How to Spend a Day Lay Over in South Florida

It's warm, it's early, and your flight home doesn't leave for another six to eight hours. If you've never been to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale, and you have some time to kill after disembarking from your cruise or simply have a long lay over, here are some tips on how to kill time in sunny south Florida.

1. Rent a car. For a little more than the price of a taxi, you can have the freedom to get around this driver-friendly area, which usually has plenty of parking options. Navigation systems can get you around fairly easily, and of course, there's always using old fashioned maps. If you're just coming off one of the cruise ships, hop onto one of the shuttles right in front of the terminal that run over to the car rental offices (they won't take you if you don't have a reservation though).

2. Museums are a must. The ease of access to pop in and out of one of Miami's many architecturally stunning museums, makes them a worthwhile trip. The MOCA, or Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami is $5 for general admission but is closed Mondays. There's also the Miami Children's Museum on MacArthur Causeway for $15. If you are feeling truly adventurous, check out the Toscana Museum's "Instruments of Torture Throughout the Ages," located in the Freedom Tower directly across from the Port.

3. Go ahead - walk on the beach. Even if you can't grab a quick shower before boarding the plane, slide your shoes off and walk along the beach at either Miami's Ocean Drive beach access or Ft. Lauderdale's Las Olas entrance. There are easy-to-find showers along the sidewalks so you can rinse off your feet before heading back to your car.

4. Sit at a sidewalk café. Even if only for a drink or dessert, the views along either Ocean Drive in South Beach (that's the beaches in Miami Beach, which is its own city) or N. Ft. Lauderdale Beach Blvd. in Ft. Lauderdale are like visual therapy (which is 25 minutes north of South Beach and about five minutes from the Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood airport). On the lighter side, try Pelican Café, rated high on TripAdvisor. Or for fried gator, head up to Ft. Lauderdale's Margarita Café, which also receives high reviews on Associated Content.

5. If you're in Ft. Lauderdale for the late afternoon or evening hours, there is a three-story "Beach Palace" with Fat Tuesday's and Hooters, as well as a Sonic coming later this year that will serve alcoholic beverages - don't worry this one's not a drive through.

Whichever way you choose to kill a few hours of your layover, remember to give yourself enough time to get through airport security, especially during peak travel times like holidays, long weekends, and summer months.