Greater Miami & Miami Beach makes for the perfect family-friendly getaway with kids. From days at the beach to best-in-class museums and everything in between, you’ll find plenty of activities to keep the whole family and children of all ages happy and entertained.

Family kayaking together at Matheson Hammock Beach — Enjoy a day of fun and sun on the water

Spend a Day at the Beach

Pack a picnic, soak up the sun and make a splash. Miami boasts miles of pristine Atlantic Coast shoreline, making it one of the destination’s greatest draws. Your options for spending a day at the beach with the kids are numerous. They’ll love watching cruise ships glide by at the beach near South Pointe Park in South Beach, while Surfside  and Sunny Isles Beach provide pristine conditions in a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for families with younger kids. For active, adventurous families, consider the beaches at Oleta River State Park and Matheson Hammock Beach or Crandon Park Beach, where activities like kayaking, canoeing and kiteboarding are popular.

Tidal Cove surf simulator — Dive into Tidal Cove—slides, a lazy river and endless fun

Cool Off & Have Fun at a Water Park

Tidal Cove Water Park: Waterslides, a Surf Simulator & More

Tidal Cove water park at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa is a great choice for a day of wet fun. This sprawling attraction in Aventura is home to several twisty-turny waterslides, a lazy river, a surf simulator and a lagoon-style swimming pool. There’s even a Kids Cove with a massive splash park.

Seasonal Water Parks Where You Can Make a Splash

Venetian Pool

Reopening in summer 2025

Several water parks throughout Miami are open only during the summer season. These include the Venetian Pool in Coral Gables, an 820,000-gallon freshwater aquifer with waterfalls, palm trees, lush greenery and multiple grottos, loggias and porticos that make swimming an adventure.

Grapeland Water Park

Reopening in summer 2025

Grapeland Water Park, located near Miami International Airport, is a fun-filled splash park with features designed by Romero Britto, Miami’s pop art impresario. There’s also a lagoon-style swimming pool and lazy river.

McDonald Water Park

Open March-October

McDonald Water Park in Hialeah features a wave pool, lazy river, tot lot, waterfall, splash pad and snack bar.

Frost Science Museum 31-foot oculus lens — Explore, discover and be amazed at Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science

Museums Where Learning Is Fun

Frost Science: Explore The Ocean, Earth & Universe

Downtown Miami’s landmark Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science is one of the only science museums boasting both an aquarium and planetarium under one roof. The hands-on interactive exhibits make for a perfect family-friendly outing. Spanning three floors, the Gulf Stream Aquarium includes an open tank at the rooftop. You’ll spy hammerhead sharks, stingrays and eels swimming in the 500,000-gallon tank. The planetarium show is included with your ticket purchase, but securing your spot early is recommended to ensure you don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience. Planetarium shows vary, so check the schedule to see which immersive experience will be featured during your visit.

Under the sea exhibit at the Miami Children's Museum — Let curious young explorers run wild at the Miami Children’s Museum

Miami Children’s Museum: Art, Culture & a Giant Sandcastle

For the young – and the young at heart – head to the Miami Children’s Museum. Located midway between Downtown Miami and Miami Beach on Biscayne Bay along the MacArthur Causeway, it’s filled with activities that emphasize art, culture, community, imagination and creativity. It’s also home to a two-story sandcastle, an interactive health and wellness center, a replica of a cruise ship and an outdoor playground your kids will love.

HistoryMiami Museum: Interact With History

Located in a beautiful plaza in Downtown Miami, HistoryMiami Museum is a Smithsonian Affiliate cultural institution. The exhibit “Tropical Dreams: A People's History of South Florida” – exploring South Florida’s history from as far back as prehistoric times – is on permanent display at this intimate museum, which also hosts exhibitions highlighting historic moments in Miami and throughout the world. It’s a wonderful way for your kids to learn about Miami and the world in a fun, interactive environment.

Museum of Ice Cream: The Tastiest Museum Ever

There’s nothing sweeter than submerging yourself in a giant pool of larger-than-life pink sprinkles and sampling all manner of ice cream flavors along the way. The Museum of Ice Cream in Downtown Miami is an immersive, playful museum dedicated to everyone’s favorite frozen treat and filled with fun photos ops your kids will eat up.

Family biking in Everglades National Park, spotting wildlife — Explore Everglades National Park and spot wildlife along the way

Enjoy the Wonders of Nature

Everglades National Park: Explore a Place Like No Other

Everglades National Park is one of the world’s most unique ecosystems. It’s also one of the most exciting places in Miami to explore with kids. These lush subtropical wetlands occupy 1.5 million acres of sawgrass prairies, hardwood hammocks, freshwater marshes and a diverse population of wildlife that includes bald eagles, white-tailed deer and, of course, the Florida alligator. Whether it’s hiking or biking, paddling in a canoe, gliding on an airboat or taking a naturalist-led tour, there are plenty of ways to experience the beauty of the Everglades with your family.

Kids in Zoo Miami's viewing tube looking at a crocodile — Get up close with wildlife at Zoo Miami

Zoo Miami: Connect With the Animal Kingdom

Spanning 750 acres in South Dade with more than 3,000 animals on view, Zoo Miami  is a wildly fun attraction for the whole family. Open-air exhibits are dedicated to animal habitats from around the world, including the Everglades, the Amazon, Africa, Australia and Asia. Watch amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles roam freely in a habitat that mimics their native lands. Your kids will have the opportunity to feed animals, watch a wildlife show and ride through the zoo on a monorail or tram.

Girl feeds green macaw at Jungle Island — Experience adventure and wildlife at Jungle Island

Jungle Island: Welcome to the Jungle in Miami

Jungle Island is a fascinating zoological park on 18-acre Watson Island in Biscayne Bay between South Beach and Downtown Miami. It’s filled with exotic animals and colorful tropical birds. It’s also home to Treetop Trekking Miami, where ziplines zigzag above a spectacular aerial park and take you on a wild ride.

Visitors picking strawberries at The Berry Farm — Pick, taste and enjoy farm-fresh fun at The Berry Farm

The Berry Farm: Enjoy Strawberry Picking & Delicious Milkshakes

A third generation, family-owned farm in the Redland, southwest of Downtown Miami, The Berry Farm is part of Miami’s heartland. A wonderful attraction for the kids, the 30-acre farm is home to strawberry fields ripe for picking and berry milkshakes that are worth the visit alone. There are also beautiful sunflower fields, finger-licking delicious barbecue, and seasonal events and festivals, from hayrides to line dancing.

Indoor Activities

Brickell City Centre: Shopping, Food, Movies & Mini-Golf

For the fashionistas in your family, don’t skip Brickell City Centre, a mixed-use shopping center in Brickell. In addition to shopping, it has plenty of tantalizing foodie options, including Pubbelly Sushi, Casa Tua Cucina and Tacology. There’s also a CMX luxury movie theater, where you can enjoy a gourmet meal in a reclining chair while watching the latest blockbuster, and Puttshack, an indoor mini-golf course your kids will love.

Sky Zone: Get Bouncing

For a totally unique experience, head to Sky Zone in Doral, where your kids can literally bounce off the walls. This indoor trampoline park includes a variety of bouncy activities, like freestyle jump, SkySlam basketball, ultimate dodgeball and a giant pit of foam cubes to jump and flip into. It’s especially fun for little ones who need to burn off some energy. An expert staff is on duty to ensure everyone’s safety and good time.

Topgolf Targets — Play some golf with the whole family

Topgolf: Tee Off for Top Fun

Grab the family and reserve a climate-controlled bay at one of Topgolf’s driving ranges in Miami Gardens or Doral and score points based on how close your microchipped ball comes to the target. With golf, gaming and dining, this entertainment complex is fun for the whole family. If you’re new to golf, you can take lessons.

FunDimension: Level Up Your Fun

For the gamers in your family, look no further than FunDimension in Wynwood for a newfangled, upscale twist on arcade games. The massive indoor-outdoor space is home to everything from laser tag to bumper cars, duckpin bowling, a rock climbing wall, virtual reality, e-gaming and a state-of-the-art arcade. For the adults in the party, FunDimension is also home to a full bar and restaurant.

Wakeboarder gliding across the water at Hialeah's Amelia Earhart Park — Experience the thrill of wakeboarding at Amelia Earhart Park

Play At One of the Destination’s Great Parks

A simple day at the park is always a wonderful diversion for kids. Spanning 82 acres in Doral, Doral Central Park has walking trails, exercise stations, picnic pavilions and grills. At 515 acres, Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah is an oasis for recreation with a wakeboarding cable complex, paddleboarding, soccer fields, sand volleyball courts, mountain biking trails, a playground and a petting zoo. At the tip of South Beach, oceanfront South Pointe Park has a playground and splashpad as well as a pier, public art and walking trails and views of South Beach and the Downtown Miami skyline.

Discover more family-friendly fun in Miami.

Explore

Experience Miami's Concerts & Live Music Events

Planning a visit to Miami? Check out these itinerary ideas

Use our Hipster Guide to plan the perfect weekend

Love Music? Let's Go to a Concert

Explore Spring in Miami

Miami Beach's Luxury Oceanfront Hotels

Discover New & Renovated Hotels

Looking for the Best Brunch?

Save this list of Miami's newest bars

Best of the Best Music Fest | May 25

Miami Beach Pride Concert | May 31-June 1

Explore Attractions & Museums Months | April-May

Discover fun free things to do in Miami

Great Places To Take Kids

Thank you for your submission !

STAY IN THE KNOW WITH ALL THINGS GREATER MIAMI & MIAMI BEACH