The Coconut Grove Arts Festival 2024 Celebrates Its 60th Anniversary Posted on February 15, 2024March 7, 2024 by Sarah Elles Boggs Presidents’ Weekend is one of the biggest weekends of the year in Coconut Grove. For the last 60 years, this is the weekend of the annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival, the three-day festival that celebrates world class art. Over the years, it has expanded to recognize culinary displays, live performances and other forms of art that add additional color and flavor to South Florida. This year’s celebration kicks off on Friday, February 17th and runs through Monday, the 19th throughout our charming waterfront village. Here is a summary of what to expect… The Annual Commemorative Poster One of the top traditions with the Coconut Grove Arts Festival is the annual choosing of the commemorative poster. Each year, a contest is held for the design of the official poster with the winner typically paying homage to something in Coconut Grove’s rich history. This year is no different. Signe & Genna Grushovenko’s entry was chosen, with its midcentury-based feel and honoring the original location of Monty’s, which is an institution here in The Grove. Coconut Grove Art Festival 60th Anniversary Commemorative Poster 2024 The Festival’s Art What started as a small community event is now heralded as one of the nation’s premier art festivals. Over 280 jury-selected artists that are internationally recognized will display their works along the Biscayne Bay waterfront with special events and culinary experiences peppered throughout for the whole family. Booths are set up along the streets throughout the waterfront parks in Coconut Grove, making for a leisurely stroll as you peruse a variety of types of art. You are able to interact with the artists themselves and choose pieces to purchase. A list of the chosen artists can be found here, along with their chosen media. You can also find links to their websites in order to preview the offerings. Coconut Grove Art Festival 2024 Map Additional Experiences In addition to the art, the festival offers many other immersive opportunities for patrons to enjoy themselves. This year, the Arts and Drafts Beer Garden is being brought to you by La Rubia Pale Ale. You can visit this area to enjoy a craft beer while watching local artists create live works of art inside Peacock Park. For those with an empty stomach, Flavors of the Grove is convening 10 top-tier restaurants to present a signature dish. Guests will cast a vote based upon taste, creativity, presentation and overall appeal, ultimately choosing the standout dish of the festival. Immersive experiences are not limited to adults either. The interactive Inner Artists Space encourages kids of all ages to unleash their creativity through a host of events. They will have giveaways, coloring, and Color Boom’s face painting. For future artists and collectors, there is the Young Collector’s Club. For $5, your child can choose their first work of art to begin their own collection. A rainbow of supplies will be on hand for young artists to experiment with the core principles of art in the Creative Corner. Coconut Grove Art Festival Young Collectors Club 2024 Coconut Grove Art Festival 2024 Creative Corner Tickets can be purchased online at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival’s website, or at the entry. They start at $25 for general admission (ages 13+) up to $165 for VIP admission. VIP tickets include a commemorative poster as well as an open bar with hors d’oeuvres, private lounge with air conditioning and restrooms, lounge seating and a VIP collectable badge. Kids under 12 receive complimentary entry. The Coconut Grove Arts Festival is produced by the nonprofit, Coconut Grove Arts and Historical Association. Proceeds help fund year-round arts programs. Since 1963, the association has awarded hundreds of scholarships to students who attend fine arts programs in local schools. Image Credit: Coconut Grove Arts Festival
Miami For Kids: Brightline Train Excursions Posted on June 26, 2023 by Sarah Elles Boggs This week’s Miami For Kids activity should be sort of a given. What kid doesn’t love a train ride? I’ve certainly never met one. But South Florida, being South Florida, adds a little panache to a train ride with The Brightline. Now that you can officially take The Brightline from Miami to Orlando in record time and comfort, let’s look at some things that you can do along the way with your kids. You could even make a few day trips out of the train ride with the whole family. It never gets old. Brightline Entry Downtown Miami Station 1: MiamiCentral in Downtown Miami This is the home station to most of our readers, but since we like to introduce the area to newcomers as well, let’s have a look at what is going on around MiamiCentral. Being located in Downtown Miami, there are a host of family-friendly activities nearby. Of course, the Phillip & Patricia Museum of Science has been named on several of our Kid-friendly-fun lists over recent weeks along with Maurice A Ferre Park and the Perez Art Museum. The Miami Children’s Museum and Jungle Island are a short Uber ride away and have also been featured on our lists. Very close to the Brightline Station, there is the Miami Library at 101 West Flagler. It is located in a lovely building and hosts many children’s activities from toddlers up to teens. The HistoryMiami Museum is also next door. In 2024, things will get even more fun. The Museum of Ice Cream is set to open a new, permanent location in Miami Worldcenter. The new spot will encompass 14,000 square feet and is set to open in 2024. To be on the VIP waiting list, you can register here. Brightline Aventura Station Station 2: Aventura Station Granted, the train ride from Miami to Aventura Station is a short one, parents will be pleased at how much more convenient it is than driving and fighting the traffic. Plus, there is a current promotion with fares from just $10. Once you arrive, there is a convenient shuttle to take you from the station to a Brightline Hub in the lower level of Nordstrom at Aventura Mall. At the mall, the kids will go wild. There is a rooftop pavilion for life-size chess, cornhole-dare, and more… all surrounded by a selfie-inducing mural wall. Inside, you’ll find a Hello Kitty popup truck, Mercedes Benz test drives (for the teens, of course), the AMC24 movie theater, tons of gourmet restaurants and Live Music Fridays. For the smaller kids, the lower level offers the Rainbow Valley Playground and for the bigger kids, they can be thrilled by the 93-foot Aventura Slide Tower. Brightline Fort Lauderdale Station Station 3: Fort Lauderdale Station in Downtown Fort Lauderdale We discussed going up to Fort Lauderdale to experience the Museum of Discovery and Science when we were going over ideas for rainy day kid activities in Miami, Naturally, the museum is relevant here as well. It is walking distance to the Brightline Station and will offer your kids an entire day of fun. With a short Uber ride to the East, you will find Las Olas Boulevard with many restaurants and access to the Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk. Continue further and you will be able to visit the International Swimming Hall of Fame, which includes the Aquatic Museum. Along the canals, there are many opportunities to rent paddleboards and you really have to take a trip on the historic Jungle Queen. This is an open-air riverboat that is Fort Lauderdale’s longest-running tourist attraction. The boat will take you up the river, pointing out notable sites and ending at a jungle park where you can interact with animals. There are also options for dinner cruises, private events and more. Brightline Boca Raton Station Station 4: Boca Raton Station Stopping at Brightline’s Boca Station is going to give your kids an awful lot of diverse fun. For starters, there is the Coconut Cove Waterpark, where you can find two 4-story waterslides, a 1,000-foot lazy river along with interactive water park features all around. The Coconut Cove Waterpark has been a Boca Raton institution for nearly 25 years. While it is currently under renovation, Sugar Sand Park offers a wide variety of kid-friendly activities. They offer a science garden and nature trails for guided learning about the great outdoors, indoor guided learning for budding scientists, early afternoon explorers, and the Willow Theatre puts on special children’s plays and events such as Rumpelstilskin, Old Macdonald’s Singalong Farm and Sherlock Holmes Opera Mystery. If you have bigger kids, they will go wild at Boomers Park. They’ll ride go-karts, play in the arcade, run wild with bumper boats, laser tag and more. It’s the type of thing that 10-year-old me would dream about. Brightline West Palm Beach Station | Photo Credit: SOM | Lucas Blair Simpson Station 5: West Palm Beach Station Palm Beach has a reputation of being a playground for the ultra-high net worth crowd, which is great but doesn’t always allude to things for children. But the city is actually quite kid-friendly. If you take the Brightline from Miami to West Palm Beach, you can find a ton of activities for the family. If your kids are interested in wildlife, there are two main options. The McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary offers over 200 different breeds and species for them to interact with. You could also visit the Palm Beach Zoo, where kids get in free during June and July. For the kids with a specific interest in manatees (who wouldn’t?!), you can learn all about the gentle giants at the Manatee Lagoon. Although nearly every community has its own science museum for kids, they enjoy a change of scenery. The Cox Science Center offers its own science museum/learning center with an aquarium and planetarium. This summer, their special series is “Science Fiction, Science Future” and allows kids to learn about scientific discoveries of the past then designing their vision of the future. We cannot go to West Palm Beach without visiting The Square. On top of the shopping and restaurants, weekly events are offered that are family-friendly. They have Daytime Playtime, Bubble Time Rhythm & Hues, and Bubble Blast in the splash pad. There are also golf lessons for the little ones and live music. It is fun for everyone! Rendering of Brightline Orlando Train Station Station 6: Orlando Station This brings us to the grand finale, the brand new, just opened Brightline Orlando Station. We covered the details of this luxurious and convenient station awhile back, and now it is accessible. You can travel with your family from Miami to Orlando in 3 hours conveniently and in style. No loading the kids into the car and fighting traffic, arriving exhausted, fighting for parking etc. With Brightline you arrive relaxed and refreshed, are able to call a rideshare or take a shuttle to the hotel. Instead of fighting for parking and arriving at the parks exhausted and annoyed, you can be dropped at the gate to enjoy your day with your family, whichever park you choose. For a handy guide of how to most conveniently use rideshare at Disney, check out this guide at Mousehacking Blog. After you have had all of the fun you can have with the mouse, you can relax on a soft quilted-leather seat and enjoy the calm and smooth 3-hour ride back to MiamiCentral Station. We hope you enjoy as many fun days as possible on The Brightline outings. It really opens up a world of new possibilities and experiences for families that we are only able to scratch the surface of here. Until next week!
Miami For Kids: Outdoor Activities & Parks Posted on June 19, 2023 by Sarah Elles Boggs There are so many family-friendly activities in Miami, this series could go on throughout the summer. Last week, we talked about things to do with the kids if the weather isn’t being cooperative. So this week, let’s talk about things to do on a more beautiful day. Miami Beach Botanical Garden Free Art Class Miami Kids 1 – Miami Beach Botanical Garden “The tropical oasis in the heart of Miami Beach” is an amazing outing for the kids. Among other things, the Miami Beach Botanical Garden has partnered with the Sunflower Society to bring free weekly art classes for the kids. Winsome Bolt and Denise Marlow assist young artists using mixed media. This year’s theme is insects & flowers. The classes take place every Wednesday from 10am-noon and run from June 21-August 16 with an art exhibition on August 16. Fairchild Botanic Gardens Mango Festival Miami 2 – Fairchild Tropical Gardens The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens was ranked #1 Best Botanic Garden in the United States by USA Today. The Miami New Times also ranked it as the Best Outdoor Attraction in the area. Coming up is the annual Mango Festival, July 8 & 9. This celebrates our 30-year history with mangos and you can do almost anything imaginable during the festival. There is a mango brunch, classes about the fruit, shop mango plants, and also enjoy the other attractions in the park. For ongoing attractions, kids will love the summer camp, and even a dragons garden. There is a children’s garden and a discovery attraction where the kids can explore hidden corners. Loads of fun. Pinecrest Gardens Playground Miami Frog 3 – Pinecrest Gardens South Florida’s Cultural Arts Park is Pinecrest Gardens. One of our favorite programs there is called Little Lizards on alternating Wednesday afternoons. It is an informal science and art program with a monthly theme. Registration is required. In the summertime, there is the Discovery Lab where kids can become a true scientist. The sessions encompass all areas of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math). There is chemistry, energy, mechanical engineering, life science and others. And of course there is fun in the splash pad, the play park, the zoo, gardens and indoor facilities. If your kiddo is not yet big enough for the other activities but is potty trained, they can attend the Pinecrest Dance Project Toddler Camp. They also have a full menu of Mommy and Me classes that are ongoing. Ferre Park Downtown Miami Sculpture Garden 4 – Bayfront Park & Maurice A Ferre Park With the longest waterfront promenade in Miami, Downtown’s Maurice A Ferre Park and Bayfront Park off beautiful scenery, lots to do and offers direct access to the Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science and the Perez Art Museum. There is an amazing new sculpture garden, access to restaurants and monuments to Miami’s rich history. In Bayfront Park, you will find a playground near the pavilion on the south side and direct access to Bayside Marketplace where you can experience the Skyviews Miami Observation Wheel. Boat rentals and tourist boats are also available in Bayside Marketplace. Tinez Farms Miami 5- Tinez Farm With a little bit of a drive, you can find something really special. Tinez Farm is a small family-owned center that is wonderful for kids to explore in. Jessica and Ruben Martinez are Miami-natives who realized how difficult it is to come by local, organically grown goods so off they went. Our daughter loves it here. She can waddle around and pick from the seasonal veggies and take a pony ride. There are animal interactions, guided tours, a garden maze, Tinez yard games, climbing, swings, a zip line and a tubing slide. Sometimes special characters arrive too, so check their Instagram page for special announcements. They also have a full menu of fresh, sustainably raised meats of all kinds. There is grass fed & finished beef, pasture-raised pig, lamb, goat, chicken, turkey and duck that were raised with zero hormones or antibiotics. It’s a really special place and we love that it’s locally-owned and operated. Knaus Berry Farm Sign BONUS – Knaus Berry Farm Speaking of locally owned and operated, we can’t have a list of outdoor things for kids in Miami to do without including the famous Knaus Berry Farm in Homestead. I added it as a bonus since they close for the summer and here we are, but from November-April this is not a spot to miss. Beginning as a small berry stand run by 2 brothers in 1956, a broker tasted the cookies made by Ray’s wife. He said they were good enough to sell and indeed they were! Be prepared to wait. You’ll see come November that local Miamians are proud to wait in the line for their famous cinnamon rolls and pecan rolls. For the kids, there is fresh berry picking and tomatoes which is an iconic Miami memory for generations. We hope you’re enjoying these new lists and coming up with new ideas for how to beat the heat in Miami with your whole brood!
Miami For Kids: South Florida Sports Camps Posted on May 22, 2023May 23, 2023 by Sarah Elles Boggs If your brood is interested in furthering their talent in a certain sport so that they are more competitive for the next academic year, or if they are interested in trying a new sport privately, without the pressure of trying it in front of classmates, a directional summer camp is going to be for you. Miami is filled with opportunities for youngsters to attend sports camps while school is out, here are a few of the stand-out offerings that we have seen. 1 – Tennis Camp at Dante Fascell Park (South Miami) If your youngster is looking to channel their inner Rafael Nadal or Serena Williams, you’ll need to start early. At Dante Fascell Park, located at 8600 Red Road in South Miami, you will find 9 weekly sessions this summer, beginning in mid June. The camp is designed for kids aged 4 years up to high school seniors and takes place from 9:30 am-12 noon each day. There are no rain-out days, so come ready to play rain or shine. With small group ratios (6 players per instructor), each child receives age-appropriate training and individual attention, increasing the likelihood they will excel when competition time rolls around in the fall. The cost is $155/week for South Miami residents, $175/week for those who live outside of the area. Ocaquatics Swimming Lessons Miami FL | Photo Credit: Raj Rana via Unsplash 2 – Swimming Lessons (Multiple Locations) Learning to swim is not just fun, it’s also a life-saving necessity, particularly in Miami where so many activities revolve around water. There are many options for swimming lessons that go from life-saving courses for babies up to competitive camps for older kids who are looking toward a future paved by Michael Phelps. We recommend Ocaquatics because they host not only a variety of levels, but also have multiple locations. The location we would choose is in Coral Gables, but there are also offerings in Kendall, near Tropical Park, and Hialeah Gardens. Tuition is $28 per class, or $80 per private lesson and is billed monthly. Miami International Riding Club | Photo Credit: Valerie Fomina via Unsplash 3 – Equestrian Training (Cutler Bay) If your child has shown an interest in English Horseback Riding, we suggest the Miami International Riding Club prior to investing in a stable. Beginning at age 6, the MIRC includes riding lessons, horsemanship, and lessons on horse care. There are fun activities and games to play on the horses and with them, ensuring that your child will be comfortable with these majestic animals. The camp runs from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm with optional after-hours time until 5:00 pm for an additional fee of $50. The camp offers several options as far as duration with daily rates of $150 up to the full 6-weeks of summer for $3,000. Coconut Grove Sailing Club Sailing Camp | Photo Credit: Little John 4 – Coconut Grove Sailing Club (Coconut Grove) For those kids who are 6 years old or higher and have already mastered basic swimming, they are also ready to begin sailing. At the Coconut Grove Sailing Club, kids of all levels are welcome for week-long sessions of sailing camp for $475 per week. They are divided into groups by age and size, learning how to rig & launch a boat, basic knots, sailing terminology, develop wind awareness, and learn to sail a race course. Some groups do require previous sailing experience and if your child bonds with the sport, classes can continue throughout the year. Camps run Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm at 2990 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove FL, 33133. Miami Baseball All Stars Camp | Photo Credit: Keith Johnston 5 – Baseball/Softball Camp (Miramar) Baseball is one of the more competitive sports in high schools throughout the country and loads of kids are looking to catch Derek Jeter’s eye, getting scouted to the Miami Marlins and representing their hometown on the diamond. For some this is a pipe dream, but it is our job as parents to provide them with the resources they need to set them up to realize even the loftiest of dreams. This brings us to the All Star Training Center in Miramar. While it is in Broward County and a bit of a drive, this camp has come highly recommended by parents whose children are incredibly competitive in the sport. The camps are each a week long and host just 45 children each week. The cost is $350/week for a full day that goes from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm or $280/week if you would like to check your child out at noon. Discounts do apply if you book additional weeks and there is the option for daily practice rather than the weekly camp. Paris Saint-Germain Soccer Camp Miami | Photo Credit: Peter Glaser via Unsplash 6 – Paris Saint-Germain Academy Soccer Camp (Tropical Park) Naturally soccer is going to be incredibly popular in our region. With all of the different cultures that Miami has to offer, most all are avid fans of the sport. At Paris Saint-Germain Academy, the children have the opportunity to learn the Paris Saint-Germain methodology of European soccer and to see what day to day life is like in the world of high level soccer. During the camp, players focus on one area of soccer per day. This includes attacking, transitions, defending and finishing. Young athletes are taught from world class coaches who exclusively work with high level players that routinely find themselves on the pitch in the world stage. There are several different locations, we are choosing to highlight Tropical Park as it is closer to coastal Miami, where most of our readers are located. The half day camp is available at a rate of $575 per week and runs from 9:00 am – 12:30 pm Monday through Friday. Top Gun All Stars Miami Cheer Camp | Photo Credit: Facebook/Top Gun All Stars 7 – Top Gun Cheer & Dance Camps (West Kendall) Beginning at age 3 and becoming competitive at ages 5 or 6, Top Gun Cheer and Dance is going to be for those children who view Simone Biles in awe and adoration. Open to both boys and girls, the kids will begin with the fundamentals of balance and coordination, moving up to complex tumbling and flying moves that bring home medals. Before going all-in with year-round team training, you can test the waters of the sport with a week-long summer camp. The different levels offered will teach front and back walkovers, moving up to handsprings as well as single and multi-base flying stunts. Prices and times vary depending upon the age group. Private coaching is also available. We hope this list helps you to nurture the interests of your kids during the summer, setting them up for success in the new academic year. Stay tuned next week as we look at less intensive outdoor activities for your family to enjoy! Photo Credit: Kateryna Hliznitsova
Miami For Kids: Places Your Kiddos Can Interact With Wildlife Posted on May 15, 2023May 18, 2023 by Sarah Elles Boggs When you think about all of the types of animals that are native to the Miami area, what types do you think about? We have an infinite amount of sea life, flamingos, and alligators to name a few. To help kids explore the natural fauna of the Miami-area, we have compiled a list of animal-related experiences that are fun for the entire family. These experiences offer not only viewing of the different breeds, but the opportunity to interact with them as well. Jungle Island Miami Parrot courtesy of Sarah B-A via Unsplash 1 – Jungle Island – 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami FL, 33132 Starting off with Jungle Island, located on Watson Island in between Downtown Miami and Miami Beach on the MacArthur Causeway, this is a full day in and of itself. They offer everything from a Garden Admission that includes access to animals from all over the world, but particularly South Florida. There are parrots, flamingoes, a true replica of the Everglades and Everglades Habitat, monkeys, tortoises, snakes and more. For the high-energy bunch, you can also trapse through Treewalk Village, a network of tree houses connected by nets, bridges and slides. There is also a playground to spend pent-up energy. If you are eager for some 1-on-1 time with the animals, you can book an animal encounter. These allow you to play with lemurs and sloths, or feed Florida flamingos. An additional VIP tour allows the family to enter the habitats and get up close and personal with kangaroos, parrots, reptiles or giant tortoises. After all of the animal interaction, you can stroll over to Joia Beach and have some snacks on a manmade beach overlooking the Biscayne Bay. Prices vary depending upon age and the experiences chosen. ZooMiami Camel Exhibit photo courtesy of Frank Polanco via Unsplash 2 – Zoo Miami – 12400 SW152nd Street, Miami FL, 33177 If you are looking for a very extensive animal experience and don’t mind a bit of a drive, make a day out of ZooMiami. It boasts 750 acres of animals from around the world that you can experience by foot, by tram or if you are not big on walking such distances, the VIP golf cart experience. The zoo is a lot and is definitely a full day’s adventure, so be sure to plan ahead. Their website offers a planning section with a map of the facility, and links to all of the different experiences you can upgrade to along the way. In order to get up close and personal with the animals, you’ll want to book encounters online. During the animal encounters, you will be able to visit with the zookeepers who are in charge of the various animals, sometimes even getting to feed them. ZooMiami is currently offering the Black Bears, Rhinos, Pygmy Hippos, Tortoises and the cute little Kiwi birds that can’t fly. Each breed has its own social schedule, so be sure to plan ahead. Prices for ZooMiami vary depending upon age, date, and the options you choose. There is also an option to purchase yearly memberships, which is often times more economical especially if you intend to visit the zoo more than once per year. Frost Science Museum Aquarium. Photo credit: Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science 3 – Frost Science Museum, Aquarium & Planetarium – 1101 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami FL, 33132 One of the newest additions to Miami’s animal-friendly repertoire, the Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science opened in Maurice Ferré Park in Downtown Miami in 2017. In addition to the science exhibits and planetarium, the new museum boasts an actual replica of the South Florida aquatic ecosystem. This begins with a recreation of the Florida Everglades on the top level, with a river of grass, alligators, mangroves, and beaches. You can travel down and peek into the ecosystem of the ocean that is on display in a 500,000 gallon tank with vibrant coral reefs, sharks, a bevy of breeds of fish, all held together in the gulfstream current. There are nooks and crannies for the kiddos to crawl and explore, peering in to the makeshift ocean to see all of the colors and elegant forms of life existing together as they do in the wild. As you travel through the different levels of the deep, there are offshoots on each floor that allow guests to view certain breeds in closer quarters. The jellyfish exhibit is especially soothing, under the black light the majestic creatures light up in purple and pink and blue, to the amazement of little eyes. The Frost Museum is another location where we suggest a yearly membership if you plan to visit more than once per year. For members, you are able to visit as many times as you like per year, visit each of the rotating exhibits and the aquarium plus 1 planetarium show per visit. The museum is easily accessible from nearly any part of town, so will definitely be something you wind up doing several times per year, if not more. Everglades Holiday Park Airboat Tour – Photo credit: Everglades Holiday Park 4 – Everglades Holiday Park Airboat Rides & Tours – 21940 Griffin Road, Ft Lauderdale FL, 33332 If you are not feeling the energy of interacting with animals in captivity, you can also go see them in the wild! This will be a bit of a drive to Fort Lauderdale, but is well worth the trip. The Everglades Holiday Park Airboat Rides & Tours will physically take you into the wild so that you can see all of the different birds and wildlife that live in the River of Grass. Of course there are alligators too and the airboats are quite fun! There are many places in the Everglades to book an airboat trip, but we prefer the Everglades Holiday Park as it also offers one-on-one animal encounters. You can hold baby alligators (mouths taped shut of course), pythons, pigs, foxes and even skunks! Once you are finished with your photo-ops, you can sit back and watch the pro alligator wranglers play around with the deadly creatures, feeding them by hand and other daredevil activities. You can view photos and experience offerings, or book excursions and experiences online here. Zoological Wildlife Federation Tiger Cub – Photo credit: ZWF Facebook 5 – Zoological Wildlife Federation – 16225 SW172nd Avenue, Miami FL, 33187 For those who prefer a more intimate zoo setting, the Zoological Wildlife Federation is going to be up your alley. This zoo is also just south of Miami, and offers a more extensive menu of animal experiences. In addition to being able to interact with the animals and speak with the zoo keepers, you can also hold baby tiger cubs, have your photo taken with the animals, or have a private tour of the facilities. Among the breeds offered, there are many different breeds of big cats, lemurs, monkeys, ant eaters, birds, primates and otters. It is important to note that the zoo allows the animals to behave as they will, so there isn’t a guarantee of which ones will be social on a given day. Since they are allowed to live as naturally as possible, it is also impossible to guarantee whether or not a litter of cubs will be available. The animals are not bred, they pair up and start families as they see fit. Given this tidbit, it is a good idea to call ahead or visit their Instagram page to see if there are any sweet babies to visit before you make the drive. The cubs are available for encounters until they reach 40lb, in which case they are kept in a habitat for the safety of zoo guests. Too view the facilities and book a tour, you can visit their extensive website here. Please note that these are only our top 5 favorite animal experiences in the area. There are loads of additional ones, so your little ones can keep learning even when school is out. It could be a full 3 months of field trips if you want it to be. Miami is so rich with things for families to do. Tune back in next week as we look into other outdoor activities to keep the kids busy until school starts back! Photo courtesy of Jungle Island Website
A Mother’s Day Tribute: Silly Monkey’s Playhouse In Coconut Grove Posted on May 12, 2023May 13, 2023 by Sarah Elles Boggs Happy Mother’s Day to all the hard-working moms out there! Let’s face it, mothering is work. Extremely rewarding work, but work nevertheless. For those of you who have never had the experience of motherhood, just imagine your entire body morphing for months. In the end, you have a small person with zero skills or knowledge that you are responsible for and there is NO INSTRUCTION MANUAL. It is up to you to teach this little being everything, doing your best to guide them in the right direction to one day lead an enriching life of their own. As rewarding as it is, it’s quite a challenge! So for this year’s Mother’s Day post, we would like to highlight a local, mom-owned business that has been monumental in helping us to enrich the life of our daughter, London. Coconut Grove’s Silly Monkey Playhouse. Located in Cocowalk in Center Coconut Grove, it is quite convenient, especially for locals. There is ample parking nearby, or the freebee can deliver you and your little right to the doorstep for some sensory fun. What To Expect Silly Monkey’s Playhouse is dedicated to helping children and parents to bond and communicate, even before the kids are verbal. Using music, art and play they embrace the natural tendencies for little ones to explore and socialize. There are a host of classes available, and each one is custom-tailored to each child’s age group. They can experience the world at their own pace. Some children are quiet and observant and some are into everything, busily discovering whatever they can and will encounter. There are several options for classes. Our now favorites are the Music, Art & Playground in English and then again in Spanish on another day in the week. Let’s face it, Spanish is an integral part of life here in the Miami area. The Music, Art & Playground course hones in on your child’s playfulness. It encourages independence, and stimulates curiosity. The projects change weekly, so a new discovery can take place every week for a full year. These are 1-hour each, broken down into 3 sections of about 20 minutes each in order to accommodate for the attention span of these young brains. This summer, we will be adding a third day for our little one. The added course will be the 90-minute Music, Learn & Playground, where early childhood academics are introduced. They start learning ABC’s, colors, basic math, and other cognitive abilities to prepare our child for preschool. How To Get Involved If you are interested in enrolling your child, just visit their website or call Georgia, the owner and teacher since its inception in 2010. She has been incredibly helpful to us over the last year, and we cannot thank her enough. There is so much pressure to set your little one on the right path, no way can anyone do it alone and Georgia has been a godsend to us. Her prices are reasonable and follow-up is spectacular. The courses are sold in 8-week packages, but this is not the type of experience you would want to do on a one-off basis. You want to go for awhile so that you can experience the rapid development of your little gift. We did not share additional photos because we are sensitive to sharing photos of other people’s children on the internet, but you can visit the website here, or follow Silly Monkey’s Playhouse’s Instagram here. We hope to see you and your little one on the playground and Happy Mother’s Day!
Miami For Kids: Waterfront Ideas For You And Your Littles Posted on May 8, 2023May 12, 2023 by Sarah Elles Boggs With so many amazing grownup events in South Florida, sometimes we tend to forget that there is also a lot of fun to be had for the children. Since summertime is upon us and the littles will be cut loose from school, how can we keep them entertained? I’ve compiled a list of ideas, broken down by category. This week, we’re going to get started with things to do around the water. South Pointe Park Pier Miami Beach courtesy of Jorge Coromina 1 – South Pointe Park & Pier What’s not to love about South Pointe Park? There is so much to do! The 450-foot pier offers fantastic views of the beach from the very southern tip. You can go fishing, watch the cruise ships arrive and depart from close distance, it is just a generally good space. If you prefer to stay on land, there is beach access for swimming or sandcastle building. The people-watching is amazing. There are drum circles, people doing yoga, riding jet skis, windsurfing, you name it. Near the splash pad, you will find the South Pointe Cafe that serves all sorts of snacks. They have ice cream, smoothies, fresh juices and other refreshments. It should also be noted that the park has received a 4.6 rating on Tripadvisor, which is astounding. Cost: Free Lummus Park South Beach Miami Beach courtesy of the Miami Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau 2 – Lummus Park South Beach If you have ever seen South Beach on TV, you have more than likely seen Lummus Park. Located across Ocean Drive from the historic Art Deco hotels between 5th and 15th Street, this is the main beach used in sizzle reels for the city. The best time to enjoy Lummus Park is in the morning, you can watch the sun rise over the ocean, rent beach chairs and umbrellas and just enjoy the morning as the kids play in the sand and swim. There are separate playground for the little ones (2-5) and older kids (6-12), multiple workout areas, a broadwalk where you will find rollerbladers, joggers and bicyclists. There are beach volleyball courts as well as basketball courts to enjoy, all free of charge. Lummus Park also plays host to special events, particularly Art Basel, the South Beach Wine and Food Festival’s Grand Tasting Village and the Miami Beach Air & Sea Show. It is important to note that on some other high-traffic times in the city such as Spring Break and Memorial Day Weekend, this section of beach does become less family friendly. Aside from those times, it is a lovely place to be. Cost: Free Kennedy Park photo courtesy: Greater Miami Convention & Visitor’s Bureau 3 – Kennedy Park If you are looking to enjoy the fresh air with Fido also in tow, Kennedy Park is where you go. (See what I did there?) But on a real note, this is where the locals are. Located along the shoreline of the Biscayne Bay in between Brickell and Coconut Grove on Bayshore Drive, Kennedy Park got its name from a previous Mayor of Miami, David T. Kennedy. He held the mayorship of Miami from 1970-1973, which was around the time Miami began to change from a sleepy little city to a national destination. Here you will find 20 acres of jogging trails, playgrounds for the wild ones (including your dogs), sand volleyball courts. The running paths are made of low impact rubber asphalt for those of us who want to protect our joints, and it is all nestled under the shade of natural mangroves. You will serve yourself well to visit the A.C.’s Icees frozen lemonade truck while you are there. It is an iconic landmark since 1978. Cost: Free Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park Lighthouse courtesy of Adrian Diaz-Sieckel 4 – Bill Baggs State Park There is so much to do at Bill Bags. For those who enjoy a calm, relaxing beach day with a beach picnic from the cooler, this is the best beach to go to. The park boasts 1.2 miles of sand directly under the mangroves and palm trees. There is no hustle and bustle at the south tip of Key Biscayne. Aside from the beach, there are 400 acres of other activities. You can also go camping, boating, horseback riding, there are playgrounds, scuba diving, I could literally go on all day about what this amazing location. Named after Bill Baggs, the editor of the Miami News from 1957-69, the park is also home to the oldest standing structure in Greater Miami. The Cape Florida Lighthouse was erected in 1825 to guide mariners away from the reef. It is important to note that cell service can be spotty at this beach, so if you are one to lose your composure when there are no bars on your phone, it might be something to think about. Cost: $8 per vehicle up to 8 people, $4 for single-occupant vehicles or motorcycles, $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists or extra passengers Matheson Hammock Atoll Pool courtesy of Youtube: DroneVid 5 – Matheson Hammock Park Matheson Hammock is one of the treasures of Miami’s past, present and future. Located at 9610 Old Cutler Road in Coral Gables, the historic park offers a whopping 630-acres of activities that are too extensive to detail in this highlight post. What I’d like to focus on today is the Atoll Pool. This is a manmade pool along the bay that is naturally filled by the tides of the bay. It is surrounded by limestone, coral and a circular sandy beach with swaying palm treas. Since the water is so calm, it is considered a very safe spot for children to swim. Cost: $5 on weekdays and $7 on weekends Venetian Pool Coral Gables. Photo Credit: Facebook 6 – Venetian Pool in Coral Gables In Coral Gables you can find another unique swimming pool. The Venetian Pool is a gorgeous 4-acre Mediterranean-style swimming pool located at 2701 De Soto Boulevard in Coral Gables. It was built in 1924 using a shallow quarry that displaces around 820,000 gallons of fresh water daily from artesian wells, which has brought both awe from swimmers and criticism from environmentalists. It is the largest freshwater pool in the United States. Inside the pool, you will find a grotto, a grand waterfall, a sandy sunning area and a 2-foot kiddie pool near the lifeguards. You will also find a cafe for refreshments throughout the day. Cost: Rates vary from $5.50-$21 depending upon age and residency. Please know that this list is only our top 6 pick of unique things for you and the kiddos to get into near the water. We hope you enjoy and follow up in future weeks for lists of animal-related activities, things to do on a rainy day and more!