Miami Is Fine for a Family Getaway

By Candyce H. Stapen

What's the key to a Miami Beach area family vacation? Pair shore time with off-the-beach fun. Try a zip line adventure, explore museums, learn about the city's iconic architecture and allow plenty of time to romp through parks and along the sands. It's easy to engage toddlers, teens and multigenerational families. A bonus: Most outdoor attractions are free.

My son and I started our morning 25 feet in the air at Treetop Trekking Miami. We pushed through a canopy of palm trees and live oaks as we inched along a tightrope, swayed across a plank bridge and glided on a zip line. Conquering those challenges on the mid-level course felt satisfying. Adrenaline-seekers can up their thrills by tackling obstacles up to 55 feet above the ground. Kids 5 years and older gain confidence by climbing ropes and balancing on logs strung a few feet off the ground. (Tip: Protect your hands by wearing the gloves provided for the adult courses or bring your own.)

Located in Biscayne Bay, Treetop Trekking Miami shares Jungle Island (aka Watson Island) with the Jungle Island attraction, an 18-acre animal-themed park where parrots roost on perches and flamingoes dot the pond. Add an animal encounter to get close to lemurs, sloths and capybaras. The nearby Miami Children's Museum, stocked with hands-on exhibits, is especially interesting for young kids.

We based ourselves at the Hilton Bentley Miami South Beach, a family-friendly oceanfront hotel with a pool in a neighborhoodlike area. The relatively quiet location meant less beach bustle and more space than at other sites. On a toes-in-the-sea walk, we stopped to photograph several of the city's whimsical lifeguard towers created by noted architect William Lane.

Another stroll took us along the Beachwalk, a paved oceanfront pedestrian-only pathway, toward South Pointe Park. This local favorite comes with impressive views of the ships in port plus Tobias Rehberger's playful sculpture of an asymmetrical lighthouse. Along the way, we were lucky enough to see a manatee and her baby swimming by.

We lunched at Big Pink, two blocks from the Hilton. Even fussy eaters find something to like, from pancakes to salads, wraps, burgers and sandwiches. And the portions are huge.

Another day, we mixed beach time near Lummus Park on Ocean Drive with city strolls. The 10-block park offers playgrounds, volleyball courts, bathrooms and Muscle Beach, known for its exercise bars, ropes and great people-watching. Don't miss the Beach Patrol Headquarters, a 1934 structure with the sleek lines of a ship and porthole windows. We learned more about the architectural style at the nearby Art Deco Museum and Welcome Center, operated by the Miami Design Preservation League, which offers art deco walking tours.

Then we took to the streets. South Beach shines with one of the world's largest collections of art deco buildings. We admired structures with curves, streamlined shapes and geometric forms. We paused for lunch at the News Cafe with its 1932 Packard parked out front. The eatery serves good salads, sandwiches, pizza and wraps.

Architecture enthusiasts take note: The first Open House Miami, a free festival, takes place March 1-2, 2024. Affiliated with Open House Worldwide, the festival showcases the city's architecture through workshops, performances and behind-the-scenes tours of the Hard Rock Stadium, the Frost Science Museum and other sites.

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