Day trips from Miami are plentiful, and here is one of the best.

If you’ve spent any significant amount of time in Miami, you’ve surely heard about Stiltsville. A mysterious collection of pastel-colored houses that jut out from Biscayne Bay’s flat waterline, Stiltsville is a living relic of bygone era. During Prohibition, this area of the bay was once a hub for booze smuggling. In 1933, the houses we see today were built by “Crawfish Eddy”, a well-known gambling operator.

Stiltsville quickly became an attraction for the wealthy and elite. A string of famous gentlemen’s clubs and exclusive bars popped up. All sorts of debauchery was permitted here, from nude sunbathing to lobster poaching to illegal alcohol sales. The Florida Beverage Commission finally showed up to shut the party down and a series of hurricanes swooped in to finish the job completely.

There were 27 houses that adorned the bay in the 1960’s. By the early 1990’s, there were just 14. Hurricane Andrew reduced that number to 7 in 1992 and today, those 7 remain. These houses are protected by the National Park Service’s Biscayne National Park and can only be seen by boat.

Why not take a morning to check them out? If you have your own boat or a preferred boat captain, you can arrive on your own. If not, or if you’re interested in hearing more about Stiltsville’s fascinating history, book a tour here.

It’s a great way to acquaint yourself with the background and culture of Miami while still having a great day out on the water. Stiltsville is a place every Miamian should visit at least once in a lifetime and is the perfect day trip!