“Party in the city where the heat is on…” Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t think about Miami without Will Smith playing in my mind! With its beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife, it’s no wonder why Miami is one of Florida’s – and the world’s – most popular vacation spots! My family had the opportunity to visit Miami this past January and it did not disappoint. Keep reading to find kid-friendly things to do, and where to camp in Miami!
For those of you that don’t know, our family LOVES to travel with our home on wheels, “Rocky.” (Click here to read more about us) When some unexpected time off work came our way, planning a camping trip down to Florida just seemed appropriate! We started off in Orlando, made our way to Miami, and ended our adventure in St. Augustine, FL! (Click to read more about our stay in Orlando and St. Augustine) Miami was a HUGE hit with our family! Aaaaand I’m singing again…”Welcome to Miami…”
Where to Camp in Miami, FL
Miami is HUUUGE!! In fact, it’s the 44th-largest city in the US! So when it came to finding a good location for camping, we had to think about all of what we wanted to see and do while in Miami. We have two young boys (both of which are animal LOVERS) so we knew we wanted to visit Zoo Miami. We also knew we HAD to experience the Everglades National Park. With that being said, the perfect location was Miami Everglades RV Resort.
Miami Everglades RV Resort
This campground was seriously one of the best we have ever stayed at. It’s very well kept, the staff is friendly, and there are dozens of amenities to keep the family happy and entertained! There is a pool and hot tub, volleyball, shuffleboard, miniature golf course, and playground just to name a few! The mile-long walking/biking trail was perfect for morning runs and gives you the opportunity to scope out the entire property (since it stretches around the park).
Since we booked our stay late notice, we did not have a site with full hook ups. However, our site was in the grass near the entrance, and we had a TON of space and privacy. I can honestly say, walking to the bathhouse was not that big of a deal – especially since their facilities are very well maintained. We stayed for 3 nights, so we had to be pretty cognitive of our water usage so as not to completely fill our tanks.
Of course, with our luck, Florida was experiencing one of their cold fronts during our visit. So we unfortunately did not have the chance to enjoy their pool and some of the other amenities. Buuut, that just means we need to make a trip back someday! I mean just look at this place…
Family-friendly Things to do in Miami, FL
Zoo Miami
Ok, so we have been to a lot of zoos, and Zoo Miami is by far one of the best we have been to. It’s the largest zoo in Florida, and the 5th largest in the US. Obviously, this place is huge – occupying almost 750 acres with 4 miles of walkways. Their 3,000+ animals (representing over 500 different species) are grouped according to their geographic territories and are housed in incredible exhibits. Upon walking into the zoo, you have the opportunity to rent a safari cycle and pedal your way around, or even book at 2-hour golf cart VIP tour of the zoo. Because the zoo is so big, expect to spend at least 3 hours here! We were so impressed with Zoo Miami – definitely worth a visit!
Tip: Zoo Miami participates in the Reciprocal Program. If you have a zoo membership at your local zoo, present your membership card and photo ID and receive 50% off admission! Also, there are water play areas, so make sure to bring swimsuits for the kids!
Everglades National Park
I didn’t realize how BIG Everglades National Park is, and I’m SO happy I did my research before going! Did you know it is the 3rd largest National Park in the US?! Yep! Just after Death Valley and Yellowstone! The Everglades expands across 1.5 million acres, with three main areas/entrances. Keep in mind, these entrances do NOT interconnect, so plan accordingly.
We ventured into the Homestead entrance first. There is an entrance fee to visit the Everglades ($30/car and is good for 7 consecutive days) and those can be paid either online or at the Homestead/Shark Valley entrances. If you stop by the Ernest F. Coe Visitor’s Center, you can grab a map and use the restroom before starting your adventure. Here, we basically followed along the map, stopping at each turn off. At one of our stops, we had to cover our truck with a tarp to avoid damage from vultures (the park had several tarps in a storage unit for this reason)! Tip: If you see a sign to protect your vehicle from vultures, DO IT! We saw several vultures on uncovered cars pecking away! There is a reason signs are posted.
Later in the afternoon, we headed over towards the Shark Valley entrance. We decided to book an airboat tour with Everglades Safari Park. What a cool experience! Their tours head out every 30 minutes, and the tour itself takes about 30-40 minutes. Our tour started out on land, where one of the guides spoke about the Everglades and wildlife within the park. They brought out a snake as well as a baby alligator. We were given the opportunity to snag a picture with this little fellow but decided to pass!
As stated previously, we unfortunately were in Florida during a cold front. Our tour guide let us know that we maaaay not see as many gators as we normally would…and he was right. We saw about 5 gators, and a soft-shell turtle. Of course, we were a little bummed, but it was still a great experience.
Tip: If you have small children with you, consider bringing your own ear protection. It was LOUD on the boat, and the provided ear protection would not stay in our boy’s ears. I ended up holding my son’s ears most of the ride.
Quail Roost Park
We spotted this gem of a playground driving back to our campground one day and HAD to stop and let the kids play! Quail Roost Park is a 20,000 sq. foot playground – the largest in the Miami-Dade area. There are several play structures with different themes, slides, a music station, rock wall, and more! This place is a MUST see!!
Jump A Roos
Jump A Roos is an indoor play area with several inflatables, slides, an obstacle course and arcade games. It’s located within the Southland Mall in Miami. For an unlimited amount of time, kids 12 and under can play around on the inflatables for $11.99 each (adults are free). Our boys had so much fun playing here! It’s a great place to go on a rainy day.
Overall, our experience in Miami was one for the books! Could the weather have been better? Yes, but we still made the best of it! We will definitely be back to Miami, especially to camp at Miami Everglades RV Resort again!! Please feel free to contact us or comment with any questions about this post! Happy camping and safe travels!!
