While Miami is world-renown for its glamor and late-night party scene, the city is so diverse and filled with family-friendly attractions on both land and water, that even the littlest member of the family will be entertained. Whether you’re looking for a day of fun in the sun or prefer to explore the city in the cool air-conditioning, Miami boasts an array of family-friendly things to do to create those perfect travel memories. From outdoor adventures to educational experiences, here are the best things to do with the kids in Miami, Florida.
Get Hands-On at Miami Children's Museum
What Is It? A perfect activity for when you need a break from Florida’s heat, Miami Children’s Museum offers a range of innovative hands-on exhibits.
Why Do It? It’s one of the top children’s museums in Florida. Centered on a miniature world, here you’ll find replicas of places such as the grocery store and the bank for children to visit, while kids can learn a new skill set such as recording music or making newscasts.
Good to Know: A fitness exhibit teaches kids about health and wellness where you’ll find plenty of places to keep the kids entertained, from a rock-climbing wall to a sandcastle with a slide and a neat replica of a cruise ship.
Visit the Miami Seaquarium
What Is It? The Miami Seaquarium is the city’s premier facility for marine life.
Why Do It? From marine shows to designated splash zones, kids will delight in the abundance of animal interactions to be had here. A memorable experience, to say the least, kids can walk on the bottom of the tropical reef in a diving helmet, touch stingrays and meet manatees.
Good to Know: Put on a wetsuit and swim with a dolphin, where you’ll learn how to trade kisses, hugs, and rubs before being whisked across the pool on a ride with your new friend.
Swim in the Spring-Fed Waters of the Venetian Pool
What Is It? Head towards Coral Gables to find one of Florida’s most unique swimming holes, the Venetian Pool.
Why Do It? Dating back to 1923, this historic haven is the largest freshwater swimming pool in the United States. Spring-fed waters featuring waterfalls and cave-like grottos, both kids and kids at heart will delight in a day cooling off at this tropical oasis.
Good to Know: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is a great off-the-beach family attraction with plenty of picnic tables to make a day out of it.
Visit the Butterfly Exhibit at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
What Is It? A wonderful exploration of the senses, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden offers a picture-perfect keepsake for families.
Why Do It? Considered a treasured garden sanctuary, this 83-acre attraction dates back to 1938 and is home to an educational program designed for children.
Good to Know: Here you’ll be surrounded by tropical plants and flowering trees, walk along the garden paths and see butterflies floating above at the butterfly and hummingbird exhibit, and witness one of the greatest cycad collections in the world.
Bask in the Sunshine at Crandon Park
What Is It? Boasting a gorgeous 2-mile beach, Crandon Park Beach is located on the barrier island Key Biscayne.
Why Do It? One of the most family-friendly parks in the area, the white-sand beach sits in a lagoon-style setting surrounded by pristine ocean blue vistas.
Good to Know: Tucked away from the buzzing city center, the park is filled with kid-friendly attractions with a nearby amusement center featuring a carousel and roller rink, and you’ll even find splash pads and snack stands in addition to a nature center and garden.
Climb the Lighthouse at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
What Is It? Home to Florida’s historic 109-step lighthouse and the oldest standing structure in Miami, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is also a relaxing beach area with classic Florida vistas.
Why Do It? Located in the far east area of Key Biscayne, it’s a beautiful park that is ideal for setting up a picnic, biking by the shoreline, and enjoying a tranquil afternoon by the sea.
Good to Know: Both older and younger kids alike can have a fun-filled day of outdoor adventure, with its abundance of canoeing, kayaking and snorkeling opportunities.
Go Snorkeling in Biscayne National Park
What Is It? Go on an underwater adventure with the entire family to Biscayne National Park, where the kids can explore the third largest coral reef in the world.
Why Do It? Teeming with colorful underwater marine life, this underwater oasis is just an hour’s drive from the buzzing city life in Miami. You’ll feel like you’ve entered a whole new world in this park, where the tropical landscape and beautiful shoreline only serve to highlight the mesmerizing displays of fish on a memorable snorkeling excursion.
Good to Know: At this popular national park in Florida, kids can come face to face with parrotfish, striped sergeant majors, and schools of shimmery grunts.
Stroll the Gardens of Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
What Is It? A beautiful waterfront Italian Renaissance-style villa, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens might not be your first thought for a kid-friendly activity, but you’d be remiss to skip this popular garden attraction.
Why Do It? Set on a lush 35-acre property, it’s here that you can find chances to appreciate natural landscapes and burn off energy. Featuring manicured gardens and over-the-top European architecture, both you and the kids can enjoy a quiet break from the hustle and the bustle of the city.
Good to Know: Take a tour of the interior of the house, stroll through the maze of gardens and soak in colorful views of flower displays.
Observe Florida's Wildlife at Everglades National Park
What Is It? One of Florida’s biggest natural treasures, take a day trip to the nearby Everglades National Park for a quintessential Sunshine State experience.
Why Do It? Take an airboat ride along the swampy landscapes to see Florida’s fierce alligators in their natural habitat. Climb the 65-foot observation tower in Shark Valley or take a tour of the area to get up close and personal with abundant wildlife.
Good to Know: In Miami, visitors can also watch alligator feeding shows at the Everglades Alligator Farm or pet baby alligators at the Everglades Safari Park.
Spot Exotic Animals at Zoo Miami
What Is It? The largest tropical zoo in the continental United States, Zoo Miami is home to 2,000 animals, from lions to zebras, giraffes, and elephants.
Why Do It? The cage-free zoo uses moats to separate animals from visitors, creating a natural environment. Meander through the park and you might just capture a glimpse of an exotic animal, such as a komodo dragon, ring-tailed lemur or tree kangaroo.
Good to Know: Hop on the monorail to get a birds-eye view of the park, cool off in the splash zone, or head to the petting zoo and wildlife show to keep the kids engaged.
Explore Artwork at Perez Art Museum Miami
What Is It? An ideal attraction for when you want a dose of culture, Perez Art Museum Miami is located in Downtown Miami’s Museum Park alongside Biscayne Bay.
Why Do It? A modern and contemporary museum, this attraction is dedicated to collecting and exhibiting international art from the 20th and 21st centuries. The museum has a range of family programs, from story reading to designated days for kids to make their own art.
Good to Know: Spend an afternoon walking through the fascinating exhibits and enjoy the waterfront views here that are paired with a variety of elaborate hanging gardens.
Go Into Outer Space at Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
What Is It? Newly renovated, the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science boasts a large array of hands-on exhibits that older kids will be captivated by.
Why Do It? From fascinating exhibits on different ecosystems, the human body and the adventure of flight, to the 250-seat planetarium that will take you to outer space, you are sure to be spoiled for choice at this attraction. Highlighting South Florida’s aquatic ecosystems, the on-site aquarium gives visitors an insight into the depths of the underwater world.
Good to Know: The museum gives plenty of opportunities to explore and discover, while the outdoor Wildlife Center houses over 170 reptiles and birds of prey.
Interact with Giant Reptiles at Jungle Island
What Is It? Perfect for animal-loving kids who want to see a thrilling show, Jungle Island is home to over 1,100 macaws, parrots, and other winged creatures.
Why Do It? Kids can also interact with giant reptiles and exotic primates at this 18-acre lush expanse, where over 500 species of plants and flowers highlight the park’s displays. While parrots hang out around the park, visitors can purchase handfuls of feed and let the birds eat right from the palm of their hand.
Good to Know: The kids will also love the chance to cool off and traverse the inflatable slides at the miniature on-site water park.
