Miami is a great city to visit with children, with a wealth of experiences ranging from sunny beaches to unique cultural forays. As part of our ongoing feature which explains the benefits of family cruises, we offer a day as experienced by an actual family during a recent Western Caribbean cruise. This is a great day to enjoy with kids that this family enjoyed before embarking on their cruise out of Miami, though it would also be great for a family that finds themselves in the city for any length of time.

A SPECIAL NOTE: We utilized a driver/tour guide for this stop. He was very helpful in navigating the area with children. The service we used was great and we would recommend them to other families traveling in the area. They are called All Service Shuttle and besides their website, they can be reached at 954-205-0690. The driver was very friendly, knowledgeable and reliable. Their prices are reasonable. They also do shuttles to and from the airport and cruise terminals to hotels. We will definitely plan on using them again.

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Description:

Miami is famous for its proximity and ties to Cuban culture. Until very recently, the impossibility of travel to Cuba made this the closest American citizens could get to the vibrant Caribbean island. Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood is still an outstanding way to connect to the culture and the people of Cuba, while staying closer to home. Featuring colorful murals and other local art, mixed with lively music and outstanding cuisine; Little Havana has so much to see and to do. Local landmarks include: Calle Ocho, the main street of Little Havana, which features local food and shops. Along the way you will also find “Walkway of the Stars,” which honors Latin American celebrities.

Our Experience:

We really enjoyed this chance to take in a little Cuban culture. The are is certainly lively, and there seemed to be a lot to do if you wanted to spend more time here. We walked it for about half an hour, which was enough for us to get a feel for the area and the people. After exploring, we did take some time to watch some locals play dominoes at Domino Park. This was a really unique little slice of culture and was interesting to stop at briefly.

Description:

This well known area of Miami is home to a variety of shopping and dining options. Lincoln Road is totally closed to cars, and offers an open-air shopping and dining experience that stretches almost to the Atlantic Ocean. The area has come a long way since its origins as a mangrove forest, now featuring premier restaurants and galleries along with other trappings of an area rich in things to do. For a list of locations, as well as some great tips for visiting, visit the Lincoln Road Mall’s website.

Our Experience:

We enjoy taking a little time for shopping here and there during a vacation, and we found this to be a nice area. There certainly were a ton of places to shop and eat, so you are not without options. We enjoyed going at the end of the day, as the open air mall was a little cooler in the evening. We would recommend this for other families, as the heat and the crowds during the day might be a bit much. Overall a good shopping area.

Read more about this particular family’s Caribbean Cruise Adventure, starting with their experience on the Norwegian Epic.

Interested in booking or planning a vacation to Miami right now? Check out some of the offers currently available for airfare and hotels at Kayak, Orbitz and Priceline. See more lodging options at Hotels.com and Hilton. Get started on your next trip today!

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