Always on the List

Miami for the whole family

Far beyond shopping and malls, Miami proves that it is increasingly becoming a destination for vacations for the whole family

By Mari Campos

It’s not news that Florida is one of the top international destinations for Brazilians traveling with their families. And Miami, the largest city in the state, has proven that it goes far beyond being a great connecting point and shopping stop.

Its shopping centers made it famous around here, but Miami is also an extremely kids-friendly destination, with attractions perfect for multi-generational trips. From a relaxing day at the beach to afternoons full of adventure in nature, Miami is capable of creating beautiful travel memories. Here are four excellent reasons for you to consider including the destination on your next vacation.

1. Life is a beach

If Brazilians generally think of Miami for its shopping centers, many other nationalities think of the city for its beaches – calm, pleasant, easily accessible, and above all, quite safe. There are kilometers of Atlantic coastline with delicious beaches even for family picnics. If Miami Beach is too busy nowadays, Bal Harbour, Surfside, and Sunny Isles are often almost deserted. More adventurous families also tend to enjoy Crandon Park Beach and Oleta River State Park Beach, which are also famous for water sports.

Miami is also home to various – and quite affordable – water parks. In Coral Gables, the Venetian Pool has over three million liters of natural spring water with waterfalls, palm trees, bridges, portals, and grottos – and reopened completely renovated in February. Tidal Cove, located inside the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa, has a day pass system for non-guests to enjoy winding water slides, lazy rivers, and a lagoon-style pool.

2. Fun and Art

Miami has excellent museums for visitors of any age. The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science offers educational, interactive, and playful spaces, being one of the only museums in the world with an aquarium (on three floors, with hammerhead sharks, stingrays, and eels) and a planetarium in the same building. The PAMM (Perez Art Museum of Miami), located next to the Frost, is a great program for adults but also has space for artistic activities for kids. There are works by Brazilian artists like Vik Muniz and Hélio Oiticica, and until September 4, 2023, the exhibition of Leandro Erlich, with his famous pool installation. An opportunity to do different activities and learn together. The Miami Children’s Museum offers interactive activities focused on art, culture, and a sense of community – including a two-story sandcastle, a replica of a ship, and an outdoor playground. It’s highly interactive and a must-see with young children.

As for teenagers, they will enjoy taking selfies in the Wynwood Art District, with many walls graffitied by street artists, art galleries, and the Wynwood Market where they can rest and eat food truck bites.

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3. In the Wild

Miami is not just about large malls, skyscrapers, and beaches. The city is also a starting point for exploring immersive nature attractions, such as the Everglades National Park, which protects and delimits one of the world’s most peculiar wetland ecosystems: 1.5 million acres full of freshwater swamps. The abundant and varied wildlife includes alligators, deer, and even eagles – which can be explored on easy hikes, bike rides, and canoe trips, or on guided airboat tours (which kids love!).

At Biscayne National Park, south of Miami, families who love diving will discover and be enchanted by the immense aquatic fauna, as 95% of the park is underwater. Boat tours, snorkeling, and scuba diving are all possible…

Nature lovers will also enjoy Bill Baggs State Park, located south of Key Biscayne and just a half-hour drive from downtown Miami. Kids will love the less crowded beach, the lighthouse, snorkeling (bring your own mask), biking, renting a glass-bottom kayak, and the golden tip is to bring a picnic basket, as there are several available spaces. This is a very different program that will stay in everyone’s memory.

4. Indoor Fun

When it rains or the external heat becomes excessive, Miami also has great options for indoor adventures. Superblue, located in the Design District, offers an immersion in experiences based on light and interactivity, with multidimensional projections, mirror mazes, and a foam room. The Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Doral offers various types of trampolines for all ages. Topgolf is a complex for golf games and lessons with microchip balls (which allow tracking the entire trajectory to the target), a kids’ zone, and different restaurants.

There will be no shortage of fun whether you are only passing through for a few days on the way to Orlando or spending several days on vacation. Check out other specific tips that real families from our “Family Trippers” community give about Miami for families.

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How to choose where to stay

To escape the excess movement (and noise) of Miami Beach, it’s worth betting on the tranquility of Bal Harbour, which has the most peaceful, safe and well-maintained beaches in the region – in addition to a delightful tree-lined “pathway” by the sea, ideal for walking or cycling. Bal Harbour is also home to the Bal Harbour Shops, with various options for shopping and dining. Guests staying in Bal Harbour hotels receive a card at check-in that grants free access to most of Miami’s museums.

For more cosmopolitan families, staying in the Brickell region, the new heart of Downtown Miami, is a wise decision. The neighborhood is full of shops, bars, and restaurants, and has easy access to public transportation and free trams that run to Biscayne Bay. This is also where the Brickell City Center is located, a shopping center full of shops, entertainment and dining options (there’s even a hotel inside it, the EAST Miami), as well as a charming playground with free access.