Miami with Family

[Ep456]

Hello everyone. Just looking to see what recommendations are out there for a pre cruise stay in Miami. We are sailing on a 5day end of January next year. We arrive a couple days before cruise.

Kids are will be almost 4 and almost 7 at time of trip.

Looking for a good place to stay on the beach and things to do for a day or two.

Appreciate any help.

 

[1Winston]

Also following. We have been told that loews and the ritz are nice. We are sailing in Jan and haven't booked yet, hard to decide where to stay!

 

[egesicki]

Following. Checking out Loews as well, looks like they sometimes have a Sprout package for under 5 that includes amenities and free kids meals.

 

[MunFam]

We were there with an almost 5 year old.

We stayed at the Homewood Suites Blue Lagoon (parking, breakfast, dinner, wine, internet included) in a 2 bedroom suite. It was near a Costco and various markets and shopping outlets. We went to the Everglades National Park one day and out on an airboat tour with Everglades Safari Park. It was amazing. They took us to see baby alligators in the wild and we got to hold one too. The next day, we drove the Florida Keys. We stopped at the Speedway (I have racing ties, so it was important for me to stop there) and we toured Biscayne Bay National Park. We rented our car from Enterprise (located at the Marriott next to our hotel) and used the free airport shuttle to get to the hotel. We used our free Uber credit to get to the port and in an XL SUV, it was less than $10.

Also, we live at the beach, so sitting at the shore was not a big deal to us.

 

[Ep456]

Thank you for the replies. I think we are going to take it easy and spend time around the beach and Lincoln Mall. Hoping the weather will cooperate.
Loews is on my list as well.

 

[LoveKermit]

We went to the Seaquarium. It's right out of the 50s--as is most of Miami Beach. But being from the midwest, we had only been to indoor aquariums. And we had never seen an Orca before either. Killed a few hours of the day if the beach weather isn't so great.

 

[CesD]

Our kids really enjoyed the beach/ lighthouse at Key Biscayne. We snorkeled right in front of the lighthouse and saw tons of fish

 

[ILovePixieDust]

I would highly highly recommend the Loews on South Beach! We stayed there for 4 days precruise and did not want to leave. Our boys were 5 and 7 at the time and loved the pool. Very beautiful, very relaxing place and close to Lincoln Road for shopping. One of the determinants for us was when we were researching hotels we found that it was the only one along south beach that did NOT allow topless sunbathing by the pool.....(that may or may not be important to you.....)

 

[dip]

Will you be on the Jan 24th Magic cruise? Also looking for a nice place to stay with a free shuttle to the ports.

 

[Ep456]

Yes we will be.
We are looking to get away from some of the cold weather... Lol

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

The Miami zoo is really nice, and has a couple of big splash areas, so bring swimsuits to change into if your kids are into that.