Popular Family Activities in Miami, FL

A tropical garden, a zoo filled with diverse animal species, a children’s museum, and a three-story indoor playground make Miami, Florida, one dynamic family destination. Parents and their kids will find plenty to do, see, and explore together at these fun Miami attractions.

Discover Extraordinary Palms and Butterflies at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Photo by Hans Eiskonen on Unsplash

A walk through the Montgomery Palmetum at Miami’s Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden will make visitors feel like they’ve entered a tropical paradise. The Fairchild Tropical Garden takes its name from Dr. David Fairchild, a botanist who traveled the world searching for tropical plants to introduce to the United States. When he moved to Miami in 1935, Fairchild began sharing his knowledge and love of tropical plants with Col. Robert Montgomery, who founded the botanical garden and named it after Fairchild. The garden, which opened to the public in 1938, was later deeded to Miami-Dade County.

Your family can witness an astounding 700 species of rare and endangered palms that call this 83-acre area home. Botanists consider this group of palms as one of the world’s most important documented palm collections, as it represents all corners of the globe. The garden contains more endangered species of palms than in all other botanical gardens combined.

In addition to the palm trees, families can experience the beauty of butterflies with the Wings of the Tropics exhibition. Witness more than 40 species of butterflies from the tropics as you wander the paths through the exhibition. The sight is like a fluttering rainbow that offers your kids a glimpse into the world of these magical creatures. The garden is just south of Miami.

Explore the Miami Children’s Museum

Let your children play, learn, imagine, and create when visiting the Miami Children’s Museum. Interactive exhibitions, programs, and educational materials encourage young visitors to explore the arts, culture, and community.

Begin your journey through the museum by entering the Castle of Dreams. This two-story sandcastle dazzles the eye with luminous sand and pieces of colored glass. Discover the science behind music at The Music Makers Studio, where kids can explore the diversity of instruments, find out how musical sounds are made, and compose their own pieces of music for them to enjoy.

On the second Saturday of every month, the museum offers a sensory-friendly experience for families of children with sensory processing disorders. Lowered sound and lighting within a sensory-modified and supportive setting allows children to enjoy the museum and interact with other kids in sensory-based activities. RSVPs are required to attend.

Additional sensory-friendly experiences at the museum include the Multi-Sensory/Snoezelen Room. Created specifically for children with an autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorder, and global developmental delays, this space is a relaxing environment that reduces agitation and anxiety, offers intriguing visual exhibitions, and provides comfortable lighting for kids.

Run, Jump, and Climb at the Lee & Tina Hills Playground

Located at the south end of Bayfront Park, the Lee & Tina Hills Playground provides an ideal setting for kids to have fun and enjoy some free play under the Miami sun. Your kids will love climbing aboard the pirate ship, hopping up and down on the bouncers, and taking turns on the sliding and climbing apparatuses on the playground equipment.

Parents will appreciate the playground’s rubber safety surfacing under the equipment. Benches and trash cans are also conveniently adjacent to the playground.

Crafted by Cemrock Landscapes of Tucson, Arizona, the park’s play sculpture reflects Miami’s scenic landscapes. The sculpture takes the form of a rising wave and features representations of a dolphin, a turtle, and a manatee, marine animals native to the waters of Miami. This structure makes a superb backdrop for a family photo. The Lee & Tina Hills Playground is open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Take a Trip to Knaus Berry Farm

Photo by Rich Smith on Unsplash

Introduce your kids to South Florida’s agricultural treasures at Knaus Berry Farm in Homestead. Owned and operated by the Knaus family since 1956, Knaus Berry Farm offers pick-your-own strawberries and tomatoes. Spend the day harvesting the freshest fruits and vegetables to share with your family. Pick-your-own hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. To confirm pick-your-own availability, call the farm at 305-247-0668.

Stop by the farm store to purchase delicious treats such as the colossal cinnamon rolls, pies, jams and jellies, ice cream cups, and milkshakes. Knaus Berry Farm is open from November through mid-April during the Redland farming season. 

Visit the Animals at Zoo Miami

Discover zoological wonders during a visit with your family to Zoo Miami. Also known as The Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens, this attraction is the only subtropical zoo that operates in the continental United States. 

Zoo Miami offers guests an unforgettable visitor experience with tropical, open-air exhibitions that replicate the animals’ natural habitats and allow zoo guests to encounter wildlife at a safe, close range. Crocodiles, gorillas, elephants, hippos, rhinos, and more await your family during your visit.

If your little ones are animal lovers, the animal feedings are a can’t-miss experience at Zoo Miami. You and your children can feed giraffes, camels, and lorikeets with these unforgettable personal encounters with wildlife. 

The littlest visitors will love taking a ride on the Zoo Miami Wildlife Carousel, a 36-foot wooden carousel that features 30 hand-carved animals and two chariots. Take your family boating on the Amazon & Beyond lake on a swan or duck pedal boat. More information about the zoo and the fees for its experiences are available on the zoo’s website. 

We hope you find this guide to family activities in Miami a resource you can use when you’re planning your next outing. What did you think about our list? Did we miss one of your favorite attractions — one that Miami locals love? Let us know by sending us a message. Our team members are always eager to share our community’s best destinations for family fun with our customers.