Sure, we all love our cars. They don’t just get us from point A to point B, they are our personal havens, our respite from the busy world around us. However, in Miami, with its abundant sunshine, diverse culture, and miles of beaches, there are many reasons to exit your vehicle and take in the scenery on foot. This is particularly true in the following walkable neighborhoods, where pedestrians and cars mix with ease.

Downtown

There’s been no shortage of residential development in Downtown Miami and with good reason. With its proximity to Brickell, the city’s financial district, and other employment centers, more people are choosing to live Downtown. According to Walk Score, it’s rated as Miami’s top walkable neighborhood with a score of 91. Unsurprisingly, it also ranked high in access to public transportation and bikeability.

Coral Way

Located south of Downtown and north of Coral Gables, Coral Way attracts those looking for the best of both worlds. With its banyan-lined streets and multitude of shops and cafes, shedding your vehicle for a stroll is an easy task. If you ever want to take an architectural walking tour, this would be a great place to do it.This is a great place to take an architectural walking tour.

Edgewater

Edgewater promises its residents an area where they can live, work, and play. Located just north of Downtown, it offers the ability to reach many shops and restaurants easily by foot. It is also walking distance to popular area attractions such as the Arts & Entertainment District, Wynwood, and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.

South Beach

In South Beach, not only can you walk to stores, restaurants, and bars, you can also walk to the beach. While Lincoln Road and Ocean Drive get the lion’s share of the attention when it comes to walkability, there are other roads jam packed with retail venues, such as Alton Road and Washington Avenue. There’s a reason there are so many walking tour companies located here. And if you get the urge to get behind the wheel, South Beach is a short drive to Downtown, Edgewater, Wynwood, and other neighborhoods where jobs and attractions are plentiful.

Little Havana

If someone asks to know the boundaries of Little Havana, they might be told that it’s more of a feeling. When you’re in Little Havana, you know it. A lively Cuban culture permeates everything about this neighborhood and it’s easy to walk from place to place to experience all the food, rum, cigars, and music. Don’t forget the Calle Ocho Walk of Fame, where stars in the sidewalk pay tribute to Cuban and Latin cultural figures.

Bay Harbor Islands

South Beach isn’t the only stretch of Miami Beach that caters to the pedestrian. In the northern section of the beach, Bay Harbor Islands offers a similar mix of shopping and restaurants that you’d expect to find farther south, but in a slightly quieter atmosphere. Still, the neighborhood is close to many of the city’s employment hubs – with Aventura to the north and North Miami to the west.

Coral Gables

While many view Coral Gables as the suburbs — which are notorious for their reputations for needing a car — some may be surprised by the walkability of the city. In fact, every Saturday morning, the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables offers a walking tour in its downtown area, which dates back to the 1920s. Participants learn about the electric trolleys that once connected Coral Gables to Downtown Miami and visit the historic Mediterranean Revival buildings. It’s also the home of the University of Miami, which features a very walkable, and beautiful, campus.

Coconut Grove

With its Bohemian flair and tropical canopy, residents in Coconut Grove sometimes feel as if they are in a separate part of Miami — albeit one that is very close to Downtown. Founded in 1873 and located on the waterfront, Coconut Grove features boutiques, galleries, gourmet restaurants, and sidewalk cafes — all within a short walk of the boats that line the harbor. The neighborhood is also home to CocoWalk, which features a mix of shops and restaurants in an outdoor mall setting.