VISITING Miami and Fort Lauderdale · The Magic City

Visiting Miami and Fort Lauderdale with toddlers and little kids: the plan.

Stay downtown or on Miami Beach for the children’s museum and Frost Science, which are a short drive apart. Zoo Miami is far south, so give it its own morning. Here’s a plan with nap time built in.

Top 2 can’t-miss spots

#1Watson Island, 980 MacArthur Causeway
Miami Children’s Museum
Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
$26 eachunder 12 monthsIndoor
See it in the guide
#2Downtown, 1101 Biscayne Blvd
Frost Science
Opens at 10am.
Indoor
See it in the guide
Nap breaks built in

One day or two in Miami

A couple of big stops, a real lunch and a nap in the middle. Tap a stop for the full listing.

If you have one day
MORNINGMiami Children’s MuseumOpens at 10am · Watson Island, 980 MacArthur Causeway · $26 per person
NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPFrost ScienceCloses at 5pm · Downtown, 1101 Biscayne Blvd
If you have two days

Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:

MORNINGZoo MiamiOpens at 10am · South Miami-Dade, 12400 SW 152 Street · $26 kids, $30 adults
NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPFlamingo GardensLast entry at 4pm · Davie, 3750 S. Flamingo Rd · $17 kids, $24 adults
Where to stay

Kid-friendly areas near the big attractions

Pick the area by the stops you’ll make most, then plan around nap.

DOWNTOWNDowntown MiamiThe children’s museum and Frost Science are a short drive apart.Near Miami Children’s Museum and Frost Science
Eat

Easy restaurants near the big stops

Kids’ menus, quick service and a short drive from the attractions. Prices come from each restaurant’s own menu.

Cuban · Little HavanaVersaillesNear Miami Children’s Museum
Before you go

Practical tips

Parking, strollers, changing tables and the best times to go.

Heat
Plan outdoor stops for the morning and bring water; afternoon storms are common in summer.
Visiting in November or December?

Santa and Christmas lights in Miami

If your trip lands in the holiday season, these two pages have the dates, prices and booking links.

Santa in MiamiBreakfast with Santa, Santa photos and Santa trains, with 2026 pricesChristmas lights in MiamiDrive-thru and walk-through displays, start times and 2026 prices
This week

Happening while you’re here

This week’s top events in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. The full list, with hours and the forecast, is on the this-week page.

#1Sat 10am–6pm
MiChi-Boo! at Miami Children’s Museum
An all-day Halloween party: a not-so-scary haunted house, mini pumpkin decorating, trick-or-treating around the exhibits, a DJ and a costume contest.
Miami Children’s Museum · Miami
Included with admissionIndoor
Hours, food & parking
#2Sat 11am–3pm
Spooky Science Monster Mash at Frost Science
The 10th year of the museum’s Halloween day, with underwater pumpkin carving at 11:30 and 2:30, a Mad Science show at noon and 3, and a photo booth.
Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science · Miami
Free with paid museum admissionIndoor
Hours, food & parking
#3Sat 6–8pm
HalloSCREAM in Pompano Beach
Pompano Beach’s free Halloween night of music and costumes, for all ages. Kids under 5 need an adult with them.
McNair Center · Pompano Beach
Free
Hours, food & parking
#4Sat 11am–4pm
Halloween Fest at Bonnet House
A daytime Halloween festival on the grounds of the historic Bonnet House estate. Register ahead on the event page. A heavy downpour is possible Saturday morning, with more showers later, so bring a rain layer.
Bonnet House Museum & Gardens · Fort Lauderdale
Adults $25
Hours, food & parking
#5Sat 10:30–11:30am
Spooktacular Storytime in Miami Beach
Halloween stories and songs for ages 0 to 5. Come in costume.
Miami Beach Regional Library · Miami Beach
FreeIndoor
Hours, food & parking
See everything this week →
Good questions

Visiting Miami and Fort Lauderdale with toddlers: the FAQ

Is Miami and Fort Lauderdale kid-friendly?

For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Miami and Fort Lauderdale guide lists 10 places we checked for little kids, plus 2 free places and 2 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 1 easy restaurant near the big stops and free storytimes at 2 library systems. This week’s list has 23 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in Miami and Fort Lauderdale and this weekend’s list.

Where should we stay with a toddler?

Downtown Miami or Miami Beach puts the children’s museum and Frost Science close together.

What if it rains?

The children’s museum, Frost Science, Young At Art and the Museum of Discovery and Science all work.

Get the list every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the five things we’d leave the house for in Miami.