Guide To South Florida's Miami Children's Museum
980 MacArthur Causeway Miami, FL 33132
(305) 373-5437
www.miamichildrenmusuem.org
The Miami Children's Museum (MCM) is one of the 10 largest children's museums in the country and it's located on Watson Island, just off the MacArthur Causeway. It's open everyday except for Thanksgiving and Christmas from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and you can arrive by either car or bus (routes C, K, M and S). Parking is $1 per hour and the lot is adjacent to the museum. Tickets are relatively inexpensive with general admission at $16 person, $12 for Florida residents and half off for Miami residents. To see if you qualify for the Miami resident discount, visit the MCM website to see if your zip code is included on the Miami residents list.
www.miamichildrensmuseum.org/permanentexhibits
Date: Feb. 14, 2014 at 8 p.m.
The Miami Children's Museum is large, so go early so your child can see all of the exhibits and participate in the interactive games. Many of the exhibits are a microcosm of Miami and feature scaled-down versions of Miami culture like the Port of Miami with working gantry cranes, Supermarket featuring a mock Publix, the Health and Wellness Center featuring a replica Children's Hospital, the outdoor Everglades Park jungle gym and the Miami Heat Safety Zone dedicated to the brave firefighters of South Florida. The other exhibits explore world cultures and artistic disciplines. All About Art and World Music Studios feature arts and crafts and a recording studio, respectively, and are not to be missed exhibits for the artistic child. Other noteworthy exhibits include the Castle of Dreams, which is a two-story-high sand castle with a slide and The Sea and Me featuring a 900-gallon, two-tank aquarium.
www.miamichildrensmuseum.org/comingsoon
While you're planning your next visit to the MCM, you should be aware of any temporary exhibits that your child might enjoy. From June to September of 2014, your child can participate in the Playskool TinkerToy: Build Your Imagination exhibit. It features giant replicas of the classic toy along with a free play area for your child to build his or her own tinkertoy creation. In October of 2014 to January of 2015, fans of Dora the Explorer and Go! Diego, Go! will have the opportunity to meet their favorite Nickelodeon characters and step into the cartoons. They can learn about animal conservation as well as brush up on their Spanish, making this one exhibit that your child won't want to miss.
www.miamichildrensmuseum.org/sensorysaturday
Sensory Saturday is on the second Saturday of the month and the only time the Miami Children's Museum closes to the general public outside of holidays. This event takes places from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and is open to all special needs children to explore the museum without the encumbrance of multi-sensory children and their parents, who may not be familiar with the temperament of special needs children. The lights in the museum are dimmed, the sound is softened and yoga and "cool down" rooms are provided to ensure that these children are in a relaxed environment. Admission is slightly reduced and parents must RSVP via email. Once admitted, parents will receive an illustrated guide to the museum and a color-coded sound level map so that they can be fully prepared for their visit. Related: A Guide To Zoo Miami
1102 Lincoln Road Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 403-2210
www.facebook.com/serendipitymia
If your child is hungry, you could feed them at the onsite Subway or you could get them a fun ice cream treat for a hot day at Serendipity 3. This South Beach establishment is located on Lincoln Road and is perfect for families with bright pink stripes and a menu that features burgers, sandwiches and even sophisticated adult entrees like pasta. Finish off the meal with its famous frozen hot chocolate or try one of the other decadent desserts. At only five miles away, it's just a short trip over the causeway. Related: Best Museums In Miami
