11 Things to Do in Miami with Kids

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 as a 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 below and on your next trip try to integrate as many activities as possible into your itinerary for an unforgettable holiday.

Visiting the zoo is one of the most interesting activities to do with children in almost any big city in the world, but the Miami Zoo has a special charm that makes it different from other zoos, so I recommend you book tickets online to not miss this natural jewel.

Located in South Miami Heights, its creators took advantage of the proximity to the Caribbean that the state of Florida has and its climate to create the only subtropical zoo in the United States. In an extension of 300 hectares, more than 3,000 species coexist, including hippos, gorillas, snakes and lions. Simply a fascinating visit!

Useful information

• Duration: it takes about 5 hours to see the whole zoo, but I recommend a full day.
• Opening hours: daily from 10am to 5pm.
• Price range: basic adult admission is €22, and children aged 3-12 are €21.
• Address: 12400 SW 152nd Street; in South Miami Heights.

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

I recommend going up both during the day to see the city skyline from above and at night to watch the whole city fill up with lights.

The SkyViews is 61 metres high and has 42 enclosed gondolas which children enjoy wonderfully.

Useful information

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

No visit to Miami would be complete without booking a boat tour on the waters of Biscayne Bay, one of the favourite 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 on themed boats such as the Fort Lauderdale pirate boat ride or the one that includes water activities, among many others.

Best boat rides for kids in Miami

• Fort Lauderdale pirate boat ride - from £25
• Water banana ride in Miami - from £24.

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.

You can book a tour of the Everglades from the heart of the city, as numerous tours are organised every day, allowing tourists and locals alike to enjoy its wonders and see many fascinating creatures such as large turtles and exotic alligators in their natural habitat.

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

Useful Info

• Duration: usually takes 4-5 hours to complete the whole tour.
• Timetable: different times depending on the company you hire, but usually starts at 9:00 and 13:00.
• Price range: from €60 per traveller, which includes transport to and from Miami and entrance to the park and alligator shows.

If you're lucky enough to visit Miami while the NBA is still playing, make sure you and your kids catch a Miami Heat game, the show is guaranteed! I'm talking about one of the favourite teams in the US basketball league that has had legendary players such as LeBron James or Shaquille O'Neal.

It's not difficult to get tickets to see the Miami team live at their stadium, the Kaseya Center, located in the centre of the city, in the Biscayne Bay area. However, to find out how to get tickets and experience the atmosphere of basketball in America with your children, here is an article on how to buy NBA tickets in Miami.

Useful information

• Duration: between 2h 30 min and 3 hours.
• Schedule: games usually take place in the afternoon or evening.
• Price range: there are tickets that you can get from 90€ in a visible seat.

Do your kids have an affinity or interest in aquatic creatures? Then they'll have a blast when they book a ticket to the Miami Seaquarium.

This place offers 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, giant killer whales and more.

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 sightseeing.
• Opening hours: every day from 10am to 5pm.
• Price range: from €46 for general admission and from €39 for children aged 3 to 9.
• Address: 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway; on the man-made island of Virginia Key.

This is one of the most interesting things to 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 exhibition 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 is usually enough to tour the facilities.
• Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm.
• Price range: from €29 for general admission and from €24 for young people aged 4 to 11. Children under the age of 3 are free when accompanied by an adult.
• Address: 1101 Biscayne Boulevard.

One of the must-do activities to do in Miami with kids on holiday is to have a day of fun in the water. With beautiful beaches and pools everywhere, options abound, but if you're in town 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's one of the best things to do if you're in Miami during the summer. The park is huge and inside you will find:

• Pools
• Water games
• Football and baseball stadiums
• Playground area
• Climbing walls
• Athletics track

Useful information

• Duration: you can stay in the park as long as you want.
• Opening hours: every day from 8am in the morning until 8.30pm in the evening.
• Price range: Non-resident visitors over the age of 18 pay around €10, while youngsters aged 4-17 pay around €6. Children under the age of 3 are free when accompanied by an adult.
• Address: 1200 Meridian Avenue on Miami Beach Island.

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 such as 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 in group sessions and at pre-arranged times, which is why it is vital to purchase tickets online a few days before your visit.

Useful information

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

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

The works are monumental in size, brightly coloured and highly creative. And if you want to take your Wynwood experience to the next level, you can visit the Graffiti Museum, a short and interesting tour where you will learn about aspects of graffiti that are unknown to many.

Complement your tour with a visit to some of Miami' s best ice cream parlours in the area that kids will love.

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

It's a perfect activity if you're on holiday in Miami during the winter and you're stuck with 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 over buying tickets for each attraction separately. You will always have the option of repeating the one or two that 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.
• Opening 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 neighbourhood.