June 8, 2026 - South Florida, Bahamas Cruise
Biscayne Bay National Park
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This morning began with a small boat tour around Miami and Biscayne Bay.
We weren't sure where we were going to park, but they had an inexpensive valet service right there which worked out great. Although I must say I was relieved to see our rental Wagoneer show up when we got back.
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Looking west across Biscayne Bay at cruise boats, Miami in the background, and Star Island on the right.
Star Island is one of the most exclusive residential enclaves in the United States, and it has long been home to celebrities, business leaders, professional athletes, and billionaires. It contains only about 30 waterfront estates, all accessed through a single guarded entrance. The island's appeal is as much about privacy and waterfront living as it is about prestige.
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| Our boat ride this morning pulls up. |
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Lynnette is ready to go.
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And we're underway!
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| Dave checks out a nice ride. |
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| Passing by the cruise boat terminal. Three of the monsters are tied up. |
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| The other side of the long narrow island is the industrial port. |
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Massive cranes to load and unload containers.
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| Miami is one city I've never really seen. But here's a good look. |
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Some container ships being offloaded.
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| Approaching the Rickenbacker Causeway Bridge which connects Miami to the barrier islands of Virginia Key and Key Biscayne across Biscayne Bay. The original bridge opened in 1947 and was replaced in 1985. |
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| Another good shot of the Miami skyline. |
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Heading west towards Villa Vizcaya, the former villa and estate of businessman James Deering, of the Deering McCormick-International Harvester fortune.
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Now known as the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, it was built between 1914 and 1922. Construction of the extensive elaborate Italian Renaissance gardens and village continued into 1923. Deering used Vizcaya as his winter residence from 1916 until his death in 1925.
The estate is now known officially as the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, and consists of 50 acres with the villa and the Italian Renaissance formal gardens, and the remaining native forest. The villa's museum contains more than seventy rooms of distinctive architectural interiors decorated with numerous antiques, with an emphasis on 15th through early 19th-century European decorative art and furnishings. It's an extremely popular location for weddings and other special events.
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Vizcaya was the 1987 venue where President Ronald Reagan received Pope John Paul II on his first visit to Miami.
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| Closer up, you can see the mansion and statues have suffered over the years from the weather and hurricanes. |
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| Captain Matt on the left driving the boat. |
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Stack 'em and rack 'em!
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The stadium hasn't been used since 1992.
The facility, completed in 1963 on land donated to the City of Miami from the Matheson family, is the first stadium purpose-built for powerboat racing in the United States. The stadium was abandoned in 1992 when officials declared it unsafe following Hurricane Andrew.
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| Heading back to base. |
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| Miami is growing. |
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A cigarette boat thunders by.
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| Dave loves being at sea. |
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| The boat cruise was a great way to spend the morning and see Miami from the water. |
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