Coral Gables, FL Outdoor Activities

Buddy closes his eyes as he sits on the deck of Buddy's Dream, letting the ocean breeze run through his gold hair as his tongue flaps in the wind. Ernie, owner of South Beach Boat Rentals, appointed his golden retriever as the company's mascot, naming all of his boats after the pooch instead of using impersonal numbers or the names of favorite Congressmen. After retiring from directing films in New York, Ernie decided to move to Miami, where he fell in love with boating, which helped him forget day-to-day concerns as he skimmed over the water.

Ernie's fleet of rental boats includes powerboats and luxury yachts, such as a 25-foot Azure Luxury 250 horsepower bow rider or an 18-foot Sea Ray sports boat, which renters can pilot themselves with a valid driver's license and boating experience. Ernie also leads private tours, including the historical Stilts Ville tour or the popular two-hour Miami Waters tour, which zooms past the homes of celebrities such as Gloria Estefan and Shaquille O'Neal while giving stunning views of the Miami skyline.

Captain Wayne Conn draws on expertise garnered through tournament fishing and a native’s knowledge of South Florida’s waters when taking groups out for deep-sea charter fishing. Captains Chris Neiderman, Ryan Omsted, and Chris Temmel round out The Reward Fleet crew, which together boasts more than a century of experience.

Up to 50 passengers can climb aboard The Another Reward, a 70-foot angling boat equipped with electronics to locate fish, a galley, and a salon with eight dinettes inside. Three times a day, she sets sail on public charter-fishing trips so guests can scan ocean waves for fish such as tuna, kingfish, bonito, sailfish, snapper, and grouper. During these trips, guests will be provided with all the necessary equipment and bait. The crew also specializes in corporate charters, bachelor parties, and long-range trips.

Since 1986, Brian Lutz has taught a panoply of tennis players how to improve their game and savor the sport's social aspect. Over time, he honed his teaching techniques and eventually devised his own tennis curriculum. In 2003, that curriculum inspired him to launch TennisTip, a program where experienced instructors help adults and teens improve their tennis game through self-discovery and fundamental skills.

TennisTip instructors work to provide hands-off guidance and gentle inspiration, letting students discover their best game through strategic practice. Combined with tennis-specific cardio exercises and an emphasis on social bonding, the regimen seeks to form independent, effective, and affable players out of every student. Since first starting up in the Big Apple, TennisTip has expanded to a second location, where pros instill students with courtside skills amid the warm Miami sun and attentive pelican ball boys.

Manned by a U.S. Coast Guard–certified crew, a Thriller SuperCat 55 power catamaran safely whisks patrons away on Thriller Miami Speedboat Adventures' 45-minute voyages that trek all the way into the Atlantic Ocean. After shipping out from Bayside Marketplace, captains navigate the vessel through Biscayne Bay, South Beach, and the Miami Gold Coast, granting guests sweeping views of Fisher Island, Miami Beach, South Beach's Art Deco district, and the towering Miami skyline. Conversant guides narrate each excursion, pinpointing sites of historical interest as they pass by and helping visitors identify multimillion-dollar dwellings owned by celebrities such as Shaquille O'Neal, Gloria Estefan, and Count Chocula.

Wanting to share their love of water activities with as many people as possible, the staff at Miami Kiteboarding teach classes in English, Italian, Spanish, French, and Russian. This dedication is also revealed by the depth and diversity of programs offered, which include International Kiteboarding Organization (IKO) certification courses, boat-assisted lessons, and kids' clinics. Through years of practice and very scientific study, the staff have developed an effective method for getting beginners up on the water in about six hours of instruction. Located in scenic Crandon Park on Key Biscayne island, Miami Kiteboarding offers paddleboard rentals, which helps patrons hone balance, coordination, strength, and stamina. Customers looking for family-friendly activities can also opt to rent kayaks, paddling leisurely through the shallow lagoon located nearby. The shop, equipped with everything one needs to fly a kite while gliding on water, can outfit novices with wetsuits, water shoes, and harnesses.

The wind catches a sail, and suddenly the 41-foot vessel springs to life. The sail boat's hull cuts across the water at increasing speeds, racing alongside city skylines and a mangrove-covered shore. The man at the helm is Captain Carlin, and he guides the vessel with a confidence and ease that can only come from more than 45 years of sailing experience. The captain's charters take up to six passengers through the Biscanye Bay: a shallow estuary home to pelicans, manatees, and retired leviathans. Along the way, groups can sip wine as they bask in the midday sun or the soft glow of an ocean sunset.