Pokemon Go in Miami: best places, maps and tips

news usa miami activity pokemon go miami florida

Since its U.S. release on July 6, 2016, the augmented reality game Pokemon Go has taken Florida, Miami and the world by storm, sending thousands of Pokemon hunters in the streets and into the wild in search for the virtual creatures, including the rarest and most legendary Pikachu.

Since then, the Pokemon Go craze has not slowed down, at the contrary driving more and more Pokemon hunters all over Miami and South Florida with only one thing in mind: Gotta Catch 'Em All!

To help you catch more Pokemons, we've put together a short list of tips, hints and resources to help all hunters chase them in Miami and around, while playing in a responsible and safe manner.

How to Play Pokemon Go

First, you need of course to download the Pokemon Go App from your mobile device, then you can register to a Pokemon Trainer Club. Then you'll want to create you avatar and off you go.

When you open the app, you will discover a crude map of your surroundings, including PokeStops which are real-world locations that you can tag to earn Poke Balls. When you spot a Pokemon or other special items on the map, throw Poke Balls at it to collect.

Here is a quick overview of Pokemon Go lingo by CNN, if you're really new to the game:

pokemon go lexicon

Pokemon go in miami: how to play safely

Given the number of serious adverse incidents that have happened to Pokemon Go players, the Miami Police Department has put out a few words of caution so you can play safely and responsibly:

  1. Don’t Utilize Pokemon Go While Driving.
  2. Remain VIGILANT at all times.
  3. Be careful who you share your location with.
  4. Do not violate laws to catch a Pokemon.
  5. Understand the police is here to help you and keep you safe.

Finding a Pokemon Go VIRTUAL Club Near You in South Florida

pokemon go miami twitter

Since Pokemon Go is all aboutt getting out in the real world to chase virtual creatures, the best way to become a great Pokemon Master is definitely to hook up with other Pokemon hunters in your area.

While there are more and more clubs sprouting all over the place every day, your best bet is to join and closely follow those two specalized, similar and very active Facebook Group pages:

Both Facebook Groups are open to public viewing and share similar missions. The former describest itself as "a group for trainers to get together, host meet-ups, Poke-walks, Poke-drives, or to share anything Pokemon Go related".

The latter claims itself to be "A Place For South Floridian Pokemon Go Trainers to Gather, Chat, Share Their Journeys & Accomplishments, and Plan Group Poke'Walk & Poke'Drive Events".

Twitter also has a great Pokemon Go Miami nascent thread with around 500 followers but definitely growing fast, a convenient spot to find and hook up with like-minded Pokemon Go hunters.

Finally, there are a Pokemon Go clubs you can join in Miami, such as the Squirtle Squad Of South Florida, or choose one of the Gym Teams available such as Team Mystic or Team Valor, but since you'll become a lifelong member and can't switch teams, maybe you ought to choose one the most active in Miami which seems to be Team Instinct. 

Find and Participate in Pokemon Go Events in miami and south florida

pokemon go miami facebook events

There is no bettter place than the virtual world of social media to find actual, real life Pokemon Go related events in and around Miami.

Just closely monitor the above social accounts and you'll be practically sure not to miss any. Many events have been organized already but more are coming - mostly on weekends. Make sure to follow their organizers to get more updates and future Pokemon Go Events :

Find Pokemon Go Friendly Businesses & Locations in and around Miami

pokemon go miami fiu

Of course, the Pokemon Go craze could not go unnoticed for long by Miami's and South Florida's public locations managers and business owners. You will find many Pokemon Go friendly businesses in Miami, growing by the day, but keep in mind the latter may have commercial objectives in mind.

As a rule of thumb, just know that the more dense an urban area is, the more chances you have to find Pokemons and Poke Stops. All the more reasons to play safely as indicated earlier.

Nonetheless, here is a short list of businesses in Miami and South Florida that have shown the greatest interest for Pokemon Go and regularly organize Pokemon Go related events (in no particular order):

  • Florida International University (FIU, Libraries, The Fountain)
  • Miami Dade College
  • The Village of Pinecrest Parks
  • Zoo Miami
  • Westfield Broward Mall
  • The Mall at Wellington Green
  • Festival Flea Market Mall
  • Lincoln Road
  • Soundscape Park
  • Bayfront Park
  • Collins Park
  • South Beach
  • Books & Books (Coral Gables)
  • Wynwood
  • Dolphin Mall
  • ... and many more!

Interactive Maps and apps to help you play Pokemon Go in Miami

pokemon go miami florida map small 2

 (Click to enlarge map)

There are many apps and various software popping up from all corners of the net that claim to help you get better and play more efficiently at Pokemon Go.

We are not condoning any specific one and we encourage you to research thouroughly each one before you spend money or put yourself - or your mobile device - at risk. With certain apps, you may even get banned from the official app so proceed with caution.

 

 

IMPORTANT UPDATE 08/02/2016

Pokemon Go's developer Niantic Labs recently decided to cut off access to its database to numerous tracking apps, just as we've warned it could happen. Apps like PokéVision, PokéNotify and PokéHound have shut down in violation of Pokémon’s terms of service. As reported by TheNextWeb, Poke Radar is the only app still working as it is solely based on user input, not Niantic Labs' databases.

 

 

From what you've heard from Pokemon Go players, Pokevision or Poke Radar seem to gather momentum, but again these are not "official" we do not vouch for them and encourge you to get advice from people you know and trustworthy sources.

Other Apps singled out by trustworthy sites are Gotta Catch ‘Em All and Pokemapper, you can find more info about those here. 

On the other hand, there are many maps available across the internet that are free to consult and can definitely help you become a better Pokemon Go hunter. 

  • Pokémon Go Florida has put together a good map of the Miami area with many PokeStops to save you time. You can access it here.
  • PokeCrew is a well done, free website that lets you find out where Pokemons have been sighted, and you can search various areas which is helpful when you're away. In any case you can find Miami's Pokemon Go map here.
  • Another Google Map started to locate Pokemon Gyms and PokeStops across the U.S, you can give it a shot but at the time of this writing it now indicates "This map is broken. Sorry!"
  • Last but not the least, this great Miami-based website has everything you need for Pokemon Go in Miami and South Florida, it's called PokemonGo305 and it features a well-done map that will keep you busy for a while, so be sure to check it out!

More tips and resources for Pokemon Go in Miami

Besides those already mentioned above, here are a few good online places to get you started on your Pokemon Go hunt.

follow chris smoove playing pokemon go in miami

Chris Smoove - forrmerly known as Smoove7182954 - is a legendary American Gamer mostly famous for his NBA 2K gameplay, and who made a name for himself on Youtube by shooting video walkthroughs and demos with sport pros such as David Ortiz (Boston Red Sox), Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs), and John Wall (Washington Wizards). 

Follow his adventures playing Pokemon Go in Miami to learn more about playing the game in the Magic City!

More info: Pokemon Go Official Website
Travel report: Miami Travel News