Beaches
Give a kid a sandy beach, a plastic shovel and a few waves, and you’re guaranteed a hit. Miami offers miles of glorious beaches that stretch from Sunny Isles Beach to Key Biscayne, so you have plenty of options for a day in the sun.
You can avoid crowds in quaint Surfside, a laidback, family-friendly beach town with a retro feel. Surfside offers free community activities that include beach picnics, wellness activities and standup paddleboard festivals.
Another family favorite is Crandon Park in Key Biscayne, which encompasses a stunning two-mile beach famed for its pristine sand and calm water, making it a perfect choice for little ones who are worried about crashing waves. It features a beach playground, snorkeling, hiking, cabana rentals, concession stands, picnic areas with tables and grills, and convenient parking. Make sure to take a seaside ride on the carousal at Crandon's Family Amusement Center.
You can’t go wrong at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, also located in Key Biscayne. It promises one of the top-ranked beaches in the United States as well as activities that include swimming, hiking, kayaking and biking. Don’t miss exploring the historic Cape Florida Lighthouse on a tour; kids 42 inches and taller can climb the 112 steps to its top for mind-boggling views.
There’s no better place for little kids or toddlers to get in the water than Matheson Hammock Park in Coral Gables, an outdoor paradise festooned with coral rock pavilions, swaying palms and picnic areas. The park boasts a manmade “atoll pool,” a bayfront pool naturally filled by the tides of Biscayne Bay, which is utterly calm and inviting.
Check out more information about Miami’s beaches from the area’s visitors services.
Meet Animals
Check out these one-of-a-kind adventures for animal lovers and their kids.
Elephants, rhinos and crocs, oh my! With bragging rights as the only subtropical zoo in the United States, Zoo Miami is home to exotic species you won’t see at your local zoo. Its lush, open-air exhibits showcase more than 3,000 animals, spread across 750 acres. Climb aboard the air-conditioned monorail to discover experiences that include hand-feeding a giraffe, parrot, or even a rhino, cooling off on the Lostman’s River Ride, and learning about animals and the environment through hands-on creative play at the Animal Fun Factory.
Could anything be more magical than splashing in the water with an intelligent, friendly dolphin? That’s just one of many unique adventures you and the kids can enjoy at Miami Seaquarium. Interact with penguins, come face-to-fin with a stingray, or dip your fingers into a touch pool. The Sea TREK® Reef Encounter is a must-do; thanks to special helmets that let you breathe freely underwater, your posse can take a stroll through a 300,00-gallon tropical reef.
To see manatees in the wild, make an expedition to Black Point Marina, close to Biscayne National Park to Biscayne Bay. Manatees frequent Miami’s extensive canal system, especially during the winter month, and Black Point is a favorite with the giant, gentle sea cows. Look for their whiskery snouts poking out of the water as they come to the surface to draw a breath.
In and on the Water
Beat the heat in Miami with these kid-friendly aquatic adventures.
Take the plunge in the 820,000-gallon Venetian Pool in Coral Gables, the most unusual pool in the country. Created in 1923 from a coral rock quarry, the pool is filled with fresh spring water from an underground aquifer. It’s a treat for the eyes, bordered by coral rock and graceful palms, two historic lookout towers, a signature bridge and two waterfalls. The kids will love exploring the pool’s cave-like grottos. Children must be a minimum of three years old and 38 inches tall.
Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, a staggering 1.5 million acres of coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes and pinewoods that are home to manatees, crocodiles, Florida panthers, and countless alligators. Miami’s just next door to this ‘River of Grass,’ and you and the kids can experience it on an airboat tour, flying over the glassy, shallow waters. You have an abundance of options for an airboat ride; the Miccosukee Indian Village is one that’s sure to please. This hammock-style camp comes complete with a museum promising visitors a glimpse into the Tribe’s way of life and daily alligator wrestling shows. Afterwards, refuel at its casual eatery, dubbed "Our Little Shack." Offering treats like Spam and eggs and ‘gator bites, it’s hardly fine dining, but it’s all part of the unique Everglades experience. Here are more places to take an airboat ride from the Greater MIami Convention & Visitors Bureway.
Both a sightseeing experience and an exciting adventure, Thriller Miami Speedboat Adventures invites you to explore the waterways of Miami aboard a 55-foot power catamaran. You’ll blast through the Atlantic at speeds up to 50 miles an hour, and slow down to glimpse South Pointe Park and the luxurious Fisher Island, with the highest per-capita income homes of any neighborhood in the United States, as well as sites like the Cruise Ship Channel, PortMiami, the US Coast Guard Station, and more. Children need to be three years old or more to participate.
Tidal Cove, at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa in Aventura, offers the ride of a lifetime.
Parks Aplenty
Picnic tables, playgrounds and splash pads highlight many of Miami’s parks, making them a perfect – and economical- choice for a family outing.
North Shore Open Space Park, situated on the ocean in North Beach, is a shaded oasis complete with jogging trails, picnic tables and a dog park. For a family lunch that won’t break the bank, try Burgers & Shakes. The burgers are juicy, the shakes are thick, and the sweet potato fries are just salty enough to satisfy.
In South Beach, South Pointe Park offers a shaded playground, splash pad, and panoramic views of the Atlantic as well as Fisher Island and Downtown Miami. The kids will love to watch the enormous cruise ships navigating to and from PortMiami.
You’ll find 36 acre Flamingo Park in the heart of South Beach, packed with a kids' splash area, zero-entry pool and kids’ water playground. It caters to all kinds of sports, including baseball, basketball, racquetball and too much more to list. Its tot lot/playground includes a rock-climbing wall and choo-choo train from the 1950’s.
Toss a frisbee or picnic in Coconut Grove’s Kennedy Park; nestled next to the bay, it promises jogging trails, beach volleyball, and a dog park. If you’re hungry after all that fun, Kush by Spillover is a great choice. Everything is made from scratch from local ingredients, which will keep serious foodies happy, but it’s got a kids’ menu too.
Downtown Miami is home to Lee and Tina Hills PlayGround at Bayfront Park. It’s centered around an incredible "play sculpture" that features a dolphin, turtle, and manatee emerging from a rising wave.
For more parks in and around Miami, check out Miami-Dade County's lists.
