10 Things to Do in Miami with Kids

Scheduling a family vacation in Miami? What fantastic news! When it comes to entertainment, few cities in the world have the variety that Miami has to offer.

Katherine Betances

Katherine Betances

8 min read

10 Things to Do in Miami with Kids

Bicycling in Miami | ©Live on Shot

To talk about the state of Florida, and of course the city of Miami, is to talk about one of the best destinations to visit with your family. During your stay you can enjoy the hundreds of attractions and fun activities that Miami offers all year round.

From boat rides and interactions with all kinds of animals to water games, shopping and themed museums, the variety in this destination is more than guaranteed! My advice: take a close look at the list of options presented below and on your next trip try to integrate as many activities as possible into your itinerary for an unforgettable vacation.

1. Schedule a visit to the Miami Zoo

Elephants at Zoo Miami| ©osseous
Elephants at Zoo Miami| ©osseous

Visiting the zoo is one of the most interesting activities to do with children in almost any big city in the world, and Zoo Miami has a special charm that makes it different from other zoos.

Located in South Miami Heights, its creators took advantage of Florida's proximity to the Caribbean and its climate to create the only subtropical zoo in the United States. In an extension of 750 acres coexist more than 3,000 species including among them hippos, gorillas, snakes and lions, simply a fascinating visit!

Useful Information

  • Duration: it takes about 5 hours to see the entire zoo, but I recommend a full day.
  • Hours: every day from 10 am to 5 pm.
  • Price range: the basic adult ticket costs 22€, and children from 3 to 12 years old 21€.
  • Address: 12400 SW 152nd Street; in South Miami Heights.

Book tickets for Miami Zoo

2. Enjoy a boat tour of Biscayne Bay

Biscayne Bay Pirate Boat Tour| ©Camila Infante
Biscayne Bay Pirate Boat Tour| ©Camila Infante

No visit to Miami would be complete without booking a boat tour on the waters of Biscayne Bay, one of the favorite activities for tourists to admire the beauty of the city from a totally different perspective.

This experience can be transformed into a real adventure for children, as some local companies offer this activity aboard a pirate ship for a themed boat ride that is fun for everyone.

Useful information

  • Duration: approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes to complete.
  • Schedule: at 12:30, 14:30, 16:30 and 18:30.
  • Price range: from 27€.

Book a boat tour in Miami

3. Take a tour to see the best of the Everglades.

Everglades by helicopter| ©HMC
Everglades by helicopter| ©HMC

Everglades National Park is one of the most impressive natural wonders in Florida and all of North America. It is the largest natural park in the country and the creatures that inhabit it are found nowhere else in the country.

From the heart of the city you can book a trip to the Everglades, as numerous outings are organized every day that allow tourists and locals to enjoy its wonders and see in their natural habitat many fascinating creatures such as large turtles and exotic alligators.

At the park you can enjoy an airboat ride through the waters to get a close look at the animals as well as a live alligator show to see them up close - the kids love it!

Useful Information

  • Duration: it usually takes 4 to 5 hours to complete the entire excursion.
  • Schedule: different schedules depending on the company you hire, but they usually start at 9:00 and 13:00.
  • Price range: from 27€ per traveler, which includes transportation to and from Miami and entrance to the park and shows.

Book a tour to Everglade from Miami

4. Meet dolphins and other species at the Marine Aquarium

Miami Marine Aquarium| ©contento
Miami Marine Aquarium| ©contento

Do your kids have an affinity or interest in aquatic creatures? Then they will have a great time when they book a ticket to the Miami Seaquarium.

This space offers them incredible experiences such as the chance to swim with seals and dolphins, interact up close with penguins and admire creatures such as the fabulous flamingos, sea lions, turtles and giant killer whales, among others.

I recommend purchasing tickets in advance, as well as researching the schedule of the animal shows that take place every day so you don't miss anything.

Useful information

  • Duration: I recommend spending at least half a day and, if you can, a full day of excursion.
  • Hours: every day from 10 am to 5 pm.
  • Price range: from 46€ for general admission and from 39€ for children from 3 to 9 years old.
  • Address: 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway; on the artificial island Virginia Key.

Book tickets to the Seaquarium in Miami

5. Have the best views at the Ferris wheel of the city.

Miami Ferris Wheel| ©Carlos SD
Miami Ferris Wheel| ©Carlos SD

Book tickets to the Miami Ferris wheel, also known as Skyviews Miami Wheel, and enjoy a highly entertaining activity.

I recommend you to go up both during the day, to see the city skyline from the heights, and at night to watch the whole city fill with lights.

The SkyViews is 61 meters high and has 42 enclosed gondolas that children enjoy wonderfully.

Useful information

  • Duration: each tour lasts approximately 15 minutes.
  • Hours: all year round from Monday to Friday from 1 pm to 10 pm; Saturdays and Sundays from 12 noon to 10 am.
  • Price range: 15€ for an adult ticket. Children under 4 years old are free when accompanied by an adult.
  • Address: 401 Biscayne Boulevard.

Book tickets to the Skyviews Miami Ferris wheel

6. Visit the Phillip and Patricia Frost Science Museum

Science Museum| ©Ansel Adams
Science Museum| ©Ansel Adams

This is one of the most interesting activities you can do on a visit to Miami with children. The north and west wings of the building are dedicated to the little ones, with a permanent exhibition that combines science and the creative imagination of geniuses such as Leonardo Da Vinci.

The Da Vinci collection includes life-size machines built from the talented inventor' s original sketches.

If you go to the Phillip and Patricia Frost Science Museum, don't miss the exhibit dedicated to the fictional hero Sherlock Holmes, where they will learn about his peculiar methods of deduction to help him solve mysteries by interpreting the clues provided.

Useful information

  • Duration: 4 to 5 hours are usually enough to tour the facilities.
  • Hours: Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm.
  • Price range: from €29 for general admission and from €24 for youths between 4 and 11 years old. Children under 3 years old are free when accompanied by an adult.
  • Address: 1101 Biscayne Boulevard.

7. Spend an afternoon by the pool at Flamingo Park

Flamingo Park Pool| ©Carter
Flamingo Park Pool| ©Carter

One of the must-do activities to do in Miami with kids during the vacations is to have a day of fun in the water. With beautiful beaches and pools everywhere, the options abound, but if you are going to the city with kids it might be more fun for them to visit the facilities of a water park like the famous Flamingo Park.

Located in the heart of South Beach, it is one of the best things to do if you go during the summer in Miami. The park is huge and inside you will find:

  • Pools
  • Water games
  • Soccer and baseball stadiums
  • Playground area
  • Climbing walls
  • Athletic track

Useful information

  • Duration: you can stay in the park as long as you want.
  • Hours: every day from 8:00 am to 8:30 pm in the evening.
  • Price range: non-resident visitors of legal age pay about €10, while youngsters aged 4 to 17 pay about €6. Children under 3 years old are free when accompanied by an adult.
  • Address: 1200 Meridian Avenue on Miami Beach Island.

8. Visit the city's Children's Museum

Inside the Miami Children's Museum| ©Dereck
Inside the Miami Children's Museum| ©Dereck

If you're looking to introduce variety into your exploration of the city, seriously consider a visit to the Miami Children's Museum.

Located on Watson Island, just minutes away from tourist areas like Downtown Miami and Miami Beach Island, the enclave boasts beautiful views of Biscayne Bay and the heart of the city.

The museum is comprised of 17 interactive exhibition galleries and exhibits are available in English and Spanish. Visits are conducted in group sessions and pre-established schedules, which is why it is vitally important to purchase tickets online days before your visit.

Useful information

  • Duration: 2 hours.
  • Hours: from 10 am to 6 pm, but the two-hour activities are only offered at three times, 10 am, 1 pm and 4 pm.
  • Price range: about 20€ for the general public, except for accredited citizens of the state of Florida.
  • Address: 980 MacArthur Causeway on Watson Island, one of the artificial islands in Biscayne Bay.

9. Admire the graffiti in the Wynwood District

Streets of Wynwood| ©Gadi Yosef
Streets of Wynwood| ©Gadi Yosef

Head to the Wynwood District to check out the iconic and famous Wynwood Walls open-air museum, home to some of the works of some of the world's best graffiti artists.

There are works in monumental sizes, in vivid colors and with a high dose of creativity. And if you want to take the experience of your tour of Wynwood to the next level, you can visit the Graffiti Museum, a short and interesting tour where you will learn about aspects of this art that are unknown to many.

Complement your tour by visiting some of Miami' s best ice cream parlors in the area that kids will love.

10. Visit FunDimension, a state-of-the-art theme park

At FunDimension| ©BahiaBlancaJT
At FunDimension| ©BahiaBlancaJT

Another fun activity you can do in the Wynwood District is to visit FunDimension, a family-friendly amusement center that combines virtual reality games, a 7-D theater, rock climbing, bumper cars, laser tag battles and lots of neon everywhere!

It's a perfect activity if you find yourself on vacation during the winter in Miami and run into a rainy day that doesn't allow for outdoor fun.

When buying admission tickets for the rides choose the combo pass options, something that saves you money compared to buying tickets for each attraction separately. You will always have the alternative of repeating the one or ones you liked the most.

Useful information

  • Duration: as long as you want, the park has a food court if you want to dine on the premises.
  • Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 1pm to 8pm and weekends from 10am to 10pm.
  • Price range: rides available from 4€. The price to pay depends on the attractions and activities you want to do, I recommend checking the price list for more information.
  • Address: 2129 NW 1st Ct, in the popular Wynwood neighborhood.