Top 5 Things to Do on the Miami River

The six-mile Miami River is undergoing an undeniable rebirth. You can see it in the area’s changing skyline, in its proliferation of hot restaurants and in the blueprints of mixed-use developments to come.

How can you enjoy the river right now? Let us count the ways:

1. Get out on the water.

The best way to experience the Miami River is on the river, so consider chartering a crewed boat or renting jet skis. Another idea: Island Queen Cruises offers historic tours that navigate the entire length of the river in boats that hold up to 140 passengers.

2. Dive into dinner and drinks at the water’s edge.

Restaurants are opening right and left along the river. Every foodie has their favorite, but Eater Miami says these are tops: Garcia’s Seafood Grille & Fish Market, River Yacht Club (praised for its “best river views and a swanky crowd”), the celeb-filled Seaspice and Zuma (sushi and high-end Asian cuisine).

3. Staycation at a riverfront hotel.

You don’t have to be a tourist to enjoy the varied accommodations along the Miami River, which include a restored Victorian boardinghouse, a high-rise Hyatt Regency and EPIC, a sparkling new Kimpton Hotel. EPIC is home to popular Area 31, which boasts a rooftop bar, Veuve O’Clock every Thursday and a mouthwatering, seafood-centered menu.

4. Walk it off along the water.

The Miami Riverwalk offers a safe, shady stretch of waterside walkway for pedestrians in Downtown Miami. It winds its way along the north side of the river and Biscayne Bay, and each November, it’s the site of the multicultural Downtown Miami Riverwalk Festival and Boat Parade. Don’t feel like walking? Hop on a Segway instead.

5. Watch river traffic from a perch in a park.

The City of Miami maintains a handful of parks that abut the river, including Jose Marti Park, which boasts a beloved swimming pool; Gerry Curtis Park, a large multi-sport venue with courts for tennis, basketball and racquetball; shady E.G. Sewell Park; and little Spring Garden Point Park, which is located in the oldest, intact, single-family neighborhood along the river.