Traveling to Miami?
Pack Light. Travel Happy.™ Rent baby gear in Miami.Heading to Miami or South Florida area and looking for a great way to spend a day (or two!) with the kids? We highly recommend visiting the Miami-Dade Zoological Park and Gardens, or as the locals call it, Zoo Miami! The Miami Zoo is the largest zoo in Florida and the fifth largest zoo in the United States. Not only that, it is the only zoo in the US that is located in sub tropical weather; so it can house over 3000 different types of animals and species!
The Miami Zoo is definitely a must do on your Miami-Dade trip. Not only will the entire family enjoy exploring all 750 acres full of wildlife, gardens, and animals; but your little travelers will be exhausted after their zoo adventure which means vacation relaxation time for mom and dad!
Want some insider tips and advice to prepare for your Miami Zoo visit? We’ve done the homework for you and found 12 tips and tricks that will help you get the most out of your park visit.
Here are 12 tips and tricks for your Miami Zoo adventure:
1. Rent a Safari Cycle.
This is a MUST. You’ll enjoy cycling through the park and the kids will love it too. You will also minimize whining from the “I’m tired of walking” or the “will you carry me?” ones of the group. They are perfect for groups as the small cycle can accommodate two adults and two kiddos, and the large cycle can accommodate 4 adults and two kiddos. If you’re traveling solo with kids, we hear that they are even pretty easy to maneuver on your own with kids on board!
2. If you don’t rent a Safari Cycle, take a tram ride!
If you’re choosing to log those miles and walk through the park, you may want to take a short break and go on a tram ride or tour! It’s $5 for an all day pass so you can get on and off the air-conditioned tram throughout your Miami Zoo visit. You can pay extra to do a special tour too! This is a great way to get an aerial view of the zoo and “fly” through the canopies of the trees! PS: if you do opt for walking the park, you may want to rent a stroller from a BabyQuip Quality Provider in the South Florida or Miami area.
3. Plan to do the activities.
It may be a little bit extra to participate in the activities, but we recommend you make room in the vacation budget to plan for these. The Giraffe Feeding is particularly amazing. How often can you get up close and personal with an animal like that?!
4. Check out the Animal Fun Factory.
The Animal Fun Factory is where the Miami Zoo meets an art studio! This is a great place to learn about all the wildlife in the park and to create something special. This exhibit also teaches about wildlife and environmental conservation. Not only will your kids be having fun; they’ll be learning a ton too! PS: The Animal Fun Factory is open weekends only.
5. Splurge on a tour.
As we mentioned above, it’s totally worth it to budget a little extra for some of the activities and tours. There is a VIP Tour, Behind The Scenes Tour, and an adventurous Expedition Tour. This type of experience is guaranteed to create some lasting Miami Zoo memories! (Make sure to check availability, age restrictions, and pricing in advance.)
6. Prepare for Miami Zoo water fun.
There are several splash pads and water fun areas in the park. This is a great way to cool down, get some energy out, and take advantage of the warm Florida weather! Make sure that everyone is wearing water friendly shoes or that you pack some (Crocs are a great option). You’ll also want to wear sunscreen and sun hats throughout your entire visit. You’ll be outdoors most of the time so a sun hat is a great way to stay cool and protected.
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7. Get all the energy out.
Not only are there splash pads for energy exerting fun, but there are also some really interactive exhibits that allow your kids to get out even more energy (and be extra tired when you get back to your hotel – yay!). They can crawl through a tunnel beneath alligators, slide by otters, go on a boat ride, and play at Cypress Landing Playground. All of these reasons (and more) are why we love the Miami Zoo! There are tons of opportunities for your little ones to have fun.
8. On that note, relax and have a drink.
Yes, you read that right. For the “21 and over” crowd, beer purchases are available. That means you can drink an ice cold brewsky while your kids splash around. (PS: drink responsibly please!)
9. Refuel at Nourish305.
There are several dining options throughout the park but one of our favorites is Nourish305. It’s the only indoor restaurant and there is air conditioning. So it’s a great place to replenish, refuel, and relax in between park exhibits. PRO TIP: if you have dietary or religious food restrictions, or would like to bring your own food, Miami Zoo offers a place to store your food in the Administration Building. This is a good way to save some money (for some of those extra zoo activities!). Also, parents are encouraged to always bring food for children under 2 since options may be limited for those little explorers.
10. Go for two days.
Remember how we said there’s 750 acres worth of park to explore? That’s a lot! And for little travelers, it may be best to split up your Miami Zoo visit into two days. That way you don’t feel rushed. You can leisurely experience the park and fit in all the attractions, activities, rides, etc. And guess what? The zoo offers the ability to come back to the park for only $10 within 10 days of your first visit!
11. Buy tickets ahead of time.
Buy tickets online to bypass lines at the entrance and get in quicker. You’re welcome!
12. Parking is a freebie.
Parking is free so the entire fam can pack into however many vehicles it takes! Make it a part of your family reunion or family vacation and head to the zoo together.
13. Rent a stroller.
Little legs are bound to get tired while navigating the Miami Zoo. Like we mentioned before, there is a lot of ground to cover so having a stroller is a must. It will give your child a place to nap and somewhere to get out of the sun when necessary. If you’re traveling to Miami from out of town and you don’t want to haul your own stroller, rent one from BabyQuip instead. Zoo stroller rentals are much like those of Disney…hard plastic and not comfortable for your child.
So…did we convince you? We hope so! The Miami Zoo is a great way to learn, explore, and create lasting family memories during your South Florida trip!
Have you visited the Miami Zoo? What’s your favorite thing about the park? Comment below!
Traveling to Miami?
Pack Light. Travel Happy.™ Rent baby gear in Miami.
Kaylee Garcia is the mama to one sweet boy and one sweet girl, and wife to an awesome husband. Kaylee and her son (he’s only 4!) have completed over 20 trips via air travel (thank you, Alaska Airlines!) on over 40+ airplane rides! They love sharing travel tips with other families since they’ve learned a lot in the last 4 years. Kaylee enjoys spending time with family, researching baby gear, and exploring the Pacific Northwest.
The best part of your blog for me is when you said that you could get to the zoo quicker when you buy tickets online. With this in mind, I will talk to my husband so we can consider a guided tour when we visit Kangaroo Island four weeks from now. We want our four-year-old son to have fun during the trip, so your tips are helpful.
It got my attention when you said that it is amazing to consider giraffe feeding since you will be able to get up close and personal with an animal. This must be a perfect tip for me and my husband since we are planning to schedule a family trip with our two children next Sunday. Maybe we can consider visiting an animal petting park for the enjoyment of our kids.
Wow! What a cool zoo experience! Very good to know!
Any idea if you can take a stroller on the tram?
Zoo Miami is temporarily closed due to covid. Best time to visit is 1st weekend of July for $10 admission.
Wow! It sounds like there are a lot of unique activities to do at this zoo. I’ve never been to Miami, but might be planning a trip there next year!
I agree (with you).
Going on the bucketlist!
Love, love this zoo.
The splash pad makes this zoo especially fun for kids and since Miami is typically hot, it’s a nice cool activity.
I know the camps aren’t running right now because of covid, but they are great for the kids!
I love zoos that have giraffe feeding. It’s a fun and kind of weird experience!