Miami
Florida
Miami runs from the Deco hotels and lifeguard towers of Miami Beach across the bay to a downtown waterfront, the Cuban streets of Little Havana and the mural walls of Wynwood. West and south of the city the sawgrass of the Everglades begins, close enough for a day's drive.
7 challenges · 35 stops
STARTEROcean Drive at first light
≈ 1,600 steps0.8 mi · about 2 hoursStarter · 3 stops · 500 credStart where you live.An early walk through the Art Deco district: the preservationists' welcome centre on Ocean Drive, the rainbow lifeguard tower on the sand at 12th Street, and the pedestrian lane of Espanola Way. About two hours on foot, best before the heat.
STARTERThe torch, the dominoes and the plaza
≈ 2,000 steps0.9 mi · about 2 hoursStarter · 3 stops · 500 credStart where you live.A Little Havana walk along Calle Ocho: the eternal flame for Brigade 2506, the domino tables of Maximo Gomez Park, then north to the fountain plaza at West Flagler. About two hours on foot, with time for a cafecito at a ventanita on the way.
STANDARDCoral rock and bay gardens
≈ 4,000 steps + 5.2 mi by car1.8 mi on foot · about 5 hoursStandard · 5 stops · 600 credOne trip earns it.A half day south of downtown: the Italianate villa and gardens of Vizcaya, the Art Deco seaplane terminal at Dinner Key, a pioneer house on the bay, then inland to Coral Gables' city hall and its fountain plaza. A short drive links the Grove and the Gables; two legs charge admission.
STANDARDDowntown along the bay
≈ 4,500 steps2.1 mi · about 4 hoursStandard · 5 stops · 600 credOne trip earns it.A half-day walk up the downtown waterfront, from the ancient stone circle at the mouth of the Miami River to the old Flagler Street movie palace, the Bayfront Park fountain, the Freedom Tower and the art museum on the bay. Best started mid-afternoon so you finish at sunset.
STANDARDPainted walls to the Design District
≈ 4,500 steps2.1 mi · about 4 hoursStandard · 4 stops · 600 credOne trip earns it.A half day through the city's art quarter: the mural walls of Wynwood, the Bakehouse studios, then north to the Design District's free contemporary museum and Buckminster Fuller's dome. Best in the late morning and early afternoon, with a short ride between the two districts.
ADVANCEDPier to bandshell up Miami Beach
≈ 7,000 steps + 4.7 mi by car3.3 mi on foot · a full dayAdvanced · 7 stops · 800 credGetting there is not the hard part.A full day up the length of Miami Beach, from sunrise on the South Pointe pier through the Deco museums and civic buildings of South Beach, the Holocaust memorial and the Bass, to an evening at the North Beach bandshell. Walk the south end, then take the bus or drive north up Collins Avenue.
ADVANCEDThe river of grass, two ways in
68 mi by car2 days or more · + 1 stretch not routedAdvanced II · 8 stops · 800 credGetting there is not the hard part.Two days and a car: day one out along the Tamiami Trail to the Shark Valley tower; day two south through Homestead to the bay-side visitor centre of Biscayne, then down the Everglades main road to Flamingo on Florida Bay. Six legs are inside the national park's $35 vehicle fee, plus $100 a person for non-US residents; the dry season from December to April is kindest.
Counted between stops; you'll walk more at each one.
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