Key Biscayne, FL Outdoor Activities

For more than two decades, The Great Taste of The Grove has ushered in a miscellany of tastes, sips, and sounds for participants of all ages in order to raise funds for the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce. Crowds of up to 20,000 descend upon local cuisine from area eateries as chefs grill up their own specialties during live cooking demonstrations. Wine samples, beer, and cocktails from renowned libations manufacturers acquaint themselves with uninitiated taste buds, and entertainment includes Saturday's Tribute concert covering songs from Neil Diamond, Billy Joel, and Journey and Sunday's Clash of the Decades featuring a mix from the 50s tunes to modern hits with headliner Suenalo. While adults mingle, youngsters can head to the adventure park, where they can hop on carnival rides or get their faces painted.

The Biscayne Xpress Water Taxi glides across Biscayne Bay, circling through its three stops—Bayside Marketplace, the Miami Beach Marina, and the downtown Riverwalk station—in a constant two-hour loop. Up to 42 passengers drink in views of coastal Miami and its gamboling manatees and pelicans as crew members impart juicy factoids about the city to visitors. At the Bayside Marketplace stop, patrons can browse a 120-store shopping complex or charter a fishing boat at Pier 5, whereas the Miami Beach Arena stop drops seafarers near a glut of restaurants, and the downtown Riverwalk station delivers visitors straight into the city’s rhythmically beating heart.

After Captain Chris Gruno escaped the chilly air of New Jersey and his desolate cubicle desk, he brought the Grouchy Turtle to the Florida Keys, where he now ferries patrons through tropical waters. The catamaran, a 33.5-foot-long boat with six rooms, can sleep up to four on overnight voyages and fit up to six passengers on daytime jaunts. A blue, U-shaped bench borders the table in the saloon, and the master cabin boasts a bed big enough for a queen. The vessel is the vehicle for diverse aquatic jaunts, including kayak tours.

The Floridian sun sparkles off rolling waves, reflecting dancing patterns of light onto the white-and-red hull of Aquaworld Miami’s excursion vessel, the Caribbean Spirit . The double-masted catamaran catches the gulf’s gusty winds in its twin sails to journey to a shallow sandbar for a day of watersports, offloading jet skis, banana boats, and a parasailing-equipped speed boat into the knee-deep water. On Atlantic Ocean excursions, the 78-foot vessel parks over a shallow water shipwreck for guests equipped with snorkels to explore. The rhythmic thump of the waves combines with Calypso music that constantly drifts from the boat’s speakers, offering the only method of sonar capable of identifying an undersea dance party.

[[m:####Miami WaterLife Tours

Across Miami's coastline, the setting sun casts a warm glow that reflects off skyscrapers and twinkles atop the ocean's waters. Miami Waterlife Tours' fleet of watercraft explores this fusion of urban and natural landscapes. Jet skis, paddleboards, and kayaks float on self-guided rentals and tours that pass into view of celebrity properties and their CGI homes. At nearby sandbars, IKO-certified instructors lead kiteboarding lessons while parasails soar into the sky.

Bringing luxury to the water, Miami WaterLife Tours also charters boats. Its vessels range from a 25-foot Bayliner to a 94-foot Ferretti motor yacht complete with private chef and dolphin interpreter.:m]]

White sand dunes crowned with tufts of grass. Shorelines overflowing with native plants and coastal trees. Clear cerulean waters stretching out onto the horizon, reflecting the undulating landscape of the Miami skyline. At Golden Yacht Charters, captains lead visitors into these scenic waters on boat tours while staffers rent out a fleet of powerboats to customers who want to experience owning a yacht without having to maintain it or parallel park it at the end of each day.

Captains and passengers embark on sunset or nighttime cruises along Miami's downtown and bayside coasts; daytime voyages to private spots such as Palm Island, Star Island, and Fisher Island; and trips to see the lighthouse at Cape Florida. Captains also helm tours past locales such as The Miami Herald, Freedom Tower, Rickenbacker Causeway, and Port of Miami. Guests can explore these same waters at their own pace aboard Tahoe, Sylvan, Hurricane, and Sea Ray powerboats, crafts up to 26 feet and outfitted with plush aft seating and insulated coolers. Staffers also rent fishing boats, catamarans, and luxury speedboats.