Fun Family Attractions and Things to Do in Miami with Kids

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Its location makes it an ideal place for a family visit in its own right, or as a wider part of exploring Florida. Flights to Miami are often cheaper than to Orlando MCO – making it appealing for visitors from the UK. A drive to Orlando is only about 3 hours with the new Brightline train an alternative option.

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From Miami’s beautiful beaches and informative museums to its diverse zoos and interesting tours, the city really does have so much for families to enjoy.  

In this article, I’ve put together some of our favourite things to do when visiting Miami so you can get an idea of all the family fun that could potentially be coming your way. 

Best Beaches in Miami for Kids

Whenever we venture off on holiday, we always like to hit the beach. And in Miami, there are a few great beaches for families to choose from including South Beach.

South Pointe Park Beach

The first must-visit family-friendly beach in Miami is South Pointe Park Beach. South Pointe Park Beach sits at the southernmost tip of Miami Beach. But don’t worry, there’s a vast difference between it and its party-attracting neighbour. 

South Pointe Park is up there as one of the best beaches in Miami for children, as it boasts restrooms, a picnic area, a splash pad, a kid’s play area, and green spaces where kids can run around until their heart’s content. 

You can also take part in crabbing, as South Pointe Park’s 450-foot-long pier provides ample amounts of space to cast a crab line and wait for a bite. 

Crandon Park Beach

Crandon Park Beach in Key Biscayne is a two-mile stretch of sand that has calm shallow waters, natural shade, and a beautiful promenade with lifeguards on duty. While visiting the beach, you can also make use of the restrooms, concession stands, and picnic areas, all while your kids burn off their built-up energy at the playground and skate park. 

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

At the southernmost tip of Key Biscayne is the Bill Baggs State Park, which is home to its very own beach. You do need to pay an entrance fee to get into the park. But it is one of the more tranquil beaches in Miami—ideal for families with little ones in tow. 

Fringing the beach are sand dunes, which, if you didn’t already know, are the most perfect energy-burning apparatus. Families with slightly older children can even take to the waters at Bill Baggs Cape to kayak, canoe, or paddle board. 

If you do plan on visiting Bill Baggs Cape State Park, then be sure to check out the Cape Florida Lighthouse, which gives you panoramic views of Biscayne Bay. You will need to climb the lighthouse’s 109 steps, but the view from the top is well worth it! 

Matheson Hammock Park

The Matheson Hammock Park is a relatively small beach. But its small size and its man-made atoll pool create warm, safe waters for little ones to splash around in.

While visiting the park, you’ll find a full-service marina, bathrooms, lifeguards, restaurants, picnic pavilions, and nature trails, so you really can spend the entire day relaxing out on the sand. 

Best Animal Attractions Miami

One of the things we love most about Miami is the fact that it is home to so many animal attractions. As I’ve never met a baby, a child, or even a teen who doesn’t love animals, spending the day at the zoo or aquarium is always a safe bet—especially if you have kids of varying ages. 

Zoological Wildlife Foundation

The Zoological Wildlife Foundation is on the higher end when it comes to ticket prices. But for good reason, as it’s the only zoo in America that allows children to hold primates.

All the animals in the Zoological Wildlife Foundation have been rescued or donated from other zoos, including camels and capuchins who love posing for photos. Plus, if all that wasn’t enough, when you visit the zoo, you get taken around by a guide, so your kids can learn all about the animals, their habitats, and various conservation efforts. 

Zoo Miami

Another great zoo in Miami is the 750-acre Zoo Miami, which houses all types of animals, including lions, zebras, elephants, and giraffes. Zoo Miami, for the most part, is a typical zoo.

However, it also offers splash zones for kids to cool down in and Safari Cycles that families of four can drive around the park in.

Everglades Alligator Farm

Florida is known for its gators, and the Everglades Alligator Farm is home to more than 2,000 of them. At the farm, you can gaze upon the alligator’s enclosures, watch shows where employees wrestle and feed the ferocious creatures, and even have your photo taken with reptiles—if your kids are brave enough, that is.

Seaquarium

The Seaquarium in Miami is the perfect stop for aquatic animal lovers of all ages as you can walk amongst the aquariums, watching fish and underwater animals go about their daily business. Or, you can take part in one of the aquarium’s animal encounters where you can get up close to dolphins, seals, and penguin—an experience your kids won’t ever stop talking about, that’s for sure. 

Butterfly World

Butterfly World in Coconut Creek is the world’s largest butterfly park, housing over 20,000 butterflies in its screened pavilions. Walking around the pavilions searching for butterflies from all around the world is spectacular enough.

The park is also home to exotic bird species, chances to hand feed lorikeets, and a butterfly museum and bug zoo. 

Museum Attractions For Kids In Miami

Museums in America are elite. And for those days when rain or high temperatures are forecast, they’re the perfect indoor attraction that will keep your kids entertained for hours on end. Here are three of the best museums in Miami that are definitely worth checking out. 

Miami Children’s Museum

The Miami Children’s Museum was designed to foster creativity, and through educational activities, your kids can play, learn, and imagine. Better suited to younger children, the Miami Children’s Museum has toddler-sized replicas of places like the grocery store and bank.

Your kids can even learn about money and get involved with virtual sports. 

Frost Museum of Science 

The Frost Museum of Science is made up of a museum, an aquarium, and a planetarium, meaning there are plenty of different exhibits for kids to enjoy. In the museum, your little ones can learn all about the dinosaurs and evolution, as well as the environment we live in, the human body, and various scientific experiments.

In the aquarium, your kids can make their way through three different levels, discovering different animal species at varying sea depths. And in the planetarium, they can learn all about outer space thanks to a 25-minute show in the 250-seat, 16-million-colour 8k projection theatre. 

Check out my article Visiting the Frost Science Museum with Kids for more information.

Paradox Museum

And the third museum I wanted to mention is a unique one, to say the least. The Paradox Museum has 70 different optical illusions that will really make your kids wonder how they’re even real.

My girls, in particular, absolutely loved taking photos in the upside-down rooms where it looks like you’re hanging from the ceiling. 

You can find out more information on the Paradox Museum over at The Paradox Museum Miami.

The Best Things to Do in Miami for Kids of All Ages

Aside from museums, beaches, and zoos, here are some other fun things for families to do in Miami. 

Puttshack

Puttshack is a tech-infused mini-golf course that has three nine-hole courses for visitors to complete. The mini golf covers 27,000 square feet and offers a lively atmosphere as well as food and beverage options.

But the best part, in my opinion, is the fact that the balls are electronic, so you don’t even need to keep score!

FunDimension

Slightly older kids will absolutely love FunDimension as the massive warehouse features a three-story playground, bungee jumping, arcade games, laser tag, a 7-D cinema, and illuminated spinning bumper cars. And don’t worry, Mum and Dad, the centre serves alcoholic beverages for your enjoyment, too. 

Everglades Alligator Airboat Ride

One of the coolest ways to see the Everglades—and its resident alligators—is by airboat. And trust me, your kids will absolutely love it.

The airboat skims the water at fairly high speeds thanks to a huge aeroplane engine, taking you through the wetlands in search of gators, birds, and turtles. 

Jungle Island 

Jungle Island combines animal exhibits with kid-friendly attractions to make a park that is jam-packed with excitement. Kids can get up close to sloths, lemurs, kangaroos and orangutans.

They can watch live shows that feature some of the park’s most interesting animals. And they can run about in the playground and treewalk village. 

Jungle Island also has a 600-foot zip line, a tree-top trekking course, a jungle-cabin escape room, and a wind tunnel that lets you hover midair. 

Flying Squirrel

Another fantastic rainy day activity is Flying Squirrel—an indoor trampoline park that spans 40,000 square feet. Although people come to Flying Squirrel to bounce, the park also has a big arcade, toddler-friendly playgrounds, two basketball slam dunk courts, and even trampoline dodgeball courts.

Miami Pirate Boat Adventure Tour

If you have any pirate lovers in the family, then the Miami Pirate Boat Tour is the perfect attraction for you. As you set sail on a pirate ship, you’ll cruise the Venetian Islands, Star Island, Port of Miami, and South Beach, looking out for sea creatures like dolphins, manta rays, and manatees. 

Miami Duck Tour

And the final tour worth mentioning is the Miami Duck Tour, which takes you on a journey down Miami Beach on an amphibious vehicle. On the tour, you’ll discover South Beach and see the Art Deco district and Millionaires Row, all before splashing into Biscayne Bay to get one of the best views of Miami’s shoreline.

It’s not every day you get to ride in a vehicle that can travel on both land and water, is it? 

For even more family-friendly tours in Miami, head over to Best Family Tours in Miami.

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