With the 77th annual Miami International Boat Show around the corner, transportation options such as water taxis and shuttle buses from Downtown Miami to Virginia Key will be offered to guests as part of the show’s enhanced transportation plan, according to show manager Larry Berryman.
“This year we have really focused our efforts on creating a dynamic transportation plan,” he said. “During the past couple of years over 50,000 attendees have traveled back and forth to the show using water taxis.”
As a result, he said, “this year we decided to have stops located at Bayfront Park and the AmericanAirlines Arena, which has a decent-size boat slip.”
The free water taxi pick-up and drop-off locations, which will be at both water taxi locations, Mr. Berryman said, will begin operating at 9 a.m., one hour before the show opens, and conclude at 7 p.m., one hour after the show closes.
Water taxi locations include:
■Bayfront Park, 100 Chopin Plaza
■AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd.
In addition, he said, the water taxis, which will be provided by Mike Simpson, the president of Island Queen Cruises, will offer guests an extensive range of vessels to choose from to get to and from the show, with boats ranging from 30 to 100 feet.
As for other transportation options, he said, “we will also have complimentary shuttle buses, which are provided by Hello! Florida, running to and from the parking hub in downtown Miami at the AmericanAirlines Arena, getting more people to and from the show in less time.”
Other locations that the shuttle buses will run from include:
■Lot A – Arthur Lamb Jr. Road & Rickenbacker Causeway, Virginia Key
■Lot B – Historic Virginia Key Beach, 4020 Virginia Beach Drive, Virginia Key
■Lot C – Seaquarium, 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, Virginia Key
All shuttle buses, Mr. Berryman said, will run all show days from 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
“Lots A and B are our primary lots and cost $35 to park at,” he said. “We will also have FreeBees, which are electric golf carts, transporting guests from the parking lots directly to the entrance of the show.”
Parking at Lot C, which is one of the show’s preferred lots, he said, costs $50, while Lot D, which is run by valet and located next to the Miami Marine Stadium at Whiskey Joe’s Bar & Grill at 3301 Rickenbacker Causeway, costs $100 for valet parking.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about convenience,” he said. “All transportation options are free and of no charge. All you need to do is just show your ticket and you can hop one of our water taxis or shuttle buses and enjoy the show.”
Details: http://www.miamiboatshow.com/.
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