Fri, Nov 13
Luminosa at Jungle Island
Experience Luminosa, a dazzling display of glowing wonders and unforgettable light installations, returning to Jungle Island. This immersive event promises a magical experience for the whole family.
Things to Do with Kids in Miami
Miami offers families an incredible mix of culture, nature, and entertainment. Explore interactive exhibits at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, let kids run wild at Jungle Island, or spend a morning at Zoo Miami - one of the largest zoos in the country. The Wynwood Walls spark creativity with ever-changing street art, while Coconut Grove's Peacock Park hosts family festivals throughout the year. For outdoor adventures, Matheson Hammock Park combines beach time with nature trails, and the Venetian Pool in Coral Gables is a historic swimming spot kids love. Whether you're looking for free library story times, weekend festivals, or hands-on STEM programs, Miami's family scene has something for toddlers through teens.
Loading map...
Family Fun in Miami
Miami packs world-class museums, wildlife, gardens and calm-water beaches into one city, with the Everglades less than an hour west. Below is a starting list of the places local families come back to, alongside the events listed above that change every week.
🔭 Frost Museum of Science
The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science in downtown's Museum Park combines a multi-level aquarium, a planetarium and hands-on science galleries. Kids can watch sharks and rays from the aquarium's lower level, see a planetarium show, and spend hours on interactive exhibits about flight, light and the human body.
🦒 Zoo Miami
Zoo Miami in southwest Miami-Dade is the largest zoo in Florida, with animals shown in open habitats grouped by region of the world. It is big, so plan for a full day or use the tram; younger kids love the splash play area on hot afternoons.
🧸 Miami Children's Museum
On Watson Island between downtown and Miami Beach, Miami Children's Museum is built for toddlers through early grade-schoolers, with pretend-play exhibits such as a supermarket, a bank and a cruise ship. Next door, Jungle Island offers animal encounters and play areas, so the two make an easy combined outing.
🌺 Gardens & Nature
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables has a butterfly conservatory and wide lawns to explore. Nearby, Matheson Hammock Park has a man-made atoll pool, a shallow saltwater lagoon that is one of the calmest places in Miami for little swimmers. For a bigger adventure, Shark Valley in Everglades National Park, off the Tamiami Trail, offers a tram tour and a flat bike trail where alligators are often seen right beside the path.
🏖️ Kid-Friendly Beaches
Crandon Park on Key Biscayne has a long beach protected by an offshore sandbar, so the water stays shallow and calm, plus a nature center for tide-pool programs. At the southern tip of the island, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park adds a historic lighthouse, bike paths and picnic areas.
🎟️ Free & Low-Cost Ideas
Miami-Dade Public Library branches run free storytimes and kids' programs every week, and many of them appear in the events above. Beaches are free to walk onto, though most county parks charge for parking. For more, see our free things to do in Miami, toddler activities in Miami and free events across Miami-Dade.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do with kids in Miami?
Families keep coming back to the Frost Museum of Science (aquarium, planetarium and hands-on exhibits), Zoo Miami, Miami Children's Museum on Watson Island, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and the calm beach at Crandon Park on Key Biscayne. For something wilder, Shark Valley in Everglades National Park has a tram tour and a bike trail where alligators are common.
Are there free things to do with kids in Miami?
Yes. Miami-Dade Public Library branches run free storytimes and kids' programs every week, beaches are free to walk onto, and many festivals, movie nights and community days are free. This page and our free Miami listings are updated daily with free kids events.
What indoor activities are there for kids in Miami?
The Frost Museum of Science and Miami Children's Museum are the two biggest indoor options and work well on rainy or very hot days. Library branches host indoor programs most weekdays, and there are indoor playgrounds and trampoline parks across Miami-Dade; check the indoor activities listings for this week's options.
Which Miami beaches are best for young kids?
Crandon Park on Key Biscayne has shallow, calm water thanks to an offshore sandbar. Matheson Hammock Park in Coral Gables has an atoll pool, a sheltered saltwater lagoon that is very gentle for toddlers. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park has calmer stretches plus a lighthouse and picnic areas.
How do I find kids events in Miami this weekend?
The events on this page are collected daily from libraries, museums, parks, venues and community calendars across Miami. Use the date filter to see this weekend, or the age and price filters to narrow to toddler-friendly or free events.