Miami Travel Guide

A family trip to Miami will surprise you with all the fun and exciting kid-friendly attractions. It’s not just a place to spot a celebrity or be on a fancy diet. You and your family can have a blast exploring the animals, history and just plain relaxing on the beautiful sandy beaches. Avoid the winter months and spring break if you do not want to deal with crowds and high prices.

What to Do:

...in Miami Beach

Miami Children’s Museum: A must see for every child while visiting Miami. This very interactive museum is an exciting place to play dress-up and be whatever you want to be. Parents will have fun too! The museum also offers an outdoor playground.

Jungle Island: Visit a multitude of animal exhibits along with a petting barn. You will enjoy various shows and entertainment throughout the park. Discount tickets are available online.

Port of Miami: You do not have to go into the port to see all the action. Just outside the Miami Children's Museum an amazing view awaits at a glimpse of the Port of Miami. On most days you will see an assortment of ships and Cruiseliners docked at port. Take some time to hang out and watch mega yachts go by or a cruiseship getting refueled. You may even be able to catch a cruiseship set sail in the later afternoon or early evening.

Beach: A trip to Miami is not complete without going to South Beach. Take a walk along Deco Drive to see all the deco-style buildings. Just a few steps away is South Beach where you will find people of all walks of life along the beach from models to visitors from around the world. Watch out for some sunbathers who go topless. The more family friendly areas of the beach are located around 5th St. where you will also find a playground.

...in Downtown Miami

Bayside: A unique outdoor shopping and entertainment complex in the heart of downtown Miami. Shops range from your typical mall stores to local artisan kiosks. Be sure to take in the free musical concerts on the stage along the marina. There are plenty of restaurants and snack bars with a variety of cuisines from Latin to seafood. Bayside is also the location to board one of the many boat tours, watch the sunset or view your favorite star’s home on Star Island. Bayside also offers a fun carousel for the kids.

American Airlines Arena: Catch a Hot, Hot game of the Miami Heat at this state of the art arena. Many concerts are also held here.

...in Key Biscayne

A small island located just off Miami is Key Biscayne. A short ride from downtown will take you to a toll (Rickenbacker Causeway) and over the bridge directly onto two islands, Virginia Key and Key Biscayne.

Miami Seaquarium: An excellent park to view underwater creatures of all varieties. Touch, learn and experience the all new dolphin encounter. You and your child will enjoy the many shows, presentations and exhibits offered at Miami Seaquarium. The Miami Seaquarium is similar to Seaworld but on a smaller scale.

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park: At the tip of this park you will find a phenomenal lighthouse and tour. The tour gives you the history of the lighthouse and a brief glimpse into the way of life for a lighthouse keeper. Tours are first come first served so be sure to get there early. The beaches and surrounding waters are gorgeous and filled with a multitude of wildlife. We were lucky to see a manatee and a sting ray during our visit. While at the park you can enjoy the beach area, fishing (or watching others fish) and even a picnic lunch (tables and pavilions are available and many have great views).

Beach: The beaches are located throughout Virginia Key and Key Biscayne from the moment you descend the first bridge to the very end of the islands at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. The islands create a natural bay area which allows the waters to remain calm, perfect for the littlest of swimmers. You will find the park locations to have the cleanest beaches but be prepared to pay to enter or park.

Off the Beaten Path:

Viscaya Museum and Gardens: Located southwest of Miami in Coconut Grove, you will find the beautiful historic home of James Deering. The home is now a museum with magnificent furnishings and views. The tour is somewhat boring so venture on your own if your children are getting antsy. The gardens are amazing and picturesque.

Venetian Pools: A long time famous landmark in Coral Gables (west of Miami) is a fresh water historic bathing area. The pools are filled with fresh spring water daily. Go for a swim under waterfalls and in coral caves. Children under 3 are not permitted.

Miami Metro Zoo: Rated in the top 10 zoos of the world, Miami Metro Zoo is worth the drive, especially since it can be an all day event. The park is spread out over 300 acres so be prepared to do lots of walking. Bring strollers or rent either a stroller or 4 wheel cycles for the whole family. There are many interesting exhibits throughout the park including some up close encounters such as animal feedings, petting zoo and the bird aviary. You and your kids will have fun in the large playground, splash pad and at the wildlife shows. Look out for a new addition to the park coming in 2008, The Amazon.

Goldcoast Railroad Museum: Chug on over to the Goldcoast Railroad Museum for a glimpse inside American railroading history. Climb aboard various trains and get a feel of riding on a live locomotive. The little ones will enjoy a ride on the smaller scale train through a section of the museum grounds and a look at the model train exhibit, complete with interactive play train sets. Plan to go to this museum on a good weather day as most of the exhibits are outside.

Fort Lauderdale: A short drive (20-30 minutes) north of Miami you'll find Fort Lauderdale also known as the Venice of the Americas. Fort Lauderdale has great beaches and the pace is always carefree. If you have time during your stay Fort Lauderdale is worth at least a day trip. Check out our ChildTravelTips.com Destination Review of Fort Lauderdale by clicking here.

Shopping:

South Beach: Along the streets of Collins and Washington Ave. you will find all the designer shops and mall type stores along with those shops unique to South Beach.

Coral Gables: A historic town just west of Miami. Coral Gables offers excellent shopping and dining experiences.

Hotels:

Accommodations along South Beach may be fun and exciting when it’s just the two of you. However, we found with children its best not to stay on the trendy strip due to the loud clubs and nightlife. Therefore, our top pick for hotels is...

Ritz Carlton Biscayne Bay: We thoroughly enjoyed this hotel and that is what keeps us going back. The hotel offers a resort feel so you could spend your entire vacation on the property. The views from the rooms are spectacular. They offer all the amenities you need, excellent pool areas (one of which has a walk-in area), a perfect beach setting with hardly any waves and the Ritz Carlton exceptional service. The restaurants and poolside grill provide outstanding meals.

Dining:

The Rusty Pelican: An excellent restaurant with breathtaking views of Miami, especially during sunset. The Rusty Pelican is located off the Rickenbacker Causeway going towards Key Biscayne. The food is great and the staff is very friendly. The meals are moderately priced. For the grownups try a Mojito, they are the best. Reservations are preferred.

Joe’s Stone Crab: The most famous place to dine in Miami is Joe’s Stone Crab. The food is divine and the stone crab is fresh and tasty. Be sure to arrive just before they open, due to the long lines (lunch is best). Joe’s Stone Crab does not accept reservations and can have an average dinner wait time of 3 hours+ on any given night. If you are not inclined to wait, try their Take Away area located next door. They are open seasonally from about October through May. The prices are quite high but worth the splurge. You might even spot a celebrity as we have.

Yearly Calendar Events:

January: Art Deco Festival: A fun festival that takes you back to styles and fashions of the 1920’s-1940’s, located on Deco Drive in South Beach.
March: Easter Egghunt Celebration at Miami Seaquarium, the largest in South Florida
March: NASDAQ 100. One of the biggest Tennis tournaments in South Florida, located on Key Biscayne
March: Calle Ocho Festival. Get a taste of the Cuban food, music and culture in this festival located on SW 8th Street, Miami.
July: 4th of July. Celebrate 4th of July on Miami Beach with live music and fireworks
July: Parade of Beds and Races. Get ready to laugh at the interesting ways people use beds to race in Coconut Grove (Southwest of Miami).
November: Miami Book Fair International in downtown Miami, one of the largest in the world with an area designed just for kids (www.miamibookfair.com)
November: Winter Nights and Lights at Miami Seaquarium complete with lights, snow and train for kids.
December: Santa’s Enchanted Forest- carnival rides, magic show, biggest Christmas display. Discount coupon online. www.santasenchantedforest.com
December: Art Basel. Large Art Expo in Miami with free kids section www.artbaselmimibeach.com
December: Bayfront Park’s New Year’s Eve in downtown Miami www.bayfrontparkmiami.com

Tips:

South Beach during the day is a fun place to visit. The beaches are spectacular and there are lots of great shops and restaurants. However, it is really not a place for children at night due to the clubs and bars that can get rowdy with partiers. Please be cautious of the nightlife scene when visiting Miami with your family.

Last update : 03-03-2008 19:58