Sports & Recreation

Just north of Crandon Park is a network of short and sweet seaside trails hidden from the whizzing lanes of traffic that connect Key Biscayne to the mainland. The Osprey Beach Trail meanders for a little more than a mile along the sandy dunes. The SPF-conscious will appreciate Bear Cut Nature Trail, which offers ample shade under the dense sea grape and mangrove trees. (Just watch out for mosquitos in the summer.) Don’t miss the Fossil Reef Bike Trail, which leads down a boardwalk to reveal a fossilized mangrove reef forest and a postcard-worthy image of the Miami skyline.

Variety is the spice of life and people-watching. There is arguably nowhere else on the planet where one lone individual can witness such an exceptional smorgasbord of humanity as it does along the strip of South Beach that forms the eastern border of Ocean Drive from Fourth Street to 14th Street. Spend a few hours lounging on a bench, and you’ll no doubt encounter the overly buff taking advantage of muscle beach, the overly agile tending to the volleyball courts, the overly sunburned running to the nearest CVS for aloe vera, and the overly intoxicated waddling out of Wet Willie’s. It’s in these moments that one can appreciate the true diversity of our species. Early morning people-watching sessions might motivate you to renew your gym membership. As the day matures, you’ll encounter a more debauched crowd that’ll remind your liver that things could always be worse. Even the staunchest misanthropes can, at the very least, gaze beyond the human catwalk that is the winding Lummus Park path to admire the art-deco masterpieces to the west or our dear Atlantic coast to the east.

Running the entire waterfront length of the beachfront from South Pointe Park to 87th Terrace at the tippy-top of the Miami Beach city limits, a seven-mile Beachwalk path boasts scenic views of the ocean, sand, whimsical lifeguard stands, and the tanned and sweaty cast of locals and tourists. Bonus: There are plenty of water fountains, public restrooms, and benches along the way. If you get too hot, take a shower or a dip in the beckoning, briny sea.

The Commodore Trail offers cyclists, from casual riders to professionals, five miles of lush vegetation and waterfront views through Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. The trail begins at Alice Wainright Park on S. Miami Avenue near the mouth of the Rickenbacker Causeway and ends at the Cocoplum roundabout at Old Cutler Road. Along the trail are numerous points of interest for bike riders, including public parks (Kennedy and Peacock), historic landmarks (Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, the Barnacle Historic State Park, the Kampong), and Coconut Grove shops offering coffee, snacks, and other energizing treats.

The courts at Venice Beach in LA might be one of the holiest spots for pickup basketball in the world. Flamingo Park is Miami’s version of Venice Beach, and though it might be a few blocks further from the ocean, the authentic, sweaty vibe is the same. You can find a game pretty much any time of the day and year. The baskets on the two full courts are equipped with glass backboards with breakaway rims. One amenity that Flamingo Park can lord over Venice Beach is its lights, which illuminate the courts after dark. So in those summer months when it’s too hot to play in the afternoon, you can still shoot hoops until 10 p.m. each and every night.

Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay lies a stunning stretch of manicured greenery seemingly dropped from the heavens. The Miami Beach Golf Club is not only beloved by locals but is considered one of the finest links in the nation. Following years of multimillion-dollar renovations and diligent upkeep, the course is nigh immaculate. If you get peckish from repeatedly striking a small, dimpled ball in the South Florida sun, the club offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner to keep you off the couch and on the green. (Or, if you golf like we do, in the rough.)

“Wait,” you say. “There are tennis courts at the Biltmore, and a regular Joe Schmoe like me can play there?” Yes, and yes. The beauty of these ten hard courts, tucked in the eastern shadow of the eponymous Coral Gables resort, is in their ample spacing and the range of skills on display. Whether you’re a budding Coco Gauff or just learning to step into and follow through on that improving forehand, the Biltmore Tennis Center will accommodate your skill (or lack thereof). Of course, you’ll want to snag a reservation ahead of time; the center offers an hourly rate in the $5-to-$8 range if you’re a Miami-Dade County resident.

Do you want to get shredded but can’t afford the dues? Do you prefer to pair your reps with the great outdoors? Do you like to finish each workout with a dip in the Atlantic Ocean? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, well, Muscle Beach South Beach is for you. Located on the sands of Lummus Park at the intersection of Ninth Street and Ocean Drive, this entirely free public gym has been a workout destination since the ’90s, but a welcome renovation in 2018 zhuzhed up the place with new bodyweight training structures, battle ropes, dumbbells, and kettlebells. It’s one of the few spots left in Miami Beach where you can pump iron and get swole without going into credit-card debt.

For more than 20 years, Shayne Cohen has been making downward dog great again. This compact creature has an aura that shines bright, and her yoga classes vary from the average hour class with dynamic flows and a lovely chanting voice to lull you into savasana. As the cofounder of Anahata Eco Yoga Retreats, she often takes her practice on the road, curating as far away as the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Morocco. Locals are truly spoiled with the opportunity to take her classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at Glassbox Ironside (7520 NE Fourth Ct., Ste. 100). Ommmmmmm-em-gee!

TikTok trends come and go, but this weekly communal gathering of so-called hot girls is here to stay. Since its summer 2022 debut, Hot Girl Walk Miami quickly morphed into a meaningful meetup of women looking to network and make new friends, filling the shallow need for an occasion to rep trendy athletic sets and iced matcha lattes. Ladies of all ilks and ages (and hotness) come together at 9 a.m. every Saturday in various Miami neighborhoods to saunter together on a roughly two-mile route. Follow the group’s Instagram to find out where the next meetup is slated to take place.

For half the year, the temperature, humidity, and bugs make camping in the Everglades an enjoyable getaway. For the other half, those same conditions make it a form of cruel and unusual punishment. Fortunately, the National Park Service only accepts reservations during the former, which runs from November through April. Inside Everglades National Park, Long Pine Key Campground is the redheaded stepsister to the waterfront Flamingo Campground at the southernmost end of the park. The reason for the disrespect might forever remain a mystery; the campground is located within a picturesque pineland forest that borders a serene lake and it’s equipped with spacious RV and tent sites and even an amphitheater. Reservations are available through Flamingo Adventures, an authorized concessionaire that also offers bike, kayak, and canoe rentals by the day.

When visiting Islamorada, it’s not so much the destination but the scenic 90-minute journey through the Everglades and along the Overseas Highway to the filming location of the hit Netflix show Bloodline. Whether you’ve chosen to embark on a solo, family, or romantic day trip, the sport fishing capital of the world is surprisingly versatile. Start at the Islamorada Fish Company for casual rum cocktails and the addictive fish dip and watch the flailing tarpon beg midair for a bite. Head to Robbie’s for kitschy souvenirs, maritime art, and the famed Trailer Trash bloody mary. The boutique at the luxe Cheeca Lodge offers Valmont perfumes and designer swimwear, not to mention complimentary air conditioning. While homeward-bound, take the backroads of Card Sound Road for a little detour at Alabama Jacks, a legendary hole-in-the-wall bar flanked by mangroves on the border of Monroe and Dade counties. Pro tip: Order the mozzarella sticks and take part in the line dancing.

Few places can make a person feel as if they time-traveled into a Fitzgerald novel, but a weekend getaway in Palm Beach ought to do the trick (your wallet permitting). Splurge for a stay amid the old-world glamour of the four-star Brazilian Court hotel (upward of $500 a night) or settle for someplace cheaper plus a hedonistic crawl of the onsite restaurants with a martini at Boulud and the hot dog panini (sauerkraut, Gruyère, mustard, and chili) at Buccan. Lovers of all things vintage can shop ’til they drop at Church Mouse, where religious ladies relinquish their turquoise china, Ferragamos, and other no-longer-prized possessions. Head to Dina C’s for vintage YSL, Hermès, Pucci, and Pierre Cardin. To blend in with the locals, scout luxury linens, home décor, embroidery, and engravings at Lori Jayne’s boutique on County Road.

A white sand vista, expansive pool landscape, onsite culinary options, and impeccable vibes are ingredients for an ideal staycation in Miami. Nautilus Sonesta Miami Beach offers all of this. The Miami Beach modern-meets-unpretentious spot has 250 rooms, and when you’re not lounging in yours, you’re probably at the art deco-inspired lobby bar admiring its towering, 25-foot curtains. The pool is nearly 1,900 square feet of saltwater euphoria and (fun fact) features an underwater sound system to groove to during breath-holding competitions. Whether you’re sneaking in a nap in one of the 14 cabanas or getting lit during Miami Music Week, you’ll find that Nautilus’ strength is its range. Don’t forget to appreciate the little design details, from the handwritten notes guests leave on a bulletin board to your in-room bar made of vintage chests.

Want to convince your snooty northern relatives that Miami has a decent art scene during the 11 months that don’t begin with D? Take them here. The Rubell family’s decades-long habit of collecting contemporary art created a storage problem that forced them to expand their private collection into the sleek public museum that opened in 2019. You can’t go wrong with two Yayoi Kusama Infinity Mirror Rooms and famous works by Basquiat, Keth Haring, and emerging artists like Miami’s Reginald O’Neal. But be sure to stop by the massive gallery featuring the colorful paintings by Alexandre Diop — your guests will be too busy picking their jaws off the floor to speak.

Where can you return to an era of picture-perfect gardens, manicured grounds, and 16th-century French Mediterranean architecture? Are you envisioning Vizcaya? Coral Gables, perhaps? Well, you’re off by a long shot because we’re talking about Hialeah, bro. Somewhat inexplicably, Hialeah Park has stood the test of time for more than 90 years, including the notorious wrecking ball that was the Hurricane of 1926. Existing for nearly a century might not seem like much, but it’s eons in a region where developers rival hurricanes in their destructive power. The park’s legendary racetrack hasn’t seen a horse in years — the betting action is now confined to a casino and simulcast parlor — and the park’s longtime owners, the Brunetti family, recently unveiled a plan to turn a portion of the grounds into a housing development and charter school. The future of this 220-acre jewel is uncertain but it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979, and it remains an Audubon Society-designated sanctuary for the American flamingo — it’s one of the only places where you can see Miami’s unofficial pink mascot, for now, anyway.

With more than 500 varieties of fruit, vegetables, spices, and herbs, Fruit & Spice Park can’t help but outshine the produce section of any local grocery store. The modest $10 admission fee for adults ($3 for kids ages 6 to 11; tykes under 5 get in for free) grants access to the lush, 37-acre grounds scattered with native and exotic fruits, including ornamental pineapples, sapodilla, Ceylon gooseberries, breadfruit, pink guava, and canistel. There are complimentary guided tours at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m daily (weather permitting) but it’s worth shelling out a little more for the 3 p.m. specialty tasting tour — you won’t be sorry.

Is it possible to put a price on nostalgia and the fond, twinkly holiday memories of our collective Miami youth? Well, after 40 years of business, Santa’s Enchanted Forest has certainly tried with a $43 admission ticket for adults, a $28 express pass to skip the long weekend lines, and preferred VIP parking spots for as much as $35 per vehicle. No matter. We love it all the same. We’d fork over another $43 if it meant we could move the seasonal amusement park from its recently relocated home in a small notch between Doral and Medley back to its rightful home in Tropical Park. We’re not sure whether it’s the Spanish versions of classic Christmas tunes blasting over the speakers, the dulce de leche churros, or all the subtropical depictions of Santa on Jet Skis, but take one lap around the park, and we guarantee your heart will have grown three sizes. You’ll feel like a kid again and be glad you paid for the privilege.

It has been said that “anyone can be an artist.” That’s probably hyperbole, but that shouldn’t stop you from at least trying to express any untapped creativity. That’s the idea behind Raw Figs, a free figure-drawing class that pops up in various indoor and outdoor establishments around Miami, including at the Pérez Art Museum Miami, the Understory in Little Haiti, and Planta vegan restaurant in South Beach. The pop-up was created by local artist, model, and flight attendant Vida Sofia, who wanted to create a space for like-minded people to gather and create. Whether you’re an experienced artist, a first-time painter, or a prospective model, the classes are free of judgment and show off not only Miami’s unique cityscapes but a contingent of locals who come together for the simple sake of making art.

This is not your mother’s mattress store. Hästens is the Hermès of mattress stores. Located in the Miami Design District, this Swedish brand handcrafts each mattress with cotton, wool, flax, and curled horsehair strands that create a built-in ventilation system to keep you cool while you sleep. It’s beloved by stars like Drake, who owns Hästens’ top-end model, the Grand Vividus, which, at $400,000, costs as much as a modest bayfront condo. You, on the other hand, might be able to trade in your Honda Civic for the entry-level Hästens, which goes for roughly $20,000 in king-size.

Whether taken in via walk, bike ride, or short drive, the 5,280 feet spanning from the Barnacle Historic State Park on Main Highway to Monty’s on Bayshore Drive somehow manages to exude Old Florida charm in the 21st Century. The starting point is home to the Barnacle — literally the oldest house in Miami-Dade County still in its original location. Head northeast on Main Highway; the rickety brick sidewalk, though a tripping hazard, is charming. Some of Miami’s most beloved local businesses operate along this stretch, including outposts of Panther Coffee, Books & Books, and Harry’s Pizzeria. When you turn right again on McFarlane Road toward Peacock Park, you’ll catch sailboats bobbing on the horizon on Biscayne Bay. Curve left onto Bayshore Drive past — or, if on bike or foot, through — Kenneth M. Myers Bayside Park until you arrive dockside at Monty’s, where a frozen rum-based cocktail awaits.

Beware the MacArthur Causeway. It’s disguised as a six-lane highway that connects downtown Miami and South Beach across Biscayne Bay. But drive it enough times and you’ll know it can warp time and space to its will, transforming a simple three-mile trip along the shimmering blue-green bay into an hour of white-knuckling the wheel. When it was completed in 1920, a handful of lanes was probably all that was needed to efficiently accommodate folks looking to shuttle across the bay. Now it’s a sea of brake lights. Avoid at all costs. Detour to the Venetian Causeway or Julia Tuttle.

The Miami Circle offers more than a gorgeous public waterfront but a prehistoric one that some researchers date back to the Tequesta tribe 1,800 to 2,000 years ago. The 38-foot circle, formed by 24 holes in the oolite limestone, was uncovered in 1999 and recognized as a national historic landmark a decade later. In a city that was founded less than 130 years ago, it’s hard to believe people have been gathering on that spit of land where the Miami River meets Biscayne Bay for so much longer. While there are ample spots to take in the blue-green waters of the bay or the enormity of the Brickell and downtown skyscrapers, there’s no better fodder to fuel hours-long pondering than to stare into the Circle’s captivating circumference.

Comfort is important, especially when a person has decided to, er, marry iguanas. Air-conditioning, dim lights, an inviting couch, and a good sound system should be on any lizard officiant’s checklist, and the Ground Miami checks all these boxes. If waiting in line to get in feels dicey, rest assured that the mild panic of being surrounded by loud, intoxicated people is worth it. Once you’re inside, there’s typically some sort of niche show going on. Whether eyebrow-raising local musicians or far-out international DJs, these acts encourage the patron to achieve a higher plane of existence to achieve optimal appreciation. There’s also a bar, but it’s the cute little snack counter called Space Odyssey that lures us in via the gravitational pull of savory spinach-and-cheese empanadas.

Bumper-to-bumper traffic, never-ending construction, and a blatant disregard for turn signals are the name of the Miami driving game. What if there were another way? Thanks to Brightline, the “higher-speed” train with stops in downtown Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach, it’s easier than ever to dash around the tri-county area. Now that the privately owned rail line has extended service to Orlando, it’s possible to head to Disney in under three hours — a feat no driver could duplicate without a radar detector. Brightline’s appeal is the journey itself: no traffic, no GPS, no worries.

If Miami Beach is for the tourists, then Sunny Isles Beach is for the locals. Wedged between the Atlantic Ocean and the hotel and condominium towers lining Collins Avenue between Aventura and Bal Harbour, this tiny sliver of low-key beachfront is clean, quiet, and blessed with the softest white sand in Miami-Dade County. Thanks to ample parking nearby, you don’t have to worry about searching for a space or weaving through traffic while lugging your beach chairs, umbrellas, towels, and cooler.

If this were the Yosemite New Times, recommending rock climbing on a rainy day would not only be dangerous but an expensive legal liability. Fortunately, we are the Miami New Times, where our pancake-like topography demands that any form of rock climbing take place on manmade indoor cliffs. It’s a form of recreation that allows even the most novice climber to (safely) ascend colorful rocks via climbing holds. In our minds, there’s no better location to soar toward the ceiling than the Edge Rock Gym, which boasts more than 10,000 square feet of indoor rock climbing in Kendall (elevation approximately 17 feet). There’s no need to “wait out the rain” at home when you can climb on a 15-foot synthetic boulder, 35-foot walls, or avail yourself of a regular ol’ gym upstairs. No buddy? No problem: The Edge is equipped with “auto-belays,” a machine that will catch you more reliably than any pal in the event you begin to plummet.

Pinpointing the pool that reigns supreme is no easy task in a town with almost as many of ’em as there are backyards. But no matter how you shuffle the deck, Hyde Beach at the SLS South Beach comes up near the tippy top. Whether it be the funky painted concrete rubber duckie, bites from chef José Andrés and sushi master Katsuya Uechi, or big-time DJs who burn up the turntables till the morning on weekends, this a pool and pool deck that never underdelivers. Other pools can get a bit cramped and start to feel like a weird, warm bath, but with 8,000-plus square feet of indoor/outdoor space to wiggle in, Hyde Beach is a claustrophobe’s dream. Be it a leisurely lap in the middle of a stay or live sets by Sofi Tukker and DJ Ruckus, you’re guaranteed a memorable dip.

It’s easy to overlook a tiny shop inside a hotel as grand and glamorous as the Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club in Surfside. But don’t be fooled. Haremlique à la Mer boutique offers an array of items, from caftans to candles to Selamlique Istanbul sweets to bikinis to jewelry. Most of the luxury beachwear for sale is custom-produced in Turkey and printed in geometric patterns and unique fabrics that will stop the jet set in their tracks.

In a town that has a predilection for the newest, sleekest, and most modern, Vizcaya Gardens is a nod to the past and a throwback to classical beauty. The gardens feature Italian and French Renaissance elements lined with walkways and ponds that make you feel as though you’re strolling through a 400-year-old villa in Tuscany rather than a property near the heart of Miami. Designed more than 100 years ago by Diego Suarez for James Deering (heir to an agricultural equipment fortune), the gardens remain a serene spot to spend an afternoon on the edge of Biscayne Bay. Overlooking the gardens is Deering’s historic mansion, which boasts one of the most impressive local collections of antique Italian furniture. Tickets for the mansion and gardens run $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 6 to 12 (free for the youngest ones). The gate is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day except Tuesday.

In a town where summer never really ends, there’s a place where it’s always winter. It’s not a cryptic fortune cookie or meteorological riddle, but the southernmost ice rink in the continental United States. The Kendall Ice Arena offers public skating hours, hockey and figure skating programs, expert sharpening and blade-mounting services, skating lessons, a vintage arcade, a concession stand, and a Colombian restaurant overlooking the ice. More than anything, it offers locals one of the only legitimate reasons to leave home with their mittens.

True cue masters know the Billiard Club has been racking up an unspoken reputation as the go-to spot for some eight-ball and nine-ball action since its grand opening in the early 2000s. At $12 an hour Sunday through Thursday and $15 an hour on Friday and Saturday, prices remain fixed since the early 2000s. Located in Royal Oaks Plaza just south of the big bend in the Palmetto Expressway, this Miami Lakes pool joint is not subject to Florida’s indoor smoking ban, so the stale miasma of Marlboro Reds and Cohiba cigars sticks to you like blue chalk on a cue the moment you walk in — as it should be at any reputable pool joint. There are plenty of tables, so there’s little to zero wait time. Sleepless boozehounds should note that this is one of the few late-night spots in northwest Miami-Dade. Depending on your budget and taste, you can enjoy top-shelf or bottom-of-the-barrel liquor and beer.

The appeal of the oceanfront stretch known as North Beach Oceanside Park is its location. It’s far enough from the touristy throngs of South Beach and the teeny thongs of the nude beach at Haulover. Unlike Crandon Park, you don’t have to schlep across Biscayne Bay or succumb to a $3 toll. There’s typically ample street parking, pavilions to rent for parties, playgrounds for the kids, shaded areas with picnic tables, and, of course, that big, beautiful expanse where the sand meets the Atlantic surf.

It was a sad day in 2008 when the Orange Bowl, the stadium that hosted University of Miami Hurricanes football since 1937, was demolished. But the legacy of those hallowed grounds couldn’t be wiped away with a wrecking ball. Just three years later, in honor of the Orange Bowl’s 75th anniversary, the Orange Bowl Committee celebrated the debut of the $5.7 million Orange Bowl Field at Moore Park, which happened to be the Allapattah grounds where the ‘Canes sometimes played during the decade before the Orange Bowl was built. Thanks to the investment, Moore Park now boasts some of the best athletic facilities in the city, including 11 tennis courts, two basketball courts, a baseball field, and a running track on the football field’s perimeter. It’s equipped with track and field gear, outdoor gym furniture, workout courses, a playground, an indoor recreation center, and barbecue grills. It’s a great place to post up and watch athletes train — and if you’re lucky, the morning custodian might even suggest a few workout plans, free of charge.

Braving I-95 is no small feat, but what wouldn’t man do for his best friend? Just north of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the Bark Park at Snyder Park offers fresh air, a clean lake for swimming, and a fenced-in area where Fido can mingle with other members of his species. There’s even an obstacle course for the agility-minded pooch.

Take us out to the basketball game! Scientists haven’t been able to pinpoint precisely why Miami’s single men exhibit such a strong tendency to spend their disposable income on Miami Heat jerseys, Miami Heat tickets, and booze at Miami Heat games when there are other sports in town, but that’s neither here nor there. For the best odds on a meet-cute, stake out the concession stands that serve local craft beers outside Sections 110, 114, and 123. Choose your mark, compliment the player he’s repping on the back of his shirsey, and you’re off and running. The rest is up to you.

With eclectic, forward-thinking acts from international electronic artists, activism-inspired dancers, or futuristic, bass-heavy music producers, this monthly series at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, has become the unofficial meeting of the city’s hip and cultured citizenry. It’s a great place to meet cool, interesting people of all genders and relationship statuses, and it’s particularly well-suited for those searching for a mysterious artistic type to whisper sweet nothings to or debate the simulation hypothesis. They might be here! (And they might be nonbinary, so watch your pronouns.)

One of Miami’s premier art destinations is also the low-key perfect spot to plan your first date. Sure, you might sound a tad pretentious suggesting the Pérez Art Museum Miami, AKA PAMM. But if your date can see past that, you both shall uncover an establishment where long silences aren’t awkward but welcomed as you peruse the exhibits. And the headline of this item aside, if the date goes well, there’s the onsite restaurant Verde overlooking the bay where you can order the “First Love” pizza (stracciatella cheese, tomato sauce, prosciutto, and arugula) and gaze into each other’s eyes.

To G-rate the old adage, mini golf is like pizza: Even when it’s bad, it’s still pretty good. This applies to Palmetto Mini Golf, where young ones can be momentarily pried away from screens to spend quality time outside. Though these 18 well-maintained holes lack the kitschy windmills and cartoonish castles that have defined the mini-golf genre of late, they incorporate myriad obstacles and challenges, including an impressive manmade waterfall and cave. It might be hard to believe, but rest assured that putting a colored, dimpled ball into a hole in the ground is enough to distract any kiddo from his Roblox or Minecraft habit for an hour or two. The best part? It’s always there for you! Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily; cost is $7 per person per round Monday through Thursday and $8 per person per round Friday through Sunday.

Don’t bother racing through rush-hour traffic to nab the mirror-adjacent treadmill at the gym. Instead, take the scenic 1.1-mile jog around the perimeter of Brickell Key with views of the Miami skyline and Biscayne Bay. You’ll pass the glitz of the Mandarin Oriental’s La Mar outdoor seating area, the greenery of Brickell Key Park, and the 21-foot-tall El Centinala del Rio statue of a Tequesta Indian blowing into a conch shell. It’s a popular spot for the stroller and dog-walking crowds, but pick up your pace for a calorie-busting challenge.

Silver linings are often tough to come by in sports. But when it comes to the Florida Panthers’ acquisition of Matthew Tkachuk for longtime Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau last offseason, the success of the blockbuster trade cannot be denied. Tkachuk didn’t merely have a good season in his first year in Sunrise; he had an incredible season for any newcomer. Tkachuk ended the regular season with 109 points on 40 goals and 69 assists, landing his performance in the top five all-time points for a player in his first year with a new team. This confirmed the Panthers’ suspicion that this trade set them up not just for the present but also, given that Tkachuk is just 25 years old, one that solidifies their offense for years to come. What may be even more valuable than his points is Tkachuk’s infectious personality, something that shone through during some tough stretches in what appeared destined to be a disappointing year — until the Panthers found an entirely new gear after facing down elimination in the first playoff round.

Besides making his second All-Star appearance and once again being the Ironman rock of the Miami Heat’s regular season, Bam Adebayo is simply, as the kids would say, him. Holding it down on the defensive end is Adebayo’s best-known claim to stardom but his offensive game made another leap this season as he averaged more than 20 points a game for the first time in his career and scored 38 points in a single game on multiple occasions. Adebayo — clearly a power forward playing center his entire career in the NBA — continues to dominate on a nightly basis against men much heavier and often taller than he is. This is not only a testament to his talents but his willingness to accept a challenge for the good of the team. While the team as a whole didn’t have the regular season it would have hoped, Adebayo continued his ascent to becoming not only one of the top players in the NBA but securing his spot on the Mount Rushmore of all-time-best Miami Heat players — right next to “Himmy” Butler!

Not every offseason a baseball team can trade for the prior year’s reigning batting champion, but that’s what the Miami Marlins did when they swapped pitcher Pablo Lopez to the Minnesota Twins for Luis Arráez. After hitting .316 to top the American League, all Arráez has done in his first 50 games as a Marlin was to sport an eye-popping .371 batting average to lead all of Major League Baseball by a long shot. In April, Arráez became the first Marlins player to hit for the cycle, swatting a single, double, triple, and home run in a single game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Not too shabby at all. Already armed with undeniably strong starting pitching, the Marlins desperately needed a stellar bat in the lineup — and they got one.

Every successful sports team has at least one player who might not jump off the stat sheet after the game but is just as vital to the team’s success as those who get treated to the Gatorade bath. For Inter Miami, DeAndre Yedlin is that lesser-celebrated but just as important cog in the greater machine. A U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team veteran, Yedlin is no stranger to big games that call for steady defenders capable of adhering themselves to the opponent’s lead striker. Since joining Inter Miami in 2022, Yedlin has delivered that steady foot and then some. In 2022, Yedlin was named to the MLS All-Star team, becoming one of the league’s 26 best players. He’s since solidified his role as a team leader who has seen it all and is prepared to share his experience as the team competes for a title. You might call Yedlin the Udonis Haslem of Inter Miami — an accolade that should make any local sports star proud.

In order to acquire wide receiver Tyreek Hill last offseason, the Miami Dolphins bet the farm (or, in this case, precious draft picks) to the Kansas City Chiefs. It paid off: In 2023, Hill casually broke Dolphins franchise records for receiving yards (1,710) and receptions (119). Hill wasn’t merely the best player on the Dolphins last season; he was the best wide receiver in all of football. That might be quite the honor for most Dolphins football players, but for Hill, it’s just another year on a résumé that seems destined for the Hall of Fame. From striking fear into the souls of opposing defenses to bringing swagger back to the Dolphins’ locker room, Hill might be only five-foot-ten, but he stands head and shoulders above the competition.

To say Stephen Ross’ tenure as owner of the Miami Dolphins was tumultuous would be a gross understatement. It was rockier than South Pointe Pier. But as in life, sports offer redemption for those who pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and get it right. Granting final authority to general manager Chris Grier at last and then hitting the bull’s eye with the Mike McDaniel head-coach hire could very well flip the script on Ross’ current NFL owner narrative. (Which, let’s face it, could do with a hard 180.) Those moves, coupled with the team’s fearless pursuit of big-time players (see “Best Dolphins Player”), are helping to recalibrate the franchise’s algorithm. As far as he is from perfect, you have to give Stephen Ross credit when it’s due: The past 12 months have yielded the sort of trajectory that might lead to a Super Bowl parade if you squint just right. It’d be the first one in 50 years.

Jim Larrañaga was a hall-of-fame coaching legend before he took the Miami Hurricanes to the Final Four in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament (AKA March Madness) in 2023. We’re here to report that he’s now achieved statue-in-front-of-the-arena status. Going 29-8 and winning the ACC are commendable feats for anyone who aspires to the honor of being chosen Miami New Times‘ “Best Coach,” but making those accomplishments a jumping-off point for a Final Four run ends the discussion. It isn’t just the Xs and Os that make Larrañaga a great coach; it’s his direct impact on the players in the Hurricanes’ locker room. His presence alone causes each player to achieve their best. From TikTok dances after wins to pep talks after losses, it’s tough to envision a coach better suited to lead young men.

Punters have a lousy marketing team. Most people associate punters with failure, but it’s not their fault that their appearance in a game is the result of failures by their team’s offense. In reality, they’re a key piece of the 3D chess puzzle transpiring between the sidelines. For the Miami Hurricanes, punter Lou Hedley has been a secret weapon for years — and one they’ll likely miss as he moves on to the NFL next season. Hedley averaged a brow-raising 45.3 yards per punt for the ‘Canes last season, making him a semifinalist for a Ray Guy Award and the William V. Campbell Trophy for scholar-athletes. If that wasn’t enough, Hedley is 29 years old. He earned his master’s degree, then forfeited a year of eligibility to declare for the draft — a trajectory almost unheard of for a punter. Oh, and he’s tattooed from head to toe and hails from Mandurrah, a town on the western coast of Australia. Hedley wasn’t selected in April’s NFL Draft, but the New Orleans Saints snagged him as an undrafted free agent.

After helping to advance University of Miami to the NCAA Final Four for the first time in the school’s history, it seems only fair that star 6-foot-4 guard Isaiah Wong would be named not just the ACC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year but also, ahem, New Times‘ Best College Basketball Player of 2023. It was a tough choice — all of the ‘Canes men’s hoopsters shone. But Wong shone a little brighter, averaging 15.9 points, 3.4 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game. Then he announced that he was forgoing his remaining year of college eligibility to enter the 2023 NBA Draft, scheduled for… today, June 22, the day this issue hits the streets!

Some people make a room better simply by being in it, and former Miami Dolphins linebacker and current host of WQAM’s afternoon drive show Channing Crowder is one of those people. Anyone familiar with Crowder prior to his post-playing career could have told you his personality would be a perfect fit for the mic. That said, his longtime success alongside fellow WQAM co-host Marc Hochman locally, and his national show, The Pivot, has exceeded even those expectations. Crowder has been a voice in the Miami sports scene since his playing days dating back to 2005, but judging by his success as a radio host, we might actually be seeing — er, hearing — the beginning of a long career.

There are few constants in Miami journalism, but for 25 years, there has been at least one: Miami Herald sportswriter Michelle Kaufman, who has covered 14 Olympics, six World Cups, Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, NCAA basketball tournaments, NBA playoffs, and Super Bowls for the city’s paper of record. University of Miami (UM) basketball and soccer are her beats, but Kaufman regularly colors outside those lines — profiling emerging tennis stars, breaking news on social media, teaching the next generation of sportswriters in a UM classroom, and offering unflinching takes in her weekly column, misogynistic Twitter trolls be damned.

It has been less than five years since the first skatepark opened in Miami and the internationally sought-after skate brand Andrew launched downtown. The recent opening of aptly named SkateBird Miami in the sleepy bird sanctuary of El Portal further matures the region’s skate culture with a covered, 12,000-square-foot skate plaza, an 18,000-square-foot outdoor pumptrack, and a skate shop that offers merch, decks, and parts. Daily skateboard classes are provided for the uninitiated (5 years old and up).