Miami Transportation Tips

There are plenty of taxis in Miami, but expensive. Their public transportation provides frequent service. Downtown, at Government Center, there are dozens of bus lines, the downtown MetroMover and the MetroRail commuter train, which connects to the Tri-Rail , the tri-county commuter train which takes you all the way to North Palm Beach county. At the same station on NW 79thAvenue, it connects with Amtrak rail transportation. Easy traveling without a car, stopping near the Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach airports.

Miami bus #42 stops at the Miami Airport terminal, runs north and south on LeJeune Road [ NW 42nd Avenue] to Coral Gables. Along LeJeune, you can get bus #J, going to Miami Beach. Great for thrifty travelers. At LeJeune and NW 27th street is the Greyhound bus terminal, directly across from the American Airlines maintenance base on the airport's east side. Here get aboard the Key West bus, plus the Fort Lauderdale buses, which continue North along the Eastern Seaboard or West to the Gulf Coast.

Miami-Dade County now uses a reloadable card, which can be ordered online, and is good for 3 years, on both MetroBus and MetroRail commuter train. Fare is $2. All buses run every half an hour or less. You can charge a weekly $26 online, for unlimited rides on either. This saves a lot of money for visitors. The downtown elevated MetroMover is still FREE. This has got to be one of mankind's greatest inventions.

Running from the Brickell Avenue financial district in the south to the Omni Center on the north, it makes about 15 stops, saving a lot of walking and driving. It stops across from the Intercontinental Hotel-Bayfront Park-Miamarina-Bayside Shops promenade, which runs along Biscayne Boulevard, overlooking the Port of Miami. There is a gigantic Christmas tree beside a big circular fountain. A great place to relax on the many benches, unwind, and watch the world go by. Not to be missed.

Another of Miami's most famous attractions is the Seaquarium. For over half a century, it has remained one of the city's top attractions. Enjoy Lolita the killer whale show, and the descendants of Flipper, the TV star dolphin put on their show. Many marine life exhibits, right on the edge of Biscayne Bay. From the downtown Miami bus depot at Government Center, take bus letter B to Key Biscayne. The Seaquarium is at the entrance to Key Biscayne, after the toll bridge.

On the MacArthur Causeway, linking downtown Miami with South Beach, is Jungle Island, an exotic exhibit of plants and animals, educational programs and events. Miami Beach bound buses stop here. They are C, K, M, and S. They can be picked up at the downtown Miami bus depot at government center, or at the Omni center depot about Biscayne Boulevard and NE 14th Avenue.

If you have a car, or are planning to rent one, head south to Monkey Jungle. Here, humans are caged and monkeys run wild. There are Asian, African, and South American rainforest environments, populated by hundreds of monkeys and parrots. It's way south of downtown. Take the Florida Turnpike to the Cutler Ridge boulevard exit to SW 216 Street, turn right.

When visiting Miami Beach, rent a bicycle at BikeandRoll. They are at 210 10th Street, in the historic Art Deco District. Ride along Ocean Drive, watching the grand old hotels and beautiful people, heading south to famous South Beach, better known as SOBE, a mix of old and new Miami Beach, where everyone goes to see and be seen. Be careful, as the traffic stays busy even after dark.