Considering a trip to South Beach, Miami, with kids? It might be known for its wild nightlife, but don’t rule it out for your next family vacation. We spent a few days in South Beach, Miami, with our two-year-old, and were pleasantly surprised by how toddler-friendly it can be. From shady playgrounds and calm beach spots to stroller-friendly paths and open green spaces, South Beach has more to offer young families than you might expect. In this guide, I’ll share everything we loved and what to know before you go.
Before our trip, I read a lot of reviews saying Miami was a terrible place to take a toddler, and a few said it’s great. I’m pleased to tell you we had an amazing time. Our 2-year-old absolutely loved it. Update: 3 years on, my son is still talking about Miami Beach!
Enjoying Miami’s South Beach
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SOUTH BEACH MIAMI WITH KIDS QUICK GUIDE:
Best Time to Visit:
Visit South Beach in late fall through early spring for warm, comfortable weather and lower crowds.
Ideal Trip Length:
Plan 3 days to enjoy the beach, parks, family-friendly attractions, and a little Miami sightseeing.
Getting Around Miami:
Easy to explore on foot.
Hotel Recommendation:
Rooftop of Strand Ocean Drive Suites (where we stayed)
The Betsy Hotel
(another great option)
Top Sights to See:
The Beach
Ocean Drive
Lummus Park
Miami Beach Botanical Garden
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Where to Stay in South Beach Miami with Kids
I would highly recommend staying somewhere near the actual beach of South Beach. We stayed in this hotel, which is just a 5-minute walk from the beach. This meant we could walk over to the beach easily, and if my son was tired on the way back, it wasn’t too far to carry him. Not having to take a stroller (pushchair) was ideal!
We had a suite with a separate living area and kitchen. We really found this a game-changer when travelling with young children. The hotel also had a beautiful rooftop pool, which was a bonus.
Views from the Rooftop of Strand Ocean Drive Suites
2026 Update: When we stayed here, this hotel had great reviews, and we had no complaints; however, I noticed it has recently had some negative reviews. Here are some other great options for family-friendly hotels in South Beach, Miami:
- Budget – Beacon South Beach or Clinton Hotel
- Luxury – The Betsy Hotel or Hilton Bentley
When to Visit South Beach
We visited at the end of October, and the weather was perfect! We’re currently living in New York, and Miami is just a short 3-hour flight, which made it an easy journey. You can take an M150 bus directly from Miami International Airport to South Beach.
Child Exploring South Beach
The Best Things to Do in South Beach, Miami with Kids
Relax on the Beach
Of course, one of the main attractions of South Beach Miami is the beach itself. As I mentioned, the beach was so easy to get to from our hotel. My son absolutely loved walking across and playing in the sand and splashing in the sea.
The 12th Street Beach Hut was the closest to our hotel, and this area of the beach was generally very child and toddler-friendly.
I also loved walking down the beach and looking at all the different coloured beach huts!
Fun Beach Huts on the Beach
Walk the Promenade
A long promenade runs parallel to the beach called South Beach Promenade. It’s brick, so a very stroller-friendly walk. My son liked to run along here and walk along the walls.
You can also bike if that’s your thing!
Splash in the Pool
Did I mention our hotel had a rooftop pool?! This was definitely a huge bonus. We would often go here first thing in the morning when no one else was there. It was great to have the pool to ourselves.
In the afternoons, it was slightly busier, but you could get a drink or food from the rooftop bar and enjoy the amazing view.
The Hotel’s Rooftop Pool
Eat on Ocean Drive
Our hotel was actually on Ocean Drive. This is a cool road to walk down with a fun vibe. It also has a lot of restaurants, many of which were very child-friendly. Most of the menus seemed very similar, so we ate at a few places here as it was so convenient.
Ocean Drive
Play in Lummus Park
Finding a playground is always a win with toddlers. We were lucky to find two when walking along Ocean Drive. The first one (pictured), which you could see from the hotel, was called Miami Beach Playground, located in Lummus Park. This is a great toddler activity in Miami Beach as it’s so fun and also free!
Lummus Park Playground
More Play in Marjory Stoneman Douglas Park
The second playground we found was approximately a 20-minute walk further south down the promenade. Search Playground at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Park on Google Maps and you’ll get the directions.
Bonus Tip: Continue another 10-minute walk and you’ll find a third playground, located in South Pointe Park.
Stroll Lincoln Road
Lincoln Road is one of the main streets to explore in South Beach, Miami. This is a pretty road filled with nice shops and restaurants. If your toddler naps (unlike mine), a couple of hours in the shops would be lovely!
The food here is generally of better quality than Ocean Drive’s, but it is also more expensive.
Lincoln Road
Visit the Miami Botanical Garden
The Miami Botanical Garden was a half-hour walk from our hotel. It was pretty small, but it is free and quite safe for children to run around in. I wouldn’t make it a priority to visit here, but it is something a little different if you need a break from the beach and pool!
Miami Botanic Garden
Map of Miami South Beach with Kids
Below is our map of everywhere I’ve talked about in this post. Just click on the top right-hand corner to open it in Google Maps.
FAQ’s About Miami’s South Beach with Kids
We found Miami South Beach to be a very family-friendly area. The beach is great for kids, and there are a few playgrounds around that they will also enjoy.
During the day, Miami South Beach felt very safe to walk around. With a toddler, we didnt venture far at night, but as usual, you should always be aware of your surroundings.
Overall, South Beach is very easy to get around on foot. When visiting with little kids, staying close to the beach made it extremely easy. We could walk to the beach and just use the stroller for the town and longer excursions, for example, to the Botanical Garden.
Thank you for reading my guide on the best things to do in South Beach, Miami, with kids. I hope we’ve helped you to plan your Florida family vacation!
WE ALSO HAVE GUIDES ON:
– ATLANTA – NASHVILLE – NEW ORLEANS – NEW YORK – CHARLESTON –
Happy travelling!
A London mum sharing stylish, family-friendly travel guides.
I In our travel guides, I show you that you can still travel as a family and create beautiful memories, even when trips aren’t full of kid-centric activities.
When I’m not planning our next adventure, I also share timeless style inspiration and ideas for living more thoughtfully and sustainably.
Good luck!
Hi! Thanks for the tips! What hotel did you stay at? The hyper link no longer goes to the hotel page. And we are looking for a kid friendly spot. Thank you!
Hello! It was called Strand Ocean Drive Suites, my son still talks about the rooftop pool there! I just updated the link 🙂