FLORIDA Q&A

hi JillSome time next year we will be taking family vacation, mainly in florida, orlando 3d, miami 5d and keys 2d. What we need help is with miami area, because in orlano we will stay at WDW and keys any hotel close to beach will do.We have 2 kids age 7 and 4, and it i sometimes hard to keep them entairtained, we where thinking of visiting kids museum im miami, renting boat for a day( we need some help with that to, how where etc...)now what do we do other 3 days idealy we would like to spend half day on the beach and other half exploring the city any sugestions?plz hlptnx

Hi there Vanja~

You've come to the right place for help with your Florida vacation. And, staying in Miami is an easy one to answer as that is my home town! The only thing that I would different is wait till you get to the Keys to rent a boat. It's less crowded, the water is gorgeous, and it will be a more enjoyable experience in my humble opinion. More on that later. For accommodations in Miami with two kids, I'd stay close to what you want to see. For instance, there is a great children's museum out toward Miami Beach so staying in the downtown area will provide beautiful views AND put you close to the Miami Children's Museum, the Miami Seaquarium, and Jungle Island. Here's a link to accommodation choices and I'll point out a few that I think will work well for your family: Hyatt Regency, JW Marriott on Brickell, the Mandarin Oriental. On Miami Beach, your choices are many and you can stay right on the beach and be pretty close to the downtown sites I mentioned above. I just recently stayed at the Acqualina Resort and Spa (heaven on earth I tell you) and they have a unique kids program right on site. They're pricey but worth every penny. Also, the Crystal Beach Resort, and the Courtyard by Marriott on Miami Beach. Now, back to that boat rental. In the Florida Keys, you can rent boats all over the place. With little ones, you might want to try "flats fishing" on a smaller boat and just cruise through the backcountry, past mangroves, spotting dolphins, manatees, rays, and fish. Try Holiday Isle for boat rentals, Whale Harbor, and also Robbie's in Islamorada. They are all very reputable and ready to help you out with what you need. And, you can also go out with a captain and charter a boat so you don't have to do anything yourself. The above places all do charter boats as well. And, one more personal bit of info, one of my favorite place to stay in the Keys is the Hampton Suites  in Islamorada. You're on a beach, there's onsite restaurants, a play area, pool, and close to fishing, diving, and more. You are going to have a fabulous time, no doubt!

Jill Martin, Family Travel Expert, VISIT FLORIDA