Written by Candice H. Stappen
What's the key to a family vacation in the Miami Beach area? Combine time on the coast with off-the-beach fun. Take on a zipline adventure, explore museums, learn about the city's iconic architecture, and leave plenty of time to explore the parks and sandy beaches. It's easy to involve toddlers, teens, and multigenerational families. As a bonus, most outdoor attractions are free.
My son and I started our morning 8 feet in the air at Treetop Treks Miami. We weaved through canopies of palm trees and lush oaks, walked tightropes, swung down plank bridges, and ziplined. Overcoming those challenges in the intermediate course was satisfying. Adrenaline seekers can get a thrill by tackling obstacles 55 feet above the ground. Children ages 5 and up will build confidence by climbing on ropes and balancing on logs strung several feet off the ground. (Tip: Protect your hands by wearing the gloves provided on the adult course, or bring your own.)
Located on Biscayne Bay, Treetop Trekking Miami shares the Jungle Island attraction with Jungle Island (also known as Watson Island). The attraction is an 18-acre animal-themed park where parrots roost in perches and flamingos dot the ponds. Add animal encounters and get up close to lemurs, sloths, and capybaras. The nearby Children's Museum of Miami has interactive exhibits that are especially interesting for young children.
We were based at the Hilton Bentley Miami South Beach. This is a family-friendly oceanfront hotel with a nearby pool. Due to its relatively quiet location, the beach was less crowded and we had more space than other locations. During our walk into the water, we stopped to photograph some of the city's quirky lifeguard towers, created by renowned architect William Lane.
After another walk, we headed to South Point Park along the Beachwalk, a paved pedestrian walkway facing the ocean. This local favorite features impressive views of ships moored in the harbor and a playful sculpture of an asymmetrical lighthouse by Tobias Reberger. On the way, we were lucky enough to see a manatee and her baby swimming.
We had lunch at the Big Pink, two blocks from the Hilton. From pancakes to salads, wraps, burgers and sandwiches, even the pickiest eaters will find something they love. And the amount is huge.
On another day, we combined beach time near Lummus Park on Ocean Drive with a walk around town. The 10-block park includes a playground, volleyball courts, bathrooms, and Muscle Beach, known for its exercise bars, ropes, and great people-watching. Don't miss the 1934 Beach Patrol Headquarters, with its sleek lines and portholes. We learned more about the architectural style at the nearby Art Deco Museum and Welcome Center. This center is operated by the Miami Design Preservation League and offers Art Deco Walking Tours.
Then we took to the streets. South Beach shines with one of the world's largest collections of Art Deco architecture. We admired the structures with their curves, streamlines and geometric shapes. We stopped for lunch at the News Cafe, where a 1932 Packard was parked in front of the store. The restaurant serves delicious salads, sandwiches, pizzas, and wraps.
Architecture enthusiasts take note. The first Open House Miami, a free festival, will be held on March 1 and 2, 2024. The festival, in partnership with Open House Worldwide, showcases the city's architecture through workshops, performances, and hard-core behind-the-scenes tours. Rock Stadium, Frost Museum of Science, and more.
A little-known art museum, Artek House is a gem. The interactive facility features the work of Zach Lieberman and his collaborators, who use computer coding to create experiential art. Cubes, flowers, and landscapes transform into each other, and Lieberman's videos projected onto three walls set the mood. We felt like we were immersed in art.
Other exhibits literally took us in. As we moved our arms, spiral squiggles on the computer screen mimicked our movements, and as we spoke into a megaphone, the screen changed color depending on the pitch of our voices. Art lovers and tech-savvy teens of all ages can ponder whether this is the future of art.
Tasting Miami's different ethnic cuisines is a must, especially for teenagers who are always hungry. At the Italian restaurant “Donna Mare”, we ate delicious spaghetti with seafood and upside-down apple pie. In addition to sushi and sashimi, Blue Ribbon Sushi Japanese Restaurant also serves delicious duck fried rice and salmon with teriyaki sauce. Enjoy Greek cuisine at our hotel Santorini by His Georgios. Enjoy delicious grilled octopus, branzino, and baklava.
If you're bringing young kids to eat early, come during happy hour to get great deals on gyros, empanadas, and adult drinks. For some Cuban food, we headed to Havana 1957, known for its signature roasted chicken and pork sandwiches. We chose the Española Way location for an outdoor table on a lively pedestrian street.
Most people don't think of Miami as a family destination, but with beaches, adventure, museums, lots of parks, and delicious food, it had everything we needed for a vacation. I can't wait to come back.
when you go
Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau: www.miamiandbeaches.com
Miami Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau: miamibeachvca.com
Hilton Bentley Miami South Beach: www.hilton.com/en/hotels/miabmhf-hilton-bentley-miami-south-beach
Treetop Trekking Miami: miamitreetoptrekking.com
Jungle Island: jungleisland.com
Miami Children's Museum: miamichildrensmuseum.org
Big Pink: mylesrestaurantgroup.com/big-pink
Art Deco Museum and Welcome Center: www.mdpl.org
News Cafe: www.newscafesouthbeach.com
Open House Miami: www.openhousemia.org
Artec House: www.artechouse.com/location/miami
Donna Mare Trattoria: www.donnamare.com
Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill: www.eatblueribbonmiami.com
Santorini by Georgios: www.santorinibygeorgios.com
Havana 1957: www.havana1957.com
Candyce H. Stapen is a writer for www.greatfamilyvacations.com. Instagram @familyitrips @candycestapen Twitter @familyitrips (Candyce H. Stapen), www.facebook.com/FamilyiTrips, and her nonprofit, which provides solar-powered computers and training to rural schools in Africa, www.hennyskids.org Follow her at .
To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
Photo credit: on Unsplash
