Miami is an eclectic, slightly hectic city that vibrates with energy everywhere you go. No matter where you turn there seems to be a party happening in every corner. Visiting Miami with kids is a new experience as you seem to be going to bed just as everyone else is going out for a night on the town. This 3 day Miami itinerary takes you along on a fun filled, kid friendly long weekend in Miami.
Parts of Miami are a little grungy and, dare I say, even a little sketchy, although we never felt unsafe or ran into any trouble. You will want to be careful where your hotel is located and how late you are out at night.
Everything in this guide is great to do with kids although as a whole Miami is not my favorite place to visit with kids so far. I think other Florida locations like Tampa, Orlando and even Port Orange are more family friendly. Just my honest opinion.
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Miami 3 Day Itinerary
Day 1 – Excursions from Miami
Everglades Airboat Tour
The first stop of many on your 3 day Miami itinerary is actually not in Miami but 30 minutes outside the city. A half-day trip to the Everglades is a must though. You can find inexpensive deals on airboat tours for under $30 a person on GetYourGuide or Groupon.
The airboats take you to parts of the Everglades that you cannot reach by foot. This allows you to see much of Florida’s natural wildlife such as herons and alligators. The guides are well trained and know the best spots to take you so you’re almost guaranteed to see wildlife.
Our tour also included seeing alligators up close that the park was helping to rehabilitate and we even got to hold baby alligators.
Cape Florida Lighthouse
After visiting the Everglades I recommend you stop somewhere to eat. Coral Gables is on the way to Cape Florida Lighthouse, the next destination, and would be a good place to stop.
Located on the southern tip of Key Biscayne is Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. This state park has biking trails, beaches and a very picturesque lighthouse. The lighthouse is open for exploring, including climbs to the top, Thursday through Monday from 9am to 4pm with tours at 10am and 1pm. The rest of the park is open from 8am till sunset and the entry fee is $8 per car.
Kids must either be 42” tall and able to climb the tower themselves or be worn in a baby carrier that leaves the parents hands free to use the railing.
Once you are done seeing the lighthouse you can spend some time on the beach before dinner or bring a picnic to share at the beach while you watch the sunset.
Day 2 – Beach Day in Miami
Spanish Monastery
The first stop for day two is the Ancient Spanish Monastery. This destination is north of Miami a little ways but there is a great brunch spot “La Boulangerie Boul’mich” nearby if you want to grab breakfast first.
The Monastery was built in Spain in 1141 AD then later moved, brick by brick, from Spain to the US in 1925. Due to financial problems the crates sat in a warehouse for 26 years before the buildings were put back together in their current location in 1954. Today the buildings are used as a church as well as a venue for weddings and other events (SM).
The building itself is a beautiful piece of history in the middle of modern Miami and the surrounding grounds and gardens a wonderful space to explore. On Saturdays at noon there is a free tour of the building and grounds. We felt the tour was worth it to learn extra facts about the building and the coat of arms on display since there are not many signs or plaques to explain everything.
With admission prices at only $10 per adult this is a very affordable thing to do in Miami.
Miami Beach/South Beach
Now it is time to enjoy a relaxing day on the beach! Head over to South Beach to enjoy the sand, the beautiful water and the sun. There are several parking garages near the beach and Ocean Drive that offer very affordable parking. This is also a good time to grab lunch if you are hungry.
We brought beach towels, an umbrella and a set of beach toys from home for Roman to play with and spent a fun couple of hours in the sun. A fun activity is to walk down the beach and see how many lifeguard stands you can find. Each one is a different unique shape and painted in bright neon colors.
Now you can head straight to dinner or you can explore the area a little longer. One fun choice is to walk up Ocean Drive through Loomis Park and see the colorful art deco hotels that line the street. Another option is to grab bicycles from stations located all over the side streets and bike throughout Loomis Park and see more of the South Beach area.
We walked up the road to see the hotels and only carried our son in our arms. If we had thought ahead more we would have carried him in the baby carrier or brought a stroller along.
Dinner
Once you are done relaxing and exploring the area I am sure you’ve worked up an appetite. Grab dinner and a fun dessert to finish out the night. There is no shortage of amazing restaurants to try in Miami.
Read More in Miami:
- 24 Hours in Miami!
- The Best Restaurants in Miami the Locals Don’t Want You to Know
- 13 Most Instagrammable Places in Miami
- 5 Beautiful Sunflower Fields in South Florida
Day 3 – Explore Miami’s Neighborhoods
Little Havana (Food Tour)
For the last day of this 3 day Miami itinerary you can get out and explore several different areas in Miami. Forgo breakfast in the morning and instead opt to head straight to Little Havana for a delicious and filling food tour of this Cuban neighborhood in Miami. You could do a small self led tour or join this fun Food and Culture food tour.
If you decide on a self led tour make sure you walk along Calle Ocho and stop by Maximo Gomez Park if people are out playing dominos. My favorite food stops in Little Havana are Old’s Havana for a Cuban sandwich, El Pub for empanadas and Azucar for ice cream!
Vizcaya Mansion
Once you have eaten your fill and enjoyed the lively atmosphere of Calle Ocho head only ten minutes down the road to the opulent Vizcaya Mansion. This stunning home is actually not as old as you may originally think. It is only 106 years old as of 2022, but it still predates most of Miami.
I felt the pricey entrance fee was worth it to explore the house and expansive gardens. The house is well preserved and shows what a life of extreme wealth looked like in the early 1900’s which is always fun to see. In addition the view over the ocean and of downtown Miami in the distance was stunning.
Wynwood Walls
Next drive to Wynwood, Miami’s art center. The area was once abandoned and unloved industrial buildings that have been turned into a thriving, bustling center filled with the best places to eat and shop. Plus, it becomes quite the party scene at night if that’s your thing.
Wynwood Walls is one section of the neighborhood that displays commissioned pieces of art from sculptures to murals on walls of course. This area does require a small entrance fee.
The rest of Wynwood is still covered in graffiti art and murals from top to bottom. Everywhere you look there is something new to see. Don’t forget to stop and grab dinner or a sweet treat when you get hungry. There is no shortage of amazing options.
Millionaire Row Cruise
This was already a busy, exciting day but if you aren’t ready to turn in yet, then taking a home seeing cruise around Miami’s coast is the perfect way to end the night. You can see the city from a new perspective while relaxing on a comfortable boat. Plus the homes you can see from the water are truly unbelievable.
How Many Days to Spend in Miami
Miami is a big city with a lot to see and do. This 3 day Miami itinerary gives you a good feel for the big ticket items but it certainly doesn’t include everything. I think 3 days is a good amount of time to spend in Miami for a fun whirlwind trip. However, if you are looking for something a little more relaxing or if there are more things you would like to see and do such as take a day trip to The Keys, visit the botanical gardens or have an extra beach day then I would recommend as much as 5-7 days.
Day Trips
Even though Miami offers more than enough to fill an entire trip all by itself it is also in the perfect position for some amazing day trips. If you want to take advantage of one or two while you are here these are some unmissable options.
- Road Trip from Miami to Key West
- Take a Boat to the Bahamas
- Spend all Day in the Everglades
- Experience Otherworldly Terrain at McKee Botanical Gardens
- Visit Naples on the West Coast of Florida
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Getting Around Miami
There is free public transportation in both South Beach and in Downtown Miami. The free trolley runs all week long and can take you most places you need to go inside the city area. However, this itinerary and many others that you’ll find involve locations that cannot be reached by public transportation such as the everglades.
Because of this and because public transportation in the US is not as robust as other countries I prefer to use a car. On our first trip to Miami we rented a car which was extremely easy and handy. Being able to drop the car off at the airport was convenient.
During our second trip we took a road trip from Tampa to Miami so we had our own car.
Another option is to use car sharing apps like Uber or Lyft to get around as needed. The price may be similar to renting because you will avoid fees such as tolls and parking. It is really up to personal preference.
Where to Stay
South Beach is full of beautiful waterfront hotels and cute home rentals that are all centrally located to the beach and many, many places to eat.
For a more budget friendly price tag we headed outside the city a little ways. Lauderdale Boutique Hotel offered a very simple, bare bones basic hotel room but it was very clean and provided free parking. The room was small and only worked for us because all three of us slept on one bed. There was room for the pack-n-play and we did set up but Roman would not sleep in it. The price tag was unbeatable and helped us save a fair amount of money.
Traveling with Kids:
- How to Travel with a Baby: Everything You Need to Know
- 7 Essential Tips to Road Tripping with a Baby
- 11 Beach Necessities for a Beach Day with Toddlers
Where to Eat in Miami
The food in Miami is one of my favorite aspects of the city. Thanks to its diverse population there are a lot of different types of food and it is all delicious. For a full guide on what to eat make sure you read my guide to the best restaurants in Miami. Here are a couple highlights.
- Old’s Havana in Little Havana
- 1-800-Lucky an asian food hall in Wynwood
- Breakfast at Dreamer in South Beach
- A slice of pie from Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop
What to Pack
Miami is typically sunny, hot and humid so you will want to pack lightweight clothes with maybe an extra layer to throw on if it gets chilly in the winter. You will want a couple sundresses or shirt and shorts combos for sightseeing.
Don’t forget to pack a couple swimsuits, a swimsuit cover-up, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses for the beach. If you are prone to sunburns be prepared with aloe vera or pick some up in Miami.
Sandals and flip-flops are really all you’ll need to walk around but a pair of tennis shoes would be handy if your feet hurt after a lot of walking.
Pick up my full beach packing list here.
Best Time to Visit Miami
One of the great parts about Miami is that the weather is nice almost all year long!
In the winter it can get down into the 60’s and in the summer it can get as high as over 100 F. Not only is the summer hot but hurricane season is from June through November so it can be really rainy.
The best time to visit Miami is in the shoulder season during the fall and spring with the exception of spring break time period. This is a very popular party destination for college spring breakers making it a horrible place for a family break.
Tips
- The majority of hotels located near South Beach charge resort fees in addition to their nightly fee. The resort fee is not included in online prices and is paid separately in person. You can see this disclosed in the description section on sights like hotels.com. Make sure to include it into your hotel budget when looking for a place to stay.
- Downtown Miami is on mainland Florida and is where Little Havana and Wynwood are located. However, some of the most iconic sights in Miami and arguably the most popular place to stay is actually the Miami Beach area. Miami Beach is a border island off the coast of Miami. It is extremely easy to travel between the two.
Practical Information for Miami, FL
Find accommodation, sign up for a local tour, or buy your Miami Travel Guide.
Miami Itinerary
There you have it, a full 3 day Miami Itinerary that will take you to the must see sights of Miami for a fun packed long weekend. It was a very fun trip and it is very doable to travel to Miami with kids. If you have any questions let me know!
