From its origins as a subtropical outpost for carpetbaggers to its more recent incarnation as an international Riviera, Miami’s come a long way. Whether it’s under the sun, in the shade or in the cool air-conditioning, with dozens of youngster-friendly attractions, Miami’s got the kids covered.
ON LAND
Zoo Miami
Formerly known as Miami Metrozoo—and going back to its birth in 1948, as the Crandon Park Zoo—Zoo Miami is one of the pre-eminent, open-air animal enclosures in the world. With more than 100 exhibits represent 500 species, including 40 of which are endangered.
Jungle Island
If you can’t get enough of animals and animal shows, venture next to Jungle Island. Born as Miami’s Parrot Jungle in the hammocks of South Miami, where trained parrots flew free yet also performed for visitors, today’s Jungle Island is home to 1,100 tropical birds and almost twice that amount of plant and flower varietals.
Miami Children’s Museum
Just across the causeway from Jungle Island, Miami Children’s Museum is the place to while away a few hours during the fall rainy season or the heat of the summer day.
History Miami
History is never so evocative as it is when it’s tropical. At least, that’s what the premier exhibit at the History Miami, “Tropical Dreams: A People’s History of South Florida,” seems to prove, as it explores more than 10,000 years of immigration, expansion, rivalries and new technologies in this Gateway of Americas.
email citytours@HistoryMiami.org for more information.
IN THE SAND
Miami Dade College, Kendall Campus Earth Science Museum and Demonstration Center
Sure, this small museum is sort of hidden in the warren of buildings on a college campus. It’s former room 5130, to be exact, and was once a cafeteria and then a bookstore, among other things. Best of all? Admission is free.
Crandon Park, Family Amusement Center and Gardens
This two-mile, spun sugar beach is the unburied treasure of Key Biscayne.
OUT TO SEA
Oleta River State Park
If you like both shade and breeze, be sure to check out the wetlands, mangroves and hammocks at Oleta River State Park. Here you can huff up and whiz down fifteen miles of mountain bike trails. Rent bikes and related gear at the Blue Moon Outdoor Center (www.BlueMoonMiami.com), which also leases canoes and kayaks so you can drift out onto the black tea waters filled with native wildlife and newly created fish nurseries..
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center
The Biscayne Nature Center is another venue where you can get your feet wet—quite literally. This not-for-profit Crandon Park facility, devoted to conservation of South Florida’s natural resources, is a marvel of solar power and recycled material design.
Miami Seaquarium
Lolita might just be the most famous name in Miami. And not because she’s a famous character in literature. No, Lolita is the trained killer whale that practically began it all, living and performing at the Seaquarium for more than four decades. Alongside her, Pacific white-sided dolphins leap and play with their trainers as well. In other tanks, sharks, manatees, alligators, turtles and more both entertain and educate—and often splash—the crowds.
Duck Tours South Beach
If you prefer staying dry to getting wet and ducks to dolphins, sign on for this land-to-water tour. You’ll enter a sophisticated, built-to-spec “Hydra Terra,” which leaves from South Beach. After a guided, dramatic tour of the Art Deco District, during which you can blow your duck whistles at passersby, the vehicle floats into Biscayne Bay where you can get a water birds-eye view of the fabulous celebrity mansions on islands that are accessible only by boat or private causeway. It’s a whimsical, somewhat wacky—or should we say “quacky?”—look at the landmarks that make Miami famous.
http://www.miamiandbeaches.com/featured-articles/10-great-places-to-take-the-kids
