A Mom’s Guide to Miami
Your family trip to Florida may center around the Disney Parks and Orlando, but there’s also plenty to see and do elsewhere in the sunshine state. Flights to Miami airport can be very reasonable if you book at the right time, so why not enjoy the city and its environment whilst you’re there? Read on to discover Miami’s family holiday highlights.
Beaches and water sports
Miami is essentially surrounded by water and you can enjoy a range of family activities there from snorkeling and windsurfing to canoeing and diving. The Miami area boasts clean, shallow water for safe swimming and powdery white sand beaches that are perfect for play. Miami Beach and South Beach are easy to get to from downtown and very family-friendly. Take a glass-bottomed boat to see the colorful array of underwater life in the reefs and shipwrecks of Biscayne National Park. You can also take day-boat trips around the coast or head out on a fishing trip.
Nature and wildlife
You can introduce your kids to a range of wildlife whilst in Miami, whether that’s on a visit to the Monkey Jungle, Everglades Alligator Farm, Zoo Miami or Jungle Island. It’s at Jungle Island that you’ll find some of the rarest animals on the planet, including the white lion, tabby tiger, snow tiger and leopard. Shows and exhibitions are a chance to get closer to birds and primates, and learn more about their lives in the wild. You can also enjoy outdoor fun with walks around Crandon Park, which has mangrove swamps as well as its very own beach.
Dining and entertainment
You’ll find every cuisine imaginable in Miami, from Italian and Mexican to sushi bars and grills. Downtown is notoriously family friendly, and you’ll find a warm welcome in most restaurants if you want to dine with kids. In terms of entertainment, the Gold Coast Railway Museum is a really fun day out where kids can ride on model trains and explore historic carriages. There’s also a wealth of art galleries and art nouveau architecture for parents and older children.
From beaches and water sports to nature and wildlife, no kid or mom can ever get bored in Miami. Spend some quality time there, and you’ll soon realize that Florida isn’t all just about the theme parks.