While I'm busy thinking about Miami, here's a few from the last trip this past summer. If you haven't been, there's the downtown area and there's the beach area (like South Beach). It's a nice downtown, but there's not many places to eat/shop downtown. South Beach, on the other hand, has lots of places to eat and miles of beach. I had gone not long after a hurricane had past by, so the water wasn't as clear as I was expecting. It wasn't as drab as like Northern California beach, but it wasn't as brilliant as like a Cayman Beach. Here's a shot taken from the Cruise ship back at South Beach (we were on our way to Jamaica).

This is a harbor that's maybe a couple miles away from South Beach. The great thing that really got my wife and I thinking was that it doesn't cost anything to moor here. Our guide new of a fellow that had been here for over a year. Hmmm...how is that I don't have a boat yet?

This boat had been completely sunk in a past hurricane (I forget which). The owner was in the process of slowly restoring her.

ldauman wrote:
[quote]This is a harbor that's maybe a couple miles away from South Beach. The great thing that really got my wife and I thinking was that it doesn't cost anything to moor here. Our guide new of a fellow that had been here for over a year. Hmmm...how is that I don't have a boat yet? quote]

There are a few in that area and it excited my wife and I also. I sure hope they are still available in a few years when we get down that way in our boat.

I can see why they are being pushed out of existence though. Many take advantage of them and the result is derelict boats barely afloat, some being rented out by the night as floating low rents to illeagles /crack heads and such. They become a liability when they blow up or drag. And the upscale marinas keep pushing south.

I think you can anchor free in Oneta State Park in Miami also. Easy walk to HOT showers and clean toilets. I know a couple on a mooring in Key West right now for $295 a month. If you are careful where/what you eat and where you stay it really is possible to live cheap down there. IMHO