The beginning . . .

Island Queen "Your yacht is waiting . . ."

Surprise, surprise While standing in line waiting to board the Island Queen, we saw a large tarp, which was obviously covering something - and made me most curious. Just prior to boarding, two people removed the tarp and this is what was hiding underneath. I grabbed a quick photo because this is where people were asked to stand for a "souvenir photo." We wanted a photo but not with anybody in it :)

Miami Skyline and Bayside Marketplace View from Island Queen

Inside the Island Queen

Bayside Marketplace Indulge yourself at Bayside - the best food, fun, and shopping Miami has to offer. Wether you are interested in the vibrant marketplace, exotic restaurants, daily live entertainment or national brand name stores, Bayside's wealth of activity offers something for everyone. Come experience Miami, visit Bayside!

Miami Skyline View from the Island Queen

View from Bayside Marketplace In the background is Port Boulevard, a bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway, which leads into the Dante B. Fascell Port of Miami, a seaport located in Biscayne Bay. The Port of Miami is connected to Downtown Miami by Port Boulevard. The port is located on Dodge Island, which is the combination of three historic islands (Dodge, Lummus and Sam's Islands) that have since been combined into one. It is named in honor of 19 term Florida Congressman Dante Fascell.

View from Bayside Marketplace In the background is Port Boulevard, a bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway, which leads into the Dante B. Fascell Port of Miami, a seaport located in Biscayne Bay. The Port of Miami is connected to Downtown Miami by Port Boulevard. The port is located on Dodge Island, which is the combination of three historic islands (Dodge, Lummus and Sam's Islands) that have since been combined into one. It is named in honor of 19 term Florida Congressman Dante Fascell.

Bayside Marketplace - Hardrock Cafe on the right View from the Island Queen

Miami Skyline and Bayside Marketplace View from the Island Queen

Miami Skyline [background] and Miami Lady [foreground] This is one of the three yachts which tours Biscayne Bay like the Island Queen.

Miami Skyline and Bayside Marketplace View from the Island Queen

Miami Skyline and Bayside Marketplace View from the Island Queen

Pier 5 Walking back toward Bayside Marketplace and continuing north, you'll come to Pier 5. A pier only in name, this is the place where you'll find the real spirit of Miami showing itself. Local artists gather to display their paintings, prints, jewelry, and home decorations. The original Pier 5 was Miami's top tourist attraction in the 1950s. Similar to San Francisco's Wharf, it was a place for fisherman to dock at the end of the day, housewives to buy fish for supper, and other locals to congregate and talk. When it was destroyed by a hurricane, it was not rebuilt, but today's Pier 5 stands on the original site.

Freedom Tower - Dowtown Miami Freedom Tower was built in the Mediterranean Revival style in 1925, when it housed the offices of the Miami News & Metropolis. It is said that it was inspired by the Giralda Tower in Seville, Spain. The cupola tower contained a beacon light to shine over the Miami Bay, which would have served the practical purpose of acting as a lighthouse while symbolically announcing the enlightenment brought by the Miami News & Metropolis to the rest of the world. When the newspaper went out of business over 30 years later, the building lay vacant for some time. When the Castro regime came into power and political refugees flooded South Florida looking for a new start, the tower was taken over by the U.S. government to provide services to the immigrants. It contained in-processing services, basic medical and dental services, records on relatives already in the U.S. and relief aid for those starting a new life with nothing. For many thousands of immigrants, the tower provided nothing less than their freedom from Castro and the hardships Cuba had come to give them. It rightly earned its name then of Freedom Tower. [Information found at About.com: Miami.]

Leaving Bayside Marketplace

Leaving Bayside Marketplace

Leaving Bayside Marketplace

MarinaBlue, 900 Biscayne Bay, Ten Museum Park, Marquis These buildings are known as the Biscayne Wall, a series of skyscrapers visible from Biscayne Bay along the west side of Biscayne Boulevard. They are located in northeastern Downtown Miami. MarinaBlue was one of the first buildings making up the wall to be completed. It is almost all-residential, with some retail and office space on the lower floors. The building was opened to residential occupancy in the spring of 2008. It currently stands as the 9th-tallest in Miami and the 10th-tallest in Florida, as well the 5th-tallest residential building in theCcity and the State. 900 Biscayne Bay opened for residential occupancy in early 2008. The building currently stands as the 4th-tallest building in Miami and in the state of Florida. It also stands as the 2nd-tallest all-residential building in the City and the State. Ten Museum Park was designed by Chad Oppenheim of Oppenheim Architecture + Design. It was completed in early 2007 and opened for residential occupancy in mid-2007. It currently stands as the 13th-tallest building in Miami. Marquis contains 67 floors, making it the building with the most floors in Miami. The building currently stands as the 3rd tallest building in Miami and the State of Florida. It also stands as the tallest all-residential building in the City and the State.

Original Causeway with Drawbridge [foreground] The Port of Miami was only connected to the mainland by a two-lane drawbridge. The current six-lane elevated bridge was built in the early 1990s.

Leaving Bayside Marketplace

El Loro Ahoy Matey! Climb aboard the El Loro, Miami's only Pirate boat. Enjoy the colorful Miami skyline, Port of Miami, the majestic Venetian Islands and see the breathtaking mansions of the rich and famous on Star Island on this 75 minute cruise. See spectacular views of Biscayne Bay aboard this 58 foot boat that is designed with a classic pirate ship appearance and is certified by the US Coastguard. [NOTE: The above information was taken directly from the internet. I have no stake in this writing - other than to merely identify the ship in this photo :)]

Caribbean Spirit Party Catamaran The "Caribbean Spirit" is the largest day sailing catamaran in North America at 78 feet long and 35 feet wide.