Miami with Kids
A three-level aquarium, a coral rock swimming hole, and alligators up close, the version of Miami that actually works with children in tow.
Miami’s warm weather, world-class science museums and family-friendly beaches make it one of the more rewarding US cities for a family trip, well beyond the nightlife and Art Deco stretch it’s usually known for. Here’s how to spend the time on what actually works with kids.
Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
The only combined planetarium-aquarium-science museum in Florida, a real standout, a three-level aquarium with shark and ray tanks, a dome-screened planetarium, and hands-on exhibits covering everything from aviation to the human body. Plan 4-6 hours, and pair it with the neighbouring Pérez Art Museum if older kids want something more.
Zoo Miami
Over 3,000 animals across open-range exhibits representing the Everglades, the Amazon, Africa and beyond, a properly spacious, well-designed zoo rather than a cramped city one. The scale means comfortable walking shoes matter, or rent a tram if little legs won’t cover the whole park.
Miami Children’s Museum
Fourteen hands-on exhibits built for ages 2-10, a mini-supermarket, a firetruck, a pretend cruise ship, and art and cooking studios that genuinely hold attention for a couple of hours. Located on Watson Island, an easy add-on with Jungle Island right nearby.
Venetian Pool
An 820,000-gallon freshwater aquifer pool in Coral Gables, carved from a coral rock quarry back in 1923, unlike any other swimming spot in the country. Waterfalls, grottos and palm-lined porticos make this considerably more memorable than a standard hotel pool, though kids must be at least 3 years old and 38 inches tall to enter.
An Everglades airboat ride
A short drive from the city, alligators, herons and a genuinely different Florida landscape than the beach and skyline elsewhere on this list. Airboat tours run regularly and give kids a proper up-close look at wildlife most visitors never see.
If the heat gets too much
FunDimension in Wynwood packs laser tag, bumper cars, rock climbing and an arcade under one roof, a genuine full day of air-conditioned fun. Dezerland Action Park, Florida’s largest indoor attraction, offers a similarly reliable backup when the weather or the heat makes an outdoor day impractical.
Eating with kids
Bayside Marketplace offers a wide, easy range of family dining with Biscayne Bay views thrown in, and Little Havana’s Azucar ice cream shop, known for exotic flavours like plantain, is worth the stop for something sweet. Miami’s dining scene generally caters well to families, particularly around South Beach and Coconut Grove.
A few practical notes
Miami’s beaches, Surfside and Sunny Isles among the more family-friendly, offer wide swaths of sand and a genuinely relaxed atmosphere compared to the busier South Beach stretch. A car works best for covering ground between neighbourhoods, though South Beach itself stays walkable once you’ve arrived.
That’s everything I’ve got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government’s latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
