Walk from Brickell Bay to Pérez Art Museum (PAMM)
One fascinating walk is throughout the bay, from Brickell to Downtown. It’s important to use comfortable shoes for this walk since it could take you 1.5 to 2 hours to really the scenery and take some really cool pictures.
So you would start in Brickell around 14th street and Brickell Bay Drive, where the Jade building is located (point 1 on map). If you are staying north of Brickell then you can start backwards.
The bay in front of the Jade building (a very luxurious building), has a beautiful view of Brickell Key and the bridge that takes you to Key Biscayne (Rickenbacker Causeway). From this point you can start walking north through a sidewalk just along the bay. In front of a parking lot located next to the Jade building you will see a small house on the corner of 12th terrace and Brickell Bay Drive. This little house was the first Doctor’s office in Miami, whose name was James Madison Jackson. Years later the city named one of its biggest hospitals Jackson Memorial Hospital in honor of Dr. Jackson. Nowadays, this office not only is a historic site but also the offices of Dade Heritage Trust which functions to promote conservation of Miami’s architecture and the environment. Entrance is free and they will gladly tell you the story of the house and Dr. Jackson.
Once you pass the parking lot head north on the bay, where you’ll go through the back of a few buildings, a small marina and then run into a small bridge connecting Brickell and Brickell Key. This is a man-made island created from the land that was removed from Miami River. It is a small island worth walking since it will give a sense of tranquility due to its trees, green areas, and amazing water and city views. This should take around 30 to 40 min extra.
If you skip Brickell Key (which you shouldn’t), then continue walking north until you get to the point where the Miami river merges into the bay waters. At this location you will see a small green area which is actually another historic site, where you will notice a circle made of rocks. This location was used by the Tequesta Tribe hundreds of years ago, to perform transactions with other members of nearby tribes.
From this bridge you will see how Brickell connects with Downtown Miami; this bridge is opened regularly to give way to boats coming in and out of the river (to the annoyance of all the drivers stuck in traffic). You will keep walking along the bay and will be making a right turn behind some the buildings in the area until you get to Bayfront Park.
Bayfront Park is very well recognized location due to its many cultural activities and events. This is where the famous Ultra Music Festival is held every year in the month of March. Bayfront Park also hosts free yoga classes for those enthusiasts who would like to stretch a little bit under the beautiful palm trees.
Through the park you will arrive at Bayside Marketplace which is an outdoor shopping center with restaurants and shops and one of the most touristic places in Miami. They have a tiki bar outside, by the marina, where you can order a mojito or pina colada while listening to live tropical music. At this location you can grab one the Touristic Buses that can show you a quick snapshot of the city without having to rent a car.
Once you exit Bayside, you will continue to walk north on the main road called Biscayne Boulevard. To your left you will see Freedom Tower or Torre De La Libertad, which functions today as museum and offices. Back in the 50’s the tower was home to the city newspaper’s offices, then in the 60’s it became a place to provide medical support and documentation to Cuban refugees.
Next, you’ll run into the American Airlines Arena, aka AAA (triple-A as people call it). This is the home of the Miami Heat basketball team, which has won 3 NBA championships, as well as the preferred location for some of the biggest concerts in the city. Just north of the stadium you might see some of the biggest and most expensive private yachts where they are normally docked. As soon as you pass the AAA you will see a beautiful park called Museum Park. Here you will find many palm trees and other big trees providing the perfect shade for a picnic, or to just read a book and enjoys the views of the ocean and its breeze. If you’re lucky you might even see some dolphins.
North of the park you will see a small square full of palm trees and right next to it, the Perez Art Museum (PAMM). This is a modern/contemporary art museum, with very unique installations such as its amazing hanging gardens, worthy of a few photos. The entrance is around $16 dollars (or free on first Thursdays and second Saturdays of the month). If you decide not to enter, just spending time on the terrace overlooking the ocean is a great investment of your time. You can even grab a bite or coffee at the terrace, or even an alcoholic drink. You can also visit the museum store where you’ll find great artistic items that you might want to get as a souvenir. Once you’re here, you can pay quick visit to the restroom.
Next to the PAMM you will see another great structure. This is the Frost Museum of Science which just opened to the public.
You have arrived to the end of our trip! If you would like to go back to the Brickell area, or to your next destination, you can take the Metromover which is right next to the museums (Museum Park Metromover Station). We love taking the metromover since it is a way to show our visitors views of the city which are difficult to appreciate by walking or driving. If you still have some more energy and time to walk, feel free to stop at the Brickell City Centre. This is an outdoor mall of high-end shops which was opened in 2016, and it has restaurants, cafes, shops, and a movie theater.
If you are staying north of this point, you can take the trolley which goes through Biscayne Blvd, or you could walk until you get to Margaret Park. This is one of the most fun and active parks of the city, where you’ll see people playing tennis, beach volleyball, soccer, rugby, basketball, or just walking their dogs. All this with very relaxing views of the ocean.
