Sports & Recreation

It’s no exaggeration to say head coach Jai Lucas’ debut season (2025/2026) helped the University of Miami men’s basketball program accomplish a complete 180-degree turnaround. The team finished with a dismal 7-24 record the year before Lucas’ arrival, and his strategy saw them improve to 26-9. The U finished third in the ACC this season and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament (where they made it to the round of 32). Before coming to Miami, the Houston native played on the collegiate level for in-state rival Florida Gators and the University of Texas. His professional career saw him fill a few assistant-coaching roles before nabbing his first head coaching position in Miami. The team averaged 81.9 points per game under Lucas’ leadership, up from 74 the previous season.

The University of Miami men’s basketball team’s remarkable turnaround these past two seasons was in large part thanks to sensational senior transfer Malik Reneau. The 6’9” forward took his talents to South Beach from the University of Indiana to play his senior season. With a career-high points-per-game average of 18.9, Reneau was Miami’s highest scorer last season. He was also second in rebounding with 6.5 a game, and tied for third in assists.

Malachi Toney emerged as a defining force in Miami’s 2025 postseason run, delivering high-stakes plays that helped propel the Hurricanes to the national championship game. In the team’s first playoff game against Texas A&M, the freshman wide receiver shook off an earlier costly fumble against the Aggies to score the decisive touchdown, underscoring a resilience that quickly made him one of the team’s most reliable playmakers under pressure. Toney was also a key reason the Hurricanes beat the Ole Miss Rebels in the football semi-final after he notched 81 receiving yards and a clutch fourth-quarter touchdown to secure a 31-27 victory. Toney was also a star in the national championship game against the Indiana Hoosiers, scoring a late, fourth-quarter touchdown that kept the score close until the final seconds. At 5-foot-11, Toney blends agility and power in ways that consistently disrupt defenses, slipping past defenders in tight coverage and finishing runs through contact. As he enters his sophomore season, his connection with new quarterback Darian Mensah, a Duke transfer known for stretching the field, positions Toney to remain at the center of Miami’s most explosive offensive moments.

Brad Marchand becoming a Florida Panther was the sort of plot twist that made the hockey world spit out its cafecito — and we love him for that. For years, he was the dude South Florida fans loved to full-volume boo. He was chirpy, pesky, skilled, relentless and always lurking exactly where opponents least wanted him. Then he put on the red, gold and navy, and suddenly the rat fit perfectly with the rats. Marchand brought a veteran bite to a Panthers team already loaded with pressure, swagger and postseason nerve. He arrived with a Stanley Cup ring, four All-Star nods and a reputation as one of the NHL’s great playoff agitators, then gave Florida another player capable of tilting a series with a goal, a hit, a smirk or a perfectly timed bit of nonsense. Some players join a team. Marchand immediately became woven into Panthers culture, and he ain’t going anywhere. We love you, Marchy

It was another bummer year for our Miami Dolphins, but center Aaron Brewer kept his head down and fought in the trenches like each play was a matter of life or death. The man who starts each offensive possession with the ball in his hands made sure his quarterback stayed upright (whether it was Tua Tagovailoa or Quinn Ewers), allowing only one sack in 16 games, tying an NFL record for center position. Brewer truly excelled in blocking for the running game, creating huge holes for running back De’Von Achane to jog towards the end zone. The national media noted Brewer’s outstanding work, naming him second-team All Pro and a finalist for the Protector of the Year Award. Hopefully, under new management, the 300-pound offensive lineman can continue his inspired play that would make Dan Marino, Larry Csonka and Ace Ventura proud.

The man affectionately nicknamed “Juan Wick” (due to his resemblance to Keanu Reeves) followed the path of many movie sequels. After a spectacular debut that had the Miami Heat swingman named to the NBA All-Rookie Team, he suffered a sophomore slump. Thankfully, his third season showed there was still plenty of basketball left to be chronicled in the adventures of Jaime Jaquez Jr. Coming off the bench, Jacquez was a sparkplug of energy and a key reason the Heat were the second-highest scoring team in the NBA. It’s like there’s no defense equipped to stop the plot of his personal movie. Jaquez was one of three nominees for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award for the energy and efficiency he brought to the court. With his exquisite footwork and post moves, Jaquez has a game that should age gracefully, ensuring many more chapters to the Juan Wick franchise. 

On Jan. 19, 2026, Hard Rock Stadium hosted something beyond a College Football Playoff National Championship. Miami, the No. 10 seed and one of the last squads selected for the expanded bracket, clawed its way to the title game with three consecutive road wins before landing the championship in familiar territory. Their opponent? The undefeated, No. 1-ranked Indiana Hoosiers — a team that was already a story for the ages. Indiana’s program spent decades as college football’s all-time worst team at the Division I level. That night, they were one win away from completing one of the most remarkable turnarounds the sport has ever seen. Indiana’s fan turnout competed with that of Miami’s, with watch parties taking over every corner of South Florida. The Hoosiers prevailed and Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, a Miami native and Cuban-American who had never been recruited by the Hurricanes, won a national championship in his hometown against the program that passed on him. The ‘Canes may not have hoisted the trophy, but the championship gave this city a postseason run it won’t soon forget. It was a uniquely Miami story and a night at Hard Rock Stadium that felt, for a few electric hours, like the center of the college football universe.

It is undoubtedly a remarkable feat that Ira Winderman has covered the Miami Heat for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel since the NBA team’s inception back in 1988. Even more remarkable is that, for at least the last 20 years, Winderman has put out an Ask Ira column on the Sun-Sentinel website each and every day. The conceit is pretty simple. Readers and Heat fans ask Ira three daily questions about their favorite sports team, and Winderman answers them with all the breadth of his expertise. There are two incredible things at work. First, that basketball fans never run out of questions to ask Ira, and second, that he always has something interesting and insightful to say, whether on Coach Erik Spoelstra’s substitution patterns, President Pat Riley’s free agency strategy or Tyler Herro’s fashion choices. 

Billionaire businessman Jorge Mas has an approach to sports team management that mirrors life in Miami: Bold, expensive and impossible to ignore. Under his watch, Inter Miami went from an ambitious expansion project to a global soccer brand, powered by the arrival of Lionel Messi and a front office that treated Miami like a world stage instead of a sleepy outpost. Mas also gets points for understanding the city’s Latino diaspora and dynamics. He has tied the club’s future to a permanent home, the recently opened 21,500-seat Chase Stadium that anchors Miami Freedom Park. The ambitious mixed-use project will feature an eco-tourism adventure park, a miniature golf entertainment center, offices, a hotel and retail. That matters in a town where fans tend to reward ambition only when it produces something tangible. Inter Miami winning its first MLS championship last year gave Mas even more cache in a city where other sports teams have notched world titles. The combination of splash, strategy and a title gives Mas the edge over other local sports franchise owners.

Known for its iconic pier that stretches out into the Atlantic and its backdrop of lush mangroves and rolling sand dunes, Dania Beach feels worlds away from the South Florida urban sprawl. It is the perfect escape for locals looking for a reprieve from the hustle 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.

Want to avoid the tourists that crowd Miami’s most famous beaches? Drive over the Rickenbacker causeway, past Crandon Park and through Key Biscayne, then pay the entrance fee to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park and continue all the way to the historic 1825 lighthouse. This sunny stretch of paradise is beloved by locals, and it’s the perfect place to host a celebration of any kind. Families and friends alike gather to feast at the picnic tables, swim in the turquoise water and soak up the sun.

Want to enjoy the great outdoors without having to deal with all the friction and frustration of primitive camping? This suburban site in Homestead, run by Miami-Dade County Parks, perfectly balances the joys of nature with the comforts of civilization thanks to a suite of on-site amenities. Cabins, sports courts, a swimming pool and indoor plumbing can all be enjoyed in addition to tent camping sites and nature trails. The site is mostly geared toward large groups, and it’s even been used for music festivals. 

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 Holiday Park, visitors can hop aboard a 60-minute airboat ride through the marshy wetlands while learning about the Everglades ecosystem and the alligators that call it home. Along the way, you might spot native 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. 

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 consequence 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 pedaling. 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 reimbursed by the panoramic view of the Miami skyline and Biscayne Bay, and the freedom of a downhill ride. 

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 lions, tigers and bears are kept in wide-open spaces that don’t make you feel guilty about their captivity. There are four miles of walkways 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 Thailand to the crocodiles of Cuba. Another can’t miss experience is the opportunity to feed giraffes. The zoo is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

If you’ve driven past Bayfront Park on a Saturday morning, chances are you’ve seen hundreds of women making a four-mile trek through Downtown. The women didn’t gather at the same time and place by coincidence. That’s just the impact of Miami’s fastest-growing fitness community. Co-founded by Cassius Bythewood and Josephine Lentner, 10K Steps Miami has turned a simple weight loss trend into a viral movement, connecting thousands of women from all walks of life. The idea was born last September when Bythewood, recovering from back surgery, 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 following 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. 

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 Miami’s heat. The shade, plus the roots above you and beside you, make sitting underneath this banyan an ethereal picnic spot. Enjoy sitting on a blanket with drinks and food as the tree takes your breath away. Bayshore 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.

There are sunsets, and then there are the kind that stop entire conversations mid-sentence. At The Rusty Pelican, golden hour unfolds 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 poetry in motion. Couples lean closer, cocktails pause halfway to lips, and for a few suspended 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 sparkling, wine glasses clink and the breeze rolling off the bay does half the seduction — but most people aren’t racing to snag outdoor tables because they’re craving dinner. They come chasing that view, and when the sky finally melts into deep lavender and the city lights flicker alive across the water, it becomes very clear why nobody wants to leave.

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 adventure, 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 endlessly 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 performs for you. Each gondola holds up to eight people, and the VIP glass-bottom experience is where things really leave the ground. Leather bucket seats, Bluetooth music control and transparent flooring make the ride even better. Date night? Birthday? Romantic panic attack 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 sometimes, the best way to appreciate the city is to float above it.

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 trove of Chinese and Japanese antiquities. The restaurant is also quite good, offering lunch standards, dinner plates, tasty desserts and a robust cocktail menu.

If the hustle of Miami is wearing you down, follow the teal, concrete barriers of the Overseas Highway to the unmarked exit before you hit Key Largo. Keep driving past the “crocodile crossing” signs, park on the side of the road, and you’ll find some familiar sights: a resort, a waterfront restaurant, a marina, lots of people drinking in bathing suits — but the pace here is decidedly different than it is further north up the Turnpike. While Miami is relentless in its search for the next trendy hotspot, Gilbert’s is an Old Florida gem stuck in time beneath thatched tiki-hut shelters with cover bands playing music from the era when guitars were still king. Next time you need a recess, book a weekend at the family-friendly resort or take a detour to watch the boats and pelicans drift by with a piña colada in hand before you continue down to the Keys.

One minute, you’re dodging traffic in Coconut Grove. Next, you’re wandering through The Kampong, wondering if you accidentally slipped through a portal into Southeast Asia, exploring banyan trees and bamboo groves. Hidden above Biscayne Bay on a lush nine-acre estate, this historic botanical oasis feels delightfully untethered from the version of Miami most people know. There are mango trees everywhere (65 varieties) alongside rare tropical fruits, twisting pathways, giant palms and the sort of humid stillness that makes you instinctively start whispering. Originally the home of legendary plant explorer David Fairchild, the property feels equal parts secret garden, science experiment and fever dream for people who own linen clothing. The Fairchild-Sweeney House, with its blend of Mediterranean Revival and Southeast Asian influences, overlooks the bay like a dreamy colonial mirage and once hosted visitors Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Because The Kampong is still an active botanical research center, visits require reservations — which somehow only adds to the mystique. Miami may be just outside the gates, but inside, time slows, the air thickens with jasmine and salt, and suddenly your nervous system remembers how to exhale.

No tickets? No problem! It’s not just soccer fans benefiting from the World Cup’s seven-game stopover in Miami this summer. As this city knows all too well from its years of hosting Miami Art Week and Race Week, major cultural events are simply an excuse for the entire population to party, no matter how much they know — or care — about the topic at hand. This year, the games bring with them fan fests, hotel activations, restaurant specials, themed museum exhibitions and more. You don’t need to be anywhere near Hard Rock Stadium to partake in the festivities (but lucky you if you are).

The stretch of 36th Street from NW Seventh Avenue to Biscayne Boulevard is Miami’s Bermuda Triangle for commuters. Fed by an unrelenting churn of traffic from I-95, the Julia Tuttle Causeway, the Design District and Midtown, 36th Street finds itself in an almost constant state of gridlock. Just when you think you might break free, the Brightline comes through and brings things to a halt. The area’s infamously spotty phone reception is the annoying cherry on top, meaning even your GPS can’t save you from the nightmare that is 36th Street as your music streaming service goes silent, leaving you to enjoy a cacophony of car horns.

While North Beach doesn’t feel all too far away from the hustle and bustle of Miami, its sleepy beach-town vibes are a welcome escape from the constant honking and loud construction in the heart of the city. A little more than an hour north, you can find a slice of beach that is full of creamy sand and frothy warm waters. Sure, you can drive up and back the same day, but the escape comes when you spend a weekend in a villa-style boutique hotel that feels like home away from home. The rooms are big and spacious, and the environment encourages disconnection from the cacophony of everyday life, so go ahead and slide into the tranquility of rippling waters from a pool that’s all yours to enjoy. The beach is a few blocks over, and there are plenty of restaurants and bakeries to choose from to fill your stomach as well as your time. Averaging about $200 a night (depending on the season and day of the week), it’s an affordable staycation that won’t break the bank but will replenish your soul.

The drive to Flamingo Lodge equates to leaving South Florida without technically leaving South Florida — which is exactly the magic trick. Deep inside Everglades National Park, the lodge sits in the park’s southernmost nook where cell service fades, sawgrass takes over and the regular weekend reggaeton soundtrack gets replaced by ospreys, crocodile sightings and boat motors pushing through Florida Bay. Go ahead and say “ahhhhh.” The newly built lodge gives travelers a rare overnight base inside one of America’s wildest national parks with rooms overlooking the water and easy access to kayak rentals, boat tours, trails, birding and sunsets. Miami sits close enough to make this a quick escape, but Flamingo becomes another world by the time the first roseate spoonbill flaps past.

North Beach Oceanside Park was recently renovated, and since the ribbon-cutting ceremony in October 2023, it has felt brand new. One of the new features is a revitalized dog park that has become a local hotspot, so rest assured, your dog will never have to play alone. The park lies on 28 acres, and the Bark Park takes up a significant portion. It’s nicely fenced in, has a water fountain designed for dogs and boasts agility equipment. It has two sides, one for large dogs and one for small dogs. What makes this dog park stand out most? It’s just steps away from North Beach Bark Beach, the only beach designated for dogs across all seven miles of the Miami Beach shoreline.

Some of Miami’s most extraordinary visitors arrive without fanfare, emerging from the Atlantic under the cover of darkness. Each nesting season, female loggerhead sea turtles haul themselves onto South Florida’s beaches to lay their eggs before disappearing back into the ocean. Weeks later, hatchlings burst from the sand and race toward the water, beginning a journey that can span entire oceans and — if they’re lucky — last more than half a century. Loggerheads are true citizens of the world, migrating between the waters of the United States, the Bahamas, Cuba, Mexico and beyond. Yet South Florida remains one of their most important habitats, making Miami a front-row seat to one of nature’s most enduring spectacles. The city’s most famous representative of the species is Miko, the rehabilitated loggerhead who lives in the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science’s Aquarium. Unable to return to the wild after multiple rescues from mistakenly eaten fishing gear, she now helps educate visitors about the challenges sea turtles face in the big, blue ocean. 

If you go on a quest to find manatees around Miami, you just have to know the right spots. Black Point Park and Marina in Homestead is a solid place to start. The marina’s proximity to Biscayne National Park makes it a reliable hub for manatee sightings. What really makes this location special is its jetty, which stretches 1.5 miles into Biscayne Bay. The Black Point Jetty Trail gives expansive views into the bay and a lot of ground to cover, increasing the chances of getting lucky.

Miami was founded in 1896 and European explorers didn’t touch our soil until the 1500s, so how could an ancient Spanish monastery built in the 1100s be sitting in North Miami Beach? The answer to this riddle isn’t a time machine but good old American capitalism. William Randolph Hearst bought the church in 1925, then had it taken apart and moved from its original location at Sacramenia in Northeast Spain. Hearst had it shipped across the Atlantic but ran out of money before he could do whatever deed he wanted with the building. Enter Raymond Moss and William Edgemon, two entrepreneurs who decided it would make a great tourist attraction in South Florida. The monastery was rebuilt at its current locale, piece by piece. Today, the Church of St. Bernard de Clairvaux holds Episcopal services every Sunday, but tourists and history buffs can enjoy the ancient Spanish monastery via paid admission Wednesdays through Sundays, with daily guided tours each of those days at noon. Open hours can be sporadic, so check their website before visiting.

Skydiving is great and all, but for acrophobes and anyone who balks at the idea of jumping out of a plane, indoor skydiving offers a compelling alternative. iFLY’s Miami location, across from the River Landing mall in Allapattah, offers the chance to try simulated skydiving in the heart of the city. The company offers a variety of special programs and packages, including birthdays, sessions for school field trips and Scouting troops, and professional skydiving instruction. There’s even a package for disabled flyers. 

An indoor go-kart mecca for more than a decade, K1 Speed features two tracks with different twists and turns to test your reaction time and skills while trying to knock your bestie out of position. The converted warehouse also features an arcade and billiards room to kill more time during one of those dreadful, all-day deluges. K1 Speed offers adult and junior monthly league competitions for drivers with championship aspirations. The facility is open seven days a week from early morning to late at night, and offers specials for two races, a $20 game card and a choice of entree for $70, or buy two races and get one free every Tuesday.

Let’s face it. Deep down, we all want to drive a race car — even those for whom I-95 traffic has dulled the need for speed. Thankfully, Xtreme Xperience offers gearheads the chance to zoom around Homestead International Speedway in their exotic car of choice. Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porches and Nissan GT-Rs are among the options. You can also let go of the wheel and ride with an experienced professional driver. Prices range from less than $100 to upwards of $500, depending on the car. The company, which tours around speedways across the country, sets up in Homestead two weekends per year in December and February.

At Dinner Key Marina, even the docking feels glamorous. Stretching along the shimmering edge of Coconut Grove, this sprawling waterfront playground is the largest wet-slip marina on the East Coast, accommodating everything from sleek 30-foot cruisers to jaw-dropping 135-foot yachts that look like they came with their own champagne budget. Dinner Key isn’t just big, it’s storied. Long before influencers discovered boat days, this waterfront served as the base for Pan American World Airways’ legendary flying Clippers, and traces of that golden-age glamour still linger in the salty air. Dock beside the historic former Miami City Hall, and you’re only a short stroll away from Coconut Grove’s leafy cafes, boutiques, bars and nightlife, making it dangerously easy to turn “just checking on the boat” into a full afternoon. The marina itself is built for serious seafarers and casual escapists alike, with more than 587 slips, 250-plus moorings and enough amenities (parking, laundry, dinghy docks, shuttle service and pump-out access) to make extended stays effortless. Whether you’re living aboard, docking for the season or simply pulling in after a sunset cruise, Dinner Key understands the assignment. Arrive by land if you must, but life looks better from the water.

Pickleball in Miami Beach is basically a competitive sport before the first serve, especially when finding a good court requires strategy, patience and possibly divine intervention. The courts at Miami Beach Golf Club make the chase worthwhile. Tucked beside one of the city’s prettiest public golf courses, the setting has palm trees, open sky and that oh-so-rare Miami Beach sensation of having actual breathing room. The facility is public, centrally located and close enough to the beach, Sunset Harbour and Alton Road to morph a match into an all-day outing. Bring a paddle because there are six courts, and you can prepare for at least one person to treat rec play like it’s Wimbledon.

Lately, Indian Creek has been in the news for Indian Creek Village, aka “Billionaire Bunker.” Move along the waterway further south, and at the corner of 45th Street and Pine Tree Drive in Mid-Beach, you’ll find Pine Tree Park’s free-to-the-public kayak launch. A calm, sheltered waterway lined with residential docks, royal palms and the occasional manatee, it makes for a docile and unique paddle (assuming you stay out of the way of the occasional megayacht). Connected waterways, including Surprise Lake, extend the paddleway. You can even get yourself all the way to Biscayne Bay. There’s no drive-up launching and no motorized traffic in the park, so kayaks come in by foot or cart, which keeps the launch quiet in a way that’s increasingly hard to find anywhere near the beach. Rentals are also available through PADL, for those who don’t bring their own. The park earns its place as a neighborhood anchor with dog runs, a community garden and a walking path; but the launch is what makes it worth the trip, whether you live nearby or not. 

It’s no secret that padel is the activity of the year, and it appears to be sticking around. Whether you’re a pro or just there for the social hour, the sport caught on like wildfire and everyone wants to play. Here in SoFlo, padel courts and clubs are popping up in just about every neighborhood, so we know finding the right spot can be more competitive than the person on the other side of the net. The top-class spot offers professional padel tournaments that draw the biggest names in the sport, and that’s how you know they mean business. Reserve basically kicked off the padel craze here in the 305, and the club has multiple locations across South Florida. We’re partial to the water and backdrop of the Seaplane location, although all their clubs are a hit. The Sole Mia location has a Pura Vida inside, and the Design District location has drawn big names from Jimmy Butler to Joe Joans. Next time you’re ready to gather the group for a game of padel, head to Reserve and win no matter what.

A hidden gem in the heart of Crandon Park, the outdoor roller rink and a historic carousel were the centerpieces of the defunct Crandon Zoo until it closed in the late 1970s. Old school roller skaters swarm the green asphalt on weekends to show off their skills, but weekdays offer a less crowded scene for folks looking to practice their form without fear of being knocked down by a savvy skater. Plus, you can cool off at the nearby beach once you’ve sweated around the rink. It’s open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

It’s not much of an extended metaphor to compare a coral reef to an underwater art museum, and the Reefline, located approximately 820 feet off the coast of Fourth and Fifth Streets on Miami Beach, makes that analogy literal. Last year, Reefline dropped its first man-made piece of art 20 feet beneath the waves. “Concrete Coral” by Leandro Erlich has 22 life-sized, marine-grade concrete cars parked at the bottom of the sea, drawing in parrotfish, stingrays, barracudas, angelfish and any other aquatic species with a keen interest in sculpture. The plan is for art to be added along all seven miles of the Miami Beach coast. Anyone can swim, paddleboard or kayak to the reef from the sands of South Beach. Just remember to bring diving flags so boaters know to stay away. Guided tours are also available via the Reefline’s website.

With so many gleaming, azure pools across Miami, this category can feel more academic than praiseworthy. Still, Shenandoah Park stands out as a haven for everyone from casual swimmers to Olympic hopefuls. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., the park features both long-course (50-yard) and short-course (25-yard) lanes with plenty of space to train, refine your butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke or freestyle, or simply get in a solid workout for $3. Each lane is clean and clearly marked on its floor without any debris to get in your way. For those looking for something more relaxed, morning sessions offer instructor-led workouts complete with pop music and Styrofoam weights that welcome older swimmers or anyone easing into the water (or you can just hang out and soak in the rays). Bathrooms include showers and lockers, making it easy to fit in a swim before the workday. No matter the hour, the water welcomes all and urges you to hop on in.

In a neighborhood where velvet ropes and overpriced cocktails usually call the shots, Lost Weekend has spent nearly 30 years proving South Beach still knows how to keep things delightfully low stakes and high fun. Tucked along Española Way since 1996, this beloved dive bar is where locals, bartenders finishing shifts and wandering night owls all come to rack ’em up, talk a little trash and pretend they totally meant to bank that corner shot. With well-kept billiard tables, cheap drinks, retro arcade games, foosball, air hockey, skee-ball and vintage ’80s classics blinking in the background, the place hums with the kind of unpretentious chaos Miami desperately needs. Games cost about as much as a single sip elsewhere in South Beach, and the happy hour deals feel almost suspiciously generous. Somehow, the food slaps too. Philly cheesesteaks, honey garlic wings and crispy tater tots arrive exactly when the night starts needing a second wind. Open from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. every night, Lost Weekend is the rare Miami spot where nobody cares what label you’re wearing — as long as you can call your shot.

Looking to tap into your adventurous side? Live bould-er and head over to ProjectRock, the best rock climbing space in South Florida. Located in Oakland Park, ProjectRock’s sprawling facility offers more than 18,000 square feet of climbing, including sport and lead routes, bouldering, rappelling and more. The hand-sculpted, 40-to-60-foot walls boast more than 10,000 holds, and 125 possible routes ensure climbers have a unique experience every visit. Be sure to bring a belay partner or join in on the variety of climbing classes for the ultimate scaling experience.

Best known as Miami’s first skatepark, Lot 11 has become a community hub for rollerbladers, skaters and amateurs alike. Renovated from an old Dade County municipal parking lot back in 2019, the skatepark offers numerous summer camps to foster the talents of skating’s next generation. The 45,000-square-foot lot includes a skate plaza, a bowl, street courses and an area for staging events. Lot 11’s significance to the community extends beyond its skating capabilities. The locale plays host to cultural events, including a rave with DJ Dom Dolla and vintage markets with dozens of vendors. Skill level aside, Lot 11 Skatepark is a home-away-from-home for many, solidifying its spot as Miami’s top skatepark.

Sometimes the urge to play a little footy can strike at the weirdest time. If you fancy yourself a nocturnal version of Lionel Messi, Stadio Soccer has got you covered. From Monday through Friday, this futbol operation is open from 8 a.m. until 3 a.m. On weekends, it runs on Cinderella time, so the final whistle rings at midnight. Nestled under an Interstate 95 overpass in Miami’s Little River, Stadio Soccer has five impeccable fields for groups looking to play seven-on-seven matches. Teams from across Miami-Dade County compete on a daily basis and welcome newcomers into the fold. Stadio Soccer is also a fun place to hold birthday parties and other social events, with party packages between $500 and $600 that include food and hours of field playtime.

At Flamingo Park Tennis Center, love means a lot more than the score. Tucked inside one of Miami Beach’s most active public parks, these pristine clay courts have become a gathering place for everyone from total beginners to players who treat Saturday matches like Wimbledon qualifiers. Now operated by Cañas Tennis and led by former professional players Guillermo Cañas, Martín García and Gustavo Oribe, the program serves serious instruction with plenty of Miami personality. The clinics cover every level, Match Tuff Saturdays keep the competition lively, and private lessons — especially with Dominican coach Julio Avila — have earned a devoted following. Meanwhile, BYOB (Bring Your Own Balls) run by Iryna Corrigan turns the courts into a social scene of mini-tournaments, mixers and playful rallies where strangers quickly become doubles partners. What truly keeps Flamingo Park in championship shape, though, are longtime caretakers Walter Simmons and Ron Stroia who have maintained the clay for over a decade through changing ownerships and evolving programs. Membership opens each October, but anyone can drop in and play. At Flamingo Park, everybody gets a shot at advantage.

Miami has no shortage of scenic walking spots, but one of South Florida’s best trails is tucked away in a pretty unexpected place. Located on the edge of the Everglades in Pembroke Pines, Chapel Trail Nature Preserve is a hidden gem that feels worlds away from suburban South Florida. Small but surprisingly rich in wildlife, the quiet park features a 1,650-foot boardwalk winding through wetlands and pavilions with interpretive signs highlighting the species that call the preserve home (birds, rabbits, turtles, snakes, alligators and more). The preserve is typically uncrowded save for the occasional birdwatcher or photographer. Keep your eyes peeled. If you’re lucky, you might catch sight of the massive gator known to sunbathe near the entrance. 

In a city hijacked by the automobile, an urban bike ride can be a harrowing experience. It seems every other driver is testing how close they can get to the cyclist without knocking them over. There is safety in numbers, however, which is why Miami Critical Mass is a Godsend. Every fourth Friday at 7:15 p.m., a critical mass of cyclists takes off from Government Center and explores the Magic City by pedal. The routes vary each month but are advertised ahead of time on the Facebook page — good news for cyclists (and drivers who wish to avoid them). April was a 20-mile ride that went North to the 79th Street causeway before heading south on Miami Beach and returning to the mainland via The Venetian. March featured a more leisurely 13-mile trek west through Little Havana before heading North through Allapatah and circling back Downtown.

If you’re after the kind of walk that reminds you why you live in Miami, South Pointe Park is hard to beat. It may not be the quietest escape. There’s always a mix of joggers, families and camera-ready sunset seekers, but that’s part of the charm. You’ll pass cruise ships gliding out to sea, fishermen casting lines off the pier and locals stretched out on the grass pretending they’re in a sunscreen commercial. It’s the kind of place where a simple stroll turns cinematic. What makes it stand out even more (besides the perfectly paved paths and constant ocean breeze) is everything packed into one walk. South Pointe Park sits at the southernmost tip of Miami Beach, offering unobstructed views of the Atlantic, Government Cut and the Downtown skyline all in one loop. Add in a splash pad, shaded trails and easy beach access, and you’ve got a walk that feels less like exercise and more like a curated Miami experience.

Since 2019, Paola Katherine Rodriguez and Iván Ardila have organized something simple and increasingly necessary: a monthly walk through a Miami neighborhood with photographers of every level. Film shooters, digital, phone cameras and total beginners all come together, focusing on the same setting from their unique points of view. Sometimes there’s a loose theme or a guest host, but there’s always room for flexibility and individual creativity. Over time, the walks have built a collective visual archive of streets, storefronts and familiar faces that tend to disappear once development arrives. Beyond the walks, #Photowalk305 also hosts PhotoTalks, critique-driven gatherings with guest speakers, photobook clubs and informal meetups for ongoing education and development outside institutional settings. “Photography is a tool,” Rodriguez says. “It’s how you use it — to slow down, to connect, to really pay attention to what’s around you.”

Miami is a wellness city, but one that’s sometimes too focused on the aesthetics of it all and not the actual experience. Hanu offers something different — something more intentional, if you will. Formerly known as Green Monkey Yoga, owner Kata Bilanchone rebranded the beloved South Beach studio in 2023, creating a grounded space rooted in community. With two yoga rooms, a meditation space and shelves stocked with wellness goodies, Hanu is one of those spaces where students hang around to chat after class and don’t feel rushed out the doors. The classes range from yoga and breathwork to sound healing and immersive wellness experiences, but there’s nothing overly precious or intimidating about the atmosphere. In a time where wellness can sometimes feel like a luxury, Hanu’s resident pricing and community drop-ins make the studio feel extremely accessible, too.

If your little and not-so-little ones enjoy arts and crafts, hands-on activities and simple science experiments, the Poppet Project is a small but mighty wonderland for creativity. Kids can create colorful paintings, play with kinetic sand, dip their feet into fashion design, make bracelets and explore a variety of other interactive activities. Every hour marks slime time, a highlight for many young visitors who get to mix different colors, textures and glitter into their creations. The space is designed as an open studio where kids can paint on easels and plexiglass walls, while older children can experiment at the hot glue station. An hour of free play costs $20 and gives kids and their parents or caregivers access to everything available in the studio. Best of all, you can take your creations home — just be careful with the slime in the car, unless you want a permanent souvenir stuck to the back seat. The entire space is indoors, making it a great option for rainy days or brutally hot Miami afternoons.

A roving event held the last Sunday of every month, Maalikmeets Bookclub is one gathering where you’re 100 percent likely to meet un niño decente who hasn’t been redpilled or poisoned by the manosphere. Dudes who show up here aren’t afraid to get deep in their feelings about how the works of Toni Morrison, Ray Bradbury, Herman Hesse and other literary giants moved them to become better humans. The book discussions are free, but donations are welcome. Sometimes, there’s a cookout to help digest the frank discussions about themes, characters and throughlines in classic books. The event is a social space rooted in meaningful connections. Maalikmeets brings people together through thoughtfully curated get-togethers filled with curiosity, a celebration of culture and honest dialogue. 

Sea-swept hair and a bit of pheromone funk are two essential ingredients for a Miami meet-cute. Located at the Rickenbacker Marina, Gramps Getaway has the salty air, fresh oysters and craft cocktails that set this stage. When the ladies are trying to pose in front of the Miami skyline and Biscayne Bay as the sun is setting, just offer to take their photo. Later when the DJs start spinning, show off your smooth moves and ask her to chat and exchange digits under the palm fronds in the chickee hut overhead. Refuel with any of the well-conceived menu items before you whisk your no-longer-single mama away to enjoy the rest of your lives together.

You can learn a lot of things from the flowers, and Miami Beach Botanical Garden is a magical place to spend a golden afternoon. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., this tropical wonderland is free to roam for all who feel a special kinship with things that are green. Smoking of any kind is prohibited on the grounds, so do your business elsewhere and stroll in for a carefree hour or two of forest bathing and natural healing. Take the guided tour for $10 and learn all about the 100-plus species of plant life on this three-acre oasis, or stare at the same rare orchid placard for anywhere from 30 seconds to five hours (who can tell?) until the information sinks in.