59 June 18–24, 2026 NEW TIMES miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com June 18–24, 2026 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES BEST ºf MIAMI ® 2026 and bustle. It’s a popular spot for anglers who want to catch their own fresh dinner, and for those who just want to take pictures with the pelicans who hang around the fishermen. BEST BEACH (MIAMI) Cape Florida Beach Want to avoid the tourists that crowd Mi- ami’s most famous beaches? Drive over the Rickenbacker causeway, past Crandon Park and through Key Biscayne, then pay the en- trance fee to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park and con- tinue all the way to the his- toric 1825 lighthouse. This sunny stretch of paradise is beloved by locals, and it’s the perfect place to host a celebra- tion of any kind. Families and friends alike gather to feast at the picnic tables, swim in the turquoise wa- ter and soak up the sun. BEST CHEAP THRILL Everglades Holiday Park Airboat Tour 21940 Griffin Rd. Fort Lauderdale, 33332 954-434-8111 evergladesholidaypark.com Sure, sipping champagne on a pricey yacht through the turquoise waters of Biscayne Bay sounds like a pretty great way to spend an afternoon, but locals know the real — and far cheaper — South Florida experience happens on an airboat. At Everglades Holi- day Park, visitors can hop aboard a 60-min- ute airboat ride through the marshy wetlands while learning about the Ever- glades ecosystem and the alligators that call it home. Along the way, you might spot na- tive birds and a few scaly residents lurking in the water. The park is open seven days a week, with adult tickets starting at $41.99 and children’s tickets starting at $29.99. Pro tip: Ask for ear protection, as the airboats can get noisy. BEST FREE THRILL downhill Bike Ride on the William Powell Bridge Rickenbacker Causeway When William Powell designed his namesake bridge on the Rickenbacker Causeway, he made it nearly 77’ tall so that people going to and from Key Biscayne wouldn’t be delayed by a drawbridge. The unintended conse- quence was that the mountain-free zone of South Florida now has a place to bicycle downhill, giving folks the chance to enjoy an adrenaline rush while gravity does the pedal- ing. While cars have to pay via Sunpass for the privilege of crossing the bridge, bicyclists don’t have to pay any toll, making this a truly “free” thrill — unless you count the upward pedal as a fee. Even if you do, you’re soon re- imbursed by the panoramic view of the Mi- ami skyline and Biscayne Bay, and the freedom of a downhill ride. BEST CAMPGROUND Camp Owaissa Bauer 17001 SW 264th St. Homestead, 33031 305-247-6016 miamidade.gov Want to enjoy the great outdoors without having to deal with all the friction and frustration of primitive camping? This suburban site in Home- stead, run by Miami-Dade County Parks, perfectly balances the joys of nature with the comforts of civili- zation thanks to a suite of on- site amenities. Cabins, sports courts, a swimming pool and in- door plumbing can all be enjoyed in ad- dition to tent camping sites and nature trails. The site is mostly geared toward large groups, and it’s even been used for music festivals. BEST OUTDOOR ATTRACTION Zoo Miami 12400 SW 152nd St. Miami, 33177 305-251-0400 zoomiami.org No matter how old you get, seeing a flamingo or an elephant always evokes a child-like sense of wonder. Zoo Miami has more than 2,000 such animals sure to bring a smile to your face. Best of all, while the animals might not be in their natural environments, the li- ons, tigers and bears are kept in wide-open spaces that don’t make you feel guilty about their captivity. There are four miles of walk- ways to get around the 750 acres of the zoo, which means you can certainly get your daily steps in, but it’s highly recommended to rent a Safari cycle so you and your group can pedal across the premises from the tapirs of Thai- land to the crocodiles of Cuba. Another can’t miss experience is the opportunity to feed gi- raffes. The zoo is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. BEST OUTDOOR FITNESS CLASS 10K Steps Miami instagram.com/10kstepsmiami If you’ve driven past Bayfront Park on a Sat- urday morning, chances are you’ve seen hun- dreds of women making a four-mile trek through Downtown. The women didn’t gather at the same time and place by coinci- dence. That’s just the impact of Miami’s fast- est-growing fitness community. Co-founded by Cassius Bythewood and Josephine Lent- ner, 10K Steps Miami has turned a simple weight loss trend into a viral movement, con- necting thousands of women from all walks of life. The idea was born last September when Bythewood, recovering from back sur- gery, invited Lentner on a walk and shared his vision for an all-women walking club. Since then, the pair has grown the weekly meetup from 100 women to more than 4,000 members. They’ve garnered a cult-like fol- lowing with viral videos amassing more than 100k likes on Instagram and generating more than 10,000 RSVPs on Partiful. The diversity of their members is celebrated with themed editions celebrating Cinco de Mayo, Haitian Flag Day and the viral “Rep Your Flag” walk. They’ve also attracted sports partnerships with the Miami Open and the Marlins, while giving members an opportunity to spotlight their brands through giveaways and fitness challenges. More than a walking club, 10k Steps Miami has already shaped its footprint as an accessible and empowering fitness group for women across South Florida. BEST PICNIC SPOT Banyan Tree at Bayshore Park 2500 Pine Tree Dr. Miami Beach, 33140 miamibeachfl.gov One of the largest and most mystical trees in the country lives in the heart of Miami Beach at Bayshore Park, home to the largest banyan tree in the southeastern U.S. Its aerial roots stretch horizontally across the sky and shoot downward, creating the perfect canopy cover to escape Mi- ami’s heat. The shade, plus the roots above you and beside you, make sit- ting underneath this banyan an ethereal picnic spot. Enjoy sitting on a blanket with drinks and food as the tree takes your breath away. Bay- shore Park is new, having just opened in September 2025 after 10 years of planning and two years of construction at a cost of $42 million. The 19.4-acre park’s other unique features include an amphitheater, pavilions, a playground with a zip line, and a butterfly garden, although the banyan easily steals the show. BEST SUNSET The Rusty Pelican 3201 Rickenbacker Cwy. Key Biscayne, 33149 305-361-3818 therustypelican.com There are sunsets, and then there are the kind that stop entire conversations mid-sen- tence. At The Rusty Pelican, golden hour un- folds like a slow-burning romance between the bay and the skyline. As the sun begins to sink behind Brickell, the glass towers catch fire in shades of amber, peach and molten pink, shimmering against the water like po- etry in motion. Couples lean closer, cocktails pause halfway to lips, and for a few sus- pended minutes, everyone seems hypnotized by the same glowing horizon. Sure, the food gives people another reason to linger. The roasted cauliflower (served dramatically on a heated stone plate) transports you to a breezy Grecian island. Seafood towers arrive spar- kling, wine glasses clink and the breeze roll- ing off the bay does half the seduction — but most people aren’t racing to snag outdoor ta- bles because they’re craving dinner. They come chasing that view, and when the sky fi- nally melts into deep lavender and the city lights flicker alive across the water, it be- comes very clear why nobody wants to leave. BEST VIEW Skyviews Miami Observation Wheel 401 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, 33132 skyviewsmiami.com If you’ve never seen Miami from hundreds of feet in the air, glowing like a glitter-covered postcard between the ocean and the bay, have you really done Miami? Rising above Bayside Marketplace, Skyviews Miami Observation Wheel turns sightseeing into a full-blown ad- venture, lifting riders high above the city in sleek gondolas wrapped in floor-to-ceiling glass. From the top, the view unfolds like a moving painting. Biscayne Bay sparkles end- lessly below, cruise ships drift toward the horizon and the skyline catches the sunset in flashes of gold, pink and electric blue. At golden hour, the city practically per- forms for you. Each gondola holds up to eight people, and the VIP glass-bot- tom experience is where things really leave the ground. Leather bucket seats, Bluetooth music con- trol and transparent flooring make the ride even better. Date night? Birthday? Romantic panic at- tack while staring directly down at the bay? Skyviews delivers. Since opening in 2020, the Wheel has become one of Miami’s most playful landmarks, proving that some- times, the best way to appreciate the city is to float above it. BEST DAY TRIP Norton Museum 1450 S Dixie Hwy. West Palm Beach, 33401 561-832-5196 norton.org Less than two hours from downtown Miami by car or train, Florida’s largest art museum is well worth a trip north. Even when it’s not hosting blockbuster shows (remember last year’s Rembrandt extravaganza?), art lovers tired of the Magic City’s ultra-contemporary scene will find much to appreciate. Norton boasts extensive holdings of impressionist and early modern art, as well as a significant lessly below, cruise ships drift toward the horizon and the skyline of gold, pink and electric blue. At golden hour, the city practically per- forms for you. Each gondola holds up to eight people, and the VIP glass-bot- tom experience is Want to enjoy the great outdoors without having to deal with all the friction and frustration of primitive camping? This suburban site in Home-
