If a trip to Southeast Florida is in your plans and you are interested in taking your inline skates with you, then here are some places you may find to fill your craving to skate. From North to South -
Pompano Beach
The town recently constructed a bike/skating path around the Pompano airport and public golf course. It is a 4.5 mile loop with mostly smooth crushed coral or asphalt and has a divided trail with 2 way skating. Whereas it is not scenic, it is, however, the best fitness trail in Southeast Florida that does not travel on the public streets. You can park for free in the Pompano Golf Course parking lot. There are 2 water fountains along the trail (the water is cold and tastes good because it is from the city water system - not a well). The airport is also home to the Goodyear blimp and if you are fortunate, you might see it landing or taking off. To get to this trail, take Copans Road east from I-95 to US Highway 1. Turn right (south) on US 1 and go a short distance to 10th Street and turn right into the Golf Course. The trail can be accessed from the south end of the parking lot
Lauderdale-By-The-Sea
This is a small town just north of Ft. Lauderdale and the town itself is only 1 mile wide by 2 miles long. El Mar Drive is a public road with very light traffic - if any - that parallels the beach. This road is divided by a wide grass boulevard and has occasional side streets that go about 50 yards to the east then end at the beach where you can sit and rest. El Mar Drive is 1 mile long so one loop is, of course, 2 miles. There is metered parking along all the side streets. There is no free parking and the meters cost $.25/15 minutes so carry some quarters if you plan to skate this location. To get to El Mar Drive, take Commercial Blvd. east from I-95. Continue east past US 1 all the way to the ocean. The last north-south road before you end at the public fishing pier is El Mar Drive. By the way, I highly recommend the Aruba Café next to the fishing pier for lunch or a beverage.
Ft. Lauderdale
Ft. Lauderdale, in my opinion, was the birthplace of the "Spring Break"! 'Where the Boys Are' was filmed at Las Olas Blvd. and highway A1A in 1960 and that kind of launched the publics' awareness of how much fun Spring Break can be. With that in mind, skating the Beachwalk along the east side of A1A during Spring Break season will be congested. The Beachwalk is separated from the sand by a serpentine wall and it extends perhaps a couple of miles north of Las Olas Blvd. and a few tenths of a mile south. If people congestion isn't enough of a challenge, there are palm trees planted in the Beachwalk path and the path itself is constructed of hugh tiles that have grooves between them. This is not a fitness skate, but a pleasure skate where people come to see and be seen. The west side of A1A is lined with outdoor cafes, t-shirt shops and hotels. It is also legal to skate on the sidewalk in front of the cafes. The best way to find the Beachwalk if you are not familiar with Ft. Lauderdale is to take Sunrise east from I-95 and turn right on A1A. Most all the side streets have metered parking and, hereagain, a quarter will buy 15 minutes.
Miami Beach (AKA South Beach)
Everyone has heard of South Beach! More than one national publication has called it the hottest place in the world - and they were referring to 'where it's at', not just the temperature. It is home to the world famous "art Deco" area, the home where Versace lived, where they filmed "Bird Cage" and many other movies. This is not a place for a fitness skate, but like Ft. Lauderdale's Beachwalk, it is a place to see and be seen. The place to skate is practically anywhere in South Beach - on the sidewalks - down the middle of the streets - wherever! Most people choose to skate the Beachwalk that is somewhat similar to Ft. Lauderdale's in that it is separated from the sand by a serpentine wall. The south end of the Beachwalk starts at 5th and Ocean and goes about 1/2 mile north. 5th and Ocean is also home to the 'slalom course' where some of the countries best slalom skaters show their stuff. There is a sand dune (berm) that hides the ocean from view when on the Beachwalk. There is a reason for that - the beach is "topless optional". I also know that skates are optional on the beach, but I recommend you take them off before venturing out to the ocean. Parking is also metered but the challenge is to find a place to park. I have no recommendations where to park but I do recommend that you do not drive on Ocean Avenue unless you have a half day to travel a few blocks. The Beachwalk is on the east side of Ocean and the west side is dotted with outdoor cafes and clubs. There are two ways to get to South Beach:
From I-95 take I-195 (also the Julia Tuttle Causeway) east and follow the signs to the Art Deco District. This takes you to Alton Road and you can drive south on Alton Rd. to 5th and turn left to the ocean. Park anywhere you can find a legal place. You can skate from Alton Road to the Beachwalk (it is less than a mile).
From 1-95 take I-395 (also the MacArthur Causeway) east. When you get over the causeway, you will be at 5th and Alton. I guarantee you will get lost for a minute or two but South Beach is narrow and you will eventually re-orientate yourself. The problem with this access to South Beach is that the south side of the cuaseway is where the mega-huge cruise liners come and go - and when they do - traffic is like a Manhattan rush hour or maybe worse, like along Ocean Avenue where traffic does not move PERIOD.
There is also a Friday Night Skate most Friday nights through South Beach sponsored by the SoBe Rollers and escorted by the Miami Beach police Department. Bottled water is provided by other sponsors. For information about this FNS visit www.soberollers.com.
Mike
Merriman
Certified
Inline Skating Instructor
Zephyr
Inline Skate Tour Guide