About this English self-guided 30m driving tour in Surfside
Hello and Welcome to this UCPlaces tour of Sunny Isles and Bal Harbor, Florida. My name is Shelly and I will be guiding you on this tour on behalf of our local expert Rita Japhet. With over a decade of experience in Luxury Real Estate, Rita is a consummate professional and a true innovator in the international real estate market.
Whether staying on top of marketing trends or analyzing the real estate market, Rita’s skills are beneficial at all levels, with her fluency in French, Italian and Spanish, and her knowledge and negotiation skills she has been instrumental in selling over 200 new construction units to a wide range of clients in the United States and around the world.
If after the tour you want to learn more, make sure to contact Rita at (305) 450-6662 or send her an email at rita@sunnyislesrealestate.com.
Now let’s talk about Sunny Isles. Sunny Isles is a city on a barrier island, nestled right between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intercoastal Highway. Sunny Isles is often referred to as “Florida's Riviera”, with over two and half miles of pristine beaches.
Bal Harbour, just south of Sunny Isles, is known for its upscale shopping along with being a hub for luxury resorts and white sandy beaches.
The great part of the Sunny Isles/Bay Harbor area is it’s nestled right between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, making the city scene only a drive away, while giving you the chance to have a beach oasis away from all the urban commotion. It’s the best of both worlds.
To start this tour, meet me over by the Four Seasons Surf Club.
Now let’s talk about Sunny Isles. Sunny Isles is a city on a barrier island, nestled right between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intercostal Highway. Sunny Isles is often referred to as “Florida's Riviera”, offering over 2 and half miles of pristine breaches.
Bal Harbour, just south of Sunny Isles, is known for its upscale shopping along with being a hub for luxury resorts and white sandy beaches.
The great part of the Sunny Isles/Bay Harbor area is it’s nestled right between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, making the city scene only a drive away, while giving you the chance to have a beach oasis away from all the urban commotion. It’s the best of both worlds.
To start this tour, meet me over by the Four Seasons Surf Club.
We will be starting this tour off in Bal Harbour and then work our way up the A1A to the beautiful Sunny Isles.
Welcome to our first stop on the tour, The Surf Club at the Four Seasons Hotel located on your left. The Surf Club is a private luxury residence located at one of the world’s best known hotels. The Four Seasons Hotel was built originally in 1930 and was known for hosting only the most world-renowned guests from Frank Sinatra to Winston Churchill. The Surf Club still has remnants from it’s old Hollywood Past, seen in art deco inspired details.
Enjoy all the amenities of a Four Season hotel with residents enjoying their own private pool, elevator lobby and dedicated valet parking.
The Surf Club offers 112 state-of-the-art, contemporary-styled residences designed by the award-winning architect Richard Meier. Enjoy beautiful features like frameless glass balconies, high–lacquer–finished cabinets and sub-zero appliances. The best part though, is the unobstructed view of the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay.
On your right we will be passing St. Regis Resort and Residences. Built in 2012, it hosts a standard of excellence like nothing else. St. Regis offers 27 floors of luxury condos including professional grade kitchen appliances, walk-in marble showers and spacious outdoor balconies.
Enjoy amenities like 24-hour dine-in service and in-room catering, 24-hour valet service and of course beach access. To unwind, enjoy convenient access to St. Regis’s onsite spa, The Remede. Enjoy signature services like pedicures and manicures or rejuvenate your senses with a deep tissue massage or Marine Mud Body Wrap. Complete your experience with a bottle of chilled champagne or Jacques Torres truffles.
Just a convenient walk away is the Bal Harbour Shops, located on your left. Built over 50 years ago by Stanley Whitney, better known as the “Walt Disney” of luxury retailing, this open-air shopping mall lets you enjoy the Florida sun while you shop high-end names like Gucci, Rolex and Valentino.
If you’re looking for a place to dine out, you’ve got to go to Carpaccio. Carpaccio has been serving the Bal Harbour community with authentic Italian food since 1994. Try real, Italian classics like Pasta Fagioli and Dentice Pescatore.
Continue straight on Collins Avenue as we head up the Haulover Marine Center.
On your left we will be passing the Haulover Marine Center, sitting right on the intracoastal highway. The Marine Center offers dry storage for boats and watercraft under 60 feet. Located just half a mile from the Bakers, Haulover Inlet gives boaters easy access to the Ocean.
Haulover Point, located just south of the Haulover Marine Center, is one of south Florida's most popular sandbars, offering all the boating necessities such as gas, bait and tackle as well as a Marine service repair center.
Up ahead on your right we will pass the Residences at the Ritz-Carlton, formally known as One Bal Harbour. The Ritz Carlton offers a 26-story luxury condo tower, with units ranging from 2 to 4 bedrooms as well as penthouses offering picturesque views of the South Florida skyline. Enjoy Italian styled kitchens and jacuzzi tubs in this perfect beach oasis.
Make sure to take a left onto NE 163rd St.
NE 163 St & Collins Av, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160, USA
Gateway park
On your left we will be passing Gateway Park, one of Sunny Isle’s hidden Gems. Gateway Park is 5 acres of green space, offering the community a Butterfly Garden, performance stage and playground.
Recently opened at Gateway Park is Gateway Center. This brand new 15,000 square foot center is open to all Sunny Isles residents and offers a fitness room, social game tables as well as multi-use classrooms.
The Gateway Center was built as a way to engage all community members by offering a safe location for teens or a social alley for seniors. There is even a hearing loop installed in the center, connecting AV system sound directly to hearing aids and cochlear implants, making the Center accessible to those with hearing issues.
Make sure to take a left into the Entrance for Oleta River State Park.
We are entering Oleta River State Park. This wildlife oasis makes it hard to believe we are only 30 miles away from Miami. Oleta River State Park is over 1,000 acres and is Florida’s largest Urban Park. Those on watercraft can enjoy paddling through mangrove trails or access to the Oleta River. The hidden alcoves make this a popular destination for fishers as well.
It’s not uncommon to see various wildlife that inhabit the Oleta River. You’ll often see hermit crabs in the Mangroves or even manatees or dolphins that frequent the river. Just make sure you clean up after your visit, to make sure the waterways are clean for these animals that call it home.
For those who would rather stay on land, though Florida is flat and coastal, Oleta River offers over 10 miles of intermediate and advanced mountain bike trails. I’d suggest visiting the onsite butterfly garden as well, which offers up-close views of native butterflies such as the Zebra Longwing and the Atala butterfly all year-round.
If you want to stay longer, Oleta River offers 14 rustic, open air cabins available to rent, perfect for a weekend staycation.
Make sure to take a left back onto Florida State Route A1A
17885 Florida A1A, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160, USA
The Estates at Acqualina
On your right we will pass the Estates at Acqualina. These specialty crafted homes are curated and managed by Acqualina Resort and Residences. You’ll even find specialty one and two story fully furnished penthouses. The lobbies were designed by legendary creative director Karl Lagerfeld. He put great detail into the lobbies because “they give you the first impression”.
Relax and enjoy amazing on-site amenities like an Ice-skating rink, zero entry pool, Formula One racing simulation and even a speakeasy disco that makes it so you never need to leave.
Norman S. Edelcup/Sunny Isles Beach K-8, 201 182nd Dr, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160, USA
Norman S. Edelcup School
On your left we will pass the Norman S. Edelcup school. This school was built in 2008 and serves grades K through 8. The creation of this school became a turning point in Sunny Isles, showing the population was moving from a retirement community to a modern community.
The school was renamed The Norman S. Edelcup school after the former Sunny Isles Mayor.
Now let’s get back on Florida A1A . As we go up north to our last stop on this tour make sure to take in the beautiful beach views.
18969 Collins Ave, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160, USA
Residences by Armani Casa.
Our last stop on this tour will be the Residences by Armani Casa on your right. Built in 2019, Armani Casa was co-designed by world renowned architect Cesar Pelli and fashion designer Giorgio Armani.
Armani Casa is also the largest high-rise on this tour, standing at a massive 56 floors and 659 feet. Enjoy floor to ceiling windows as well as imported stone countertops and marble stone floors. Armani Casa is also a smart building, offering seamless access to all of the residence’s amenities including a two-story onsite spa, heated oceanfront pool and temperature-controlled wine-room.
Well, that concludes our tour of the Sunny Isles/Bay Harbour area. If you liked what you saw and want to know more, make sure to give Rita a call at (305) 450-6662 or send her an email at rita@sunnyislesrealestate.com.
Thank you again for taking this tour with UCPlaces.
How to take a UCPlaces tour
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How does the tour work?
UCPlaces acts as your personal tour guide, providing self-guided audio tours fully navigated within our app using GPS-based navigation. You won't need to switch between external navigation apps.
Whenever you approach a point of interest (POI) on the tour, our app will automatically play the relevant audio story at the right time and place.
If you start the tour before reaching the first POI, the app will navigate you to the starting point and then begin the tour.
How is this more convenient than a traditional tour?
UCPlaces offers an innovative and flexible way to explore exciting destinations on your terms.
Here are some key advantages over traditional tours:
No need to commit upfront or purchase in advance; buy a tour only when you're ready to go.
Walk at your own pace.
No waiting for groups; go on your schedule.
Take the tour in your preferred language.
Start, stop and continue the tour whenever you want.
Returning to the same destination? Take the tour again, and again, and again... And bring a friend!
Enjoy preferred prices.
What's included?
A self-guided audio tour taken via the UCPlaces app [Android / iOS (iPhone) / Apple CarPlay].
Tour route map and in-app GPS navigation (via the UCPlaces app).
Audio stories for places visited during the tour.
Apple CarPlay connection (for iOS users); for a seamless driving tour experience.
What's NOT included?
Earphones (highly recommended).
Smartphone.
Any kind of transportation (including tickets and passes).