Miami is one of the US’s most popular vacation spots and it’s filled with diverse opportunities and experiences. Regardless of age, Miami has something wonderful waiting for you. Can visiting Miami with a toddler be an amazing getaway? You bet it can! With pristine beaches, exciting shops and restaurants, family-friendly hotels, and unique experiences, Miami should be on the top of your list for best places to travel with a toddler. Check out our list of a few of our favorite things to do in Miami with a toddler.
Miami with a Toddler
Beaches
Give a kid a sandy beach, a plastic shovel, and a bucket, and you’re ready for success. Miami offers miles of beautiful beaches that stretch from Sunny Isles Beach to Key Biscayne so you have plenty of options for a day in the sun with kids.
You can avoid crowds in quaint Surfside, a laidback, family-friendly beach town with a retro feel. Surfside offers free community activities that include beach picnics, wellness activities, and standup paddleboard festivals.
Surfside is only a half-square mile and yet it boasts an array of amenities within walking distance including a pristine beach, family-friendly hotels, culturally diverse restaurants offering an array of kosher dining options, boutique shopping, and health & wellness activities.
Another family favorite is Crandon Park in Key Biscayne. It encompasses a two-mile, pristine sand beach. The calm water makes it a perfect choice for toddlers who are worried about crashing waves. It features a beach playground, snorkeling, hiking, cabana rentals, concession stands, picnic areas with tables and grills, and convenient parking.
Zoo Miami
Zoo Miami is a 750-acre gem that showcases more than 3,000 animals including koalas, rhinos, tigers, and elephants in large open-air exhibits.
Exhibits include Amazon and Beyond; Wings of Asia Aviary, Critter Connection and Florida: Mission Everglades. Other activities offered include animal feedings and encounters, educational presentations, children’s activities, character meet-and-greets, and zookeeper talks throughout the day.
Climb aboard the air-conditioned monorail to discover experiences that include hand-feeding a giraffe, parrot, or even a rhino, cooling off on the Lostman’s River Ride, and learning about animals and the environment through hands-on creative play.
Museum of Illusions Exhibit
The Museum of Illusions offers interactive 3D Illusions that will take your breath away, transporting you to a world of fantasy and imagination! The 40+ 3D illusions produce unique pictures, inspired by cartoons, art, current events, movies, and more.
Guests can look forward to flying on the magic carpet, walking on the edge of the skyscraper, escaping the jaws of an alligator, or even surviving the lava bridge.
Flash photography is not just allowed, it’s encouraged.
The Museum of Illusions is a great place to create memories and let your imagination soar.
Created by some of the world’s best artists, the Museum of Illusions is one of the most famous attractions in Miami.
Grand Beach Hotel Surfside
The Grand Beach Hotel Surfside is a luxurious oceanfront hotel that provides a tropical ambiance while offering spectacular views of the Atlantic and the Miami skyline.
Families are able to relax at two beachfront pools with direct access to miles of uncrowded beaches. Kids will love the beachside hammocks and easy access to the ocean.
A grocery store is conveniently located across the street from Grand Beach Hotel Surfside and restaurants, an ice cream shop, and the community center are within walking distance.
Community Recreation Center
Don’t miss the Surfside Community Recreation Center when in Miami. It’s the perfect place for toddlers to enjoy an afternoon of fun in the water.
Access is available to all visiting tourists and residents with proof of Surfside hotel stay.
There is a fun splashpad for toddlers and a larger waterslide and pool for older kids.
Turtle Walk Surfside
Also while in Surfside, tour Turtle Walk. it features 13 oversized sculptures of the Florida loggerhead sea turtle – each painted by different local artists.
La Plage
La Plage at Grand Beach Hotel Surfside features a menu infused with authentic European and Latin dishes. Influences from all over the world give the restaurant a distinctive personality that cohesively blends with the different cultures that visit the hotel and Miami.
Don’t miss their delicious desserts. They are sure to make your taste buds sing.
PANI
Pani is a magical place that offers abundant dishes and incredibly unique flavors. Discover their super delicious options for all kinds of cravings.
Not only are the desserts, and the food, delicious, but the setting is like a Disney movie set. It’s whimsical and dreamy for little tots that like bright colors.
Ms. Cheezious
Ms. Cheezious delivers award-winning grilled cheese sandwiches, and what toddler doesn’t like a grilled cheese?
Their creations include a Southern Fried Chicken & Waffle Melt, a Crabby Cheese Melt, and even a S’mores Melt.
You can indulge in the melted deliciousness at their location in the historic MIMO district of Miami.
Aventura Mall
On the rainy days, or just when you want to explore shops, art, and unique happenings, Aventura Mall is one of the best places to shop in Miami.
At Aventura Mall, kids love Gorillas in the Mist. It’s a fountain and a playground, built specifically with children in mind.
Rainbow Valley Playground is also a hit with kids at Aventura Mall. It’s an artist-designed interactive playground located on the lower level.
The Rainbow Valley Playground is South Florida’s first indoor children’s playground designed by contemporary artists. Inspired by a story of the artist’s creation, the playground will guide children through Peeko, the baby mountain, and his adventure with Cloudy, his newfound friend, to the magical Rainbow Valley.
Miami offers so much for families traveling with children that it can be difficult to narrow it down to just a few activities for your trip. You could spend an entire vacation on the beach in Miami and I’m pretty certain your toddler would be completely happy. Similarly, you could spend days at Aventura Mall and you would never run out of fun things to do.
It just means one thing – you’ll need to keep returning to Miami for more time at this remarkable destination.