How to Make the Most of Miami for Families

When traveling as a family we understand that it is important to find something to do in Miami with your kids. In fact, it is imperative to find kid-friendly activities to help parents stay sane while traveling with small children. The best things to do in Miami with kids are activities that the whole family can enjoy, from visits to the best Miami attractions, spending the day spending time with wild animals, there is no shortage of things to do to keep children entertained.

Join Tripshepherd on our Best of Miami Tour

Fun for the whole family

Traveling with small children can be exhausting especially when trying to plan out your days and attractions to entertain the whole family or having to stand in line in the Miami heat for tickets to attractions - eliminate the stress and join us on our family friendly Best of Miami Tour. Our tours include complimentary downtown and South Beach hotel pick up in the comfort and style in one of our air-conditioned Mercedes Metris vans, skip the ticket line entry, all attraction fees (no hidden fees) all led by a fun, and friendly guide in a small group (maximum 7 guests) tour. Experience the Best of Miami on this 4-hour small group tour of the Magic City. Explore the city's vibrant Cuban heart - Little Havana, experience the beauty of Wynwood Walls, and relax on a cruise in the harbor among others. Enjoy your family vacation in the Magic city and reserve a spot with us today!
Kids Love It:* so much to see and do especially on a harbor cruise.
*Parents Love It: stress-free, no planning necessary and no hidden fees.

Visit Zoo Miami

Explore the largest and oldest zoological garden in Florida

Also known as the Miami-Dade Zoological Garden - Zoo Miami is the only sub-tropical zoo in the continental United States. The zoo provides lush, tropical, open-air exhibits to replicate the animals natural habitats, allowing guests to enjoy the beautiful and endangered wildlife from a safe distance yet remarkably close range. The grounds includes a variety of exhibits featuring their animals including feeding tours, jungle journey playground, rides such as Lostman’s River Ride, Safari Tram Tours, Pedal Boats, and Wildlife Carousel, watch wildlife presentations, or cool-off at their waterplay areas. Visitors can choose to explore the grounds at their own pace or join a small-group special tour (maximum 5 guests). You and your family can take in the VIP experience and enjoy a 2-hour golf cart tour amongst the lush landscape with your own personal tour guide among many other fun activities for the family. You can also enjoy a Behind-the-Scenes Tour where you get the opportunity to meet and interact with some of the animals while learning about them from their animal care team. Or join the Expedition: Wildlife and check out the elephants, meet gorilla’s; Barney and Shango, or some sloths on a five-hour tour.
Kids Love It:* viewing all the cool animals and enjoying splashing around at the water splash pad or playing at the playground.
*Parents Love It: watching as the children learn, explore, and interact with the animals.

Spend the day at Miami Beach

Soak in the rays and build sand castles

Miami Beach’s Southern end - South Beach, is known for being an international hotspot for models and celebrities. It is also a great place for kids, offering tons of attractions including the Miami boardwalk, an excellent place to stop and rest to take in the ocean, South Pointe Park with a park for the kids to play with including a splash park, and a spot for parents to enjoy the cool waters while kids can build a sandcastle. Families can also enjoy a beautiful bike ride along Key biscayne with many great spots for bike rentals offered along the area.
Kids Love It:* for the fun playground and great sand, perfect for building sand castles
*Parents Love It: for being a great place to sit and relax with a book, or soak up the sun and catch a tan!

Visit Miami Seaquarium

Discover South Florida’s best aquarium

The aquarium offers visitors with amazing mammal shows with dolphins and sea lions, world-class sea life exhibits including manatees, sea turtles, penguins, rays and more! Here, kids can learn about wildlife rescue and marine animal care at the Conservation Outpost Plus and get in the water with the intelligent, friendly and graceful dolphins at the Dolphin Harbor!
Kids Love It:* watching the dolphins do tricks!
*Parents Love It: shaded areas with a cool, beach breeze.

Make waves at Tidal Cove Waterpark

Cool off from the Miami heat

This thousands of square feet water park features a 60-foot tower with seven water slides, a lazy river, a 4,000 square-foot kids pool, a VIP adult pool area and a FlowRider Triple Surf simulation pool. The park also offers two restaurants: the casual coastal-inspired Surf House Bar & Grill and the fast-casual Freestyle offering some grab-and-go items.
Kids Love It:* for the thrilling Boomerango, a brief but terrifying and fast waterslide.
*Parents Love It: for the relaxing Lazy River and VIP adult lounge - an escape from the kids

Explore Jungle Island

Take a walk on the wild side!

Jungle Island is a zoological park on Watson Island, between Downtown Miami and Miami Beach, featuring colorful tropical birds, exotic animals, and jungle experiences. Operating since 1938, the park is home to over 600 animals that have been rescued and rehabilitated by the parks staff and offers interactive adventures for kids including Escape Rooms, Superflight skydiving simulator, a playground, and rock climbing wall! It is important to note that Jungle Island is currently closed and under construction as it is under re-modelling*
Kids Love It: **for its interactive elements and fun playground to play on
*Parents Love It: regularly scheduled shows for education and entertainment.

Enjoy Miami’s Children’s museum

Hands-on Discovery

Across from Jungle Island in Downtown Miami, the museum turns many heads with its stellar futuristic design and architecture. Inside the museum differentiates from the familiar older museum with its highly interactive kids playground including a colorful mosaic-tiled, two-story sandcastle, a sea room, a television studio and the world’s most cultural teddy-bear exhibit.
Kids Love It:* the little-people sized replicas of a grocery store and bank make kids feel like adults.
*Parents Love It: for the real educational programming that teaches kids about important subjects like health and wellness

Explore Coral Gables

The City Beautiful

A great family friendly activity on the grounds is the 820,000-gallon glorious Venetian Pool. The swimming hole was created in 1924 out of a coral rock quarry surrounded by a magical atmosphere with Italian-style loggias and porticos, caves, waterfalls, and a romantic bridge. On Biscayne Bay, the southern section of the estate you will discover the Matheson Hammock Park - tropical hardwood forests preserved within the boundaries of this special park. You can also see real, live entertainment at The Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theater, offering musicals and plays perfect for children. Coral Gables also offers some fabulous shopping opportunities at the upscale Shops at Merrick Park where, while the parents or older siblings shop til they drop, the younger ones can burn off some steam and play a game of tag around the central fountain before all grabbing a cool frozen yogurt. So whether you are looking to shop til you drop, explore a natural beach, experience live entertainment and art the area entices visitors and locals with its irresistible, historic style.
Kids Love It:* the shallow pool provides hours of entertainment and the area offers delicious frozen yogurt and treats.
*Parents Love It: opportunity to shop til you drop!

So whether you plan to stay in Miami for a few days, weeks, or even a few hours as you hop off your cruise ship, there is something for the whole family here!