World City Guide

Tours of the City

Walking Tours
The Miami Design Preservation League (tel: (305) 672 2014 or 531 3484; website: www.mdpl.org) conducts 90-minute walking tours of South Beach’s Art Deco Historic District (Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun at 1030 and Thursday at 1830), departing from its Art Deco Welcome Center, 1001 Ocean Drive, and costing US$20. Self-guided audio tours are available here daily and cost US$15 to rent the 45-minute cassettes.

Bus Tours
Dragonfly Expeditions (tel: (305) 774 9019) and Dade Heritage Trust, 190 SE 12th Terrace (tel: (305) 358 9572; fax: (305) 358 1162; website: www.dadeheritagetrust.org), operate the ‘Miami Magic City Bus Tour’, which takes in the city’s most famous and historic neighbourhoods in a three- to four-hour tour costing US$40.

Boat Tours
Island Queen Cruises, Bayside Marketplace, 401 Biscayne Boulevard (tel: (305) 379 5119; website: www.islandqueencruises.com), tour Miami Bay in one and a half hours, travelling past the Port and exclusive Millionaire’s Row – home to such celebrities as Gloria Estefan, the Bee Gees, Oprah Winfrey, Boris Becker, Paul Newman and Whitney Houston. The tours depart from Bayside Marketplace daily (Mon-Thurs 1100-1600, 1730 and 1930; Fri-Sun hourly from 1100-1900) and cost US$16 (concessions are available). The Urban Trails Kayak Company, 3400 NE 163rd Street (tel: (305) 947 0302; website: www.urbantrails.com) offers a unique way to see Miami and outlying natural areas. Self-guided tours and expedition packages of varying length and difficulty are offered. Rates vary, call or visit website for information. Rent a kayak starting at US$8 per hour or full day for US$25.

Other Tours
Dr Paul George Bike Tours at the Historical Museum of Southern Florida, 101 East Flagler Street (tel: (305) 375 16251; website: www.historical-museum.org/educate/tours/tours.htm) offers tours with the noted local historian throughout the year. Reservations are required. Consult their website for tour and cost information. The Miami Beach Bicycle Center, 601 Fifth Street (tel: (305) 674 0150), rents bicycles and provides maps for self-guided tours. Prices start at US$8 per hour or US$20 per day.