Black-Water Rafting?

The Miami River has rapids? Yeah, that’s right. And before you come with some barb about “black-water rapids” or “sure, it has rapids, every time somebody flushes the toilet,” you better respect the history of Miami’s only legitimate river (OK, even we felt funny about using legitimate). Laugh if you...

By Sebastian del MÃ¡rmol

June 2, 2011

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The Miami River has rapids? Yeah, that’s right. And before you come with some barb about “black-water rapids” or “sure, it has rapids, every time somebody flushes the toilet,” you better respect the history of Miami’s only legitimate river (OK, even we felt funny about using legitimate). Laugh if you must, but the Magic City’s namesake river has history oozing out of it like, well, you can fill in the blank. Its past includes Native Americans, dead bodies, and more characters than those Haitian freighters packed with used bikes and other mystery containers that carefully navigate miles inland. If you’re ready to learn all about what the river has to offer, jump aboard the Miami River Boat Tour beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday. Departing from Bayside Marketplace, the tour is led by Mr. Miami History himself, Dr. Paul George, and will take you four miles upriver, along banks where ancient Tequesta Indians lived (and built the mysterious Miami Circle). Paul will also wax poetic about the hidden communities, parks, dives, restaurants, freshwater springs, and even those laughable rapids.
Sat., June 11, 10 a.m., 2011

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