Written by Feather + Flip for Building Blocks.
Miami’s miles of coastline set a perfect scene for family travel. With high-end hotels, a vibrant art scene and plenty of exciting activities, we’re willing to see past any Miami vices and recommend this city for those interested in bright beaches and colorful art.
WHAT TO PACK
The vacation uniform. It’s made of soft cotton terry so it’s perfect to throw on after each swim. The hood and long sleeves give a brief reprieve from the hat and sunscreen battles, too.
The perfect towel. A towel can act as a beach rug, play mat, and even a sun shade! Go for the biggest size and most colorful option to use everywhere from the pool and beach to park and airport lounge.
The carry all. Use beach totes to quickly divide between kiddo stuff and mom stuff: toys, books and baby shades in one, sunscreen, sippy cups and diaper essentials in the other.
The water toys. Bring along toys that are small enough to fit in one bag, but that there are enough of to keep little ones entertained for whole trip. Our tip? Try bath toys for the pool and beach.
The sun and swim essentials. You won’t want to forget some of the kid essentials like baby sunscreen or swim diapers, especially if you’re heading to the beach. Some of these items may be tough to find so they’re well worth ordering online and sending to your hotel in advance.
The travel-ready carrier. A stroller won’t last five minutes on the beach, so be sure to bring a baby carrier. These are perfect for containing my sand-eating little one, especially when trying to get packed up.
WHAT TO DO
South Beach Boardwalk
This 4-mile boardwalk along the beach is perfect for long strolls with nice views when trying to get baby to sleep. If you’ve got a good napper, swing into Local House on Ocean Drive for a yummy lunch and people watching, or hop into The Webster to shop Miami’s coolest concept store.
Wynwood Arts District
The famous Wynwood Walls and other colorful street art and galleries that will catch a kid’s attention; grab a morning latte at Panther Coffee, or lunch at Wynwood Kitchen.
Family Dinner, Strollers Welcome
Kids are welcome at some of South Beach’s most hip restaurants. Stop by Cecconi’s in Soho House – they have a kids’ menu – or reserve a table at perennially popular Prime 112, where the mini-sliders keep smaller diners happy. Joe’s Crab Shack is a classic, and there’s takeaway if you’d rather dine on your hotel balcony. And we can’t get eat enough Yardbird mac-and-cheese and fried chicken.
Little Swimmers
It’s tough to choose a favorite Miami pool, but there are a few standouts. The new Miami Beach EDITION has space, light and grassy lawns plus two pools so families can splash in one without disturbing sunbathing couples. The Setai’s three-tiered pool (each heated to a different temperature) might be the city’s most photogenic, while the James Royal Palm has a children’s playroom near the pool, perfect for a shady time out when the sun gets too hot. The Ritz-Carlton South Beach has nice shallow entries for smaller swimmers and a kids’ club.
