Miami is full of amazing restaurants, countless food festivals, and a wide selection of beaches for families to choose from. In fact, there’s SO much to do that it makes it easy for us to forget that there are a ton of great spots outside the city that offer just as much family-friendly entertainment — if not more! (And let’s be real: As awesome as Miami is, who doesn’t like to get away every once in a while?)
Although long road trips always seem like a good idea on paper, parents — and especially parents of young children — know that they’re not particularly realistic. They can be a long time to spend in a car, and they may make you consider hiring a sitter halfway through. But here’s the good news: You don’t have to go very far outside of Miami to have a great family adventure! To this point, we did some research and pulled together a list of the five best short road trips from Miami.
Take a look at the options below, and let us know in the comments if you think we forgot anything!
The Redlands
Location: Redland, FL
Distance From Miami: 37 miles, 48-minute drive
Hours: Open daily, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Fees: Free
“The Redlands” isn’t exactly one place, but rather an agricultural area near Homestead, FL, that offers a few places to visit in a short timeframe.
Start off at Phil’s Berry Farm to eat monkey bread. It’s the only place I’ve ever had this delicious, warm, pull-apart bread covered in buttery, cinnamon-sugary goodness. The kids will go gaga over it. Don’t worry, they’ll burn off the sugar at the next stop!
Jump back in the car and drive about seven minutes to Burr’s Berry Farm. Don’t go straight to the food stand just yet, though. Grab a basket and head to the fields. December through March is strawberry season. Pick to your liking, but don’t get carried away! This is an activity the kids love, and they usually compete to see who can fill their baskets the fastest. In addition to strawberries, Burr’s also grows tomatoes, peppers, and wildflowers. Once you pay for the goodies you picked, allow yourself time to try some fresh pico de gallo and guarapo. If you’re still hungry after this, I suggest stopping for some authentic southern barbecue at Shiver’s.
Last stop is Schnebly’s Winery. This could be a quick visit, or you can take your time. Wine tastings are offered for only $11.95, but this isn’t your regular wine. Schnebly’s creates unique wines made of special ingredients like lychee, avocado, passion fruit, and coconut. You’ll want to buy more than just one bottle to take home! Or, you can enjoy the beautiful grounds and sit at a picnic table with a nice glass of guava wine. If you plan to enjoy more than one glass, remember to have a designated driver.
Shark Valley, Everglades National Park
Address: Everglades National Park, 36000 S.W. 8th St., Miami, FL 33194
Distance From Miami: 41 miles, 52-minute drive
Hours: Open daily, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Fees:
- National Park Entrance Fee: $25 per car | $8 per hiker/biker
- Tram Tour Rates: Adults (13-61), $25 | Seniors (62+), $19 | Children (3-12), $12.75
- Bike Rental Fee: $9 per hour
If you’re feeling a little more adventurous — or just want to get in some exercise — head to Everglades National Park. You have the option of riding a bike or scheduling a Shark Valley tram tour, if you aren’t keen on getting close to wild animals. You may encounter thunderstorms mid-afternoon, so I recommend that you arrive early. And make sure to bring plenty of water so you don’t get dehydrated.
Shark Valley’s 15-mile paved path is considered one of the best bike paths in all of Florida. It’s perfect for any type of bicycle, and you won’t encounter any rough terrain. Bike rentals are available at the visitor center for $9 per hour, and you have the option to rent bicycles with children’s seats or 20-inch bikes for kids.
There’s always something to see, but depending on the time of year you visit, you may come face-to-face with different inhabitants. During the winter months, you may see a full-grown alligator on the side of the road, so be aware when planning your outing. Many visitors tend to forget that these animals are in their natural habitats — if you do, don’t bother or feed them. Admire them from a distance to avoid any incidents.
Halfway through your ride, you’ll find the observation deck, a 46-foot-high tower that provides 20-mile views of the Everglades in all directions.
Plan on doing a two-to-three-hour ride, whether on a bike or the tram.
Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
Address: 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach, FL 33446
Distance From Miami: 52 miles, 1-hour drive
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Closed Mondays
Fees: Adults, $15 | Children (6-17), $9 | Children (5 and under), Free
Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is one of my go-to places when family and friends visit. I found the gardens while looking for a place to take my mom on her birthday. Offering peaceful gardens, a museum, and a cafe overlooking the main lake, this turned out to be the best place to spend her special day.
The gardens are much more than a representation of Japanese culture. Morikami was created to honor the small community of Japanese farmers who settled in Boca Raton in the early 1900s. Created by Jo Sakai, the Yamato Colony originally comprised young men who grew pineapples to sell in the markets. Eventually, the men married and started families. By 1942, few settlers remained and the land was confiscated by the government for military purposes. Though the museum and gardens aren’t located where the colony was established, they’re on land acquired by one of the original settlers. George Morikami acquired much of the land that would become the park, eventually gifting it to Palm Beach County in 1973.
Walk through nature trails resembling old Florida to reach the seven distinct gardens, where you’ll find a sense of tranquility. The only sounds you’ll hear are the splashing from nearby falls, or the soft drumming the bamboo groves make when the wind blows through them. The museum has two buildings and offers several exhibits. The Yamato-Kan is home to the “Japan Through the Eyes of a Child” exhibit, which appeals to children of all ages, offering a re-creation of classrooms and exhibiting Japanese versions of candy bars.
Take advantage of one of Morikami’s many festivals or plan a trip on a Saturday to witness a traditional tea ceremony.
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary – The National Audubon Society
Address: 375 Sanctuary Road, West Naples, FL 34120
Distance From Miami: 128 miles, 2-hour drive
Hours: Open daily, 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Fees: Adults, $14 | Students (6-18), $4 | Children (6 and under), Free
If you’ve never heard of John James Audubon, I recommend reading his biography and getting a glimpse of what persistence really is. Audubon is credited with creating one of the finest ornithological works in history, “The Birds of America.” His deep love for nature allowed him to identify 25 new bird species. Though he’s now acclaimed for his work, Audubon was highly criticized and ridiculed during his time in the late 1700s/early 1800s. Eventually a group of intelligent gentlemen created the National Audubon Society in an effort to continue Audubon’s work and protect wildlife.
Around 1955, Audubon took ownership of what is now the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp due to the state’s lack of interest in managing the sanctuary. Though you can’t walk through the entire 13,000 acres that make up the refuge, there’s a boardwalk that will guide you through 2.25 miles of pine flatwoods, wet prairie, marsh, and the largest old-growth bald cypress forest in North America. The grounds are home to alligators, panthers, deer, turtles, and, of course, a wide variety of birds. Trust me, you’ll want to have your camera ready.
Bok Tower Gardens
Address: 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales, FL 33853
Distance From Miami: 215 miles, 3.5-hour drive
Hours: Open daily, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Fees:
- Regular Season Combo Admission (Includes Gardens & Pinewood Estate): Adults, $20 | Children (5-12), $10
- Gardens-Only Admission: Adults, $14 | Children, $5
Located on one of the highest hills in Central Florida, Bok Tower Gardens will leave you feeling as though you’ve left the state and landed in a storybook land.
It was brought to life in 1921 by Pulitzer Prize-winner Edward W. Bok, who longed to create “a spot of beauty second to none in the country.” He worked alongside his crew for five years, laying out plans to build a sanctuary for over 125 different species of birds and bringing in oaks, magnolias, and gardenias, as well as blueberry shrubs to feed the array of wildlife that call this place home. The array of colors provided by the flowering foliage is a work of art in itself.
There isn’t a place in this beautiful garden where you won’t feel serenity. Make sure to get a glimpse of the tower from the reflection pool, which is specifically situated to reflect the entirety of the tower. It’s the perfect spot to capture pictures for your family album. The main attraction is the Singing Tower, which houses one of the world’s finest carillons, and you can catch concerts daily at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
