23 Unique Things to do Right Now in Miami
Looking for unique things to do in Miami?
You’ve come to the right place. From bonsai workshops to paddleboard yoga, there are plenty of interesting activities to enjoy across the city.
Read on to discover our pick of the top 26 unique things to do in Miami.
*Please note that some attractions are closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Be sure to check ahead before traveling*
Explore Upper Buena Vista
Location: 184 NE 50th Terrace
Palapa (Coming soon)
Palapa has recently been repurposed from a music venue into a trendy pop-up food court. The new and improved Palapa will offer a place for safe relaxation where you can enjoy food from each of the UBV vendors, delivered to your table in a sustainable takeout fashion. Palapa will offer cultural content, live music, movie nights, lectures, and holistic activities all in a safe set-up that complies with COVID-19 regulations.
Modern ŌM
Modern ŌM is a mindfulness community that holds various sessions at Upper Buena Vista as well as online.
Virtual mindfulness sessions hosted by different experts
Daily at 10am (45 minute session)
$39 a month (free trial period with the code CRAWTRIAL)
Sessions are recorded and members have access to all recordings
Online Masterclasses
Meditation in the Bungalow
Held outside, following COVID-19 prevention measures
Wednesdays from 7pm (45 minute session)
Free for members
$18 for drop-ins, which can be paid at the door
Mora Bonsai
Fancy planting and styling your own bonsai tree? Well, at Upper Buena Vista, you can. Bonsai expert, Andres Mora, is running a series of bonsai workshops where guests will learn how to pot, style, and maintain their own bonsai plant.
Attendees will receive their very own bonsai starter kit that includes:
Bonsai tree
Soil
Pot
Decoration rocks
Workshops run from October 5th. To schedule a class, email: andresmoradazza@hotmail.com
House of Findings
House of Findings is a women’s vintage clothing and accessories store that’s just launched a pop-up store next door to their current location at UBV. The new pop-up store, ‘Huevitos’, features a collection of whites and creams dating from the Victorian era to the 1990s.
Other Services at Upper Buena Vista
The KŌV A wellness micro-boutique offering cryotherapy body and facial treatments.
Epoch Nail Bar A nail bar and beauty lounge offering a range of beauty treatments.
Contesta Rock Hair Miami A cutting edge hair salon that created their own revolutionary haircutting technique.
Paw’s PetLand A pet grooming ‘boutique spa and resort’.
Go on an exotic wine tasting tour
Location: 30205 SW 217th Ave, Homestead
Calling all wine aficionados! If enjoying a selection of exotic wines amongst beautiful scenery tickles your taste buds, why not immerse yourself in a wine tasting tour at Schnebly Winery? You’ll get to try your choice of five Schnebly wines (check out the avocado one!) and go home with your very own souvenir glass.
Test your core strength with paddleboard yoga
Location: Virginia Key Outdoor Center VKOC, 3801 Rickenbacker Causeway
Put your core strength and balancing skills to the test with paddleboard yoga. Set within a serene landscape on Jimbo's Lagoon, stand-up paddleboard yoga provides an opportunity to unwind on the water. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced paddleboarder, all you’ll require to enjoy this unique activity in Miami is knowledge of some simple yoga poses.
Explore mysterious coral art at Coral Castle
Location: 28655 South Dixie Highway
Coral Castle is a coral rock sculpture garden that was single-handedly and secretly carved by Edward Leedskalnin between 1923 and 1951. It’s still unknown how Edward created the Coral Castle, which positions the sculpture as one of the world’s most mysterious accomplishments (along with the likes of Stonehenge).
Take a stroll through Art Deco District
Location: Between 5th and 23rd Street, Miami Beach
Miami’s Art Deco District is a hub of pastel-colored architecture and design. With over 800 Art Deco buildings to explore, there’s something to be discovered around every corner. For a truly unique experience, head to Art Deco District at night to catch sight of the bright neon lights.
Experience the rituals of Little Havana
Location: Meet at Los Pinarenos Fruteria, 1334 SW 8th St
The Little Havana Rituals tour offers a unique experience to delve into the culture of Miami’s colorful Cuban neighborhood. Master the art of making Cuban coffee, learn the Cuban cigar ritual, and take a cultural tour around Little Havana to explore the historical landmarks.
Discover the hidden world of the Miami Design District
Location: Miami Design District, 140 NE 39th St
Miami’s Design District is the city’s fashion, art and design hotspot, but you’ll need to look a little closer to uncover the hidden gems. Hop on a walking tour to explore the hidden world of the Design District, featuring some extraordinary and unique undiscovered sights.
Dive to an underwater city built for the dead
Location: 3.25 miles east of Key Biscayne
Neptune Memorial Reef is the largest man-made reef ever created – and it’s not yet complete! Residing 40 feet under the sea, the Reef is an artistic representation of the Lost City of Atlantis and also serves as a ‘Green Burial’ site. Whether you’re paying tribute to loved ones or simply want to explore the underwater city, the Reef is free to visit and accessible to all divers. It's certainly a unique part of Miami to explore!
Learn how to fly...on a flyboard
Location: Biscayne Bay
Always dreamt of being able to fly? Well, now you can. During an instructor-led flyboard class at Biscayne Bay, you’ll learn how to fly above the water with jetpacks against the backdrop of the stunning Miami skyline. It takes some skill, but it’s a unique experience not to be missed!
Watch the sun set on a paddleboard
Location: Miami Beach
What better way to end your day exploring Miami than by watching the sun set over Miami Beach – on a paddleboard. Sunset paddleboarding offers a truly unique experience for beginners and experienced paddleboarders alike. Plus, think of the Instagram photo opportunities!
Visit an abandoned missile silo
Location: SR-9336, Homestead, 33034
Situated just before the entrance of Everglades National Park, the now derelict Aerojet Dade Rocket Facility is a unique place to visit in Miami. Three miles into the eerie facility, you’ll find a missile silo where the world's largest solid-fuel rocket booster still remains.
Taste the best cinnamon rolls you'll ever have
Location: 15980 SW 248th Street, Homestead
Experience Knaus Berry Farm’s renowned cinnamon rolls, so good they’ve been added to the National Culinary Heritage Register. They’re very popular, so be prepared to wait in line! While you’re there, why not try your hand at picking some juicy strawberries, too? Note: Make sure to visit between November and April, as the farm closes during the summer.
Embrace your nerdy side at Frost Science
Location: 1101 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33132
Home to an aquarium, planetarium and lots of interactive exhibits, there’s always plenty to explore at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. By night, the museum hosts bi-monthly laser light shows, held in the 67-foot planetarium dome. Combining music with laser light graphics, Frost Science’s ‘Laser Evenings’ take you on a unique visual journey through sound.
Visit an ancient Spanish monastery
Location: 16711 W Dixie Hwy, North Miami Beach
Originally built in Spain and occupied by Cistercian monks for nearly 700 years, the Monastery of St. Bernard de Clairvaux was dismantled stone by stone and shipped to the US in 1925. Today, the parish Church of St. Bernard de Clairvaux has an active and growing congregation, and the monastery is open to the public for tours, events and weddings.
Discover fruit and spices you never knew existed
Location: 24801 SW 187th Avenue, Homestead
Nestled in a 37 acre subtropical paradise, Miami’s Fruit & Spice Park is home to over 500 varieties of exotic fruits, herbs, spices and nuts from across the globe. Explore the park at your leisure, and don’t be scared to go off the track to discover some unique produce – you’re even allowed to sample the fallen fruit (but make sure it’s edible first).
Create a custom candle
Location: 2311 Northwest 2nd Avenue, Miami
If you’re looking for a souvenir from your trip, why not create your own candle at Candle Land Miami? During an instructor-led class, you’ll customize your own unique fragrance, then measure, mix, and pour your candle. Once your candle has set, you can take it home and put it on display as a reminder of your time in the Magic City.
Explore Miami on a pedal-powered party bike
Location: Wynwood and Coconut Grove
Explore Miami in a unique way with Cycle Party’s party bikes! From Wynwood bar crawls to family-friendly tours of Coconut Grove, there’s a range of activity tours on offer. There’s even a Wynwood InstaTour, so you can have your picture taken in some of the most Instagrammable places in Miami.
Canoe and camp overnight in the Everglades
Location: Everglades National Park
Fancy a challenge? Head to the Everglades to paddle through mangrove forests on the Hell’s Bay canoe trail and stay overnight in the chickee campsites (you’ll require a backcountry permit to camp, but not to paddle). Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, blacktip sharks, crocodiles and pelicans!
Explore the Everglades ecosystem on an airboat
Location: Along US Hwy 41/Tamiami Trail between Miami and Shark Valley
If canoeing is not your thing, perhaps an airboat is. The speedy flat-bottomed, fan-propelled airboats will take you on a trip through the Everglades ‘River of Grass’ where you’ll learn about the ecosystem and spot some wildlife – keep a lookout for the alligators!
Go where humans are caged and monkeys run free
Location: 14805 Southwest 216th Street
Monkey Jungle is a wildlife park with a twist. Rather than living in cages like at a regular zoo, the monkeys roam free in a subtropical jungle as the visitors make their way through caged tunnels. The 30 acre jungle preserve is home to around 400 monkeys from 30 different species, including Java monkeys, gorillas, orangutans, and more.
Observe Graffiti Art At Miami Marine Stadium
Location: 3501 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne
Since being declared unsafe in the wake of Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Miami Marine Stadium has become a haven for graffiti artists and taggers. The best way to view the stadium legally is by the nearby boat dock and beach or via boat (take a trip out in front of it). There are, however, plans to restore the building, so the eerie graffiti-covered stadium may not be there for much longer.
Enrich your meditation practices at the Buddhist Temple
Location: 15200 S.W. 240th Street
Built in 1982, the Wat Buddharangsi of Miami is a Theravada Buddhist temple. Several monks reside at Wat Buddharangsi and it is open for public visitors throughout the year. Guests can explore the temple and learn more about Buddhism through a range of events and workshops, including the Asian Culture Festival and weekend meditation sessions.
Dare to go bare at Haulover Beach
Location: 10800 Collins Avenue, Bal Harbour
If you’ve never been to a naturist beach, Miami offers the perfect place to do so. Residing just north of the bustling city, the ‘clothing optional’ Haulover Beach is Florida’s oldest officially recognized public nude beach.
Where will you go first on your tour of the Magic City?