10 Things to Do in Miami With Kids

The Beach

The beach is probably the top activity most visitors to Miami flock to for. Luckily, there is no shortage of beaches for everyone’s pleasure. From the trendy and popular South Beach, to North Beach which could be the best secluded beach in Miami. Here are some other beach options kids will love. Whichever beach you choose, the result will be the same, beautiful turquoise water, clean white sand, and a fun time had by all.

• Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park Beach - the pot of gold at the end of Key Biscayne, with over a mile of unfettered beach, a historic lighthouse, and nature trails that take you back to the days when South Florida was a tropical wilderness.

• Crandon Park Beach - It's got a diverse crowd consisting of dedicated beach bums and lots of leisure-seeking families, set to a soundtrack of salsa, disco, and reggae music blaring from a number of competing stereos. With 3 miles of oceanfront beach, bathrooms, changing facilities, 493 acres of park, 75 grills, three parking lots, several soccer and softball fields, and a public 18-hole championship golf course, Crandon is like a theme park on the sand. The beach also offers Eco-Adventure Tours, including kayaking and snorkeling

• Matheson Hammock Park Beach - is the epitome of tranquility. And while it's scenic, it's not too much of a scene. It's a great beach for those seeking "alone time." Matheson Hammock Park Beach water is extremely calm, not to mention safe and secluded enough for families to keep an eye on the kids. Clean bathrooms and changing facilities are a plus.

• Virginia Key Beach Park - This park is beautiful and it offers great opportunities for photos, relaxation and peace and quiet.

• Lummus Park Beach - runs along Ocean Drive from about 6th to 14th streets on South Beach. It's the best place to go if you're seeking entertainment as well as a great tan. On any day of the week, you might spy models primping for a photo shoot, nearly naked (topless is legal here) sun-worshippers avoiding tan lines, and an assembly line of washboard abs off of which you could (but shouldn't) bounce your bottle of sunscreen. Bathrooms and changing facilities are available on the beach.

Animals, Animals and more Animals

Miami offers plenty of incredible wildlife attractions guaranteed to entertain the whole family.

• Zoo Miami - Zoo Miami houses more than 2,000 wild animals in a cage less environment that gives the animal’s similar settings to their natural habitats, and visitors get the feeling of embarking on an safari. Large, open-air exhibits allow visitors to enjoy endangered wildlife at a safe yet close range. This is the only zoo in the continental United States located in a subtropical climate. Although this is not a huge zoo, it often appeals to families, with lots of interaction available with animals. There is a children’s zoo with all kinds of attractions, including camel rides. In addition to the animals the zoo also contains many subtropical plants and trees, and a large collection of orchids.

• Miami Seaquarium - The Miami Seaquarium has long been a favorite family attraction on Florida holidays. The most notable features are the daily shows featuring dolphins, killer whales, seals and other ocean inhabitants. Observation tanks contain alligators, sharks and tropical fish. The Seaquarium is actively involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of Florida’s endangered manatees, and there are normally at least a few of these gentle giants housed there. Some of the dolphins that take part in the shows are direct descendants of the original starts of the 60s television program “Flipper”. The facility offers a “swim with dolphins” program that promises to teach about the physiology, behavior and natural history of dolphins.

• Jungle Island - Jungle Island is a bird sanctuary, wildlife habitat, and botanical garden. There are over 1,100 birds presented in a tropical forest setting, some of which take part in daily shows. The gardens contain around 2,000 varieties of exotic plants including Heliconias, bananas, orchids and bromeliads. The site is also home to a variety of other animals including tigers, baboons, alligators, tortoises, monkeys, orangutans and flamingos. Some of the other shows presented at Parrot Jungle include a nocturnal creature presentation and the reptile encounter that highlights a rare white alligator.

• Monkey Jungle - Experience the wonder of nature in this breeding sanctuary for monkeys, some of which roam free in a natural habitat while others perform entertaining tricks. Monkey Jungle is “where humans get caged and monkeys run wild”, according to its slogan. The 30-acre reserve houses 400 monkeys, many of them in a specially created rainforest. Unlike a typical zoo, some of the species roam free while visitors, from the species Homo sapiens, observe from behind screened trails. You’ll wonder who’s watching who! Watch your head, because some Monkey Jungle residents will quickly lower down a bowl when you walk past. They want you to give them peanuts and fruit, which you can buy at the entrance. The other monkeys are free to forage for food, but there are also special feeding times, when park rangers give the monkeys fruit and educate visitors. Learn about endangered species such as the tiny golden lion tamarin, big hairy orangutans and king-sized gorillas. Watch the orangutans perform tricks during the Hangin’ with the Orangs show. A real crowd-pleaser is the Wild Monkey Swimming Pool where the intelligent macaques dive in to catch seafood. Monkey Jungle is located 27 miles south of downtown Miami, at Cutler Bay in South Dade.

Nature at its finest

It’s hard to imagine in the hustle and bustle of busy South Florida that you can find a quiet, restful piece of nature but there are several nature centers that offer quick getaways from the concrete jungle into the wilds of South Florida.

• Everglades National Park – a short drive from Miami, protects to one of Florida’s most unique natural features. These swamp lands, covering about 1.5 million acres, are home to alligators, crocodiles, snakes, and all kinds of birds. The whole area is essentially a shallow river flowing out to the ocean. Everglades National Park showcases a natural and wild side to Miami that is often left unseen. Within the park is an informative Visitors Center as well as walking trails and boardwalks for wildlife viewing. While some visitors feel that it can be quiet a drive from the more iconic areas of the city, it is worth the trek to take an airboat ride, see an alligator, hold a snake or perhaps rent a bicycle and take in the scenery through Shark Valley (Rest assured that despite the name, the Everglades are inland and there are no sharks). One of the most popular walking trails in the park is the Anhinga Trail, which leaves from Royal Palm Visitors Center. The trail is less than a mile long but leads through terrain where visitors are likely to see alligators and other animals. The trail is wheelchair accessible and non-strenuous. Even for those who are less outdoorsy, it can still prove an interesting destination, as this location has been featured on numerous films and television shows, from Dexter to CSI Miami.

• Biscayne National Park - Within sight of downtown Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne National Park protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Here too is evidence of 10,000 years of human history, from pirates and shipwrecks to pineapple farmers and presidents. Outdoors enthusiasts can boat, snorkel, camp, watch wildlife…or simply relax in a rocking chair gazing out over the bay. The park preserves Biscayne Bay and its offshore barrier reefs. Ninety-five percent of the park is water, and the shore of the bay is the location of an extensive mangrove forest. Protected within the park’s mostly submerged 173,000 acres are the longest stretch of mangrove forest on Florida's east coast, the northernmost Florida Keys, and part of the world's third longest coral reef tract. Many visitors never venture beyond the park’s northern waters, a popular playground for boaters, anglers, and windsurfers, as well as Miami-based charter boat trips and sunset cruises. Travel farther south (and below the surface) on a snorkeling or diving trip to discover Biscayne’s dizzying array of undersea treasures. Highlights include six shipwrecks on the Maritime Heritage Trail and spectacularly diverse and colorful aquatic life, including sharks, rays, sea turtles, sea cucumbers, jellyfish, and more than 500 species of fish. Above the surface, join a ranger-led canoe trip through the mangroves to see wading birds, crabs, and maybe even a manatee (November through April).

• Fruit and Spice Park – Established in 1944, this tropical paradise is nestled in the heart of the Redland District, just 35 miles south of Downtown Miami. More than 500 varieties of exotic fruits, herbs, spices and nuts from throughout the world are found in this lush 39-acre park. Guided tours conducted daily on a tour tram at 11, 1:30 and 3, and are included in the price of admission. Adults $8, children $2 (ages 6-11), under 6 free. Visitors are free to sample fruits lying on the ground, but are not allowed to pick anything from the trees. The park has completed many renovations and separates the plants into Caribbean, African and Asian sections. The entrance has a store open to the public where many fruits from the park can be sampled for free. The Mango Cafe, a favorite of locals and tourists alike, serves healthy selections. The entrance hall has a large library of gardening books, spices, honey, jams, jellies and souvenirs for sale.

Bayside Marketplace

Bayside Marketplace is consistently named the number 1 tourist attraction in Miami for good reason. Delectable dining, plethora of shopping and live Latin music all combined with a picture perfect view of Miami gorgeous waterfront setting where you can watch the cruise ships sail by.

Bayside Marketplace is a large outdoor style mall with more than 150 specialty and tourist shops, numerous cafes and restaurants, and daily live entertainment. Visitors will find some well-known chain stores as well as many unique, one of a kind places. The marketplace draws locals as well as tourists.

As may be evident in the name, the mall is located along Miami’s waterfront, looking out over docks and boats. Many people come here simply to soak up the atmosphere and people watch. Tour boats leave from here, visiting locations around Biscayne Bay. As well, there is a water taxi service to Miami Beach and downtown hotels located in the area

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a National Historic Landmark created by agricultural industrialist, James Deering, in 1910. The Miami estate is preserved but is open to the community and visitors in order to encourage learning. Vizcaya is identified for its cultural and historic significance, preservation and positive visitor experience. Don’t forget to check out the gardens and the stone barge or the “sunken ship”. The stone barge is a breakwater for the villas harbor. It was turned into an elaborate fake ship. It was built for luscious Great Gatsby-like parties and is filled with fountains, statues, and even a tea house. The structure is entirely made of stone with a traditional European design in the South Floridian environment that has decayed its perfect texture. The Venetian poles are part of the theme along with gondolas (no longer there) that were used to transport guests from the estate to the ship in the 1917’s. Unfortunately, it was not used much but is a great part of history and makes for a perfect photo. With a welcoming experience, beautiful landscape, and an estate that holds an immense amount of history, you do not want to miss Villa Vizcaya.

Vizcaya has a lot of stairs, and the floors and terrain throughout its Main House, gardens and grounds is often uneven, walk carefully.

Deering Estate

The 440 acre Deering Estate at Cutler property encompasses globally endangered pine rockland habitat, as well as coastal tropical hardwood rockland hammocks, mangrove forests, salt marshes, and a coastal dune island. The Deering Estate is home to the 1900 Richmond Cottage, which served as a hotel. Other historical buildings date from 1896 to 1922 and an American Indian burial ground dating from 1500.

The estate is named for Charles Deering, who owned the home. He, along with brother James, was an art collector and accumulated a great number of works by the Old Masters. Deering himself also painted. On site at the estate is the Artist Village which has become an important cultural center, featuring art and artist programs.

Visitors can stroll through the beautiful grounds, tour the houses, or simply enjoy the view. The Deering Estate offers a sunset ambiance you don’t want to miss.

Shopping

When all else fails, you can’t go wrong spending some time shopping, or window shopping.

• Aventura Mall - 19501 Biscayne Blvd. (near the Dade/Broward County line) Mon-Sat 10AM-9:30PM, Sun 12PM-8PM. This mall, spanning 2.3 million feet, not only has nation-wide chains such as Bloomingdales, JCPenney, Macy’s, and Nordstrom but also has chains such as Abercrombie & Fitch and Apple, as well as Rainbow Valley Playground, a play spot for children. The other notable landmark of this mall is its 24-screen AMC movie theater.

• Dolphin Mall, 11401 Northwest 12th St, Mon-Fri 10AM-9:30PM, Sat 10AM-9:30 PM, Sun 11AM-7PM. In addition to Off 5th (a Saks Fifth Avenue outlet store), Marshall’s HomeGoods and Burlington Coat Factory, this mall has a movie theater and many busy restaurants.

• Dadeland Mall, 7535 North Kendall Dr (in Kendall), Mon-Sat 10AM-9:30PM, Sun 12PM-7PM. Dadeland is one of the United States’ first malls. Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue are some of the stores now represented at Dadeland.

• The Falls, 8888 Howard Dr (in Kendall), Mon-Sat 10AM-9:30 PM, Sun 12PM-7PM. Shops including Brooks Brothers and Pottery Barn adorn this mall and its tropical waterfalls.

• Shops at Sunset Place, 5701 Sunset Dr, Open Mon-Thu 11AM-10PM, Fri-Sat 11AM-11PM, Sun 11AM-9PM – In addition to nationwide chains such as the Gap, Urban Outfitters and Victoria’s Secret, this mall has a Niketown store, as well as a large movie theater, bowling alley and restaurants.

• Bal Harbour Shops - 9700 Collins Ave (on 97th Street in Bal Harbour), Mon-Sat 10AM-9PM, Sun 12PM-6PM (Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue are open from 12PM-7PM). Several designer labels fill up the spaces of Bal Harbour Shops, including Chanel, Chloe, Cartier, Fendi and Gucci among others.

• Lincoln Road Mall, Lincoln Rd between Alton Rd and Washington Ave – This open-air pedestrian mall was designed in 1957 by legendary Miami architect Morris Lapidus. It includes restaurants and cafes that run the gamut from Starbucks to Miami originals like Pizza Rustica and David’s Café. There is outside seating. It includes nationally known shops such as French Connection, Ann Taylor and Anthropologie, as well as international shops such as Italy’s Miss Sixty. There’s also a multiplex theater located on the corner of Lincoln Road and Alton Drive. Lincoln Road Mall also hosts a farmers market on Sun from 9AM to 6PM.

Museums

• Frost Museum of Science - The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science is a planetarium, aquarium and science museum combined into one. There is something for everyone. Interactive exhibits throughout

• Miami Children’s Museum – Play, learn, imagine and create at this children’s museum. Packed with 14 interactive exhibits.

• Perez Art Museum Miami - The PAMM Museum is one of the newest museums added to the museum park. It is a modern and contemporary art museum dedicated to collecting and exhibiting international art of the 20^th and 21^st century. The museum is large and beautiful with a variety of breathtaking artwork. They offer food and a wonderful view you don’t want to miss out on. The museum is closed on Monday’s.

• The Gold Coast Railroad Museum – The Gold Coast Museum is a non-profit organization that is home to over 30 historic trains. It was developed on the former Naval Air Station Richmond in 1956. With over 3 miles of tracks, the old base was an ideal platform for the museum. It is one of three Official State Railroad Museums in Florida. It features the “Ferdinad Magellan”, the presidential railcar used by Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Truman and Reagan. Visitors can see the California Zephyr cars, “Silver Crescent” and “Silver Stag”. Its purpose is to preserve railroad history. It is open to the public and they offer train rides on vintage trains. Wooden train sets are on display for children to play with and enjoy. It’s a great place for kids and for families.

• Coral Castle Museum – Coral Castle originally called “Rock Gate Park” was built by a single man, working alone and by himself. It took him 20 years to build, from 1920-1940. His name is Edward Leedskalnin. When Ed was 26, he was engaged to marry Agnes Scuffs who was 10 years younger than he was. He always referred to her as his ‘Sweet Sixteen’. On the day before their wedding, she told Ed she did not want to marry him because he was too old and too poor. Edward Leedskalnin then embarked on a journey that would culminate in one of the world’s most remarkable accomplishments. It is incredible that one person did it all by himself. Tours run constantly are extremely informative. The tour guides know their stuff and make the history entertaining. The area to tour, although small, is jam packed with things to see. There are little things to explore on your own and there are a multitude of photo ops. The sight itself is awe inspiring. So many cool aspects to the structure. This place is an extraordinary story of love and craftsmanship. Pretty setting with lots of flowers and butterflies, as well as birds and the coral itself. The Castle is more than 60 years old and has been featured in Ripley’s Believe it or Not.

Sports

Miami has a team for all professional sports. Key Biscayne plays host to the Miami Open in February. Finally, David Beckham is in the process of bringing a major league soccer team to Miami.

• Sun Life Stadium - You know you’re in Dolphins country when you’re on Don Shula Drive — a street named after the legendary ’Phins head coach (the only coach in NFL history to lead a team to a perfect season) — and that’s exactly where the Miami Dolphins’ home turf of Sun Life Stadium is situated. Located in Miami Gardens, FL, Sun Life Stadium also acts as the home field of college football’s Miami Hurricanes and has hosted several other major sporting events. Sun Life annually holds one of the 5 major college bowl games, the Orange Bowl.

• Marlins Park opened in the spring of 2012 and has a maximum seating capacity of just over 37,000, making it the third-smallest stadium in the league. But what the park lacks in size, it more than makes up for it in design. From its contemporary architecture to the colorfully tiled art deco walkways, Marlins Park screams Miami! And what would Miami be without a touch of the nightlife? Inside the park, a South Beach-themed nightclub known as the Clevelander sits directly behind the left-field wall and features a variety of top-notch amenities, including a swimming pool, which is available on game days. However, there is 1 feature this park offers that is unlike any other stadium in all of sports. Behind home plate, 2 enormous saltwater aquariums full of live fish act as a backstop, preventing foul balls and wild pitches from going into the stands. But not to worry, the tanks are lined with a polycarbonate sheeting to prevent the glass from ever breaking.

• American Airlines Arena - “King James” (LeBron) may have left the building, but that doesn’t diminish the history that has taken place inside American Airlines Arena since its opening in 1999. Home of the NBA’s Miami Heat, the arena is located in the heart of downtown Miami, on the waterfront of Biscayne Bay, and has been privy to its fair share of championship glory, as the Heat have collected 3 rings since 2006. However, the most distinctive feature of the entire facility happens to be on the outside of the building.

• Homestead Miami Speedway – Homestead-Miami Speedway is a motor racing track located in Homestead, Florida. The track, which has several configurations, has promoted several series of racing, including NASCAR, the Verizon IndyCar Series, the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, and the Championship Cup Series. Since 2002, Homestead-Miami Speedway has hosted the final race of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and the Camping World Truck Series. Ford Motor Company sponsors all three of the season-ending races; the races have the names Ford EcoBoost 400, Ford EcoBoost 300, and Ford EcoBoost 200, respectively, and the weekend is marketed as Ford Championship Weekend. The speedway was constructed, with the efforts of promoter Ralph Sanchez, as part of a plan to help Homestead rebound after the devastation caused by Hurricane Andrew. The track reflects the art deco district of nearby Miami Beach with its liberal use of colors such as aqua, purple and silver.

Tours

When all else fails, take a tour. There are many options for all interests.

• Miami Celebrity Home Boat Tour - Boat Tour The Miami sightseeing boat tour is considered by far one of Miami's most popular tourist Attraction, it consists of a 90-minute narrated sightseeing boat cruise around world famous Biscayne Bay, Star Island, Fisher Island, The Miami Beach Marina and the Venetian Islands, all while you experiencing Miami's spectacular waterways and the million dollar mansions of the rich and famous. Some of the sights you will see during the tour since they have been feature on many of Hollywood's blockbuster movies like Scarface, Bad Boys I & II...

• Key West Day Tour - Traveling from Miami to Key West is now possible every day. Tours depart from Miami Beach every day at 6:30AM. Travel in comfort across the Overseas Highway and 7-Mile Bridge. On this tour, you'll get to do some sightseeing in Key West and spend approximately 6 hours in Key West. You will be able to explore the island on your own pace.

• Miami by Land and Sea - sightseeing tour This Miami tour is the number one most popular Miami tour for the first time visitor. Join us on a tour through the Miami's most interesting landmarks for 90 minutes by land. There are plenty of scheduled Miami tour stops along the way. One of these stops is in Little Havana where you will get to see first-hand how cigars are made in Little Havana. Learn about the city's history, rich culture; see the homes of the stars and the rich and famous. The Miami boat tour, consists of a 90-minute narrated sightseeing boat cruise around Biscayne Bay, Star Island, and the Venetian Islands, all while experiencing Miami's spectacular waterways, the Miami skyline, the Port of Miami, and much more. Along the way you will stop at the Biltmore hotel, see the Venetian Pool and Freedom Tower, make at stop in Little Havana where you will witness the art of cigar rolling.

• Everglades Airboat Tour & Wild life Show - Nicknamed Ten Thousand Islands for a reason, the tropical wetlands of the Everglades offers a glance into an unimaginable world. Home to a rich history, these grounds are a portal into an alternate world that are nothing short than mesmerizing. With an engaging presentation of the Spanish lore and knowledgeable accounts of the different animal and plant species around, our Everglades tour is crafted to keep you entertained and in awe. You will have the opportunity to witness species that National Geographic has only been able to show you before. With an introduction to the American alligator, turtles, snakes, American crocodiles, fish, and exotic birds such as the national Bald Eagle and the Red Shouldered Hawk, we are excited to get the opportunity to explore the park with you. A Glance into the Experience that Awaits You.