28 Best Things To Do in Miami With Kids (2026) 👧👦

By Fernando Yemail, owner of Out.Miami and a Miami yacht captain and broker.

The 28 best family-friendly things to do in Miami for 2026, from Frost Science and Zoo Miami to calm-water beaches, checked open September 2026.

👧👦 28 family activities · 📅 Checked September 2026

The best things to do in Miami with kids in 2026 include Frost Museum of Science's aquarium and planetarium, Zoo Miami's 750 acres of animals, and the colorful, hands-on Museum of Ice Cream. This guide covers 28 family-friendly activities across museums, parks, beaches and indoor entertainment, and every one was checked as open in September 2026.

Pick your day

• Museums and indoor attractions: Frost Museum of Science, Miami Children's Museum, Museum of Ice Cream, Gold Coast Railroad Museum, Miami Theater Center, Miami Children's Theater
• Animals and nature: Zoo Miami, Everglades Alligator Farm, Miccosukee Indian Village, Zoological Wildlife Foundation, Fruit & Spice Park
• Active and indoor play: Treetop Trekking at Jungle Island, Puttshack, FunDimension, Dezerland Action Park, Kings Dining & Entertainment, Skatebird, Haulover Skate Park
• Beaches and water: Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Crandon Park, Matheson Hammock Park, Venetian Pool, Tidal Cove, Oleta River State Park
• Parks and free outings: Tigertail Lake Recreation Center, Pinecrest Gardens, Wynwood Walls, The Poppet Project

Before you go

• Beat the heat: outdoor spots like Zoo Miami, the alligator farm and Fruit & Spice Park are best visited in the morning.
• Free days: Gold Coast Railroad Museum offers free admission on the first Saturday of the month.
• Calm water: Matheson Hammock's atoll pool and Crandon Park are the gentlest swimming spots for younger kids.
• Indoor backup plan: Frost Museum, Museum of Ice Cream, FunDimension and Dezerland are all good picks if the weather turns.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best thing to do in Miami with kids?

Frost Museum of Science is Miami's top family attraction, combining an aquarium, planetarium and hands-on science exhibits under one roof.

What is the best beach in Miami for young kids?

Crandon Park and Matheson Hammock Park both offer calm, shallow water that's gentler than the open ocean.

Is the Miami Seaquarium still open?

No. The Miami Seaquarium permanently closed in October 2025 after its Miami-Dade County lease was terminated.

What are good rainy-day activities in Miami with kids?

Frost Museum of Science, Miami Children's Museum, Museum of Ice Cream, FunDimension and Dezerland Action Park are all strong indoor options.

How did you choose these family activities?

Every pick was chosen by the Out.Miami team for 2026, and each one was checked as open in September 2026. See how we rank our guides for the full method.

Which of these family activities have the highest ratings?

Pinecrest Gardens, The Poppet Project and Wynwood Walls have the highest ratings on this list, based on places with at least 50 reviews.

Which neighborhoods have the most family activities on this list?

Key Biscayne and Downtown have the most picks on this list.

More Miami guides

See the full list of things to do in Miami and the best beaches in Miami, plan a weekend meal from the best brunch in Miami, the 60 best restaurants in Miami or Cuban restaurants in Miami, shop the boutiques in Miami, and read how we rank our guides.

Compare at a glance

1. 1. Frost Museum of Science

   Florida's only combined science museum, planetarium and aquarium, built around a 500,000-gallon Gulf Stream tank you view from above and below. Hands-on floors cover flight, the human body and the everglades, and the planetarium runs several shows a day. Plan on three to four hours, and book the planetarium slot when you arrive rather than later. Open daily, opening as early as 10am and closing as late as 6pm on Friday to Sunday.

   ✅ Best for: a rainy-day science adventure · 📍 Downtown

2. 2. Miami Children's Museum

   A hands-on museum on Watson Island built for ages two to ten, with role-play zones rather than exhibits behind glass: a supermarket, a bank, a cruise ship, a fire truck and a music studio. Art studios run drop-in projects, and there is a shaded outdoor area for when everyone needs air. Two hours is usually plenty. Open daily, 10am to 6pm.

   ✅ Best for: toddlers and young kids · 📍 Watson Island

3. 3. Museum of Ice Cream

   An interactive walk-through of pink rooms in Downtown, ending in the sprinkle pool that everyone comes for. Ice cream and treats are included at stops along the way, with mini golf and slides between them. Best for older toddlers upwards, and quieter on weekday mornings than at weekends. Open daily except Tuesday, opening as early as 10am and closing as late as 10pm on Saturday.

   ✅ Best for: a sweet, colorful family outing · 📍 851 NE 1st Ave, Downtown

4. 4. Zoo Miami

   Florida's largest zoo at 750 acres, laid out by continent and stocked with species suited to the climate, from Asian elephants and rhinos to Florida panthers. It is a lot of walking, so the tram loop and rentable canopies are worth the money, and morning visits catch animals at their most active before the heat. Open daily, 10am to 5pm.

   ✅ Best for: a full day with animals · 📍 South Miami-Dade

5. 5. Treetop Trekking at Jungle Island

   An aerial course of rope bridges, nets and ziplines strung through the trees on Watson Island, with separate circuits by height and confidence. Harnesses and a briefing come first, staff stay on the ground with you, and the junior course means younger children are not left watching. Open daily, 10am to 4pm.

   ✅ Best for: active older kids · 📍 Watson Island

6. 6. Puttshack

   Tech-driven mini golf where the balls track their own scores, so nobody argues about counting. Nine holes take about an hour, the food is a step above the usual, and the room works for a mixed group of ages and abilities. Book at weekends. Open daily, opening as early as 11am and closing as late as 1am on Friday and Saturday.

   ✅ Best for: a fun family competition · 📍 Miami

7. 7. FunDimension

   An indoor entertainment centre with trampolines, an arcade, bowling and a climbing structure under one roof, plus party rooms. The obvious answer to an afternoon of rain or heat, and busiest at weekends after lunch. Open daily except Monday and Thursday, opening as early as 10am and closing as late as midnight on Friday and Saturday.

   ✅ Best for: burning off energy indoors · 📍 Miami

8. 8. Dezerland Action Park

   A vast indoor complex in North Miami with go-karts, bowling, an arcade, trampolines, mini golf and a car museum, which makes it the easiest place to keep different ages happy at once. Attractions are paid individually or by package, and half a day disappears quickly. Open daily, opening as early as 10am and closing as late as 11pm on Friday and Saturday.

   ✅ Best for: a one-stop indoor adventure · 📍 14401 NE 19th Ave Ste 203, North Miami

9. 9. Kings Dining & Entertainment

   Bowling lanes, arcade games, billiards and a proper kitchen in one room, which is why it gets booked for birthdays and big family groups. Daytime is family-friendly and the mood shifts older in the evening. Moderately priced. Open daily, opening as early as 11:30am and closing as late as 2am on Friday and Saturday.

   ✅ Best for: birthdays and group parties · 📍 Miami

10. 10. Skatebird

    A long-running skate spot for kids learning to roll, with sessions for beginners and gear to rent. Sessions run at set times, so check the schedule before you drive over. Open daily, opening as early as 10am and closing as late as 8pm on Monday to Friday.

    ✅ Best for: young skaters · 📍 Miami

11. 11. Haulover Skate Park

    A public skatepark beside Haulover Beach with bowls and street sections, busy with local skaters and welcoming to beginners early in the day. Free to use, helmets sensible, and the beach is a two-minute walk away. Open daily, 6am to 8pm.

    ✅ Best for: skateboarding by the beach · 📍 Sunny Isles

12. 12. Venetian Pool

    A 1924 coral-rock quarry turned public pool in Coral Gables, fed by spring water and rebuilt each season, with waterfalls, caves and a sand-bottom beach area. Children must be at least three and able to swim, so check the rules before travelling, and arrive early on hot weekends because entry closes when it is full. Open daily except Monday, opening as early as 10am and closing as late as 5:30pm on Tuesday to Friday.

    ✅ Best for: a swim unlike any other pool · 📍 Coral Gables

13. 13. Tidal Cove

    A water park with a surf-style wave pool, four slides, a lazy river and a shallow area for small children, attached to the JW Marriott Turnberry. Day passes are limited, so book ahead in season. Open daily, 9am to 6pm.

    ✅ Best for: wave pool fun · 📍 Miami

14. 14. Gold Coast Railroad Museum

    A rail museum in South Miami-Dade where the point is climbing aboard: carriages you can walk through, including the presidential car, a large model layout and short train rides at weekends. Admission is free on the first Saturday of the month. Open daily except Monday and Tuesday, opening as early as 10am and closing as late as 4pm.

    ✅ Best for: train-obsessed kids · 📍 12450 SW 152nd St, South Miami-Dade · 📅 Free on the first Saturday of the month

15. 15. Miami Theater Center

    A Miami Shores venue staging imaginative theatre for young audiences, from puppetry to music, in a room small enough that children can see properly. Shows are short, usually under an hour, which suits shorter attention spans. Open daily except Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 5pm.

    ✅ Best for: a first trip to the theater · 📍 Miami Shores

16. 16. Miami Children's Theater

    A children's theatre company with year-round productions and classes, performed by and for young people. Good for a first theatre trip, and for children who want to be on stage rather than watching.

    ✅ Best for: a kid-focused stage show · 📍 Miami

17. 17. Zoological Wildlife Foundation

    A small conservation facility south of the city offering close-up, guided encounters with big cats, primates and other animals in small groups. Visits are by reservation only and are structured around scheduled tours rather than wandering, which suits attentive older children. Open daily, 9am to 6pm.

    ✅ Best for: hands-on animal encounters · 📍 Miami

18. 18. Everglades Alligator Farm

    The oldest alligator farm in Florida, on the edge of the Everglades, with airboat rides, alligator feedings and snake and wildlife shows running through the day. Entry usually includes the airboat trip, and the show times are worth planning around. Open daily, 9am to 5:30pm.

    ✅ Best for: a close-up look at alligators · 📍 Florida City

19. 19. Miccosukee Indian Village

    A cultural village on the Tamiami Trail run by the Miccosukee Tribe, with a museum, craft demonstrations, alligator demonstrations and airboat rides into the sawgrass. A good pairing with the Everglades drive rather than a trip on its own. Open Thursday to Sunday, 9am to 4pm.

    ✅ Best for: Everglades culture and history · 📍 Everglades

20. 20. The Poppet Project

    A small, story-driven attraction that leans on imagination rather than screens, aimed at younger children. Sessions are intimate and often booked, so check before turning up.

    ✅ Best for: imaginative younger children · 📍 Miami

21. 21. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

    A state park at the tip of Key Biscayne with a calm beach, shaded picnic areas, bike and kayak rental, and the 1825 Cape Florida Lighthouse, the oldest standing structure in Miami-Dade. Climbing tours run on set days and have a height requirement.

    ✅ Best for: a family beach day · 📍 Key Biscayne

22. 22. Crandon Park

    Key Biscayne's family beach, where a sandbar keeps the water shallow and flat a long way out. Lifeguards, picnic shelters, a playground, kayak rental and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center at the north end, which runs junior naturalist programmes. Entry is a flat fee per vehicle.

    ✅ Best for: a calmer, shallow-water beach · 📍 6747 Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne

23. 23. Matheson Hammock Park

    A Coral Gables park built around a tidal atoll pool that stays shallow and calm, the gentlest swim in the city for toddlers. Mangroves, picnic tables under the trees, a marina and a cafe, with a flat parking fee at weekends. Open daily, 8am to 5pm.

    ✅ Best for: calm-water swimming · 📍 Coral Gables

24. 24. Tigertail Lake Recreation Center

    An open recreation area with a lake, playground and green space, low-key and rarely crowded. Useful as a break between bigger outings rather than a destination in itself. Open daily, 9am to 5pm.

    ✅ Best for: a quiet neighborhood park · 📍 Key Biscayne

25. 25. Oleta River State Park

    Florida's largest urban park, with a lagoon beach for swimming, kayak and paddleboard rental, and mountain bike trails graded from beginner to advanced. Cabins can be booked, and the mangrove paddle is calm enough for families.

    ✅ Best for: kayaking and biking together · 📍 North Miami

26. 26. Fruit & Spice Park

    A 37-acre garden in the Redland growing more than 500 varieties of fruit, spice and nut trees from around the world. You may taste anything that has fallen to the ground, tram tours run daily with a guide, and it is a rare outing that teaches something without feeling like school. Open daily, 10am to 5pm.

    ✅ Best for: a hands-on nature lesson · 📍 24801 SW 187th Ave, Redland

27. 27. Pinecrest Gardens

    The old Parrot Jungle site, now a botanical garden and cultural centre with a splash pad, playground, petting barn and a banyan-shaded walk. A weekly farmers market and regular family concerts make weekend mornings the best time to go. Open daily, 9am to 5pm.

    ✅ Best for: gardens plus a splash pad · 📍 Pinecrest

28. 28. Wynwood Walls

    An outdoor street art museum of large-scale murals by international artists, small enough to walk in under an hour and colourful enough to hold young attention. The surrounding streets are free to wander if you would rather not pay for the walled section. Open daily, 10:30am to 6:30pm.

    ✅ Best for: a free, colorful family walk · 📍 Wynwood