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Traveling in Miami – 4 Great Spots to Take the Family

Miami Resident Turns Tourist!

When traveling in and around Miami, no need for planes or trains…just automobiles!  Have you ever just looked at the tourist map for your metro area and realized the number of tourist destinations residing within an easy drive-able distance from your home?

Miami Map

I recently set out to see the sights of Miami.  I live in a cultural mecca.  Miami is a metropolitan hub filled with beaches, outdoor shops, attractions, gardens and more.  Yet, we rarely visit these sites that others consider must-stops on their vacations.

Chevy Cruze

Comfortably seated in a 2011 Chevy Cruze the 4 of us hit the road in search of something super Miami-like to do!  We drove around, admired the scenery and ate lunch at Montys – a very Miami-like Coconut Grove seafood restaurant! At lunch we looked through a Miami tourist book & map. We couldn’t believe the number of tourist attractions we had yet to explore!  Together we came up with a list of where we wanted to go the following Saturday!  With just some easy planning, this Smart Family can make a Saturday afternoon feel like a mini vacation rather than just another weekend filled with errands!

Here are 4 places that we have yet to visit in our over 6 years here: 

Deering Estate – DeeringEstate.org 

According to its site, “From canoe tours to butterfly walks and guided nature hikes, the Deering Estate has diverse activities for the whole family to enjoy. The Estate offers daily tours of the historic houses – the Stone House and Richmond Cottage, as well as tours of the lush natural areas where fossil bones have been found as far back at 50,000 years.”  Honestly, why haven’t I been here!?  The estate is open all week from 10 – 5 with great events taking place throughout each month.  Here’s one I came across that I think we would love:

Book Nook by the Bay

In Collaboration with the Miami-Dade Public Library System
3rd Saturday of the month
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Free with admission to the Estate

Held on the third Saturday of each month, join us for “Book Nook by the Bay” where the Estate’s Eco-Brigade and volunteers/staff from our partner organizations open the rich resources of the Estate to the public for family story time, on-site eco-arts and crafts, science programs and more! Each month, the Estate offers to the public an environmentally themed topic, story-time and a host of activities.

Miami Science Museum – MiamiSci.org

This museum is a popular school field trip destination – which typically means there’s a lot to learn here!  The Miami Science Museum sets its mission to “inspire people of all ages and cultures to enjoy science and technology, in order to better understand ourselves and our world.” An assortment of shows and demos are highlighted on their site – including Wildlife Encounter, Two Pieces of Glass: The Amazing Telescope, and Sea Lab. On first Fridays they offer a FREE Planetarium Star Show followed by a laser show.  Sounds great!

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens – VizcayaMuseum.org

This Italian Renaissance-style villa is a National Historical Landmark.  A visit here would include perusing the ten acres of formal gardens, enjoying the museum and more!  Vizcaya was built in the early 1900’s for James Deering a successful Industrial & Agricultural Executive.  A picnic in the gardens and some great photos would be a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon as the weather gets cooler in Miami!

Everglades National Park – NPS.gov/EVER

We’ve driven through it many times, and even done an airboat ride.  But that was pre-kids.  Now I’m ready to experience this infamous river of grass with the kids!  The park is the 3rd largest in the country and covers 1,509,000 acres. Airboat rides, camping and other recreational activities are available throughout the park.  Awesome wildlife can be found as well!

Other Resources for Miami Fun

Wondering what other fun adventures await for you & the family throughout Miami?  Head to www.miamicoloringbook.com and Facebook.com/miamicoloringbook to learn about a great coloring
book for the kids about all things Miami! It makes a great gift for families living in or traveling to the area!  The coloring book is also available at many local Walgreens.  They are sold for just $4.99.  Plus, visit Miami Munchkins http://www.munchkinfun.com for a complete listing of events for the family in and near the Miami area!

Thank you to @ChevyFlorida for providing a 2011 Chevy Cruze to use for my Cruising with the Cruze: Hitting the Local Tourist Spots weekend.  All opinions are unbiased & my own.

 

2 thoughts on “Traveling in Miami – 4 Great Spots to Take the Family

  1. Miami Science Museum laser shows which were the highlight of my teenage years – many Friday nights spent lying on the floor listening to Pink Floyd and watching the stars – in the air conditioning – with lasers too. Great stuff.

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