How to entertain the kids on a family holiday to Miami

JD Murphy

Decadence and vice were the buzzwords in this city for many decades, but Miami has matured into an artistic, easy-to-enjoy city with one of America's most ethnically diverse populations, bringing a happy mix of Caribbean and Latin American vibes.

With many museums and galleries, free transport across the city, and whole districts renowned for their art, culture and festivals, it's a great place to stay with a family. Here are just a few of the city's many highlights.

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Indulge in a diner breakfast

It would be a crime to bring a family to America and not have breakfast in a diner. The Big Pink is a winning choice for its lively atmosphere, authentic diner feel, and menu so extensive that even the fussiest of children will find something they like (chicken on waffles, anyone?).

Located just north of South Pointe Park, only two blocks from the art deco designs of Ocean Drive, it's the perfect place to fuel up before exploring the beach area. Huge portions mean you'll make it way past lunchtime without refeeding, and, as in all the best diners, refills of standard brewed coffee ('drip') are free.

Go lizard-spotting

Wander south between the luxury high-rise buildings to find the entrance to South Pointe Park. This green oasis, with views south to Fisher Island and inland to the downtown skyscrapers, lets you glimpse massive sea freighters and cruise ships only metres away.

Even more impressive, and a sure hit with children, spot the many multicoloured lizards sunning themselves on the rocks, bobbing their heads as if dancing to hidden headphones.

Grab a coffee in the shaded café terrace before walking east to find the eponymous pier where locals fish and the endless white sands of Miami Beach stretch out below the high-rise condos to the north.

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See the iconic lifeguard towers

From 50th Street's purple perfection to the key lime pie colours of the 83rd Street tower, the lifeguard huts along Miami Beach are a tourist attraction in themselves.

There are nearly forty of them across the 10 miles of gorgeous white sand from Surfside down to the pier, and while you won't want to walk all that way with children, 'collecting' sightings of the towers is an enjoyable addition to a seafront stroll.

Each tower is uniquely designed, making them excellent selfie spots too. If your children are taking a dip, use the huts as markers so they know where you are when they (finally) decide to come out of the water.

Eat endless sweet treats

Reviews will tell you that the Ice Cream Museum is not really a museum, more of a theme park, and that you'll be in and out in 30 minutes. But don't worry, your children will be saying it's their favourite place for many years to come.

You're guided through fourteen different 'interactive playscapes' including the sprinkle pool (you can dive in), a banana forest, and the Hall of Freezers. This pales into insignificance, though, against the fact that you get unlimited ice cream samples as you go round!

Note that these are samples, not great big bowls of the stuff, but as long as your little ones aren't afraid to ask for more, they'll get their fill in this technicolour temple to overindulgence.

Take in the street art

Centred around the open-air gallery Wynwood Walls, Wynwood's vibrant Art District is home to more than 200 street murals, as well as plenty of cool cafés and restaurants for when you get tired of all the colourful culture.

Perfect for teenage profile pics (the background wall images are incredible), Wynwood is pleasant and welcoming during the day, but the studenty vibe pumps up, along with the volume, as darkness falls, so schedule this one for the daytime for the most kid-friendly experience.

Ride retro transport for free

Wherever you're staying, Miami has you covered with free transport. Through the Freebee app, you can book on-demand complimentary rides in downtown Miami or the beach area.

Freebee only operates in set zones, meaning you can't use it to go downtown from the beach, but you can use the Miami Trolley service instead. These retro buses, designed to look like trams, run interconnected routes across the city and are free for everyone.

Explore the Everglades

Though it's not strictly in Miami, no family trip to the city would be complete without a 40-minute dash westward into the largest subtropical wilderness in the USA: the Everglades National Park.

Airboats (driven by fans so motors don't get tangled in the swamp) scoot you over reed beds and lagoons to find alligators lazily blinking eyes open feet away, storks and eagles circling overhead, and snakes and who knows what else slithering in the mass of mangrove roots.

It's an atmospheric and exciting day trip, with local characters driving the boats and usually spinning yarns to amaze (or terrify) the passengers. "Don't worry," ours told the kids, "The alligators hardly ever get in the boats." Most places serve breaded alligator tail for you to taste on your way out, in case children aren't disturbed enough already.

Hit the Lincoln Road shops

Not so much a mall as a mile-long, pedestrianised street with more than two hundred shops, stalls and lively restaurants, Lincoln Road is where teenagers go to find their favourite brands.

There are plenty of coffee houses for the grown-ups too, and bars and restaurants for when you've finally had enough. Mister 01 (just off Lincoln Road) even made it into the Michelin Guide for its slow-proofed, delightful dough; try the Ginger Lilliam - who knew you could put so much zingy ginger on a pizza?

Lincoln Road really comes into its own as the sun goes down and shoppers wander out of the stores to dine al fresco at the many restaurants offering everything from Cuban cuisine to huge BBQ platters (try the 3lb Classic at Ole Ole!).

Several galleries and sculptures line the road, and a free art walk showcases the creativity on display on the third Thursday of every month.

Climate in Miami

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C	24	24	25	27	29	30	31	31	31	29	27	24
Hours of sunshine (daily)	7	8	9	10	10	10	10	9	9	8	7	7
Days with some rainfall	7	6	6	5	11	16	16	18	17	14	9	6
Sea temperature °C	24	24	24	25	27	28	29	30	29	28	26	25