Best Family-Friendly Things to Do in Miami
Miami with Kids: ideas for keeping the whole family entertained.
Traveling with kids means picking spots that balance fun, learning, and ease. Miami offers a range of experiences: from interactive museums to wildlife encounters to splash-friendly parks. Based on what’s worked for me and well-regarded recommendations, here’s a list of the best family-friendly activities worth checking in the city.
Miami Children’s Museum
The Miami Children’s Museum is a hands-on learning center with 14 bilingual exhibit galleries, seasonal camps, storytelling programs, and sensory-friendly Saturdays. Admission runs about $24 for adults and children, $16 for Florida residents. The museum runs daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and offers on-site parking and easy bus access.
Zoo Miami
Miami Zoo is one of the country’s largest and only subtropical zoos, with over 2,500 animals across 375 species spread over 750 acres. Highlights include mobile scavenger hunts, giraffe feedings, interactive playgrounds, splash areas, and even a carousel—ideal for toddlers to pre-teens. A Safari Cycle or tram can make the day easier on little legs.
Frost Science Museum
Featuring a 500,000-gallon aquarium, a 250-seat planetarium, and gallery spaces filled with interactive exhibits, the Frost Museum of Science mixes hands-on learning with sensory wonder. It balances complex topics with clear presentation, and fits into a broader cultural ecosystem at Museum Park.
Jungle Island
Jungle Island is an eco-adventure attraction featuring animal shows, zip lines, water slides, a zip flight tunnel, and even Nerf battle arenas. It blends wildlife interaction with kid-sized thrills. It’s appropriate for all ages.
Monkey Jungle
Monkey Jungle is Miami’s Longest-Running Wildlife Park, where visitors walk through caged paths and let monkeys roam freely nearby. It includes lemurs, sloths, and tropical birds. You can feed the monkeys or roam around the aviary. Worth a visit if your kids are into wildlife.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
While not a traditional play area, kids can run around shaded paths, explore rare palms, and enjoy the calm; a low-key choice for families looking to slow down and enjoy green space. Opened in 1938, it was established to cultivate plants that could grow outdoors year-round in South Florida. The garden functions today as a public green space and a center for plant conservation, research, and education.
Pinecrest Gardens
Once the original Parrot Jungle, this 20-acre park now offers botanical gardens, a butterfly exhibit, playground, splash zones, and preserved park structures for open-air discovery time.
Explore Bayside Marketplace & the Observation Wheel
A stroller-friendly boardwalk trailing Biscayne Bay, connecting parks and easy dining options. Next to the park is Bayside Marketplace an open-air shopping and dining complex. It’s also the departure point for many boat tours, making it a convenient stop if you want to explore Miami from the water or if you want to hop on the the Miami Observation Wheel, which is located inside the mall. It serves both city residents and visitors looking for retail variety and activity along the water.
Relax at Key Biscayne
Just a short drive from downtown, Key Biscayne, a barrier island connected to Miami via a causeway, offers quieter beaches compared to Miami Beach. Crandon Park is a 808-acre urban park includes two miles of beach, picnic areas, a nature center, family amusement options, tennis, and a golf course. Plus, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center offers interpretive exhibits ideal for curious kids.
South Pointe Park & Lummus Park
South Pointe Park is a popular spot located at the southern tip of Miami Beach, and it’s one of the best places to hang out if you’re looking for great views and a relaxed vibe, offering open lawns, walking paths, and scenic bay views; great for family relaxation. Lummus Park right next to the beach features playground structures and a simpler layout for young kids.
Spend the Day at Everglades National Park
Just outside the city, the Everglades National Park stretches across nearly 1.5 million acres, and it is a unique ecosystem where you can see wildlife like alligators and manatees. Ideal for families with kids aged five and up, airboat tours bring close-up views of alligators and natural wetlands. It’s an active way to experience Florida’s environment.
Wynwood Walls
The Street art murals located inside Wynwood Walls can be surprisingly engaging for kids—bright, colorful, and open-air. It’s an easy walk-through stop with snack options and photo ops. The site is an open-air art installation in the heart of Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood, one of the most recognized street art destinations in the world.
Miami’s Beautiful Beaches
Sometimes the simplest plan is best: a beach day gives kids sand, surf, and space to play. Beaches like those at Miami Beach or Crandon Park offer family-friendly amenities and open-air freedom.
Tidal Cove Waterpark
Located within JW Marriott Turnberry Resort, Tidal Cover Waterpark features a 60-ft slide tower, lazy river, FlowRider® Triple surf simulator, and kids-only area called Kids Cove. It balances thrill rides and shaded areas, with kid-focused play and cabana rentals for convenience.
Are you ready to start discovering Miami?
Check some of the best tours below to make the best of your trip!
Are you ready to start discovering Miami?
Check some of the best tours below to make the best of your trip!
