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Miami is a popular spot for families to go on vacation. It’s surprisingly affordable, has fantastic weather, and offers plenty of things for you and your kids to do! Check out our suggestions of the top 16 family-friendly Miami attractions that are perfect for a vacation.
We’ve actually been to Miami several times and love it!
The Best Things To Do In Miami With Kids
The Best Time To Go To Miami
For lower prices but lovely temperatures, head to Miami between March and May.
The summer months are incredibly hot with temperatures reaching the high 80s and low 90s. Not only is it hot, but it’s also humid – really humid. If you go in summer, be prepared for tropical storms and even hurricanes. Because of this though, the prices drop substantially so if you don’t mind the heat and humidity, summer in Miami is more affordable.
Winter is when Miami really shows its best. With comfortable temperatures in the 70s and very little rainfall, December to February are fantastic months to visit. For that reason though you’ll find hotel rates go up for peak season.
Where to stay in Miami – Family Friendly Hotels & Resorts
If you choose your hotel or resort carefully, you’ll find lots of family fun literally on your hotel doorstep.
Best Hotels For Kids In Miami
Fontainebleau Miami Beach
If your budget stretches to it, this 5-star hotel is a paradise for the whole family. There are 11 swimming pools, including a family pool with water slides and family poolside cabanas.
For more water fun, head to the FB beach where you can try out various water sports such as wave runners, banana boats, paddle boards, and kayaks.
If you’re looking for a Miami hotel with kid’s clubs, the FB Kids Club won’t disappoint. It’s open to kids from 4-12 years old, though they also offer a babysitting service for younger kids.
This means you can have some ‘me’ time in the hotel Spa or shops while the little ones are looked after by certified Adventure Guides. Kids can play games, go on scavenger hunts, do sports, art, drama, and music. They also have Friday and Saturday night children’s movie nights.
The JW Marriot Miami Turnberry Resort and Spa
For the best family resorts in Miami, look no further than the Miami Turnberry. This luxury resort in the opulent Aventura area is so good you’ll be tempted not to explore the rest of Miami.
Kids will adore the Tidal Cove Waterpark, a world-class waterpark with incredible slides and chutes. At Kids Cove, there’s an enormous 4,000-square-foot kids’ swimming pool with an emoji-inspired aquatic playground.
The hotel offers supervised activities for kids from 4-12 years old, including arts and crafts, and sports.
While they’re having fun, you can head to the resort’s two 18-hole golf courses for a few rounds, or to the spa for some well-earned pampering sessions.
The Ritz-Carlton
If you’re looking for a quiet island escape, you’ll love the Ritz-Carlton. It’s in Key Biscayne, not far from Miami Beach.
While you enjoy the spa, golf, tennis or sailing, the Ritz Kids club in the hotel will entertain and educate your little ones. The agenda changes daily but there’s a strong focus on sea life, environmental responsibility, and culture. Kids can play and learn in multi-sensory activities.
The restaurant offers incredible, ocean-front dining. Kids will fall in love with the poolside ice cream parlor and the Pantry, a coffee shop cafe with delicious cakes and pastries.
Best Things To Do In Miami With Kids
1. Tidal Cove – Aventura
If you’re a guest at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort, you’ll have free access to this impressive waterpark. Don’t worry if not though, you can buy day tickets to enjoy all that this family-friendly park has to offer.
Splash in the 7 waterslides, float along in the lazy river or try your surfing skills on the FlowRider surf simulator. The little ones will have great fun splashing around in Kids Cove, a water playscape just for toddlers and young kids.
You can kick back in one of the family cabanas while the dutiful lifeguards keep an eye out on the little ones.
2. Everglades Alligator Farm
Everglades Alligator Farm is a perfect way to spend time with your family. At Everglades, Florida’s original alligator farm, kids from 6 years and older can interact with live baby alligators by feeding them or touching their noses!
The whole family can take a ride through the Everglades on an airboat ride – expect to see alligators, birds, fish and sea turtles.
The farm also offers educational experiences like seeing how gators are raised from eggs, learning about the conservation of the area, and going on an exciting boat tour through the Everglades!
3. Miccosukee Indian Village
Miami is home to the Native American tribe ‘Miccosukee’. Learn about their traditions and history in Florida by visiting the Miccosukee Indian Village in the Everglades.
They have alligator demonstrations, showing their centuries-old traditions and rituals related to these animals. Check out the cafe and pick up some souvenirs from the shop.
4. Wynwood Walls
The whole family will absolutely love a visit to the Wynwwod Art district. It was created in 2009 when artists were invited to turn several buildings into giant ‘canvasses’. It has been added to since then and now covers over 80,000 square feet of walls.
There are a variety of tour options, but you’re welcome to go at your own pace, which might suit you with kids in tow. Download the Wynwood Walls app from the Google or Apple Stores before going, so you can learn more about each artist.
It’s a good idea to go early in the day, before the crowds arrive, if you want to take selfies and great photos. You can tour the area in an hour but expect to stay longer than planned because it is an awe-inspiring experience.
Stop by the shop when you leave to pick up some fantastic products as gifts or to remind you of your favorite artworks.
5. FunDimension
Also in Wynwood, this is a great spot to go if it happens to rain. FunDimension has an enormous indoor playground that will delight your kids.
There’s a dedicated area for toddlers, as well as more thrilling activities for older kids. Note that kids will need to wear socks for the indoor playground.
This is a large entertainment complex with various attractions, including an XD capsule movie theatre, bumper cars, and a Laser Tag Arena.
Although most activities are inside, there are outdoor activities too, such as the climbing wall where kids will be safely strapped up in a harness before exploring walls and trees.
No prior booking is necessary.
6. Venetian Pool
For a truly unique swimming pool experience, Venetian Pool in Coral Gables has a fantastic unique selling point.
Its water comes from spring water from an underground aquifer. The pool was made in 1923 using the same materials that were dug out to create a coral rock quarry. It features lookout towers, waterfalls and lush tropical foliage.
It’s open to kids 3 years and over. Get entry tickets online in advance.
7. Matheson Hammock Park
This man-made atoll pool, with its curvy, gentle beach, was designed with families and kids in mind.
The water is flushed daily with the tide, but there are no waves in the water so it’s safe for kids who are still gaining their confidence with their sealegs!
This is a fairly quiet beach, perfect for chilling out. Watch the kite boarders and enjoy the views.
Take a picnic and set up in one of the small pavilions, complete with charcoal grills, picnic tables and benches. There are also snack bars and restaurants if you prefer less work!
If you want to be more active, head to the Matheson Marina’s sailing and power boat school for some water sports.
8. Pinecrest Gardens
There’s a lot to explore at South Florida’s Cultural Arts Park.
The lush tropical gardens are beautiful – wander around and enjoy the water features, the animals and the different planting areas.
For kids aged 2-12, the Splash ‘N Play area is fun but much calmer than a full-on waterpark. Young children will also love the petting zoo.
In terms of entertainment, you’re spoiled for choice – check their program to see what’s on. Events include children’s theatre, dance, music, magic shows in the gardens, science labs for kids… the list goes on!
9. Miami Seaquarium
With a focus on wildlife conservation, the Seaquarium in Virginia Key is a great destination for kids to learn more about sea creatures. Their interactive, educational experiences include swimming with dolphins and seals, and meeting penguins.
Get your kids to take part in the Reef Rangers program and look after the reef and its sea creatures while learning more about animal rehabilitation.
10. Santa’s Enchanted Forest
Santa’s Enchanted Forest claims to be the world’s largest holiday theme park with over 100 rides and attractions. It’s only open from the beginning of November through to the beginning of January, so if you’re a Christmas fan, plan your Miami family trip to coincide with the holidays!
From 2021 onwards, it’s in a new location at Hialeah Park, smack in the centre of Miami. It’s open daily (or nightly, in fact!) from 5pm to Midnight, so it makes for a great evening plan for your trip.
With rides for the littlest ones, the most daring ones, and the oldest ones in your family, you’ll find there’s something for everyone.
11. Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
Another excellent option for days when it’s raining – or too hot – this museum is one of the best indoor activities in Miami for families.
The museum is located in the heart of downtown Miami and extends across 250,000 square foot of exhibition space, with each main area dedicated to a different type of habitat.
Of its 4 main buildings, 2 were designed with kids in mind. They’ll love the interactive exhibitions, labs, the dinosaurs, and the lifesize Da Vinci machines, not to mention the incredible aquarium.
Frost manages to make science fun for the whole family – definitely not an attraction to miss.
12. Key Biscayne
If you’d like to dial down the excitement a little and go for a quieter day at the beach, the Key Biscayne area could be just what you’re looking for. It’s less packed than some other Miami beaches like South Beach, but you can still enjoy all the same activities.
There’s a toddlers playground for the little ones. Older kids can try snorkeling to look for colorful fish and coral, and perhaps a turtle or two.
Enjoy the local wildlife – don’t be surprised to see large birds like cranes or peacocks strolling along the beach too.
13. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
A little further along from Key Biscayne, this State Park is well worth a visit just for its two main features – the 1825 lighthouse which visitors can climb to enjoy fantastic views of Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, and the beautiful beach – one of the highest-ranked in the country.
That’s not all though. You can enjoy walking or bike riding the local trails, or exploring on horseback. For water sports enthusiasts, there’s lots on offer – boat rides, kayaks, scuba diving, surfing and fishing.
There’s a cafe too so you don’t even need to pack a picnic if you prefer to eat out.
14. Children’s Museum of Miami
If you’re sweltering in the heat or sheltering from the rain, visiting the Children’s Museum is one of the best inside things to do in Miami.
The museum is in fact a non-profit, educational institution with a pre-school located in the museum itself.
It has some fantastic, interactive exhibits for kids of all ages. Since it’s educational too, children learn while they play. As well as their permanent exhibitions, check out the changing program of special events.
15. Thriller Miami Speedboat Adventures
If you like a little excitement with your sightseeing, take to the water on one of Thriller Miami’s 4 speedboats. In the 45-60 minute tour you’ll see the Downtown Miami Skyline, Biscayne Bay, the City of Miami Beach, Fisher Island, as well as some of the mansions on Star Island.
The tour is open to kids 3 years and older.
16. Zoo Miami
This is one of the best zoo’s we’ve been to. You can feed giraffes, see alligators and even play on the playground which is really big and has lot to do for kids.
They also have a splash pad which is perfect, especially because it can get very hot. So make sure to pack water shoes and clothes so your kids can have fun!
Overall Thoughts On Miami With Kids
Miami is understandably a popular family destination with its warm temperatures and beautiful beaches. It has so much more to offer than that though, with fascinating opportunities to explore and learn about the local wildlife and marine life.
For thrill-seekers there are plenty of rides, attractions and theme parks to keep the adrenaline pumping too. There are so many things to do with kids in Miami on a family vacation!
