Miami Beach offers some of the best family things do in 'Sunny Florida' and certainly the best seaside vibes. However, this barrier island city between Biscayne Bay and the blue waves of the Atlantic Ocean offers more than just a high-society lifestyle and beautiful beaches. Miami Beach’s best family-friendly places include recreational spots, gardens and parks that promise a fun-filled day out with the kids.
The iconic seaside greens of Miami Beach at Lummus Park offer a scenic promenade walk akin to Copacabana. You can also take the kids out on a nature adventure with fishing and kayaking through mangrove forests at the Oleta River State Park. Here's a roundup of some of the best family activities in Miami Beach.
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Lummus Park
Miami Beach’s beautiful seaside park
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Read moreLummus Park, a Copacabana-inspired promenade, is a great starting point for taking in Miami Beach’s seaside vibes. If you’re nostalgic and remember watching the Miami Vice series, then Lummus Park and most of the length of Ocean Drive might bring back some of the memorable scenes.
The winding pathways under the shade of tall palms and sea grape trees make for a pleasant walk towards the beach. Before hitting the sand, you can find grassy sections where you can sit and watch the kids play.
Location: 1130 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139, USA
Phone: +1 305-673-7779
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Oleta River State Park
Kayaking and outdoor fun in North Miami Beach
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Read moreOleta River State Park is a great spot for those looking to enjoy some kayaking fun. Other activities to try in the beautiful outdoors include cycling along scenic beach and lush mangrove trails, canoeing and even camping. As one of the city's main parks and recreation sites, it provides a range of things to do.
Paddle boats can be great for families with kids. You can also plan for picnicking in the park, with specified areas where you can set up barbecues.
Location: 3400 NE 163rd St, North Miami Beach, FL 33160, USA
Open: Daily from 8 am to sunset
Phone: +1 786-756-2327
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Miami Children’s Museum
A place for inspiring imagination and creating together
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Read moreMiami Children’s Museum promotes playful learning, with a strong emphasis on inspiring imagination and creating together. One of the fun exhibits is the music-makers studio, which features a big piano pad where kids can create tunes by stepping on giant keys. Another engaging exhibit is the interactive virtual aquarium, where kids can see their physical artwork come to life as part of a rich, digitized undersea environment.
The Miami Children’s Museum doesn’t allow adults without children or children without adults into its museum to play.
Location: 980 MacArthur Causeway, Miami, FL 33132, USA
Open: Daily from 10 am to 6 pm
Phone: +1 305-373-5437
Mapphoto by Phillip Pessar (CC BY 2.0) modified
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Flamingo Park
A main sporting park in South Beach
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Read moreYou can swim, play and enjoy various ball games at Flamingo Park, an urban sports and recreational space at the centre of South Beach. You can bring your skates or rollerblades and roll down its tracks or bring racquets and hit the courts at its tennis centre. There’s an 8-lane running track, as well as a field with artificial turf that’s great for football.
Younger kids can enjoy the playground onsite, or swim with mum and dad at the aquatic centre.
Location: 999 11th St, Miami Beach, FL 33139, USA
Phone: +1 305-673-7730
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South Pointe Beach
Surfing the waves of the Atlantic
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As the scenic part of South Beach, South Pointe Beach blends striking seascapes with a host of fun recreational activities. There’s a fishing pier where you can enjoy quiet walks over the waves, while a vast urban green space nearby offers fun spaces to bike or skate.
For those seeking panoramic views, the observation deck offers breathtaking vistas of the coastal area. Wave riders will also find South Pointe Beach appealing, as the beach breaks before the pier create an exciting surfing playground.
Location: 1 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, USA
Phone: +1 305-673-7730
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South Pointe Park
Biking and skating with great city views
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Read moreFun and family-friendly, South Pointe Park has a vast playground with a splash pad that the little ones will instantly love and find hard to leave. It’s close by Lincoln Road, and is also great for watching both sunrises and sunsets.
South Pointe Park is relatively quiet and great for avoiding the common crowds further north. As a bonus, it’s right next door to the namesake beach, where you can swim, play on the sand and take in the beautiful coastal views with occasional cruise ships sailing past.
Location: 1 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, USA
Phone: +1 305-673-7730
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Miami Beach Botanical Garden
One of Miami Beach’s green oases
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Read moreEven though it’s relatively small compared to the botanical gardens of other cities, the 4-acre (1.6-hectare) Miami Beach Botanical Garden is a great escape for relaxing among nature’s artistry. Lush pathways lead you past water features and flower gardens, with its botanic collection ranging from palms and orchids to native Floridian species.
You can also find a beautiful Japanese and bamboo garden with a red bridge, great for photoshoots. Their free summer art camps, usually between June and August, are free and great for kids.
Location: 2000 Convention Center Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139, USA
Open: Tuesday–Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +1 305-673-7256
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