7 Best Family Things to Do in Miami Beach

Lummus 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.

Oleta 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.

Miami 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.

You can swim, play, and enjoy various ball games at Flamingo Park, an urban sports and recreational space at the center 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 center. There’s an 8-lane running track, as well as a field with artificial turf that’s great for soccer.

Younger kids can enjoy the playground onsite, or swim with mum and dad at the aquatic center.

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.

Fun 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.

Even 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.