Have you been daydreaming of spending an afternoon relaxing in a chaise lounge beneath a colorful umbrella on a private beach with a great view, while your kids are completely occupied in their own world of fun just steps away? Then make plans now to visit Miami’s Jungle Island and their new private beach, La Playa. 

La Playa is Miami's only private beach in a public facility. Wait till you see the views! Definitely bring your camera for postcard-perfect shots of downtown Miami and Biscayne Bay. And while you’re busy soaking it all in, sipping frozen Playa Coladas, there are three big inflatable “fun stations” to keep your younger ones entertained.

The Big Kahuna is a whole lot of fun-a! It lets kids climb up 17 feet, have a seat and then slide down the “‘waves” into a refreshing pool of water.

Splish Splash

The Big Kahuna is a whole lot of fun-a! It lets kids climb up 17 feet, have a seat and then slide down the “‘waves” into a refreshing pool of water. The Splish and Splash 180 is double-sided fun where little ones conquer a rock climb and a waterslide, then do it all over again on the other side. And who wouldn’t want to explore a pineapple under the sea? SpongeBob’s Obstacle Course is a great big bounce house complete with a basketball hoop, a climbing feature and an awesome exit slide through a tiki god's mouth.

Life really is a beach at La Playa. It’s a great spot for families to play the day away or just to relax and cool-off in between Jungle Island’s animal shows. They even have an onsite Beach Shack with everything you need from towels to flip flops – at everyday prices, so there’s no excuse not to indulge in all this spontaneous fun. (Insider tip: bring aquatic shoes as footwear is required in the water and on shore.)

New Little Faces at Jungle Island

Summer 2009 at Jungle Island also brings on a baby boom. Your little ones will love seeing all the new little ones crawling, running and jumping around here: three baby chicks, seven flamingo hatchlings, pot-belly piglets and nine adorable baby lemurs (four black-and-white, three ring-tailed and two red-ruffed)! And, due to be born any day now, is a baby Capuchin Monkey.

For a good look at the flamingo hatchlings, be sure you’re on the terrace of the Lakeside Café at 10 a.m. for the feeding of the flamingos. Grab a cup of coffee and keep your eyes open for adorable gray fuzz balls! Flamingos are about the size of your palm and completely white when born; then they morph into a fuzzy gray ball and eventually mature into the stunning pink they’re famous for. The transformation is amazing – and so is Flamingo Lake. In addition to the hatchlings, you’ll see a colony of 75 coral-colored flamingos standing gracefully on their long, stick-like legs. It’s another postcard view to capture, especially with the vibrant fuchsia bougainvillea in the background.   

Let’s Make A Deal

For many Floridians, this summer may mean having fun closer to home. So Jungle Island has a fantastic “stay-cation” deal for you and your family. Now through August, when you purchase a one-day general admission ticket, you’ll get a Sun 'N Fun Pass – which gives you admission to Jungle Island, every day, all summer long for FREE! Now, that’s a great deal. You’ll get all the fun of Jungle Island:

Petting zoo
Everglades Habitat & Walk
Lorikeet & kangaroo feedings
Gator-Xtreme Show
Playground
Penguin & Tortoise Exhibits
Tiger Tales & Liger Habitat
Plant Nursery
Hank the Crocosaurus
Bird Shows & more

Plus, you’ll have access to their private beach, La Playa, all summer long – for the price of a one-day admission.

With baby animals, a private beach and a jungle full of fun, there's no where else to be this summer than on Jungle Island.

This article is brought to you by Jungle Island. To plan your own summer adventure, call 305-400-7000 or visit www.jungleisland.com. Jungle Island is located in the heart of Miami, off of I-395 between Downtown Miami and South Beach.