Witness Ocean And City Skyline Views At This Lush Waterfront Park In Downtown Miami

One of the best parts of Miami is its glittering skyline: From a distance, the ivory towers rise confidently out of the level seacoast. The architecture looks fresh and modern, and the walls and windows reflect the bright Florida sun. This high-rise tableau dominates the mainland, and it continues along the coast of Miami Beach, which is actually part of a barrier island set apart from the city proper. With a gorgeous skyline and weather, it's a small wonder Miami Beach is considered the top honeymoon destination in North America.

At the southern tip of this island is South Pointe Park, a 17-acre green space that counter-balances all the development with trees, grass, and walkways. From South Pointe's shores, you can look across the water at Fisher Island, Dodge Island, and in the distance, downtown Miami. Whether you're looking for beaches, dining, or water sports, South Pointe is a popular stop on organized tours, such as the City and Boat Tour Combo on Viator. The park connects seamlessly with Miami Beach, and numerous streets feed into South Pointe, so you can easily get here by bike, rollerblade, or Segway. As Viator's Discover South Beach Golf Cart Tour demonstrates, you can even get to South Pointe via electric buggy.

If you only took a walk through South Pointe Park, you would still get to enjoy the paths that meander between turf and trees, as well as views of passing boats. The park is almost always busy with joggers and cyclists; the main promenade parallels the shore and is 20 feet wide, like a seaside highway for pedestrians. South Pointe is a great place to walk your dog, especially in the unfenced "Bark Park," which is strategically located away from busy roads. If you work up an appetite, you can grab lunch or a sunset dinner at Smith & Wollensky, an enormous steakhouse on the water's edge. This top-notch restaurant has locations all over the world, and guests can sit on the second-floor terrace and watch the watercraft glide past. The park overlooks a channel known as Government Cut, the city's main shipping route. These are just some of Miami's myriad hot tourist attractions.

When your Viator tour stops here, remember that the southeastern edge of the park pinches into the South Pointe Pier, a public wooden structure that extends 450 feet into the water; the deck makes for great photographs from almost any vantage point. Adventurous visitors can hike the rocky surface of an adjacent jetty, which stretches even farther into the inlet. This park is a great rallying point for tours and meetups, and there's no charge to spend time here — which makes South Pointe one of the many fun free things to do in Miami.