Big Bus Miami Tour - Ticket Sales - Central Station, Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132, US

Located on Biscayne Boulevard between American Airlines Arena and the InterContinental MIAMI, Bayside Marketplace was one of the first – and at one time, perhaps the only – downtown Miami attraction. Today it's still a bustling beehive of outdoor boutiques, restaurants and entertainment options including live music at the Marina Stage, visual arts and crafts for sale at Artist's Square and sightseeing tours and charter boat rides of all kinds that take off from Miamarina. Because it's positioned on the beautiful Biscayne Bay, it's also a safe and refreshing place to stroll with family or friends during the day or night.Must see/do at Bayside MarketplaceThere's only one way to see the Miami islands where the rich and famous live, learn about Miami's rich waterside history and enjoy an umbrella drink or two -- from the water. Catch a sightseeing boat from Miamarina, which is located at Bayside. You can choose from a variety of floating transportation: tall ships, speedboats, party boats that look like pirate ships, sunset Champagne cruises, fishing charters, even boats that go out specifically to feed tarpon. If you have a tween in your family, you should also check the schedule at the Hard Rock Café, which often features young, up-and-coming artists -– the new Justin Biebers of the pop world, if you will. On weekends, there's an artisans market set up at Artist's Square.Types of stores at Bayside MarketplaceThe shops at Bayside feature everything from local goods to well-known chain items to designer options. Nearly 70 shops offer hats and sunglasses, sports outfits and equipment, gifts and souvenirs, jewelry, clothing and shoes for all members of the family, purses and luggage, beauty supplies and perfumes, technology and electronics, services for travels and tours, and even some very hometown products such as hand-rolled cigars.Food at Bayside MarketplaceA large food court contains every genre of fare from healthy juices to Cajun. For sit-down restaurants and real Miami flavor, check out Los Ranchos, a Nicaraguan steakhouse; The Knife, an Argentine steakhouse; Mambo Café for Latin/Cuban cuisine; Latin American Café for Cuban fare; or Largo Bar and Grill for local seafood.Parking and public transportation at Bayside MarketplaceBayside has its own garage, Bayside Parking Garage, and there are multiple pay lots located in the center of Biscayne Boulevard. For public transportation, the MetroRail, MetroMover and MetroBus all deposit passengers within a short walking distance of the Marketplace. For the first two, take the MetroRail to Government Center Station, transfer to the MetroMover's Omni Loop and disembark at Park West Station. For the MetroBus, the nearest drop-off is at NE 8th Street.Other places to visit near Bayside MarketplaceAmerican Airlines Arena is only a short walk to the north; the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) is just five blocks north of that. To the south, the InterContinental MIAMI is an upscale hotel hub for international traveler to enjoy food and cocktails, as is Mary Brickell Village, another outdoor marketplace that provides retail, dining and nightlife opportunities.Insider tips for visitors to Bayside MarketplaceIf you're planning on going to a concert or Heat game at nearby American Airlines Arena, why not park at Bayside Marketplace and dine beforehand, then leave your car and walk the few blocks to the event? Afterwards, you can have a drink at Hard Rock Café or flavorful smoke at Off the Hookah, and gaze at the moonlight carving a path on Biscayne Bay before leaving. It's a much more inexpensive -– and prettier -– way to make a night of it.Author's bio: Jen Karetnick has been living in Miami since 1992. She is the author of 12 books, most recently the cookbook, Mango (University Press of Florida, 2014) and the poetry book, Brie Season (White Violet Press, 2014).