Miami might be world-renowned for its vibrant nightlife and pristine beaches, but what many may not know is that the Magic City is also bursting with family-friendly activities for kids of all ages. And, while you could spend your entire trip situated on the shoreline, we’ve come up with a few must-visit places for those families seeking adventure, educational experiences, and a taste of Miami during their 2017 summer vacation.
Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science
One of this city’s most highly anticipated museums, the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, is now officially open. Featuring a planetarium, an aquarium, a free-flight aviary, a live coral collection, a “vista level” that delves into all of Florida’s ecosystems, and so much more, kids and parents alike are able to explore and discover fascinating details about the earth and science at every corner. Not sure where to even begin? Fear not, as the Frost Museum offers VIP Tours to ensure your visit to this awe-inspiring museum, comprised of three separate science buildings, is as out-of-this-world as you could ever imagine. Plus, it may be one of the only places on the planet where you can stand underneath a 500,000-gallon shark tank!
To book a VIP Tour of the Frost Science Museum, please contact our concierge at 305.918.6860 or click here.
Zoo Miami
Having a giraffe with an 18-inch tongue eating out of the palm of your hand is certainly a thrilling and novel experience for both adults and children alike. Luckily, Zoo Miami offers just that as well as some very up-close encounters with more than 3,000 animals. Still yearning to get even closer to the animals? Zoo Miami offers a variety of wild life excursions around the park with experienced tour guides and knowledgeable zookeepers to give you a real behind-the-scenes look at what life is like when you walk on the wild side.
To book a wildlife tour or a behind-the-scenes tour at Zoo Miami or to learn more about the different offerings, please contact the concierge at 305.918.6860 or click here.
Wynwood Walls
The Wynwood Walls made a splash when they first emerged and have maintained their reputation as a staple in the Miami art scene ever since. With over 70 art galleries situated alongside the famous walls, Wynwood serves as a place full of infinite imagination and originality, making it a wonderful destination for children and adults alike to expand their minds and see the world from an artistic point-of-view. With so many captivating facets to Wynwood, it might be difficult to know where to start. Fortunately, Wynwood offers a variety of specialized tours like the VIP + Culinary Tour, which includes a private tour guide, a 3-course celebrity dining experience, and entrance to select collections and art galleries. Also offered, an Artistic Tapas Journey Tour, which includes a private tour guide who takes you around the Art District and curates the fascinating murals and art galleries. This tour ends with tapas and a cocktail at a local restaurant.
To learn more about these tours or to learn what other intriguing tours Wynwood has to offer, please contact the concierge at 305.918.6860 or click here.
Oleta State Park
The perfect place for outdoor family activities, Oleta State Park offers mountain bike trails, canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling, and paddle boarding. While visiting, be sure to check out the wetlands, mangroves, and newly created fish nurseries. Then, as you and your family find yourself immersed in Florida’s natural beauty, why not join a guided eco tour? This paddle boarding adventure begins inside Oleta River State Park and takes you around Biscayne Bay as an expert tour guide provides insight on the city’s local history while pointing out the multitude of animals that reside inside the park’s borders. Oleta State Park also offers full moon kayak tours, eco-fitness bike tours and so much more.
To learn more about these adventurous experiences, please contact the concierge at 305.918.6860 or click here.
Biscayne National Park
One of the top scuba diving areas in the United States, Biscayne National Park covers 181,500 acres, 95 % of which lies underwater. In fact, divers and snorkelers from all over the world come to explore its extensive reef system, making it the perfect place for children and adults who are looking for adventure. In addition to being a national park, the bay serves as a historical site, with evidence of pirates, shipwrecks, and historical figures surrounding the property. Park rangers offer guidance to explorers throughout the park and host a monthly event called “Family Fun Fest” where children and their parents are invited to interact with nature by participating in hands-on activities. The park also offers full day sailing excursions, which include snorkeling, and paddling boarding in protected mangrove lagoons.
To learn more about the sailing excursions and other tours offered at Biscayne National Park, please call concierge at 305.918.6860 or click here.
Miami Seaquarium
Sharks, manatees, alligators, turtles, dolphins, and killer whales come together to entertain, educate, and often splash the crowds that visit them at the Miami Seaquarium. If you’re interested in getting better acquainted with one of man’s favorite mammals, Miami Seaquarium gives you the opportunity to put on a wetsuit and jump into Dolphin Harbor. As a “Dolphin Odyssey” guest, you’ll learn how to trade kisses, hugs, rubs and even dance with the dolphins—then catch a ride across the pool. Or, if you prefer to get up-close-and-personal with a variety of animals, we suggest the VIP Tour, where a personal tour guide will take you on a fascinating adventure to experience a variety of activities that may include meeting an iguana or macaw, feeding manatees, stingrays and sea turtles and taking a selfie with a sea lion or dolphin.
To book or to learn more about these exciting experiences, please call our concierge at 305.918.6860 or click here.
Miami Children’s Museum
If you want to stay cool during Miami’s warm summer days, the Miami Children’s Museum has just what you’re looking for. Offering interactive & hand-on exhibits, programs, and learning material as it relate to arts, culture, community and communication, Miami Children’s Museum encourages children to express themselves while creating, imagining, playing, and learning together. The museum’s exhibits are focused on teaching children everyday tasks through hands-on activities, which is why they are modeled after grocery stores, banks, factories, and health centers. If it’s hands-on entertainment and education you’re looking for, the Miami Children’s Museum will certainly not disappoint.
To learn more about the interactive stations or to reserve tickets, please contact our concierge at 305.918.6860 or click here.