When you think of Miami, most people think about pristine beaches, adult entertainment and nightlife with a Latin flair. The last thing on your mind is Miami with kids and certainly not a baby. However, we have lived in Miami for almost two years now and there has been no shortage of us enjoying our duty station while here. We have done everything from spending days at the beach to touring museums to taking full advantage of living in the cruise capitol of the world. Miami has no shortage of kid and family friendly activities to put on an itinerary for your future South Florida Trip. Here is a short list of our favorite Miami with Kids activities. Miami should certainly be on your Florida bucket list of Kid friendly vacation destinations.
Miami with Kids: South Pointe Park and South Pointe Beach
South Point Park and Beach is just about our favorite place to go in Miami with kids. It is actually the same beach as the notorious South Beach just on the furthest end. Many tourists jump right to South Beach for the name but South Pointe Beach is even more beautiful and a hundred times less crowded. On this end of the beach you’ll find it to be an environment more suitable for families of any age, especially kids. In fact, the park area of the beach has a full playground and concession stand perfect for even the smallest members of your family. Some days we want to get our feet wet and soak up the sun and other days we’d rather run around with our little guy in the park in the shade. The options are plentiful and the views are fantastic here. Oh, and Don’t forget to get a great sunset picture or have lunch on the South Pointe Pier!
Miami with Kids: Miami Children’s Museum
Miami Children’s Museum is just about the cutest thing in Miami for Kids. Just imagine a city shrunken down for pint size people. The museum’s focus is to spark creativity in little ones and encourage little minds to think big about future professional fields. Inside, they make an effort to teach children about everything from money to grocery shopping to science and sustainability. Your kids will love playing grocery shopping and cashier at the Publix or playing Dentist and Patient at the local Dentist office. There are also green sustainable houses to teach children about the importance of conserving the environment. My son was much too small to enjoy most of these exhibits on our last visit but he absolutely loved the music and exercise room. Actually, I think my husband had a bit more fun that he did. Carnival Cruise Lines has a cool area donated to the Museum that talks about what ship life is like and even the process of building one. If you’re thinking about traveling to Miami with your kids, then you wouldn’t want to miss this stop!
Miami with Kids: History Miami
If you’re a family of history buffs then you’ll truly enjoy the History Miami museum. Although you can learn about Miami as far back as its beginnings, you also learn about other important southern events that brought about what Miami is today. There is everything from Native American exhibits to Black History and Art. You can even find old cars and boats on display. It’s the perfect educational activity to add to your kid-friendly Miami itinerary. It is also the perfect place to add a little educational value to your kid’s travels. Don’t forget to leave your family name on the wall to say you were there!
Miami with Kids:Zoo Miami
If you’re traveling to Miami with little kids then you’re in for a treat! Zoo Miami is the oldest and largest zoo garden in Florida and the only sub-tropical zoo in the US. Because of the amazing Miami climate, there are a wide variety of animal species to be seen year- round! Kids will enjoy seeing the animals in their natural habitats and they even have a splash pad for cooling off. There’s plenty to see, do and eat so be prepared to come and make a day of it!
Miami with Kids: Miami Seaquarium
You’ll be quite shocked to find out that almost the entire Miami Seaquarium is OUTDOORS. If you’re planning to travel to Miami with kids during the summer, bring plenty of water to hydrate and make sure that they eat a hearty breakfast before visiting this Aquarium because there is no escaping the Florida sun. The Seaquarium is made up on multiple exhibits and complexes that house some of the world’s most exotic fish, marine life and even birds…YES birds! Parrots to be exact and they are gorgeous. Your kids will enjoy seeing the marine life and the shows offered during select hours throughout the day! For an additional cost and a bit of preparation, you can please your family risk taker by purchasing experiences like Trainer for A day and Animal encounters.
Miami with Kids: Matheson Hammock Park
If you want to completely skip the South Beach and Ocean Drive scene, I don’t blame you! The tourist crowds and traffic can have its handle on your vacation especially if you’re in Miami with kids. Lucky for you, I am letting you in on a local secret. Matheson Hammock Park is a beautiful little jewel in the Coral Gables neighborhood that almost makes you forget that you’re in Miami. This never crowded beach has a scenery to die for making it the perfect place for a day of relaxation and picnicking with your kids. If chilling is not your speed, this beach also offers activities like Kite Boarding, Fishing, and a boating school.
Miami with Kids:Phillip and Patricia Frost Science Museum
If you’re considering a Miami Vacation with older kids then they will enjoy the scientific learning experience of Phillip and Patricia Frost Science Museum. There are multiple themed rooms from Aeronautics to an Aquarium. You can also find the MeLAB which is an exhibit that teaches children all about how the mind and body work together. For an additional cost, you can sit in on the Planetarium experience which teaches you about space. There is so much to offer for your STEM kid enthusiast. Please note, if you are traveling to Miami with small kids, I would suggest skipping this destination!
If traveling to Miami with Kids wasn’t on your Bucket List before, it certainly should be at least once in your life. There are more than enough Kid and family-friendly activities in Miami to make the oldest to the youngest member of your family happy. Whether it’s a road trip or quick flight get away, come on down, bring your whole family, enjoy the weather and all that Miami has to offer!
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