park's busy season (December through April), be sure that you call ahead for a reservation."

"The two-hour tram tour is the best way to tour through the area. A naturalist is aboard the tram who educates about the ecosystem of the wetland, the animals found in the region and the diverse plants present. The tram takes along the Tram Road Trail."

"Part vintage surf shack, part sultry outdoor club, Hyde Beach at SLS South Beach hotel is a prime spot to rub elbows with the young and fabulous of South Beach beneath string lighting and palm trees. Inside the bar, you’ll find VIP tables, a DJ booth and dance floor, while outdoors there’s a sprawling space to mix and mingle in the fresh air by the swimming pools. For a debauched weekend daytime pool party, this is one of the hottest scenes in town."

"Hyde Beach offers artful mixology and cuisine from Jose Andrés — all in an over 8,000 square-foot indoor/outdoor space with a gorgeous pool and beach access."

"For those of you who want a little more variety (or for those that don't like shopping), you can stop at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, where there is something for everyone. Guests have the option to enjoy the casino, horse racing, live entertainment and more."

"The Spa at the Mandarin Oriental, Miami Photo: Courtesy Mandarin Oriental, George Apostolidis. The Spa at the Mandarin Oriental, Miami strikes that hard-to-find balance of having something for everyone while avoiding a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all experience. So even if you choose a signature body treatment like the Oriental Essence or Therapeutic Massage—both of which blend Chinese, European, Balinese, and Thai techniques—the results will be highly personalized."

"Locals love the stylish 15,000-square foot (1,394sqm) spa at this regal hotel, set on a manmade island close to Brickell. Book one of the six VIP treatment rooms overlooking Biscayne Bay, if you can, to experience the spa’s heavenly four-handed massage. The spa is also especially renowned for state-of-the-art facials, including ones using oxygen, light therapy and white caviar."

"Sophisticated rooms come with balconies, iPhone docks, free WiFi, and flat screen TVs. Upgraded suites also feature bars, kitchenettes, private chefs, and standalone bathtubs. Meanwhile, you won’t have to go far to find delicious food since there are two on-site restaurants, one offering Peruvian cuisine and one offering modern American fare."

"Created by renowned Italian artist Claudio Ciaravolo to launch the SoBe is Love public art project a few Art Basels ago, this sculpture symbolizes the project’s message of love and community unity in light of post-election political divide and an epidemic of national gun violence and highlights intercultural principles of hope and faith. The SOBE sculpturer pays tribute to the late artist Robert Indiana, whose sculptures are universally recognized as symbolic of these same messages, and looks totally cute in pink."

"If you are in Miami and want to catch a baseball game, head over to the brand new loanDepot park in Little Havana. Home to MLB’s Miami Marlins, this relatively small and new park features a retractable roof and one of the most modern designs in all of Major League Baseball. The park can hold over 36,000 fans, has great views of downtown Miami, and even has massive fish tanks along the backstop that remind you exactly what city you are in."

"The original Homestead Town Hall was built more than a century ago and has been converted into a museum boasting one of the area’s most complete collections of historic memorabilia related to the town. The items on display include vintage photographs, historical documents, and other unique tidbits of local interest; there’s even an old fire engine that was retired long ago. The Homestead Historic Town Hall Museum is located on North Krome Avenue and doesn’t get a lot of foot traffic, so it’s quite possible that visitors will have the place to themselves."

"At Miami Children’s Museum, kids can wander through more than 14 interactive and bilingual galleries here. The Sea & Me, Ocean Odyssey, the Health & Wellness Center and the Supermarket are just a few of the stimulating spots where children can have a good time while learning about the world around them. A full calendar of exhibits and special events adds to the fun."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user qwesy qwesy used under CC BY 3.0. You may have visited many kids’ museums with your young ones, but this is not like the traditional ones you have seen before. It features an interactive playground for children and aims to help them attain their maximum potential."