This route takes us through one of the most famous places with worldwide recognition in recent decades. 18 miles forth and back around the island of Miami Beach, between the South and North Beach, going through a historic district where we can see a huge variety of Art Deco buildings that were built between the 1920s and 30s. Hundreds of movies, music and TV shows have been shot here. In addition, the surrounding islands can be spectacular mansions belonging to successful singers, music producers, fashion designers, actors and influential people. Most of these islands have been artificially created by moving large amounts of sand and -of course- money. This is a very cosmopolitan area where you can see all kinds of fashion trends and eccentricities. At the same time it is a sort of runway for luxury vehicles, personal services, the best international cuisine in Dade County or live music. The atlantic coast runs north to south for several miles but the beaches are empty and no less warm in winter.
Miami Beach is a municipality located in the Miami Dade County on the barrier islands of the peninsular east coast and it is known worldwide for its beaches.
Miami Beach is a municipality located in the Miami Dade County on the barrier islands of the peninsular east coast and it is known worldwide for its beaches.
Image courtesy of albedo20 at Flickr.com
Our route begins at the southernmost point of the island, the South Pointe Park. Therefore, from the parking space we will go along throughout this southern coast and head east circumambulating the little cape to start moving north along the footpath that leads to the extensive beaches of South Beach -or SoBe, as it is also known-. People walk, skate or cycle around Miami Beach with an attitude of disengagement, relaxation, oblivious to the urban reality. It is another way of seizing the day at a different pace which is unusual elsewhere, but this is also due to the tremendous influx of tourists vacationing in the area, who o almost always go there with a festive mood. Then at the 5th Street we will go west towards the legendary Ocean Drive, where we will resume our journey north, passing by the most picturesque and striking hotels, filled with lights and colors.
On our bike, arriving at the 15th Street, Ocean Drive temporarily ends and we will have to head westward again to reach the next street and keep going north. This will be the Collins Avenue, where where other architectural styles are visible, such as a fusion of Art Deco with the Mediterranean Revival, that can’t be seen elsewhere, dating from the period between 1930 and 1940. On the 44th Street, repeat the same route to the next street, turning west and then north at the end of this section of road. Paradoxically, by doing this we will again end up at Collins. This route is also known as Highway A1A and runs through the entire east coast of Florida in different sections on the extensive barrier islands. Past the 58th Street, the avenue splits into two sides: the left is the Indian Creek Road while the right is Collins still.
To our left we can appreciate the large houses where many celebrities live. The broad canal is frequently visited by countless water bikes and all kinds of public and private recreational crafts. Additionally, there are several tours that sail across Biscayne Bay and around Miami Beach. The Miami port is very close, and so is the terminal of great ocean liners that offer cruises throughout the Caribbean and other parts of the world. These waters are inhabited by peaceful and unchanging manatees, they are protected by federal law because of their precarious expectation of survival as a species by the direct action of man in its original environment. Among the vast array of marine life, dolphins can be seen, and of course, from time to time, the threatening and feared sharks.
Along the route there are accesses to the beach on almost every street. Sometimes the road near the sea is made out of multicolored flagstones, sometimes it is more sober, or just sand. In other sections it’s a wooden platform with benches and viewpoints which usually must be accessed by stairs. From the 63rd Street on begins the North Beach, which is north of the island and includes the Normandy Island area, Normandy Shores and other islands such as La Gorce, Allison Island or Biscayne Point. In addition to the quiet neighborhoods and idyllic urban landscapes, maritime and coastal ones are not left behind. Mangroves, sea grapes, clean white sands, lifeguard booths, tall buildings, blue and green colors and other amazing details imbue us into the wonderful panorama. At the 77th street, near the point where the Biscayne House of Refuge was erected in 1876, we will once again get to the beach and then turn south, but before that we will pass the picturesque Normandy Isles with its striking shops and buildings.
On our bike, arriving at the 15th Street, Ocean Drive temporarily ends and we will have to head westward again to reach the next street and keep going north. This will be the Collins Avenue, where where other architectural styles are visible, such as a fusion of Art Deco with the Mediterranean Revival, that can’t be seen elsewhere, dating from the period between 1930 and 1940. On the 44th Street, repeat the same route to the next street, turning west and then north at the end of this section of road. Paradoxically, by doing this we will again end up at Collins. This route is also known as Highway A1A and runs through the entire east coast of Florida in different sections on the extensive barrier islands. Past the 58th Street, the avenue splits into two sides: the left is the Indian Creek Road while the right is Collins still.
To our left we can appreciate the large houses where many celebrities live. The broad canal is frequently visited by countless water bikes and all kinds of public and private recreational crafts. Additionally, there are several tours that sail across Biscayne Bay and around Miami Beach. The Miami port is very close, and so is the terminal of great ocean liners that offer cruises throughout the Caribbean and other parts of the world. These waters are inhabited by peaceful and unchanging manatees, they are protected by federal law because of their precarious expectation of survival as a species by the direct action of man in its original environment. Among the vast array of marine life, dolphins can be seen, and of course, from time to time, the threatening and feared sharks.
Along the route there are accesses to the beach on almost every street. Sometimes the road near the sea is made out of multicolored flagstones, sometimes it is more sober, or just sand. In other sections it’s a wooden platform with benches and viewpoints which usually must be accessed by stairs. From the 63rd Street on begins the North Beach, which is north of the island and includes the Normandy Island area, Normandy Shores and other islands such as La Gorce, Allison Island or Biscayne Point. In addition to the quiet neighborhoods and idyllic urban landscapes, maritime and coastal ones are not left behind. Mangroves, sea grapes, clean white sands, lifeguard booths, tall buildings, blue and green colors and other amazing details imbue us into the wonderful panorama. At the 77th street, near the point where the Biscayne House of Refuge was erected in 1876, we will once again get to the beach and then turn south, but before that we will pass the picturesque Normandy Isles with its striking shops and buildings.
Image courtesy of Ines Hegedus-Garcia at Flickr.com
At first we take the opposite path but now we’ll go by the A1A heading west. In the Hardling / Abott Avenue we’ll head south and get to the 71st street to turn right for about half a mile through the Art Deco and streets with French names of the island. From the John F. Kennedy Causeway we’ll get back to Collins in order to begin our return to South Beach, this time, with some minor variations. So at 41st Street we go eastward to continue immediately on Collins heading south. Now we continue until the 5th Street where we will get to Ocean Drive to go left and then right. In a little while we will be back at South Point Blvd and when we head east we will be facing the sea again. Now we will only have to stay along the coast to reach the place where we began our journey. Once there, if you look south you’ll see the harbor and an island that has no bridges or tunnels that connect it to the continent. That is Fisher Island, the place with the highest income per capita in the entire nation. Among the less than 500 people who inhabit this man-made island created we can find Oprah Winfrey, Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, and Julia Roberts.