Five Family Friendly Beaches in Miami

© Our Seaside Baby

Miami is packed with things to do, not least a day at the beach. I visited for the first time several years ago when I was a student (on the way back from an archaeology dig!) and would love to return one day with my little boy. I remember it being a great place for people of all ages and especially one to entertain families. I've teamed up with fellow travel blogger Elma Humpries to recommend the top destinations in the area. If you fancy travelling across the Atlantic here are five of the best family friendly beaches in Miami.

Amelia Island

This is the perfect beach for families. What child or parent can fail to enjoy kayaking at the beach? If the kids aren’t feeling as adventurous as all that, they can go horse riding across the beach, or they can swot up on their history and find about events of the past at Fort Clinch State Park, where soldiers will re-enact events of the American Civil War.

Crandon Park Beach

Located on the Key Biscayne, a lot of TV adverts in the US are filmed and photo shoots run on this beach, so visitors might well come across some of their favourite celebrities if they come to this beach. If there aren’t any famous faces to admire, then it’s a question of having a good old family picnic. The picnic benches sit in the southern section of the beach and there are a plenty of shady spots to get away from the sun under if you need to. There’s also the old Crandon Park Zoo, where you’ll see all kinds of colourful birds, although there are no more lions and tigers.

South Point Park Beach, on South Beach

This is something of a hidden gem and is popular with locals. It’s a retreat from the hustle and bustle of Ocean Drive and features kid-friendly facilities such as a mini-splash and play area. There’s plenty of green space too, plus a dog park, so there’s no need for Fido to stay indoors and miss out on all the fun!

Image by nikoretro, used under Creative Commons licence 2.0

Virginia Key Beach

This gorgeous stretch of sand is an ideal place to enjoy a picnic on. The beach also has a quaint antique carousel, and there is also a miniature train which used to transport visitors around the site. Today, the beach is often a venue for events and there’s a dancefloor, plus, for the kids, two playgrounds.

Daytona Beach

Daytona beach is where all the action is. Scooter, bike and boogie board rentals are all possible, and you can even get some surfing lessons while you’re there or partake in some beach volleyball. If you’re looking for something a little lower key, you can take a stroll with family along the pier and boardwalk.

Images by linein, used under Creative Commons licence 2.0

But Miami isn’t all just about the beaches. If you’re looking for culture, you can take a walk around the Miami Art District and see how Miami developed its unique style of architecture, or you can visit the Pérez Art Museum Miami, which is dedicated to international art in the 20th and 21st century from the perspective of the Americas and is perhaps the most impressive art museum in Miami.

Get yourself to Miami and have the time of your life. The beaches are calling you! Have you been to Miami? Would love to hear what beaches you enjoyed!

Elma Humpries is a content writer, photographer and blogger. She loves exploring the world and discovering new cultures and food.