Alternate Activity Suggestions

[clpkab]

Looking like Mother Nature might be causing a change in dive plans this weekend. Other then spending a little time and too much money at the casino, I'm looking for suggestions for other activities in the FLL/MIA/northern keys area.

 

[vladimir]

Have you ever been to jai alai? Kind of cool to check out, and a legitimate Miami cultural experience.

 

[jet126]

If you're looking for indoors, Fort Lauderdale has the Museum of Science & Discovery. I'm not sure what 3D movie is showing right now - check the website but I want to say it's a Shark movie. Or you can spend a day between the Fishing Hall of Fame, Bass Pro and Divers Direct (lunch at Islamorada Fish Co) all on the same campus in Dania.

 

[Garrobo]

If I had to make a choice between one of two addictive pastimes such as hanging around a ca$ino or diving I would prefer diving since it's actually cheaper and more beneficial to one's health both physically and mentally.

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Butterfly World in Coconut Creek, Sawgrass Mills, Kayaking at Anne Knolb in Hollywood, for starters...

 

[danvolker]

• There is Good moutain biking at Amelia Earhardt Park in Miami, also at Oleta Park ( north Miami) ...
• Water skiing theme park called Ski rixen in Deefield beach fl Welcome to the Ski Rixen | South Florida Cable Ski Park | SkiRixenUSA.com
• diving at the Blue heron bridge is pretty independant of weather Blue Heron Bridge Marine Park
• Kayaking or hiking in the mangrove forest area and Estuary area of MacArthur Park on singer Island, Fl
• this week you could learn surfing
• cycling on A1A from DelRay Beach north to the end of the Island of Palm Beach....riding through the lifestyles of the rich and Famous

I could keep going.....

 

[guyharrisonphoto]

If you like birding, there is the Wakodahatchee Wetlands near Delray which is really fabulous. If you like canoeing and rivers, there is a great 1/2 day trip down the Loxahatchee river near Jupiter through old-time big cypress swamp forest which is, truly, the "real Florida." In the northern Keys, there is great kayaking on northern Key Largo. Pennekamp park is good and you can also contact Florida Bay Outfitters for rentals and suggestions.

You can go to the Everglades and do some birding and cycling, especially at shark valley which has a 15 mile paved trail into the heart of the sawgrass, with an observation tower at the half-way point. There is also a regular ranger-let tram trip if you don't want to cycle.

All of the suggestions given in the other posts are great, also.

Although BHB diving is never "rough" because it is in the bay, the vis can be terrible after a week of rough weather stirring up the ocean.

 

[Tom Winters]

It's going to be a nasty weekend down here. My wife told me to drop the umbrellas since the winds were going up to 30 knots and it's supposed to rain all weekend.

That said, if you're looking for something to do, I'm taking my backyard pond out to 35,000 gallons - aiming for a 10' target depth, and it's a lot of work. You won't get overheated in the rain, and I'll keep you well-fed - you'll burn off at least 6,000 calories a day out there humping in the mud.

The payoff is that if the winds calm down while you're down here, I'll dive you off my boat until you can't climb up the ladder from exhaustion. I'll get you in ok - just like a body recovery but no hooks. You won't wind up in the "In Memoriam" section while everyone compares me unfavorably to Simon Legree.
It's not that inviting, but I'd do this before I'd go back to Sawgrass Mall voluntarily or a lot of the stuff mentioned here.

The other healthy alternative is just write the weekend off and get hammered at your hotel. The Lost Weekend can be a lot more than an old Billy Wilder movie.

 

[sportxlh]

If you are staying in the Keys: try the History of Diving Museum

The Florida Keys History of Diving Museum

Also, if you are staying on Key Largo, you could take a drive down to Key West: its fun for a day or two plus you can see the Mel Fisher museum, which is diving related. The drive down is beautiful: you'll feel like you've entered another country as you look over the blue water horizon.

Mel Fisher Maritime Museum and Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society in Key West, Florida

If you are staying in the Lauderdale area, you can drive up to WPB and dive Blue Heron Bridge: I'd imagine vis won't be great, but it is a protected area that is not really impacted by the ocean's wave action and is dove year round by many locals. See the Blue Heron Bridge Troll thread on SB. High tide is at about 6:00PM tomorrow so you could jump in the water between 5:00 and 5:30 and get out between 6:30 and 7:00. Nearby Force-E can rent you anything you don't have.

 

[TheOnlyRae]

It's going to be a nasty weekend down here. My wife told me to drop the umbrellas since the winds were going up to 30 knots and it's supposed to rain all weekend.

That said, if you're looking for something to do, I'm taking my backyard pond out to 35,000 gallons - aiming for a 10' target depth, and it's a lot of work. You won't get overheated in the rain, and I'll keep you well-fed - you'll burn off at least 6,000 calories a day out there humping in the mud.

The payoff is that if the winds calm down while you're down here, I'll dive you off my boat until you can't climb up the ladder from exhaustion. I'll get you in ok - just like a body recovery but no hooks. You won't wind up in the "In Memoriam" section while everyone compares me unfavorably to Simon Legree.
It's not that inviting, but I'd do this before I'd go back to Sawgrass Mall voluntarily or a lot of the stuff mentioned here.

The other healthy alternative is just write the weekend off and get hammered at your hotel. The Lost Weekend can be a lot more than an old Billy Wilder movie.

a backyard pond?