The Best Neighborhood in Miami Part 4: The Best Miami Neighborhoods for Boat Lovers

What are the Best Miami Neighborhoods for Boaters?

For many ‘life on the water’ is one of the biggest pulls for home buying in South Florida.  Those looking to live in Miami often look for Miami homes with a boat dock or a Miami condo that offers a boat slip. In this section we offer the best waterfront communities for boaters and boat owners. In this article we cover some of the best Miami Neighborhoods that offer the best experiences for Boaters.

Coconut Grove

The Grove is a Miami neighborhood offering many waterfront homes with a boat dock as well as a good amount of marinas. Most waterfront homes with a boat dock are located along South Bayshore Lane. It is also located in one of the gated and waterfront communities such as Entrada Estates, Hughes Cove or the Moorings. Some of these homes are on the open bay, but most are located on a canal providing for direct access to the open bay without any bridges.
The Grove also offers several marinas along South Bayshore Drive, making it one of the best Miami neighborhoods for boat lovers.

Coconut Grove condos with a boat dock are: Vita Grove Isle, Grove Isle Condos, The Fairchild and Residences at Vizcaya. Park Grove doesn’t offer a private marina but does offer a nautical concierge for all your boating related matters.

Coral Gables

Coral Gables offers many homes with a boat dock. Waterfront homes in Coral Gables are either located on the Coral Gables canals or on the open bay. Some of the canal front homes are further away from the open bay (those west of the US1). They require a longer sail in order to reach the open ocean. Unlike Coconut Grove waterfront homes, in Coral Gables one might encounter (fixed) bridges. For condo lovers the best condos with a marina might be offered by the Deering Bay community and the Gables Club Condo Tower 1 and Tower 2. The Gables offers a relatively limited amount of marinas such as the Deering Bay marina and the Cocoplum Yachtclub.

The Venetian Islands

You can’t go wrong with an island when you love boating. The Venetian Islands are located in the Biscayne Bay between Miami’s mainland and Miami Beach. There are 6 Venetian Islands in total, which offer pre-dominantly single-family homes although some islands also offer condos. Belle Isle for example, which is the last island before you reach Miami Beach offers several condos with a boat dock. The Venetian islands offer many waterfront homes with a boat dock. They are desired, because there are no fixed bridges granting open ocean access.

Key Biscayne

A boaters paradise with many waterfront homes that are either located on the open bay or on an inlet with direct access to the bay. There are no bridges between the inlets and the open ocean in Key Biscayne. There are no Key Biscayne condos with a boat dock or boat slips. For those looking for condo life, they will have to dock their boats in one of the Key Biscayne marinas. Key Biscayne offers several marinas. It includes Key Biscayne Yacht Club, the Crandon Park Marina and the Rickenbacker Marina for those who do not need their vessel docked in front of their property. There is a very active boating scene in Key Biscayne and the island is known to attract boaters.

Fisher Island

The Fisher Island community is located just south of Miami Beach. It can only be reached by ferry, boat or helicopter. One of the most exclusive and private zipcodes in the US, this is a true boater’s paradise. The island is located in the open bay, which is a preferred scenario for many boaters. Fisher Island does not offer homes or condos for sale with a boat dock (there are only 8 homes on the island anyway). The island offers two state-of-the-art, surge proof marinas. Fisher Island is home to the only private deep-water marina. It is one of only two existing deep-water marinas in Miami, Florida, which together have over 100 slips to accommodate luxury yachts up to 250 feet.

The marinas boast water depths of 15 feet leading up to the entrance to both marinas. It is 8 feet within the inner marina, and 12 feet within the outer marina. Entry breakwaters ensure calm and comfortable berths, and the location allows yachtsmen to be in the Gulf Stream within minutes. The Fisher Island club marina offers all the services you require for your nautical travels. It is also known to host some major boating related events. Recently, the marinas have been lavishly refurbished. It includes handsome hardwood decking and pilings, the latest power pedestals, security cameras and constant monitoring systems.