Things to Do in Opa-locka

A Lamborghini Gallardo roars down the asphalt, its driver taking an exhilarated gasp as it grips the road around each heart-pounding turn. Although this is a six-figure vehicle, the driver is no millionaire. He's simply getting a taste of extravagance in one of I-95 Exotics' luxury or exotic cars. The company's fleet of vehicles runs the gamut of the auto world's elite, encompassing makes such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, and even a street-legal Formula 1 racecar. For daily rentals, I-95 Exotics wheels out luxury coupes and SUVs from makers such as BMW, Audi, and Mercedes Benz. If one ride isn't enough, customers can combine vehicles into an exotic tour. Tours join like-minded engine buffs in a trip to Key Largo, which lets them sample—thanks to pit stops every 40 minutes to trade rides—the horsepower of five cars from a list that includes the Ferrari 360, Lamborghini Gallardo, Dodge Viper SRT 10, and a Toyota Prius strapped to an airplane.

I-95 Exotics doesn't only deal in four-wheeled vessels: It also rents motorcycles and charters boats ranging from 18-foot Sea Rays to a 93-foot custom-made italian yacht that sleeps up to eight. It also embarks on private sunset cruises aboard a 34-foot yacht, which includes complimentary champagne to enjoy as passengers survey the iconic Miami skyline and its array of mansion-esque bounce houses.

SeaRide Watersports' fleet of Sea-Doo jet boats helps both novice and experienced boaters traverse Fort Lauderdale's Intercoastal waters and bay areas. Designed for ease of use, the sleek vessels carry temporary captains over scenic waterways and toward beaches, where passengers can swim or protest the unjust land use of nearby sand castles.

SeaRide Watersports' staff rents their boats for full or half days, and can complement aquatic journeys with picnic baskets full of sandwiches and snacks. They also maintain an online safety guide that teaches how to understand marine navigation systems such as buoys and traffic signals given by whales.

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.

For 42 years, the venerable auto show has rolled out a fleet of vehicles for the perusal of customers while raising more than $250,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida. More than 1,000 of the latest vehicular creations from manufacturers such as Cadillac, Chevy, and Buick lounge throughout the space, beckoning auto enthusiasts with their sleek frames and glove compartments filled with cupcakes. This year's exhibitions include ride-along demonstrations of alternative fuel vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, and Topless In Miami, a beach-themed showcase of convertibles from the likes of Mercedes and Jaguar.

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.