Things to Do in Miami Springs

For 17 years, Flamingo Gardens has gathered plant experts, landscapers, and other gardening connoisseurs to its annual festival. This year, the Broward Bonsai Society joins in the fun with an exhibition of the varied shapes and levels of perfection its miniature trees can hold. Displays from Alexander Farms, Greenhouse Orchids, and other vendors entice the eyes while guests wander about, taking in colorful performances from butterfly stilt-walkers and West African drummers. At the Butterfly Encounter, guests learn lepidopterist lore from expert Mike Rich while feeding live butterflies and teaching them about the updated food pyramid.

Wee ones, meanwhile, can head to the Kids Gardening Zone to decorate their own pots and plant a seed or romp through the gardens on a scavenger hunt. Plant experts also hold classes and demonstrations, including "Mounting Orchids & Basic Orchid Culture," and take guests on guided tours through the botanical gardens.

Miami BeachSports shoots thrill-seekers into the wild blue yonder with adrenaline-filled trips at the stern of Yamaha WaveRunners. Aquatic cowboys wrangle the sea-slapping crafts, churning up wake and waking up the Krakens that live along the oceanfront boardwalk. Guests take in seldom-seen vistas while screaming along the waves, looking back at the strip of beach between Fontainebleau Hotel and Four Points by Sheraton Miami Beach where Miami BeachSports is located. Once back on shore, guests can rent the shop’s chaise lounges or oversize umbrellas for beachside relaxation.

You wouldn’t ask a plumber to fix a nuclear submarine (especially after last time), so don’t ask an eight-ball to predict your future. Prescient ponderings and intuitive information are Sandra’s forte, dished out with a heaping side of practical advice. With more than 30 years of experience, Sandra is trained in removing any evil influences that are interfering with your life, ensuring you’ll just happen to meet a skilled intergalactic pilot who will smuggle you to Alderaan. Delving deeper than Jacques Cousteau, Sandra will answer all of your financial, career, and emotional questions while accurately predicting the return date of the McRib.

A dozen sets of sea legs can flex their nautical muscle aboard one of Duffy's quiet and covered boats. Powered exclusively by a combination of battery power and dreams, this spacious vessel hums along quietly, allowing passengers to soak in the natural surround sound. Wrap-around seating encircles a central table equipped with multiple cup holders and adequate serving space for sailors to tear into a recently commandeered party sub.