Miami Family Vacation Ideas

From intriguing museums, bike rides and a side trip to Key West, there's plenty to keep the whole family entertained in Miami

UPDATED NOVEMBER 2024
By Katie Sagal
Miami Beach

While most people think of Miami as a beach city, filled with parties, clubs, and good times, it’s also a fantastic place for a family vacation. There are many interactive attractions for the kids, and there are fascinating museums, aquariums, and cruises that everyone will love.

If you’re planning on heading to Miami for your vacation but aren’t sure which attractions are best for families, check out this list. It’s been curated by travel experts who know a thing or two about traversing Miami with kids. Our top summer vacation ideas include:

  • Big Bus Miami Sightseeing Tour
  • Miami Seaquarium
  • Biscayne Bay Sightseeing Cruise
  • Jungle Island
  • Jet Boat Miami
  • Key West Day Trip from Miami
  • Miami Bike Rental
  • Frost Museum of Science
  • Miami Children’s Museum
  • Pérez Art Museum Miami
  • Bayside Marketplace

Big Bus Miami Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

One of the best ways to get to know the city is an open-deck bus tour with Big Bus Miami. Because Miami is a multifaceted city with many distinct neighborhoods, it’s difficult to know where to go to see all the highlights. A guided bus tour is your solution, as they’ll escort you past all the major sights and areas.

The hop-on hop-off feature is convenient for customizing your sightseeing. Popular stops include Miami Seaquarium, Vizcaya Gardens, Jungle Island, and Miami Duck Tours. Choose from three different routes, depending on what your interests are.

Miami Seaquarium

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Miami is filled with great attractions for families that love animals, and this is just the beginning. At Miami Seaquarium you’ll find humane and playful animal shows and interactions, with educational information displayed throughout the park.

One of the best things about Miami Seaquarium is its heartwarming comcommitment to rehabilitation and conservation. They’ve rescued and healed countless manatees and other species. Those who are still healing or can’t be re-released into the wild are given a home at the Seaquarium. 

Biscayne Bay Sightseeing Cruise

One of our favorite ways to really get to know Miami is by spending some time on the water. A Biscayne Bay Sightseeing Cruise is the perfect opportunity to do just that – so sit back, relax, and soak up the beauty of the coastline.

Some of the highlights you’ll see on your journey around this gorgeous bay include American Airlines Arena, the Miami Herald Building, Miami Beach, Southpoint Park, and more. Your 80-minute tour will give you all the highlights. Keep an eye out for the luxury houses of the rich and famous, too!

Lion Country Safari

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Lion Country Safari gives you amazing close-up access to over 900 free-roaming animals and is sure to leave the whole family awestruck. Comprised of a four-mile drive-through and divided into seven areas, you'll see giraffes, zebras, rhinos, wildebeests, and of course, lions. Some might come within inches of your car! Please keep arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times...

What's more, the rest of the park is yours to explore on foot. You can experience more hands-on animal encounters, like giraffe feeding, bird feeding, and a petting zoo.

Jet Boat Miami

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If you’re looking for a little more excitement in your water activities, then Jet Boat Miami is the perfect choice for you and your family. This high-speed vessel will zip around Biscayne Bay, past sights like San Marco Island, Star Island, and many more. Your skilled boat operator will perform tricks like 360 spins and more.

Due to its speed and quick movements, this boat ride may not be appropriate for smaller children. Use your judgment when choosing this attraction.

Please note: Jet Boat Miami is separately ticketed.

Key West Day Trip from Miami

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This round-trip excursion is more than worth the time you’ll dedicate to getting down to the southernmost point of the continental United States. You'll cross 42 bridges and 32 islands before reaching the tropical paradise of Key West.

Once you’re there, you get to spend a few hours as you’d like, whether that’s renting a bike, parasailing, swimming, or sightseeing. Some highlights for explorers include the Hemingway House, a botanical garden, and Mallory Square.

Please note: This excursion is a day-long experience.

Miami Bike Rental

In Miami's hot weather, you’ll find that pedaling along the beachfront can be a good way to get some breezes going in your favor. There are bike lanes and trails galore in Miami and South Beach, and exploring on two wheels is admittedly one of our favorite ways to get around this beautiful city.

Your Miami Bike Rental will come with a map, too, so you won't need much familiarity to set off exploring. We recommend starting with the amazing Art Deco district, which has a lot to offer in terms of sightseeing.

Miami Children’s Museum

For those of you traveling with younger or middle-grade kids, the Miami Children’s Museum should be a must on your list. It’s an interactive environment, with hundreds of things for kids to learn through play. All the exhibits are bilingual, and most emphasize aspects of modern life that will be important as children grow, like the arts, culture, and community.

You'll love watching the kids enjoy exhibits like the Health and Wellness Center, Pet Central, Ocean Odyssey, Everglades Park, and the World Music Studio. They also frequently run special programming – especially during the summer – so be sure to check their calendar before your visit.

Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)

Pérez Art Museum Miami

The Pérez Art Museum Miami is another one of our favorite kid-friendly institutions in Miami. It’s a well-curated art museum, nestled in a beautiful building, with tons of things for kids to enjoy and explore. Of course, there is much for adults to love, too! Take a guided tour to see their exhibit highlights, most of which highlight the multicultural and intersectional nature of Miami.

Don’t forget to ask for the PAMM family pack when you arrive – it’s filled with goodies to make the experience that much more fulfilling for younger visitors.

Bayside Marketplace

Quite a few of the attractions we’ve suggested are near Bayside Marketplace, so it couldn’t be easier to devote a little time to roaming this area. Primarily a farmers market-style place, this open-air venue also features plenty of nearby restaurants, shops, and more.

It’s also host to a number of special events throughout the summer, so stop by their Visitor Center for more information on what’s going on during your visit.

There's plenty to keep the whole family entertained in Miami

There you go. A few suggestions for attractions and activities for your upcoming Miami family vacation. If you are taking small children or babies on your family vacation, save yourself the hassle of bringing your own and consider using BabyQuip if you need to rent any baby equipment in Miami.

Want to save money on those bucket-list attractions? 

Check out a Miami attraction pass from Go City® and you could save yourself up to 50% on your must-sees – perfect!  

☀️Compare Miami passes☀️ – 🌏 Explore other destinations 🌏 –  ✈️ Buy a pass ✈️

Katie Sagal
Go City Travel Expert

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5 Days in Miami

Forever fun and easy to love, Miami makes the perfect short getaway any time of the year. Famed for its picturesque beaches and vibrant nightlife, the city is one of the most popular tourist hotspots in the United States – and it’s easy to see why. Interesting things to do there run the gamut – from world-class cultural institutions and historic landmarks to fantastic shopping opportunities and restaurants, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Still, planning a trip to a new city can be pretty daunting. Where do you even begin? How do you choose one attraction over another? If you’re planning a trip to the Magic City and are struggling to make sense of it all, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Have a read through our list of the best things to see and do in the area. Miami is what you make of it, so however you choose to spend your vacation, we know that you’ll have a blast! Day 1 - Rejuvinate Since travelling can knock the energy out of a lot of people, we recommend taking it slow on your first day in the city. There are a lot of ways to relax in Miami, but one of our favorite spots is the Venetian Pool. This beloved aquatic attraction was built into an abandoned rock quarry in 1921, and has been serving the local community ever since. Standing out from all other attractions of its kind, the pool is well-recognized for its unique beauty and architectural features. It is built in Mediterranean Revival style to reflect the local community, and utilizes a large amount of coral for ornamentation. Perfect for a refreshing dip on those long hot Florida days, this spot is filled with fresh water daily from artesian wells and features refreshing waterfalls and water-filled caves. For those who like to soak up the sun, there is an area with lounge chairs and umbrellas where you can kick back with a book and take some time for yourself. Beautiful, calm, and luxurious, too, this place is great for recharging after a long journey. Day 2 - Explore the City Now that you’ve had time to rejuvenate, it’s time to see the city. One of the best places to start for this is Coconut Grove, affectionately known as the ‘’The Grove’’ by Miami locals. As the city's oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood, this scenic spot is great for exploring. If you’re an architecture buff, we highly recommend checking out the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens – a lavish Mediterranean Revival estate. Here you can take self-guided tours to see how the wealthiest lived during the first half of the twentieth century. Another popular visitor attraction in the area is Biscayne Bay on the eastern border of the area. Visitors can take sailing lessons or simply enjoy a bite to eat at one of the site's many great waterside cafes and restaurants. We suggest setting an entire day aside to explore The Grove, since there’s so much to see and do here. Go for a casual stroll and enjoy the many farmers’ markets, galleries and boutiques which flank these historic streets. A charming and unique district of Miami, this spot is well worth the visit. Day 3 - Soak Up the Sun Since Miami is well-recognized for its year-round beautiful weather and lush greenery, it'd be a sin not to check out one of the area’s gorgeous green spaces. To truly take in the captivating natural attributes of the city, we recommend heading over to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Located in Coral Gables just south of the city, this 83-acre landscape is famous for its expansive and delightful collection of exotic flora. Established way back in 1936, the park was named after renowned botanist David Fairchild, as it displayed his unique plant collection which was brought back from his world travels. Walking around the site, there’s no doubt you’ll be blown away by all that there is to see here. Think magnificent towering banyan trees, romantic trailing vines and vibrant flowers of all kinds. In addition, this spot is home to the largest tropical bamboo collection in the world, with over 125 species to see. A treasure trove of natural beauty, this place is a total must-see for all nature enthusiasts. Day 4 - Discover the Area When travelling, it’s always a great idea to explore the city’s local art scene. To discover Miami's most creative side, we suggest heading over to the Wynwood Art District, where you'll find countless galleries, fashion boutiques and streetside cafes to explore. One of the area’s most notable attractions has got to be Wynwood Walls, a large open-air graffiti museum which works to bring together some of the world’s most unique talents from across the globe. Though the exhibit is changing constantly, the walls have seen the likes of famous working urban artists including Shepard Fairey, Miss Van and Lady Pink. Walking through Wynwood Walls, you’ll find that the museum embraces a wide range of styles and subject matter. Whether you’re a true art lover or just looking to capture that perfect Instagram moment, this spot is most certainly not to be missed. Day 5 - Hit the Beach No visit to Miami is quite complete without a trip to the beach. Whilst there are many fantastic seaside stops in the city, our favorite has got to South Beach for its remarkable natural beauty. Well-recognized for its sparkling clear waters and white-sand shores, this place is perfect for those looking to experience the paradisial postcard image of Miami in real-time. Don’t believe us? This place is so widely known for its looks that it has long served as a popular filming location for many famous movies and TV shows, including Miami Vice, There’s Something About Mary and even Scarface. Walking down the beach, you might even catch something in action! Aside from its undeniable visual appeal, you’ll find that there are a lot of fun activities to get involved in here, including surfing, paddle boarding, jet skiing and sailing. If you can, we recommend staying past sunset, since the surrounding area is famed for its wonderful cocktail lounges and nightclubs. Miami is a fantastic place to visit all year round. Though five days might not sound like a lot, with the right amount of planning, it could be all that you need. Explore the city to its full potential with GoCity’s All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass. If you’d like to know more, connect with us on Instagram and Facebook. With Go City, you can see more, for less.
Sarah Harris
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Things to do in Downtown Miami

Downtown Miami Set along the southeastern coastline, Miami is a sprawling tourist hub drawing in millions of visitors each year – and with good reason. At its core, downtown is a modern and culturally-rich area perfect for exploring on foot. Interesting activities to do here run the gamut – known particularly for its wealth of fantastic galleries, theaters, event venues and more, you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing great things to do here. Still, daunted by the prospect of figuring out the best things to do in downtown Miami? Don’t worry – we've done all the research for you! So, grab a notepad and get ready to jot some things down. We promise that you won’t regret it. Find Fun Activities Lively and bursting with culture, downtown is one of the best places for getting in touch with the local art scene. There are countless fantastic galleries in this area of the city, but our favorite has got to be Pérez Art Museum for its unique and well-established collection of 20th- and 21st-century art. The institute’s small but carefully considered collection features around 2000 works from the Americas, Western Europe and Africa. Walking around the institute, you’ll be able to view seminal pieces from many recognizable names, including Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Christo and Jean-Claude. Make sure to stop by the gift shop, where you’ll find great homewares, stationery and posters to bring home with you. A fantastic stop for all art lovers, we love this spot because it’s impossible to leave without having learned something new. Those who are travelling with family might be looking for great stops to please the kids. Downtown Miami is filled with some fantastic crowd-pleasers, but none are quite greater than Bayside Marketplace. Much more than just a mall, this enormous entertainment complex has pretty much everything you could ask for all in one space. For shopping addicts, there are of course countless stores ranging from popular high-street brands to designer boutiques. In addition, this place veers off from the typical mall experience, but in a totally great way with live music and events each day. If you’re looking for something a little more relaxed, you’ll be able to kick back and chill at some of its many waterside cafes and restaurants out by the marina. Perfect for those travelling in groups, this place has a lot to give. Learn Something New Though downtown is known as Miami’s financial district, it has much to offer for sightseers. For those looking to incorporate learning into their vacation experience, we recommend heading over to the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum, which is well-recognized for its broad range of engaging and educational exhibits. This place has both a planetarium and aquarium, so you know that there’s a whole lot to see and do here. The institute’s exhibitions cover everything from the Ice Age and dinosaurs to the future of scientific discovery. In addition, this place has special family workshops and mini-me science sessions, making it a great place to take the kids. As fun as it is fascinating, the museum works to provide an exciting educational experience for those of all ages. Some of the best trips include a day or more spent in the halls of a museum. There are many great cultural institutions in downtown Miami, but if you’re looking to learn more about the background of the area, the HistoryMiami Museum is the place to be. The institute is the largest history museum in the state of Florida, and one of the most popular visitor attractions in this part of town. Upon entrance, visitors can learn about the city’s fascinating origins, going back over 12,000 years. Within the institute’s expansive collection, you can see photographs, paintings, artefacts and artwork showcasing the development of the city. There’s truly no better place for travellers interested in social and archaeological growth. Soak Up the Sun Seated along the southeastern coastline, Miami is well-recognized for its year-round beautiful weather and lush greenery. If you’re looking to take advantage of the city’s wonderful natural attributes, look no further than Virginia Key Outdoor Center. Kayak your way through a secluded tropical lagoon. Get up close with a real-life manatee. Or simply rent a bike and explore downtown on your own. This place offers a wide array of options as well as lessons for beginners, so don’t worry if you’re not quite the sporty type. We recommend that if you’re planning to try your hand at something sporty in Miami, take a lot of water and sunscreen to keep comfortable and hydrated. Great for all nature lovers, this place works to highlight the intrinsic beauty of the area whilst getting our adrenaline pumping! One of the biggest draws of the Miami area is its beach scene. The city boasts countless wonderful seaside attractions to be explored, but if we’re talking about those specifically in the downtown district, then Hobie Island Beach Park is a total winner. Whilst you won’t quite be able to sprawl out on a lounge chair with a podcast here, this spot is perfect for a breath of fresh air and soaking up the sun. The park also grants spectacular views of downtown skyscrapers across the bay – perfect for taking some fun vacation snaps! If you’re looking to get active, you’ll find that surfing, windsurfing, paddleboarding and boating are all popular activities here. We recommend taking some time to explore the surrounding area, since there are plenty of stores, restaurants and bars to be enjoyed. Miami is a city that urbanites and nature lovers can both appreciate. Downtown has an authentic cultural buzz that you won’t find in any other district. With a vibrant mix of the old and the new, this exciting walkable neighborhood is perfect for spending time with friends and family. Whether you’re a history buff, a shopping addict, or an outdoorsy type, you’re sure to find something to pique your interest. Explore the city to its full potential with GoCity’s All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass. If you’d like to know more, connect with us on Instagram and Facebook. With Go City, you can see more, for less.
Sarah Harris
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Visiting Jungle Island

If you’re planning on visiting South Florida on your next vacation with the kids, then Jungle Island - and its vast array of curious creatures - simply has to be on your Miami itinerary.
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