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1. South Beach
SoBe it
Detail of an Art Deco building, South Beach
Boom and bust best describes the history of South Beach, nicknamed SoBe. A well-developed neighborhood before the Great Depression of the 1930s, it was later resurrected as a showcase of Art Deco architecture. In the 1980s, when developers wanted to raze decrepit buildings, activists began a campaign that turned South Beach into America’s Riviera. Besides admiring its preserved Art Deco buildings, families can enjoy relaxing on sandy beaches and great shopping.
Key Sights
1. Bass Museum of Art Although it mainly hosts temporary exhibitions of modern art, the museum also has a permanent collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts – including mummies and sarcophagi – that will fascinate kids.
2. Lincoln Road South Beach’s main shopping stretch is a pedestrian mall that contains elements of its past and present, including galleries and historic theaters.
3. Española Way This pretty little tree-shaded lane is lively, and lined with Spanish-style buildings housing restaurants, shops, and bars, several of them Latino.
4. Ocean Drive South Beach’s fabled runway for aspiring models, this street extends over 15 blocks of Art Deco hotels, with cafés and bars spilling onto sidewalks.
5. Wolfsonian Museum Devoted to the decorative arts from 1885 to 1945, this museum's retro vibe fits in well with South Beach’s Art Deco orientation. Displays range from sculptures to household items.
6. Jewish Museum of Florida While some museums of this nature can be overwhelming, this one focuses on the upbeat history of Jews in Florida.
7. South Pointe Park Families looking for a break from the bustle of South Beach can relax at this park while watching cruise ships sail by. There is a playground for kids.
Letting off steam
Head to Lummus Park (5th–15th St and Ocean Dr, 33139), which has paved pathways for biking and walking, as well as playgrounds that will engage the little ones.
The Lowdown
Address Bass Museum of Art: 2100 Collins Ave, 33139; 305 673 7530; www.thebass.org. Wolfsonian Museum: 1001 Washington Ave, 33139; 305 531 1001; www.wolfsonian.org. Jewish Museum of Florida: 301 Washington Ave, 33139; 305 672 5044; www.jmof.fiu.edu. South Pointe Park: 1 Washington Ave, 33139; 305 673 7006; www.miamibeachfl.gov
Bus Miami-Dade buses to South Beach and bus 123 within the city
Open Bass Museum of Art: 10am–5pm Wed–Sun. Wolfsonian Museum noon–6pm daily (till 9pm Fri); closed Wed. Jewish Museum of Florida: 10am–5pm Tue–Sun; closed Jewish hols. South Pointe Park: sunrise–10pm
Prices Bass Museum of Art: $25–30; under 12s free. Wolfsonian Museum: $32–40; under 6s free. Jewish Museum of Florida: under 18s free (free on Sat)
Cutting the line Avoid traffic around South Beach’s eastern side anytime after noon.
Guided tours Daily Art Deco District guided walking tours (1001 Ocean Dr, 33139; 305 531 3484; www.mdpl.org) take in more than 100 historic structures in 90 mins and 20 stops. Cell phone and iPod self-guided tours are also available. Call ahead to make reservations.
Age range 7 plus
Activities The Bass Museum of Art hosts kids’ activities on the last Sun of the month. The Jewish Museum of Florida has a scavenger hunt, and kids who complete it get a booklet with puzzles, games, and recipes.
Allow 1–2 days
Café In Jewish Museum of Florida (closed for Sabbath Sat)
Restrooms At most attractions and restaurants, and at South Pointe Park
Good family value?
The bustle along Ocean Drive and the parks and museums in this area make boredom impossible.
Eat and drink
Picnic: under $25; Snacks: $25–50; Real meal: $50–80; Family treat: over $80 (based on a family of four)
PICNIC La Sandwicherie (229 14th St, 33139; 305 532 8934; www.lasandwicherie.com) offers salads, juices, smoothies, and large shareable sandwiches. Enjoy your takeaway at Lummus Park.
SNACKS Tap Tap Haitian Restaurant (819 Fifth St, 33139; 305 672 2898; www.taptaprestaurant.com) serves wholesome, West Indian-inspired cuisine.
REAL MEAL Big Pink (157 Collins Ave, 33139; 305 531 0888; www.mylesrestaurantgroup.com) is like an old-fashioned diner, but huge, and with TVs everywhere. Families can order the day’s TV dinner or food from the regular or kids‘ menu.
FAMILY TREAT Joe’s Stone Crab (11 Washington Ave, 33139; 305 673 0365; closed for lunch in summer), in business since 1913, claims to have discovered stone crab as a food source in the 1920s. The crabs, and most other seafood items, are high-priced, but the menu does contain some more affordable meals.
Lunchtime at Big Pink, a family-friendly diner in South Beach
Moss-covered fountain in the courtyard of Joe's Stone Crab
Shopping
South Beach is all about shopping, particularly along Lincoln Road and Collins Avenue. Families can find souvenirs and beach buys at Alvin’s Island (200 Lincoln Rd, 33139; 305 531 9766; www.alvinsisland.com).
Find out more
FILM Miami appears in dozens of major movies, and South Beach stars in most of them. Disney® movies Old Dogs (2009) and Snow Dogs (2002) were filmed in this area, as was Marley and Me (2008).
Next stop…
AMELIA EARHART PARK Families that prefer greenery to city streets might like the Amelia Earhart Park (401 E 65th St, 33014; 305 685 8389;), located 14 miles (23 km) northwest of South Beach. The park’s farm has cows, goats, sheep, and geese that younger children adore. Kids will also love the rope bridge that takes them to Tom Sawyer Island’s playground. The park’s five lakes are stocked with fish, and one is set up with a water-skiing and wakeboarding tow cable. Also on offer are lessons in wakeboarding and wake surfing. For those interested in mountain biking, rentals are available.
KIDS’ CORNER
Deco details
Look for typical features of Art Deco design:
1 Tropical doodads. Look for carved, painted, and plasterwork palm trees, dolphins, waves, flamingos, and sunbursts. Can you try to draw some of these on your own?
2 Neon signs. How many can you count?
3 Back to the future. Some elements of Art Deco looked futuristic at the time they were built. Can you find Space Age details? Do they look futuristic to you?
Bright Britto
Romero Britto is one of Miami’s most popular and recognizable artists. He uses a lot of vibrant colors and patterns – especially stripes and spots. Many of his colorful sculptures and paintings can be found around town, and at his gallery on Lincoln Road.
Family stories
In the Jewish Museum of Florida, 40 local Jewish families tell their stories with words, pictures, and objects. Ask your parents and grandparents questions about how your family came to live where you do. Did your family always live there? From which country did they originate? Tell your family’s story with words and drawings. You may even want to design an exhibit like those at the Jewish Museum. What artifacts would you include?
2. Middle Beach, Bal Harbour, North Miami Beach
Beachfront communities
North of SoBe, the pace changes a bit, as Collins Avenue passes through quieter neighborhoods. Beginning at around 23rd Street is Middle Beach, with its quaint restaurants and shops. North of Middle Beach, the cozy community of Surfside, with a charming shop-and-dine strip, starts at 87th Street. Bal Harbour, a fashionable enclave dotted with soaring hotels and a plush mall, neighbors Surfside. Farther north is Sunny Isles, the last of the beachfront communities. A bridge from here crosses over to North Miami Beach, an older mainland neighborhood with a family feel and some worthwhile stops. Beaches and parks are the biggest draw to the area.
Letting off steam
Located north of Bal Harbour, Haulover Beach Park (10800 Collins Ave, 33128; www.miamidade.gov/parks/haulover.asp) contains a 1-mile- (2-km-) long beach with picnic tables. On the bay side, a marina complex houses boat rentals, a kite shop, and a restaurant. Part of the beach is a clothing-optional zone.
The Lowdown
Bus Metrobus 119/S and 120 from South Beach
Visitor information Miami Beach Visitor Center, 9700 Collins Ave, 33154; 305 866 0311; www.miamibeachvisitorscenter.com. Sunny Isles Beach Visitor Center, 18070 Collins Ave, 33160; 305 792 1952; www.sunnyislesbeachmiami.com
Cutting the line This area is busiest in winter and early spring, when crowds and prices increase.
Age range All ages
Allow 1–2 days
Eat and drink SNACKS Café Vert (9490 Harding Ave, Surfside, 33154; 305 867 3151; 8am–5pm Sun–Thu, till 3pm Fri), a Jewish-French café, has salads, quiches, crêpes, and kosher dishes. FAMILY TREAT Timó Restaurant & Bar (17624 Collins Ave, Sunny Isles Beach, 33160; 305 936 1008; www.timorestaurant.com) serves pizza and seafood.
Festival Kite Festival (Feb)
3. Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park
Trees with beards
High-end shops lining a street in Bal Harbour
This old-fashioned park is overgrown with tall, gnarled trees wearing Spanish moss beards. The trees shade lovely, spacious picnic grounds and trails that follow and cross over a gurgling creek in the middle of the city. Two playgrounds and pony-riding cinch the deal for kids.
Take cover
The nearby Museum of Contemporary Art (770 NE 125th St, 33161; 305 893 6211; www.mocanomi.org) houses a collection of works by emerging and well-known artists. School-aged kids’ art classes are held on the first Saturday of the month. The museum hosts a Family Day as well, which includes workshops, dance lessons, tours, and food for the kids.
Ponies in the lush Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park
The Lowdown
Address 1725 NE 135th St, North Miami, 33181; 305 895 1119; www.northmiamifl.gov
Bus Metrobus 107/G from Miami Beach
Visitor information The Greater North Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, 16901 NE 19th Ave, 33162; 305 994 8500; www.nmbchamber.com
Open Sunrise–sunset daily
Age range All ages
Allow 2–3 hours
Eat and drink SNACKS Backyard BBQ & Brew (9460 Harding Ave, Surfside, 33154; 305 763 8818; www.backyardbbqmiami.com) serves delicious BBQ sandwiches, smoked brisket, and chicken. Kids will love the dinosaur ribs. REAL MEAL Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill (2721 Bird Ave 33133; 305 446 1114; www.flanigans.net) is known for its fresh, home-made dishes. There is also a kids’ menu featuring chicken dinosaurs.
4. Oleta River State Park
A little country in the big city
Florida’s largest urban park has it all – from a cross-country bike course and a sandy beach to a fishing pier and cabins. The river and the bay afford budding fishermen the opportunity to hook both saltwater and freshwater fish. Rent a kayak, a paddleboard, or a bicycle to explore the park’s trails, the river, and the bay front. Bicycling on the park’s 10 miles (16 km) of challenging mountain bike trails is one of the most popular activities, but families can also ride the paved trail.
Take cover
Bal Harbour Shops (9700 Collins Ave, 33154; 305 866 0311; www.balharbourshops.com), an upscale shopping mall, also has shops for kids. Check out Young Versace, which even has a merry-go-round. Books & Books features weekly story times for children.
The Lowdown
Address 3400 NE 163rd St, North Miami Beach, 33160; 305 919 1844; www.floridastateparks.org/oletariver
Bus Metrobus105/E and 108/H from Miami Beach
Visitor information The Greater North Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, 16901 NE 19th Ave, 33162; www.nmbchamber.com
Open 8am–sunset daily
Price $6 per vehicle
Cutting the line Avoid weekends as they are the busiest days.
Allow Half a day to a full day
Eat and drink PICNIC Paquitos Restaurant (16265 Biscayne Blvd, 33160; 305 947 5027) offers tacos, burritos and more. Picnic by the bay. REAL MEAL Carpaccio at Bal Harbour Shops (9700 Collins Ave 139, 33154; 305 867 7777; www.carpaccioatbalharbour.com) serves pizza, pasta, and other Italian specialties.
5. Ancient Spanish Monastery
A saintly puzzle
Newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst purchased the cloisters and outbuildings of a 12th-century Spanish monastery and had them dismantled and shipped to North Miami in 1925. A few years later, the pieces were reassembled like a puzzle, a process that lasted 19 months and cost $1.5 million. The monastery is famed as the oldest building in the western hemisphere. Set amid gardens, the chapel, which serves as a parish church, has arched arcades surrounding a courtyard. Carvings, paintings, and shrines lie along the square walkway. The museum and gift shop hold an old Spanish hearse and other artifacts, and tell the story of the structure’s travels from Sacramenia in Spain to Florida.
Letting off steam
Catch a water taxi from Pelican Harbor Marina (1275 NE 79th St, 33138; 305 754 9330; www.miamidade.gov/parks) to Pelican Island nature preserve and bird sanctuary. Only 400 yards (365 m) off-shore, the island is equipped with picnic tables, chickee, barbecue grills, and has room to roam.
Dining bell at the entrance to the chapel of the Ancient Spanish Monastery
The Lowdown
Address 16711 W. Dixie Hwy, North Miami Beach, 33160; 305 945 1461; www.spanishmonastery.com
Bus Metrobus 108/H from Miami Beach
Visitor information The Greater North Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, 16901 NE 19th Ave, 33162; www.nmbchamber.com
Open 10am–4pm Mon–Sat, 11am–4pm Sun
Price $30–40; under 6s free
Cutting the line Call ahead to avoid visiting during church services (the chapel will be closed) or when special events are taking place (the monastery may be closed).
Guided tours The monastery offers tours in English, Spanish, French, Italian, and German; call ahead to book.
Age range 5 plus
Allow 1 hour
Eat and drink SNACKS La Granja (1901 NE 163rd St, 33162; 305 949 0407; www.lagranjarestaurants.com) serves great Peruvian-style chicken and some excellent Latin specialties. FAMILY TREAT At Area Code 55 Churrascaria (16375 Biscayne Blvd, 33160; 305 947 6202; www.areacode55.com) a gaucho in full costume serves grilled meats on a skewer.
KIDS’ CORNER
Cloister clues
Find the answers to the following questions as you explore the Ancient Spanish Monastery:
1 What is the name of the first altar you see after you pass through the iron gate?
2 What is unusual about the bell outside the chapel door?
3 What hangs from the trees in the center courtyard?
SPANISH MOSS
The Spanish moss you see hanging like beards from the trees is an epiphytic plant, meaning it makes its own food and doesn’t absorb nutrients from the trees on which it grows. Myth says that the plant resulted from a Spanish explorer, who, while chasing a young native girl up a tree, fell and became lodged in the tree’s branches. His beard continued to grow, creating Spanish moss.
Leafy fun
In the Enchanted Forest, look for fallen leaves that are in good condition and collect as many different shapes and sizes as you can. Do crayon rubbings of the leaves, then press them between the pages of a thick book and keep them as mementos of your Miami vacation.
Answers:
1 French Altar.
2 It depicts, in miniature, a monk ringing a bell.
3 Crystals.
Where to Stay in Miami
Accommodations in Miami come in all shapes and sizes. The most iconic are the small hotels and larger resorts that occupy Miami Beach’s historic Art Deco buildings, but the city is also known for its family-friendly luxury resorts, which offer kids’ programs. Families will find many modest rental condos and homes.
AGENCIES
Airbnb
www.airbnb.com
Apartments, single rooms in private homes, condos, and a whole house can be rented for a night or longer.
HomeAway
www.homeaway.com
This website lists nearly 1,000 short-term condo and home rentals in Greater Miami. Some can be rented only by the week.
Vacation Rentals
www.vacationrentals.com
Find apartments, penthouses, and homes in all sizes, locations, and price ranges on this website.
Price Guide
The following price ranges are based on one night’s accommodation in high season for a family of four, inclusive of service charges and additional taxes.
$ Under $150 $$ $150–300 $$$ over $300
