The information below is  provided as a service to participants in Machol Miami 2008.  Transportation and travel services are subject of frequent changes, so please call the relevant transit authorities and travel service providers for updates before your trip. Machol Miami does not endorse or recommend any of the companies mentioned below.  

Extend Your Stay

Downtown Miami    Art Deco District    Bayside    Viscaya    Coconut Grove    Downtown Fort Lauderdale    Dania Beach    Hollywood    Aventura    

South Florida is one of the most attractive areas in the country.  The tropical climate allows for many outdoor activities.  The diverse population is an eager participant in many different cultural events.  From skin diving to the opera, from leisurely cruises to outdoor music clubs, South Florida is humming.  It could be a very exciting area to explore before or after our event.  Machol Miami ends just before New Year's celebrations.  If you extend your stay , you will be able to participate in celebration of the New Year in Miami, complete with non-stop music through the evening and fireworks at midnight. 

South Florida is divided between three counties.  Miami-Dade County is in the south, Broward County (where Fort Lauderdale is located) in the center, and Palm Beach County in the north.  The websites of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors bureau and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau are great resources.  The Miami Herald, one of our local newspapers, has a special visitors guide to Miami.  

If you are looking for reasonably priced hotels in a particularly attractive area after Machol Miami, you might find them in the Art Deco district of Miami Beach (listings in the Greater Miami website), or Hollywood Beach (listings in the Greater Fort Lauderdale website).  Both areas are right by the beach, have lots of small quaint hotels (in Miami Beach) or motels (in Hollywood), beautiful scenery during the day and active night life.  

Public Transportation 

You do not need to rent a car in order to explore Miami-Dade and Broward counties.  Both counties have extensive bus systems.  Buses start running between 5AM-6AM and may run till 10PM in Broward, and 1AM in Miami-Dade.  Both counties, as well as Palm Beach County to the north, are connected by the Tri-Rail train line.  Tri-Rail links with Metrorail, the main rail line in Miami-Dade.  Metrorail, in turn, connects with the Metromover, an unusual, unmanned monorail line which runs around downtown Miami on elevated tracks.  Tri-Rail trains depart  before 5AM and run as late as 8PM.  Metrorail starts operations around 5AM and runs as late as 11:30PM, and later on weekends. 

The website of the Miami Dade Transit, with bus, Metrorail and Metromover schedules and maps is at ww.co.miami-dade.fl.us/transit or call 305-770-3131.  The Broward County Transit website is at www.broward.org/bct or call 954-357-8400.  In addition to schedules and maps it also includes a listing of attractions in the greater Fort Lauderdale area, and how to get to them by bus.  The Tri-Rail website is at  www.tri-rail.com or call 1-800-874-7245 (1-800-Tri-Rail).  It includes an excellent list of attractions in all three counties, and information on how to get to them by public transportation.  Please check the websites for accurate time-table information. 

From the Sheraton

The Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport hotel is located near two transportation centers: the Fort Lauderdale Airport Station on the Tri-Rail line and the Fort Lauderdale Airport.

The brand-new Fort Lauderdale Airport Tri-Rail Station on the Tri-Rail line is located at the western side of I-95, just across from the hotel.  From the station you can ride the Tri-Rail train to Miami Airport, downtown Miami, Bayside, and Viscaya.  You can also ride north all the way to West Palm Beach.  The Tri-Rail runs approximately once an hour. 

The Fort Lauderdale Airport Tri-Rail station is an unmanned station - tickets are sold through a vending machine - use $1, $5 and $10 bills or a credit card.  The trains are met upon arrival by a free airport shuttle, which takes passengers directly to the airport.  There are usually also several cabs waiting, but if not you can call Yellow Cab at 954-565-8400 or any other cab service from one of the two public phones.  You can use a cab for the short drive to the hotel, if you have luggage or prefer not to walk.  You can also take the free shuttle to the airport, and then call for the Sheraton free shuttle from the airport, using the courtesy phone in the arrival hall.  

The Fort Lauderdale Airport is served by the Broward County Transit bus line #1.  The bus has two stops on both ends of terminal 3, in the center of the airport.  It runs approximately every 20 minutes, northbound to downtown Fort Lauderdale and southbound to the cities of Dania Beach, Hollywood, and Aventura.  Several bus lines connect with bus line #1 and provide easy access to many attractions in the Fort Lauderdale and Miami areas.  

The Tri-Rail Train to Miami 

The Tri-Rail line connects Fort Lauderdale Airport Station with West Palm Beach airport to the north, and with Miami Airport to the south.  It links with Metrorail, Miami-Dade's rail line, at the Tri-Rail/Metrorail Transfer station.  The Metrorail line provides service to downtown Miami (Government Center Station) and Viscaya (Viscaya Station).  From the Government Center Station you can transfer to the Metromover, and get off at the College/Bayside station to visit  Bayside. 

Downtown Miami is a fascinating area of shops, restaurant and business activity.  Nearby, on the bay, Bayside is a picturesque shopping and entertainment center. It may also be reached by bus "S" (see below).  Viscaya, to the south, is a luxurious mansion built in the beginning of the 20th century in the style of a Venetian palace of the 17th century.  It has to be seen to be believed.  Within walking distance from Viscaya is the attractive area of Coconut Grove, with its outdoor cafes, bayside park, and Cocowalk, a shopping and entertainment center.  You can ride a bus from Coconut Grove back to downtown Miami if you prefer not to backtrack to the train

 Broward Bus Line #1 

The bus line runs from the Broward Central Bus Terminal in downtown Fort Lauderdale, through the Fort Lauderdale airport, on to downtown Dania Beach, to Young Circle in downtown Hollywood, and then to the Aventura Mall  in north Miami-Dade.  It operates between 5AM - 10 PM, with departures scheduled approximately every 20 minutes.  Here's a description of what to see and do in points connected by the bus - downtown Fort Lauderdale, Dania Beach, Hollywood and Aventura. 

Downtown Fort  Lauderdale is unique among American cities in that its main thoroughfare is a river - the New River.  North of the river are the government center and the library.  South of the river is the courthouse.  Along the river, in the downtown area, there is Riverwalk -  a lovely shaded promenade which connects the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, the Riverfront entertainment complex and the Stranahan house - an historic trading post which was one of the first buildings in town.  

Beyond the center, to the east, is a network of canals, called Venetian Isles.  It is lined with multi-million dollar mansions, which have yachts moored on one side and large garages on the other.  The canals connect to the Intra-coastal Waterway, which leads south to the port and north to several attractions and water-front bars and restaurants.  Linking all these is the water taxi, a public boat service that runs along the river, canals and the Intra-coastal much like the public vaporetto boats in Venice.  It is by no accident that Fort Lauderdale is called "Venice of America".  To ride the water taxi call 954-467-6677.  You can also take a cruise on the New River and canals in a larger, more comfortable tourist boat.  Such cruises from downtown are offered by Riverfront Cruises (954-463-3372) and Carrie B (954-768-9920).  To the east of downtown, within walking distance, is Las Olas Boulevard, one of the most elegant shopping streets in the country, and home to several restaurants and clubs.  
You can walk from Las Olas across the intra-coastal waterway to the beach, or take a short bus ride.  Fort Lauderdale beach is famed for its pristine water, the beach-side palm grove in the south, the attractive entertainment and night life section in the center and a lovely nature reserve, as well as the historic Bonnet House in the north.   All parts of the beach are within walking distance from one another.  There are many opportunities to go on cruises and deep sea fishing expeditions from the marinas on the intra-coastal, bordering the south side of the beach.

Dania Beach has a small historic center which is filled with antique stores.  If you like antiques, don't miss it.  Bus #1 stops in downtown Dania Beach, close to the intersection of US 1 and Dania Beach Boulevard, where many of the antique stores are located.  Nearby, you can board bus #7 which runs to the beach, and then along the beach to Hollywood.  A short walk away is the Dania Jai-Alai, a center for a sport which originated in the Basque country (southern France and northern Spain).  It is a popular spectator sport among locals and tourists alike, who are attracted to the fast moving balls thrown by competing players.  If you have a streak for gambling, you can bet on your favorite player. 

Hollywood is an historic city, founded in the 20's according to a special city plan, based on large circular plazas and a majestic thoroughfare from the beach inland.  Bus #1 stops in Young Circle, right near the center of downtown Hollywood.  You can explore the quaint shops and restaurants of this small city, and then hop on bus #7 which runs from Young Circle (behind the Publix supermarket) to Hollywood beach and then on to downtown Dania Beach.  The bus runs approximately from 6AM to 10PM.  On the way from Young Circle to the beach, the bus route passes along the majestic Hollywood Boulevard, which is flanked by rows of tall royal palm trees on both sides.  

The long promenade along Hollywood Beach , the "Boardwalk", is bordered by white sand and blue water on one side, and small restaurants and shops on the other.  In December it is lively with people, and seems to be particularly popular among French Canadians. 

Just north of the boardwalk is the Hollywood North Beach Park - a lovely strip of a coastal preserve, filled with the original sea-grape plants which used to grow all along the Florida coast before development took over.  The park has amenities such as parking lots and walkways, yet the beach is pristine and relatively secluded.   Bus #7 has a couple of stops along the park. 

North of the park there are several opportunities to enjoy fishing, cruising and water sports.  A few hundred yards north bus #7 stops in front of the headquarters of Sun Cruz Casino Boat, Tel. 800-474-3423 (ask for extension 2 for reservations) or 954-929-3800.  The boat departs for a day and evening cruises, usually about 11AM and 7:30PM, and sails along the intra-coastal and on about 3 miles into to the Atlantic Ocean, where gambling is allowed.  The cruise costs $10, and a buffet and sometimes entertainment are available.  It is an opportunity for non-gamblers to breathe some fresh sea air, and enjoy the view of the coast from the ocean.  

A short drive further north, just under the bridge which takes Dania Beach boulevard over the intra-coastal, is Dania Jet Ski Rentals.  The jet skis are rented for as low as $29 for 3 people, and a crash course in jet-ski handling is provided.  The unassuming location claims to have been in business in the same place for fifteen years. 

Next to Dania Jet Ski Rentals is the Dania beach, narrow and somewhat secluded with a fishing pier at its north end.  Bus #7 continues from the beach to downtown Dania Beach and Antique Row on US 1.  At that spot you can connect again with bus line #1. 

Aventura, at the southern terminal of bus #1,  is one of the newest and most affluent  cities in South Florida.  It consists mostly of  high-rise buildings in a park-like setting, bordering private marinas, waterways and canals.  In the center of the city there is a circular road called Country Club Drive, which is built around an exclusive golf course.  Bus #1 terminates in front of the Aventura Mall, a large, upscale shopping and entertainment center, which includes Macy's, Lord and Taylor, Bloomingdale's, hundreds of small shops, numerous restaurants and movie theatres. 

Broward Bus Line #22 

The bus line connects the Broward Central Bus Terminal in downtown Fort Lauderdale with the Broward Mall and Sawgrass Mills.  It operates from 5:45AM till 10PM.  Broward Mall is an attractive shopping mall in the center of Broward county.  Sawgrass Mills is an enormous outlet mall, one of the largest in the US, located in western Broward.  It is a prime attraction for many who are interested in shopping for quality goods at bargain prices. 

Miami-Dade Transit Bus Route "S"

Route "S" connects the Aventura Mall with Bayside and downtown Miami through Miami Beach, Lincoln Road Mall and the Art Deco district.  You can get to the Aventura Mall by Broward bus line #1 from the Fort Lauderdale airport.  Route "S" bus operates between 5AM and 12:30AM.  It runs almost the entire length of Miami Beach.  Lincoln Road Mall is an unusual outdoor mall in Miami Beach, filled with outdoor cafes and restaurants, and some fascinating shops.  The mall is within walking distance to the Art Deco district, (also known as South Beach), an attractive part of Miami Beach filled with buildings built in Art Deco style.  The most fashionable part of the Art Deco district is Ocean Drive  - a strip of picturesque hotels, clubs and restaurants by the ocean,  which is always on the go. 

A few blocks inland from Ocean Drive you can catch bus "S" again for a trip across the Intra-coastal waterway to downtown Miami.  On your left, to the south, you'll see the beautiful  skyline of Miami across the water, and probably also some of the large cruise ships, which regularly dock in the port.  You can get off at Bayside, or continue to the Government Center to catch the Metrorail back towards Fort Lauderdale.  

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