Marathon Florida to Williams Island

Our route this day takes us from Marathon Florida, through the Bay of Florida and the Everglades National Park into Biscayne Bay, up through Miami to a final destination of Williams Island. The mileage for this leg of the trip is approximately 110 miles.

There appears to be water everywhere in the Everglades, but the actual navigable water is actually pretty skinny.

Staying in the channel is priority or you will run aground. Even in the channel, it appears dangerously shallow.

We pass under the Overseas Highway, the only route to access the entire Keys, by car, from the mainland of Florida.

We enter into Biscayne Bay and are surprised at the beauty and clarity of the water.

We enjoy the beautiful day and the peaceful cruise.

Miami

We continue north past Miami and head to Williams Island, where we will dock for the night.

Williams Island dates back to the 1980’s. It is an 84 acre private island retreat located in the middle of the bustling city of Aventura. Sophia Loren, making the island her home, was the celebrity spokeswoman and creative consultant. An episode about Williams Island even appeared on the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. They have a renowned 27,000 ft spa and wellness center (no transient boaters allowed) and grand slam inspired tennis courts, which are open for play to boaters after noon. As I don’t even have the energy to check out the pool, I am sure playing tennis is not in my near future. We are docked in the north marina unfortunately, which is pretty secluded from the main pool area and other docks.

Our view from Prime 11 resembles being in a parking lot, which happens to be filled with water.

So, if I had one word to describe our brief stay in Miami, I would have to choose enough. Our boat isn’t big enough, our wallets aren’t deep enough, we are not young enough, our looks aren’t good enough, we do not know enough Spanish, and we have had enough. Enough said! Goodbye Miami. One day was, well…enough!