Things To Do in Miami with Kids

Greater Miami and Miami Beach is a wonderland of fun things to do for families. No matter the time of year, parents and their kids can explore hands-on museums, get immersed in nature, cool off at a water park, escape to fun indoor activities in Miami or just spend a classic day on one of the destination’s beautiful beaches. 

Wondering what to do in Miami with kids? We’ve compiled all the best family-friendly attractions and things to do, so you can get straight to the fun. Find plenty of activities to keep the whole crew happy and entertained in our full guide to the best places to take kids in Miami.

Water Parks and Pools

Tidal Cove

When it comes to fun with the kids, make a splash at Tidal Cove waterpark at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa. The sprawling resort in Aventura is home to several twisty-turny waterslides, a lazy river, surf simulator and lagoon-style swimming pool. There’s also the Kids Cove, a massive swimming pool and emoji-inspired aquatic playscape for the littles.

Venetian Pool

Open Seasonally

The recently renovated Venetian Pool in Coral Gables is an 820,000-gallon freshwater aquifer with waterfalls surrounded by palm trees and lush greenery with multiple grottos, loggias and porticos for one of the most unique swimming adventures you can find.

Grapeland Water Park

Open in May

Located near Miami International Airport, Grapeland Water Park is open seasonally, typically in May. It’s an affordable, 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 in the Summer

Meanwhile in Hialeah, McDonald Water Park is a 17-acre property with a wave pool, lazy river, tot lot, waterfall, splash pad and a snack bar. It also offers swim lessons for adults, children and individuals with special needs.

Nature Activities

Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park comprises one of the most unique ecosystems in the world. 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 a naturalist-led tour, there are plenty of ways to experience the beauty of the Everglades firsthand with your family.

Zoo Miami

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 exhibitions are dedicated to animal habitats from around the world, including Florida’s 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 wildlife shows and ride through the zoo on a monorail or tram.

Jungle Island

Jungle Island is a fascinating zoological park floating 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 the Treetop Trekking experience, where you can ride zip lines that zig and zag above the jungle.

The Berry Farm

A third-generation, family-owned farm in the Redland, The Berry Farm is part of Miami’s heartland. A wonderful seasonal attraction for the kids (typically November through May), the 30-acre farm is home to strawberry fields ripe for picking and berry milkshakes that are worth the trek alone.

There are also beautiful sunflower fields, finger-licking delicious barbecue and seasonal events and festivals featuring hayrides, line dancing and more.

Beach Day

Pack a picnic, soak up the sun and make a splash. Miami Beach boasts miles of pristine Atlantic Ocean shoreline, making beach days among the destination’s greatest draws. Families will love watching cruise ships glide by at the beach near South Pointe Park in South Beach. 

Surfside  and Sunny Isles Beach provide wide swaths of white sands in a relaxed atmosphere, perfect for families with younger kids.

For active, adventurous families, consider Oleta River State Park Beach, Matheson Hammock Beach or Crandon Park Beach, where activities like kayaking, canoeing and kiteboarding are popular.

Museums

Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science

Downtown Miami’s landmark Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science  is one of the only science museums to boast both an aquarium and planetarium in the same complex. The hands-on, interactive exhibits make for a perfect family-friendly outing with kids. Don't miss the Gulf Stream Aquarium, which spans 3 floors and includes an open tank at the rooftop. You’ll spy hammerhead sharks, stingrays and eels circling the 500,000-gallon tank. Be sure to reserve your Planetarium tickets in advance to guarantee your seating at one of the spectacular shows.

Miami Children’s Museum

For the young – and the young at heart – head to the Miami Children’s Museum. Located near Downtown Miami, Miami Children’s Museum is filled with activities that emphasize art, culture, community, imagination and creativity. It’s also home to a 2-story sand castle, interactive health and wellness center, cruise ship replica and outdoor playground your kids will love.

Museum of Miami

Located in a beautiful plaza in Downtown Miami, Museum  of Miami is a Smithsonian Affiliate cultural institution. With the exhibit Tropical Dreams: A People's History of South Florida on permanent display, the intimate museum also plays host to various exhibitions highlighting historic moments in Miami and throughout the world. It's a wonderful place for your kids to learn about both Miami and the world around them in a fun, interactive environment.

Museum of Ice Cream

There’s perhaps 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 is an immersive, playful museum dedicated to everyone’s favorite frozen treat and filled with incredible photos ops your kids will eat up.

Indoor Activities

Brickell City Centre

In Downtown Miami, Brickell City Centre offers plenty of family-friendly entertainment in one convenient place. Kids can play a round at Puttshack, an interactive indoor mini-golf experience, or catch the latest family-friendly film at the CMX Cinemas  luxury movie theater. The center also features a variety of dining and shopping options, making it easy to spend an afternoon enjoying time together.

Sky Zone Trampoline Park

For a totally unique experience with the kids, head to Sky Zone Trampoline Park 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. The expert staff is on duty to ensure everyone’s safety and good time.

Topgolf

Grab the family, 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. This entertainment complex is fun for the whole family with golf, gaming and dining. If you’re new to golf, you can take lessons, and there’s also a KidZone with clinics and coaching available.

FunDimension

For the gamers in your family, look no further than FunDimension in Wynwood for a fun new 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. It’s also home to a restaurant with everything from pizza, chicken tenders, brownie sundaes and more.

Parks & Playgrounds

Of course, a simple day at the park is always a wonderful diversion for kids, and Miami is home to some extraordinary ones. Spanning 82 acres in Doral, the glorious Doral Central Park is home to walking trails, exercise stations, picnic pavilions and grills.

At 515 acres, Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah is a true oasis for recreation. It’s home to a wakeboarding cable complex, paddle boarding, soccer fields, sand volleyball courts, mountain biking trails, a playground and a petting zoo.

Meanwhile, at the tip of South Beach, the oceanfront South Pointe Park is one of Miami’s most scenic, home to a playground and splash pad, as well as a pier, public art and walking trails. Beautiful views of the South Beach and Downtown Miami skyline stretch on as far as the eye can see.