Miami is one of those special inclusive places where being yourself is celebrated and accommodated rather than just tolerated.
Whether you’re traveling with kids or just young at heart, Miami and Miami Beach offer wonderful family friendly attractions. Some of the best accessible options are outlined below.
Art Deco Historic District
If you love great architecture, don’t miss the Art Deco Historic District, the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the world. Located in South Beach, often ranked among the best urban beaches, this entertainment district is named on the National Historic Register of Places. There are plenty of sidewalks and restaurants with ramp entrances and exits, so it’s easy to take in the architecture, people watch, dine alfresco, shop and more. While some historic buildings have limited wheelchair accessibility, most of the Miami Design Preservation League’s Official Art Deco Walking Tour is wheelchair accessible. The tour starts at the Art Deco Welcome Center on 10th Street and Ocean Drive.
Zoo Miami
Zoo Miami, also called the Miami-Dade Zoological Park, is the largest and oldest zoological garden in the state, and it is home to more than 3,000 animals, from giraffes, elephants and leopards to exotic birds and reptiles. The zoo is wheelchair accessible and has a range of features and services for guests with disabilities. Service animals are permitted, and wheelchairs and electric convenience vehicles are available for rental.
Miami Seaquarium
Once the filming location for the 1960s series “Flipper,” Miami Seaquarium is a 38-acre tropical paradise where endangered sea turtles and manatees find a safe haven and dolphins delight children of all ages. Providing unique and interactive experiences that are educational and fun for visitors, the park’s conservation efforts have protected thousands of animals. Programming emphasizes the importance of environmental stewardship and conservation through educational animal presentations featuring sea lions, cetaceans, penguins and more.
Most of the attractions, restaurants, and shows at the park are accessible to guests with disabilities. While some parts of the park may be inaccessible, such as some of the animal interactions, contacting an associate at least 48 hours before visiting can help you prepare for your visit.
Shake-A-Leg Miami
For many years, people with various types of disabilities have found freedom on the water with Shake-A-Leg Miami, which provides vessels that have been purposefully designed or actively modified to make sailing easier. The fleet boasts 10 sailboats, 30 kayaks, and safety ships to offer a variety of sailing experiences to people of all ages. One of the favorite experiences is the catamaran ride—called the “Impossible Dream” because it is fully accessible!
Deering Estate
The Deering Estate—listed on the National Register of Historic Places—preserves the 1920s era estate of Charles Deering, an industrialist, preservationist, environmentalist, art collector and philanthropist. This beautiful museum offers a variety of signature events, programs, tours and classes are offered throughout the year. You can request materials in an accessible format and use sign language interpreters and take a guided tour of the 444-acre nature preserve tour by golf cart.
Underline Urban Park
The first phase of Miami’s Underline Urban Park recently debuted, transforming the land below Miami’s Metrorail into a 10‑mile linear park, urban trail, and public art destination. This phase of the wheelchair-accessible park includes the River Room, which connects to the Miami River Greenway and features smooth sidewalk surrounded by native grasses and pollinator plants perfect for playing with dogs. The Promenade, located between SW 8th Street and the Brickell Metrorail station, features community gathering spaces including a sound stage and plaza for health and wellness, cultural and educational programs, communal dining table, tables for board games, and the Station Grove, a seating area at the Brickell Metrorail station entrance. The park hosts a variety of free community events.
Perez Art Museum
If you are an art lover, you will want to check out Perez Art Museum, considered by many among the top art museums in South Florida. You can find modern and contemporary international art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Many enjoy waterfront dining at Verde, the onsite restaurant serving locally inspired dishes prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients and signature pastries. Visitors with wheelchairs can access all this via an ADA-accessible doorway just to the right of the main lobby doors. Those driving to the museum can park in the ground-level garage and take an elevator to the museum entrance.
