Plantation, FL Outdoor Activities

Making memories nearly every day of the year, the steady-handed tour guides and pilots of Miami Flight Seeing conduct aerial surveys over more than 80 miles of Key Biscayne, Biscayne Bay, and downtown Miami. While skimming over pristine beaches and emerald-colored waters, sky tourists spot manatees, dolphins, manta rays, and other volleyball enthusiasts below. The high-winged observation craft boasts panoramic windows with virtually no obstruction, affording a clear view of all of the highlights narrated by the pilot on educational ventures. And yet, captains also know when to show restraint in their narrations; namely during the company's romantic sunset tour, which has prompted many an enviable marriage proposal.

The owners of Starfall Ranch not only share a bloodline, but also the opinion that budding equestrians should evolve at their own pace. Consequently, personalized instruction forms the cornerstone of private and group lessons that take place within two acres of scenic grounds. Riding sessions are calibrated according to ability—novice students learn basic skills such as tacking and grooming, whereas advanced students acquire intricate knowledge of topics such as bareback riding and parallel parking. At summer camp, the trainers teach English-style riding to entire crews, interspersing instruction with swimming and trail rides.

Tennis instructors and consultants Jonathan Goldfarb and Rich Benvin call upon a combined 50 years of hard-court experience—including runs on the professional circuit—when helping tennis players improve their skills. The consulting aspect of their business focuses on matching tennis experts with specific player needs, such as club management, court resurfacing, and college placement for studious tennis rackets.

Each instructor brings a specialty skill set to lesson plans. Goldfarb is a certified family mediator, and he approaches his instruction—in tennis, and in life—holistically. Benvin lives a dual life as an online marketing specialist, and is just as capable of building a website as he is of deconstructing a backhand.

Each staff member at Life's A Beach Watersports is certified by NACWO, the National Association of Commercial Watersports Operators. The team uses its expertise to safely dole out adrenaline rushes, whether in the water or the air, to locals and tourists alike. Atop waverunners, ocean kayaks, or standup paddleboards, guests can finally help their goldfish find its deadbeat dad. The shop also rents out cabanas, chairs, and umbrellas for relaxing days on the beach, and package rentals grant their purchasers everything required to enjoy a day on the water.

Aboard Gondolas West’s 22-foot boat, you may notice a strange sound coming from the vessel: silence. That’s because the boat is electric, and its burble-free ride allows captain Chris McCoy to get his passengers up close and personal with the wildlife that inhabits Fort Lauderdale’s aquatic ecosystem. His tours explore the narrower waterways around the city, many of which prove too tiny for larger boats and vacationing humpback whales to navigate. Whether a two-hour voyage or private tour, the enthusiastic captain narrates each trek, regaling passengers with city history and information about the wildlife and ecology of the area. In the interest of preserving that delicate ecology, the electric boat produces zero emissions and leaves no footprints, handprints, or paw prints on the environment.