Sunshine, Beaches & Gators! Exploring Miami with kids
By Jenna Brown, Senior Travel Editor, Holiday and Cruise Magazine
Miami might be famed for its neon nightlife, expensive cars and rooftop bars, but it also makes a great city break for families.
We recently touched down in Miami (with our 2 children aged 3 and 7 in tow) from London as part of a larger Florida adventure – driving one of the most iconic road trips in the US from Miami to Key West. But, before hitting the Overseas Highway, we always knew we wanted to start our trip spending a few days exploring everything Miami has to offer, and it did not disappoint!
During our first couple of days, we packed our days full of bite sized experiences, perfect for little travellers. From hiring bikes along South Beach, to playing mini golf at Brickell (and enjoying some shopping), to hopping on a boat to witness the Miami skyline in all its glory whilst eyeing up some millionaire houses - it’s safe to say there was more than enough to keep us entertained!
But the standout day – the one we’re STILL talking about – was our road trip day out to the Everglades Alligator Farm. Between us & the kids, a trip to see some alligators and experience the thrill of an Airboat ride was at the top of our Miami ‘to-do’ list!
The Best Decision Ever?
When it comes to planning a day out to the Everglades, we soon realised there were a lot of options available to us. But once we had decided that we were going to visit the Everglades Alligator Farm, which is approximately an hour away from Miami, the next big decision to make was how we were going to get there…. Bus or car?!
After a lot of deliberating, we finally decided to hire a car for the day - BEST DECISION EVER!
We hired our car through SIXT, from their branch located on Collins Avenue, and as we were handed the keys to a Ford Mustang convertible, I instantly knew the car would be so much more than a means to travel from A to B!
The Mustang was the perfect mix of style, speed and open-air freedom which lived up to every road trip fantasy and made driving to the Everglades & out of Miami an unforgettable experience. Of course, the kids were also thrilled to be driving in a ‘car with no roof’!
Aside from the car itself, the team at Sixt were friendly, helpful, and made the whole process of hiring a car super easy, meaning we were on the road in minutes of our arrival in-branch!
The Best Day Trip from Miami: Everglades Alligator Farm
After just under an hour on the road, we then arrived at the Everglades Alligator Farm a family-run farm that is home to over 2000 alligators!
From the moment we stepped inside we were fascinated. We arrived just in time to see the alligator feeding show, which was our first time seeing alligators in real life and a real highlight as you get a close up look at their powerful jaws in action!
Swiftly after came the part we’d all been looking forward to the most – an airboat tour. These flat-bottomed boats skim across the Everglades with the wind in your face and swamp grass rushing past and is a thrilling experience you’ll never forget! I have to admit, I was a little worried about the noise for the kids, but I needn’t be as ear defenders were handed out at the start of the airboat tour which kept us all comfortable.
Back on land, we then headed to the Alligator Handling Show… one you DO NOT want to miss. Educational and equally breath-taking as you watch the expert handler come face to face with the might alligators – literally! Needless to say, both adults and kids were all captivated by the show.
But the real highlight of the day? The next part - holding a baby alligator! Whilst I expected the highlight of the day to be the airboat tour, my true highlight was being able to hold a real-life baby alligator; something I never thought I’d do in my wildest dreams and I’ll forever treasure the photos.
Once you’ve seen the main events, you’ll find plenty of space to explore, see some more wildlife and find some shady spots to rest and get a bite to eat.
Back to Miami
It was then time for us to get back into the Mustang with the roof down and head back to Miami with lots of memories made. On our arrival back to Miami Beach we then dropped the car off back to Sixt; which was even easier than pick up, and then walked back to our hotel to enjoy our final night in Miami.
As we packed up the next morning, the excitement of hitting the Overseas Highway set in, but it’s safe to say that Miami wasn’t just the gateway to starting our road trip; it was a destination we loved as a family.
Would I do it again?
In a heartbeat! So, if you’re wondering if Miami works with kids, know that it is not just ‘do-able’… it’s brilliant! And whether you do it as part of a road trip, or a day trip in its own right, don’t miss out on the wild experience of visiting the Everglades Alligator Farm – you won’t regret it!
FACTBOX
Sixt Car Rental - www.sixt.com
Everglades Aligator Farm - www.everglades.com
Florida - www.visitflorida.com
Please mention Your Holiday and Cruise Magazine