Miami, FL

Miami Seaquarium
DESCRIPTION: Established in 1995 on 38 acres of the man-enhanced on Virginia Key, this venue is the home of Lolita, the Killer Whale and Flipper, the trained dolphin; enjoy hours of fun with well-choreographed antics by sea lions, dolphins, stingrays and whales doing remarkable feats,; you can also put on a wet suit to enter Flipper Lagoon for a friendly encounter with very intelligent dolphins; speaking of dolphins, the park became famous from 1963-67, when episodes of the Flipper TV show and two Flipper movies were filmed here; eight major performances with big marine mammals are not the entire show here, see crocodiles and indigenous tropical fish in large habitats that can never be replicated at home

ADMISSION: $36 Adults, $27 Ages 2-9, Free age 2-

DAYS & HOURS: daily 9:30a-6p; Last series of shows begin at 2:30p

ADDRESS: 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway  MAP

PARKING: $8 on premises

PHONE: 305-361-5705

WEBSITE: http://www.miamiseaquarium.com

Miami Museum of Science & Planetarium
DESCRIPTION: Stimulate young minds and have fun watching robotic dinosaurs conjure up past millennia; features national shows and hands-on exhibits that illustrate the principles of physics, electricity, light and sound; discover a rare collection of natural history treasures from the region; outdoor Wildlife Center rehabilitates injured animals; includes a museum store; via magnanimous philanthropy of the Frost family, the museum is being reimagined with eye-popping architetectural design in Museum Park; when it opens in 2015, the 250,000 square foot Frost Museum of Science designed by Grimshaw Architects will include a 600,000 gallon aquarium atrium, full-dome 3-D planetarium, dramatic use of space in exhibition wings, cafes, fountains and swimming pools for a total effect that uniquely stands out, while complimenting surrounding AmericaAirlines Arena, Arsht Center for Performing Arts, and Perez Art Museum of Miami

ADMISSION: $18 Adults, $16 Age 62+ and Students w/ID, $13 Age 3-12

DAYS & HOURS: daily 10a-6p

ADDRESS: 3280 South Miami Ave  MAP

PHONE: 305-646-4200

WEBSITE: http://www.miamisci.org

Parrot Jungle Island
DESCRIPTION: This theme park combines some of the globe's most exotic animals with a contemporary theme park; two of its claims to fame are the largest crocodile in the New World and the flamingoes in Miami-Vice TV program; you expect the many varieties of parrots, but its also home to playful baby orangutans, tigers, snakes and three animal shows; the winding waterfront trails feature gorgeous and unusual flora, including the African Sausage Tree; plenty of concession stands and a restaurant

ADMISSION: $30 Ages 11-64, Age 65+ $28, Ages 3-10, Free Age 2-

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 10a-5p, Sat 10a-6p

ADDRESS: 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail  MAP

PARKING: $7 on premises

PHONE: 305-400-7000

WEBSITE: http://www.parrotjungle.com

Miami Children’s Museum
DESCRIPTION: Though founded in 1983, the museum opened this building in 2003 with state-of-the-art exhibits; visitors of all ages are encouraged to play together, learn, imagine and create at this 56,500 square-foot facility; 12 galleries, classrooms, parent/teacher resource center, Kid Smart educational gift shop, 200-seat auditorium and a restaurant let you make an afternoon or day of it; offers hundreds of bilingual, interactive exhibits and programs related to arts, culture, community and communication

ADMISSION: $15 General, Free 1-

DAYS & HOURS: daily 10a-6p

ADDRESS: 980 MacArthur Causeway  MAP

PARKING: $1 per hour on premises at Watson Island

PHONE: 305-373-5437

WEBSITE: http://www.miamichildrensmuseum.org

GameWorks at Sunset Place
DESCRIPTION: Dynamic technology entertainment center with social experience games best for ages 7-17; GameWorks Grill serves a mix of continental and local entrees; IMAX screen features a six-story screen, 12,000-watt IMAX sound system and steeply-raked stadium seating for an immersive experience

ADMISSION: Free, but seperate fee per game and for IMAX

DAYS & HOURS: Sun-Thu 11a-12p, Fri-Sat 11a-2a

ADDRESS: The Shops at Sunset Place at 5701 Sunset Drive  MAP

PARKING: Free on premises

PHONE: 305-667-4263

WEBSITE: http://www.gameworks.com

Miami Metrozoo
DESCRIPTION: A marvel among the handful of tropical zoos in America; houses more than 1,300 wild animals in a cageless setting that approximates natural habitats and gives the visitor the feeling of embarking on an international safari; interactive exhibits for kids; tour areas that featured endangered animals in a natural environment; Amazon & Beyond, is one of the world’s most comprehensive tropical exhibits with jaguars, anacondas, giant river otters, harpy eagles, and sting ray touch tanks

ADMISSION: Adults $16, Ages 3-12 $13

DAYS & HOURS: daily 9:30a-5:30p

ADDRESS: 12400 SW 152nd Street  MAP

PARKING: Free on premises

PHONE:  305-251-0400

WEBSITE: http://www.miamimetrozoo.com

AmericanAirlines Arena
DESCRIPTION: Designed by world amous architecture firm Arquitectonica, this arena opened on New Year's Eve 1999; dramatically set overlooking Biscayne Bay with landmark skyscrapers set behind it, this beloved 20,000 seat arena hosts basketball, major concerts and special events; Miami Heat basketball fans now enter this arena with a lot more pride since the LeBron James and Dwayne Wade led the Heat to the 2012 NBA championship; in a nice touch, the scoreboard changes colors depending on the atmosphere; post-events often spillover to Bayside next door

ADDRESS: 601 Biscayne Boulevard  MAP

TRANSIT: Metromover Bayside Station connects to Metrorail Government Center Station

PARKING: underground parking on a first-come-first-serve basis $15-$35

PHONE: 786-777-1000

WBSITE: http://www.aaarena.com

 

Marlins Park

DESCRIPTION: many Super Bowls, Miami Dolphin NFL and Miami Hurricanes college games were played on this hallowed ground for football fans; with football moving to Landshark Stadium, in 2012, the Miami Marlins major league baseball team moved to this contemporary architecture park located on the former Miami Orange Bowl site, 2 miles west of Downtown; it is the sixth MLB stadium to have a retractable roof -- a required feature in an area that receives frequent downpours; having a small seating capacity of 37,442, this ballpark has the intimate feel of a minor league baseball park so cherished by fans; many upper areas of the stadium have vistas of the dramatic downtown skyline

ADDRESS: 501 Marlins Way  MAP

PARKING: onsite $15-$35

PHONE: 877-411-2012

WBSITE: http://mlb.mlb.com/mia/ballpark

SunLife Stadium
DESCRIPTION: Opened in 1987 as Joe Robbie Stadium, this 75,500 seat venue has undergone several name changes and makeovers; among those makeovers, concourses have been widended for crowds to more easily move about, and there are more lounges, restaurants, restrooms and High-definition scoreboards; one 1993 makeover to accomodate baseball however, was terrible for football fans because it destroyed sideline sightlines, removed sod for the baseball diamond and overused grass with more game days; now that Miami Marlins baseball has left, the stadium is finally being optimized for NFL Miami Dolphins and University of Miami Hurricane football teams; in addition to more club seats and suites, sod is no longer removed for a baseball diamond and grass has more time to be manicured between football games; two more upgrades are coming -- sideline seating is being moved closer to the field to improve sightlines and a roof will be to protect against the rain and sun during games

ADDRESS: 2269 NW 199th Street  MAP

PARKING: $25 Game day car parking

PHONE: tickets 305-573-TEAM

WEBSITE: http://www.proplayerstadium.com

Coral Gables, FL

Venetian Pool
DESCRIPTION: In a residential neighborhood behind pastel stucco walls and wrought iron gates, lies a unique pool listed on the National Register of Historic Places is far more than a swimming pool; it’s the only swimming pool with 820,000 gallons of spring fresh water, vine-covered loggias, shady porticos, Spanish fountain, three-story observation towers and cascading waterfalls that spill into a lagoon with coral rock caves; many city residents swim him daily

ADMISSION: $10.50 Age 13+, $6 Age -3-12; Children under 3 are not permitted

DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Fri 11a-5:30p, Sat-Sun 10a-4:30p; longer Summer hours

ADDRESS: 2701 De Soto Boulevard  MAP

PARKING: Free on premises

PHONE: 305-460-5306

WEBSITE: http://www.venetianpool.com

Homestead, FL

Everglades Alligator Farm
DESCRIPTION: Airboat tour and live shows every hour featuring some rather large alligators and beefy wrestlers

DAYS & HOURS: daily 9a-6p

ADMISSION: $23 Adults, $15 Children $8 includes airpboat ride; $5-$7 less without he airboat ride

ADDRESS: 40351 SW 192nd Ave  MAP

PARKING: Free on premises

PHONE: 305-247-2628

WEBSITE: http://www.everglades.com

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Museum of Discovery & Science
DESCRIPTION: Over 200 hands-on exhibits of science and technology in an 85,000 square foot facility; major exhibits include Runways To Rockets, Great Gravity Clock, Florida Ecoscapes and Discovery Center for Children seven and under; the IMAX theater is also a nice diversion

ADMISSION: $11 Adults, $10 Seniors, $9 Ages 2-12; IMAX Theatre ticket $7-$8

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 10a-5p, Sun noon-6p

ADDRESS: 401 SW 2nd Street  MAP

PARKING: garages and paid lots nearby

PHONE: 954-467-6637

WEBSITE: http://www.mods.org

Sunrise, FL

GameWorks
DESCRIPTION: Under the direction of Steven Spielberg, GameWorks was created to deliver outstanding social experiences around games. Given its Spielbergian roots, expect state-of-the-art fantasy games that get your heart racing -- defend yourself against aliens and dinosaurs, drag race, ski perilous mountains, ride a motorcycle cross country; bar, grill and restaurant on premises

ADMISSION: Enter Free, pay per game

DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Wed 11a-11p, Thu 11a-Midnight, Fri 11a-1a, Sat 11a-1a, Sun 11a-11p

ADDRESS: Sawgrass Mills at 2608 Sawgrass Circle  MAP

PARKING: Free on premises

PHONE: 954-845-8740

WEBSITE: http://www.gameworks.com

Dania, FL

Boomers
DESCRIPTION: Remember go-karts, bumper cars, and arcades?  Explore them again here along with mini-golf, batting cages and the Sky Coaster

ADMISSION: $20 for four hours of unlimited rides and attractions

DAYS & HOURS: Sun-Thu 10a-11p, Fri-Sat 10a-2a

ADDRESS: 1801 NW 1st Street  MAP

PARKING: Free on premises

PHONE: 954-921-2416

WEBSITE: http://www.boomersparks.com/park/dania

Dania Beach Hurricane
DESCRIPTION: Florida's largest wooden roller coaster that's 3,200 feet of hairpin turns and screaming straight-aways; trains travel up to 55 miles per hour for the 2-minute ride; located next to Boomers

ADMISSION: Unlimited rides for $10

DAYS & HOURS: weekdays 10a-11p, weekends 10a-2a

ADDRESS: 1760 NW 1st Street  MAP

PARKING: Free on premises

PHONE: 954-921-7433

WEBSITE: none