Things to Do in Opa-locka

For more than a quarter century, A&A Beach Services has given beach-goers all the tools they need to get the best rest, relaxation, and enjoyment out of their sandy stay. Thrill-seekers can rent a Yamaha jet ski and zoom over the Atlantic waves. Beach accessories such as umbrellas, cabanas, and chaise lounges furnish a happily lazy afternoon.

The company’s prime spot directly on the 2.5-mile Hollywood Beach Boardwalk makes bike riding an easy and popular sightseeing activity and the best way to outrun an angry hermit crab. Everyone from single riders to families of four can enjoy their sunny jaunt with a bike inventory that includes banana bikes, kid carriers, and two- and four-seat Surreys.

Rob—a licensed Coast Guard captain and PADI-certified master scuba diver trainer—is affectionately called Captain Rob by his clients. His eponymous company helps the uninitiated to explore underwater with PADI-certification classes that focus on open-water dives in open water. From his 27-foot boat, a Grady White called Little Bugga, the captain launches expeditions beneath the waves. His encyclopedic knowledge of the area's ecology, which includes marine life, shines as he explains it in detail to divers. He also uses his decades of experience to teach new boat owners how to fish or captain their vessel through turbulent waters and car washes.

Back in 1955, Bayside Marketplace was abuzz with fishermen selling the day’s catch to people eager to bring home a fresh dinner to their families. Today, the waterside marketplace still bustles with shoppers, but now both tourists and locals bob in and out of retail shops and restaurants, and stop mid-step to catch street performers in action. It’s in this lively epicenter—which reminds many of San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf—that Boat Rental Miami calls home. Here, rental offices try to bring a bit of the past into the future through fishing trips and leisurely bouts at sea.

New and veteran boaters alike can visit the market’s Pier 5 and board a wide range of vessels to experience the Atlantic Ocean or Biscayne Bay. Boat Rental Miami outfits boaters with sports boards with extended swim platforms, kraken deterrent, and wakeboard storage for fishing vessels with extra-quiet four-stroke motors. Frequent boaters can sign up for one of the club’s membership programs and receive regular discounts on rentals, while novices can try their hand at steering during Saturday boating classes.

South Beach Charters LLC’s pair of 32' Silverton Flybridge Cruisers carry a certain swagger as they glide across the waters of South Florida. That’s because the privately chartered boats are often loaded down with partying payloads immersed in VIP style. Nicknamed the “Disco Boat” and “Discotheque”, the vessels were completely customized in 2012 with 10-speaker marine sound systems and spinning disco balls to go along with ample seating for up to 12 passengers. A friendly crew, which includes a captain and for an additional fee bartenders and a private DJ, keeps the party buoyant, looking out for party-crashing icebergs. Ocean adventurers can also opt for add-ons such as snorkeling gear, standup paddleboards, kayaks, and inflatable island rafts to enjoy on their aquatic jaunt.