Kid-Friendly Tips for Miami, Florida. Miami is probably not the first destination most would think about when traveling with their child as a single parent. After all, the clubs and nightlife that Miami is famous for are off-limits when adventuring with a minor in tow, so what makes Miami worth spending the money to visit? Well, aside from some of the most beautiful beaches in America, or anywhere for that matter when talking about SoBe, there are a wide range of places dedicated to giving your child a great time and they’re not nearly as crowded as the beaches everyone visits.
The Absolute Best Place To Stay
When you come to Miami, you’re expecting everything you see on TV to be right there when you step off the plane. Well, unfortunately, that’s not how the city is set up. In fact, TV and movies have misled a great many about the city’s layout and offerings. For example, Ocean Drive, the famous shopping district, isn’t in Miami itself, no, it’s actually Miami Beach, or more specifically South Beach. Almost a half hour cab ride from the airport, South Beach is the place you’ll find the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. This establishment caters to you and your child with an in-house Family Concierge directing a program developed in partnership with Parenting Magazine. The list of amenities they offer your child will make you wish you could go back in time and share the experience – including welcome gifts for kids under 10, tours for kids, a game library, and supervised time where parents can get away for a bit if needed. The place isn’t cheap – nothing in Miami is – but it’s hands-down the best kid-friendly hotel in town.
The Perfect Miami Day
We’re going to follow the steps my daughter and I took for what was an almost perfect day in Miami. It was almost perfect because there was a brief rain shower, but, if you talk to any locals at all, you’ll find that it happens just about every day for a minute at least, so it’s a bit hard to take offense really. We began our day at Bayside Marketplace on Biscayne Boulevard. Just get an Uber or cab and they’ll know exactly where you want to go. There are all kinds of neat shops and souvenir stands lining the street where you can find one-of-a-kind items to commemorate your trip. Make sure you stop by the Glowstar shop. After all, what kid doesn’t love glow-in-the-dark stuff? When you’ve seen the shops, make your way to the end of the strip where you’ll find the dock.
Get Your Feet Wet
At Miamarina you can take a boat tour of Biscayne Bay. It’s an excellent way to get out on the water and learn some great facts about the city and its history. Plus, it’s a good chance to sit and take a breather for the nearly one-hour ride. Miami is a beautiful city, without question, but it’s really something when seen from the water. It’s a perspective you won’t get from anywhere else. When you get back to the dock, you can walk a short couple blocks from the market to Freedom Tower. Easily Miami’s most famous landmark, you can expose your young one to some of the deep and vibrant Cuban heritage that thrives in South Florida.
History & Heritage
Just a brief ride from Freedom Tower, you’ll arrive at Little Havana. It’s getting to be lunchtime and this is the perfect place to take a break, eat some terrific food, and learn a bit more about what being Cuban means in the heart of Miami. This is a great place to wander around and people watch while you soak in all the Caribbean sights and sounds that call Little Havana home. When you’re ready, make your way to 8th Street’s Versailles Restaurant. It’s one of Miami’s real treasures and missing it would be like coming to Miami and never going to the beach. It’s just not done.
Fun for the Kiddos
After your fantastic lunch, it’s time to hit the showstopper of the day’s itinerary – Jungle Island. This is a spectacular 22-acre rainforest right in the middle of a major American city. With all of the plants, birds, and animals you’d expect to find in the heart of the Amazon, this place will give you and your child endless hours of ooohs and ahhhs, and it won’t break the bank either. In fact, when compared with a great many other ways to spend a day, it’s downright cheap. There are exhibits and displays, tours and interactive learning around every corner and a great café and gift shop to get a beverage and a souvenir of your visit.
Have Dinner at a Landmark
On your way back to the hotel, if you’re interested in a tasy meal served in a famous landmark, then stop by Big Pink on Collins Avenue in South Beach. It’s close to the hotel and offers some great food in a setting unlike anything you’ve ever seen. All you need to know is they use bright pink Volkswagen Beetles to deliver food. Your child will love it and so will you – and the price is reasonable too. All you have to do now is head to the hotel, put on a good movie, and rest up for the next day’s adventures. Big Pink makes a great breakfast if you choose to go outside the hotel, but no matter where you go you’re sure to have a blast. You’re in the best place in America to do it.