Plenty of travelers can’t stop complaining about air travel – myself included – yet recently I’ve realized that once I’m in my destination I have a hard time staying on the ground. Sightseeing flights have become my favorite travel splurge, leading me to conclude that it’s not being up in the air that’s the problem, it’s all the hassle that it takes to get there. Endless security, excessive baggage fees, energetic toddlers for fellow passengers – you can take all that out of the equation when you go on an air tour.
I should know – I’ve been on a few. I’ve marveled over The Strip in Las Vegas, lava fields in Hawaii, The Grand Canyon in Arizona, and the outer edges of New Orleans all from the window of a small plane or helicopter. They all reached new heights in my mind – wink wink – when I got a new perspective and saw them from above. So it wasn’t long after arriving in Miami by car that I started wondering what it would be like to take a sky-high spin above it.
We opted to experience the city from a unique angle, taking in the nighttime sights from Fort Lauderdale to South Beach on this Miami air tour. We made our way to the North Perry Airport, about thirty minutes north of Downtown Miami to embark on the Miami Lights Evening Air Tour.
Arriving at the small airport for our air tour.
Upon arrival were we treated like family. My seatmate Michelle and I were greeted at check-in by a friendly pilot who not only allowed us to pose for photos in front of the plane, but actually took the photos himself on our multiple cameras. Later, his father, came out to introduce himself.
Preparing to fly over Miami by night!
Leaning over our seats in a thick Italian-American accent, he inquired where we were from and after a quiet moment of reflection spoke again. “We’re New Yorkers too, you know. God forbid, anything happens to you down here, you just don’t hesitate to give us a call. You’ve got friends here now.” Talk about a warm welcome.
As we prepared for takeoff, our pilot impressed us with his extensive resume of aviation experience. Clearly, we were in good hands – and well distracted from any pre-departure runway nerves. Before I knew it, we were up over the city, beginning with the Fort Lauderdale skyline.
Up in the air!
Soon we were soaring over South Beach and pointing out the hotel we’d stayed at there, as well as the restaurant we ate at Downtown. We wove around the bridges, skyscrapers and waterways that make up this tropical metropolis, taking in the buzzing nightlife of Miami while peacefully soaring above.
The night lights of Miami.
Along with his knowledge of aeronautical engineering, our pilot also kept some brainspace reserved for information like the location of Ricky Martin’s Miami Beach mansion, an easy spot due to the technicolor light show taking place on the domed roof. The spectacular views gave me new appreciation for the long, ribbon-like skyline of Miami Beach.
The glowing skyline at nighttime.
Photographers, beware – this is a tough tour for taking picture. Our tour time meant the night sky was jet black, and there are less man-made light sources than you might expect for a big city. Ultimately I accepted my fate of few photos and focused on enjoying the sights with my friend instead. No problem – I’ll return someday to take the tour again when the sun is shining. After all, I’ll have to come back for a family visit.
Discover more air and helicopter tours in Miami.
Experience Miami on a Nighttime Air Tour from Miami Things to Do