Family Travel Guide to Miami, Florida

Miami may be famous for its nightlife scene and celebrity sightings, but there are plenty of places for families to explore and enjoy outside the glitz and glamour of South Beach. Miami is home to a vibrant arts and culture district, and caters to families with young kids and teens with nature attractions, educational exhibits and spacious, apartment-style hotel rooms. You'll also find a number of restaurants serving children's menus and offering family-style dining options.

Use these ideas and suggestions when planning a family vacation in Miami, Florida:

Family-Friendly Hotels in Miami
Miami is home to several luxury resorts and large hotels, and some provide the opportunity to enjoy some family-friendly activities onsite so you never have to leave the property. The Trump International Beach Resort has spacious suites with kitchenettes that are perfect for families on an extended stay. It also hosts a Kids Club so that kids can play while they stay, and a grotto-style pool that's well-suited for younger children.

Loews Miami Beach Hotel is another kid-friendly resort that offers deluxe amenities for the entire family. Children can attend the "Kids Camp" to participate in Wii competitions, rent DVDs and enjoy some supervised beach activities.

Trump International Beach Resort
18001 Collins Avenue
Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160
(305) 692-5600
www.trumpmiami.com

Loews Miami Beach Hotel
1601 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139-3112
(305) 604-1601
www.loewshotels.com

Family Attractions in Miami
Monkey Jungle is a zoological park located on a 30-acre a short drive away from downtown Miami. This is the place to see hundreds of primates playing, sleeping and sleeping in their natural habitats, watch Java monkeys dive for crab and shellfish among the mangroves, and walk through an Amazonian rainforest.

The Dolphin Harbor Miami Seaquarium is another place where kids of all ages can learn about animals and play with some interactive exhibits. The dolphin interaction programs are a highlight of this family attraction, and are sure to keep kids entertained for a couple of hours.

Monkey Jungle
14805 Southwest 216th Street
Miami, FL 33170-2299
(305) 235-1611
www.monkeyjungle.com

Miami Seaquarium
4400 Rickenbacker Causeway
Key Biscayne, FL 33149
(305) 361-5705
www.miamiseaquarium.com

Family-Friendly Restaurants in Miami
The Big Cheese of Miami is a local favorite and has been serving local residents and visitors since 1984. The restaurant serves generously-sized portions of classic Italian pasta dishes, subs, calzones and salads, and you can order a large pizza to share at an affordable price. The kids menu is designed for children 12 years of age and under, and includes a shrimp basket with fries, Buffalo wings and spaghetti with meat or tomato sauce.

If you want to take the family out for a hearty breakfast or brunch, don't miss out on the "bonanza" platter at the Front Porch Cafe. This family-friendly destination serves homestyle breakfasts all day, with specialties including the Front Porch Breakfast Pizza, a stuffed breakfast burrito, green eggs and several healthy breakfast items. This is also the spot to enjoy shrimp or fish tacos, pizza, and a grilled turkey meatloaf sandwich.

The Big Cheese of Miami
8080 SW 67 Avenue
Miami, FL 33143
(305) 662-6855
www.bigcheesemiami.com

Front Porch Cafe
1458 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 531-8300
www.frontporchoceandrive.com