13 unmissable things to do in Miami with kids (or without)

Last updated on April 24, 2024

Miami – a city famed for its parties – probably isn’t your first thought when it comes to a family trip, but it has a lot more going for it than the clubs and bars of South Beach. It’s a surprisingly family-friendly city with everything from exciting museu ms to epic beaches and vibrant local neighbourhoods. Plus you’re not far from the Everglades and Keys, which are worth getting out to as well. See our full Florida itinerary for ideas on to extend your trip.

We loved our time in Miami, especially the colourful enclaves of Wynwood and Little Havana. And I don’t think I’d ever tire of those ocean views. It has to be one the best city beaches in the world (and the perfect playground for kids). Whatever you do while there, make sure you walk, cycle or run the boardwalk – that beach is the city’s crown.

Here’s our guide to the best things to do in Miami with kids…

The best things to do in Miami with kids

Wynwood

Wynwood was definitely a highlight from our time in Miami. The outdoor street art museum, Wynwood Walls, was created in 2009 and is now home to works from renowned artists from all over the world.

The gallery helped kickstart the regeneration of the surrounding Wynwood area and nowadays the whole neighbourhood is an exciting district of creative cafes, bars, restaurants and shops.

And all of Wynwood has become a canvas for murals. You can see lots of the art by simply wandering, but you do need to pay to get into the official Wynwood Walls area (definitely worth it in our opinion). It’s an outdoor gallery of art that’s all really colourful and fun, so perfect for kids. Buy a skip-the-line ticket here.

Our boys especially loved trying their hand at doing some spray painting, in the street art experience.

For older kids, you could do a guided tour of Wynwood to learn more about all its history (I’d have loved to do this, but our kids are a bit too young).

Cycle the boardwalk

Cycling along Miami Beach’s boardwalk is a must in my opinion. It’s a lush way to soak up the Miami vibes, do some people watching and stop off at places that catch your eye.

We hired bikes and a trailer for the kids from Unlimited Biking in South Beach (there are loads of options around there). They gave us a map with a few sightseeing routes to follow, which included stops like the Versace Museum, the Holocaust Memorial and South Pointe Park.

If your children can ride bikes themselves, then you could also join a guided bicycle tour.

Frost Museum of Science

The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science is an epic science museum and aquarium, spread over 250,000 square foot. There are four interlinked buildings: the planetarium, aquarium and two exhibition wings with ways for kids to explore science, technology, maths and engineering.

Otis and Arlo loved it – getting hands-on with all the interactive exhibits and peering into the aquariums. The slanted circular viewing window in the aquarium is particularly impressive. And the museum also has brilliant views of downtown Miami. Buy advance tickets for the museum here.

Miami Children’s Museum

I say it every time I write about a children’s museum – I love them and wish we had more of them in the UK (see other great examples in Savannah, Charleston, Boston and San Francisco). Filled with fun ways for kids to explore and play – from water activities to science experiments to play shops – our kids always have a great time. And the Miami Children’s Museum is extra special as it’s connected to a school and even has its own pre-school inside. What lucky kids!

Highlights include a musical area where kids can experiment with sound; remote controlled boats to play with;  and an exercise exhibit where the whole family can take on different challenges (I can jump as far as a grasshopper!)

Hang out at the beach

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to enjoy Miami is to simply hang out at the beach. We were lucky because our hotel (The Palms) had its own stretch of sand where we could use the chairs and parasols and set up camp on the sand.

If you’re travelling to the beach from elsewhere, or want somewhere that’s particularly family friendly, popular family spots are: Virginia Key Beach Park, Crandon Beach, and Bill Braggs Cape Florida State Park.

Go to a park

As well as beaches, Miami has loads of parks to choose from. We loved South Pointe Park in South Beach, which has a good kids play area, including water play for hot days. Flamingo Park is another good option in South Beach. Or Matheson Hammock Park & Marina on the mainland.

There’s also a lovely botanical garden at North Beach.

Little Havana

Little Havana is Miami’s Cuban district and the place to go for cigars, rum, Cuban coffee and sandwiches, and plenty of live music. Although most of those are the purview of adults, it’s still a fun place to experience with the kids by day.

The main area is around Calle Ocho where you can find the famous Maximo Gomez Park (aka ‘domino park’) where locals gather to play dominoes throughout the day. It’s a fun, colourful place to go for a stroll and sample some Cuban flavours. Kids will love Azucar Ice Cream (soooo good!), and we also found Ball & Chain to be a good family-friendly option for lunch where they were playing live music.

If you’re there on the third Friday of the month, try to catch the Viernes Culturales celebration of Cuban history, art, food, music and dancing, with lots of stalls along the streets.

Little Haiti

Smaller than Little Havana, and also much less touristed, is Little Haiti where you’ll find Haitian cusine, markets and hops, all painted in a colourful palette. The Carribean Marketplace is a highlight (a replica of the Iron Market in Haiti’s capital) where you can browse crafts and food to the backdrop of live music.

The market is in the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, which a designated area for showcasing Afro-Carribean cultures. You’ll also find a gallery, dance studios and an open courtyard where they host live performances.

Don’t leave without trying some Haitian cuisine – two of the most popular spots are Chef Creole Seasoned Kitchen and Piman Bouk Bakery. The Citadel street food style market is a good option for families as it has 12 places to choose from, so you can all choose what takes your fancy.

See a baseball game

We really wanted to see a baseball game in Miami as it was one of the most fun things we did in Boston. But unfortunately the timings didn’t work out. However, I did find some great deals to see the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park (you can occasionally get ‘4 for $44” deals, which include four tickets, hot dogs, popcorns and soft drinks!). The park is close to Little Havana so you could combine it with a trip there too.

Watch an outdoor movie

If you’re from a colder clime like me, there’s something extra special about being able to watch movies outdoors on warm balmy evenings. And even if warmth is your norm, it’s still an atmospheric treat. The free screenings at Soundscape Park (Wednesday from October-May) is one of the most popular spots for outdoor movies in Miami. And other options include the Rooftop Cinema Club and the Nite Owl Drive-In.

Superblue Miami

Superblue is a gallery of immersive art experiences, one of the kind that has swept the globe over the past decade. If you’ve been to the Van Gogh experience, you’ll have the right idea. But Superblue is more than that as it also features many other types of immersive exhibitions from some of the world’s most famous immersive artists like teamLab.

We didn’t have the time to visit, but we’ve been to similar installations in London and Barcelona, and the kids always love them. The larger-than-life interactive element always keeps them entertained, and I love this kind of art too, so it’s a winner for a family day out. Buy tickets here.

Day trip to the Everglades

The Everglades National Park is less than an hour from Miami, so definitely try to visit during your stay. There are two main areas to choose from hen visiting from Miami: Homestead and Shark Valley. Shark Valley is the place to go for airboat rides, bike rides and a ride on a tram.

Whereas the Homestead entrance has more kid-friendly hikes (especially the Anhinga Trail) and is en route to the Keys if you want to go there too. We were doing a Keys road trip, so went to Homestead. Be sure to stop at Rob’s Fruit Stand en route – you’ll feel like you’re in the Caribbean!

Also, please note that not all the air boat rides are respectful of the natural environment, so try to do one that’s recommended by the National Park.

Do a family friendly tour

We saw some duck boats when we were in Miami, which is something we loved doing in Boston. And there are also some other family friendly tours below. Check the age guidance to see what might be suitable for your kids.  

Where to eat in Miami with kids

Miami has increasingly become a foodie city, but sadly a lot of the best options are fairly glamorous and not ideal for families. That said, we did find some excellent places and you can easily get a good taste of Miami even with kids in tow.

Places to eat in and around Wynwood

Places to eat in and around South Beach

Other places to eat in Miami

Where to stay in Miami with kids

We’ve written a guide to where to stay in Miami with kids. The TLDR version is that we recommend The Palms Hotel if you want to be by the beach and have a large family-friendly pool. Or if you’re keen to be in the heart of South Beach, go for the Kimpton Angler’s, a chic yet family-friendly option just a few blocks from the beach. The blog posts has a few more options too.

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