There’s plenty for kids to do in this city and it’s not simply limited to playing at the beach. There are a couple of interesting children’s museums, an excellent zoo and one of the most high-tech video game shops in the world. So whatever the weather, rest assured your kids will be entertained.

GameWorks
Steven Spielberg’s SEGA GameWorks has got all of the latest and greatest high-tech amusements you could ever want. Kids and adults alike will marvel at the variety of vintage and cutting edge arcade games, virtual-reality arenas and the more low-tech activities such as pool tables, a food court and a cocktail bar. Just be sure to bring plenty of quarters. Phone: +1 305 667 4263; website: www.gameworks.com

Miami Children’s Museum
This brand new museum is one of the most comprehensive centres for children-based activity in the country. The hundreds of bilingual exhibits are designed to be interactive and hands-on. In addition, there are dozens of classes and programmes related to art, culture and communication. The array of lifelike activities is staggering, with everything from a recreated carnival cruise ship to an NBC television station and World Music Studio, where kids can play instruments and create songs of their own. Phone: +1 305 373 5437; website: www.miamichildrensmuseum.org

Miami MetroZoo
There are several unique draws for Miami’s zoo. Not only is it fairly isolated and uncrowded, but the entire facility is completely free of cages. All of the animals are kept in their distinct habitats by moats which cleverly separate the different species from the visitors. Younger kids in particular will find this zoo fascinating with its petting areas, daily educational programs and air-conditioned Zoofari Monorail, which takes visitors around the entire park. Phone: +1 305 251 0400; website: www.miamimetrozoo.com

Parrot Jungle and Gardens
The Parrot Jungle is always a popular attraction with children thanks to the hundreds of brightly coloured macaws and parrots which squawk in a friendly way as visitors wander past their aviaries. The grounds are well-shaded with pleasant paths designed to protect visitors from the heat. Waterfalls, pink flamingos, alligators and giant tortoises can also be found here. Phone: +1 305 372 3822; website: www.parrotjungle.com

Miami has a wonderfully diverse feel to it. There’s so much to do that visitors will have no trouble finding cultural activities to fill their days. The only dilemma will be trying to decide what to do first. There are historical sites, ethnic neighborhoods and dozens of museums.

Art Deco Tour
If there’s a single architectural style that Miami is famous for, it’s Art Deco. The city’s golden era during the 1920s and 1930s is reflected in the abundance of whimsical building style concentrated in three main neighbourhoods. The Art Deco Welcome Center will give you all the information you need to do a self-guided tour of the streets where Art Deco had its heyday. It’s truly a unique aspect of Miami which must be seen to be appreciated. Telephone: +1 305 531 3484

Biltmore Hotel tour
Not only is the Biltmore one of the most famous and glamourous old hotels in the country, but it also has a fascinating history of murders, ghosts and other mysteries. Every Sunday, the hotel offers a free walking tour of the beautiful grounds which gives visitors an insight into the strange goings-on. For further exploration, you can join one of the free weekly fireside sessions held in the main lobby and presented by Miami Storytellers. Phone: +1 305 445 1926; website: www.biltmorehotel.com

Diaspora Vibe Art Gallery
This is the place to go to view Miami’s hottest local art and the people who create it. The gallery is also home to a stellar collection of artwork by some of the city’s finest Latin American, Caribbean and African-American artists. Specially chosen emerging artists are given their shot at fame and the last Friday of every month during the summer sees a fantastic ‘Final Fridays’ cocktail party, in which a new artist is showcased. Phone: +1 305 573 4046; website: www.diasporavibe.com

Little Havana
When the Cubans fled their island in the wake of Fidel Castro’s revolution, most of them settled in this part of Miami, which is known as Little Havana. Wandering through this neighbourhood is like stepping into another country and gives you a full understanding of just how important the Cuban culture is to the city of Miami, the two are inseparable. You’ll more likely hear Spanish spoken on the streets around here, but that won’t prevent you from enjoying a bite to eat, a cold beer or a shopping adventure.

Miami Art Museum (MAM)
This cutting-edge art gallery features an eclectic mix of contemporary art from the likes of Max Beckmann, Eric Fischl, Jim Dine and Stuart Davis. Exhibits continually rotate, often focusing on Caribbean or Latin American artists. Also on the grounds is the Miami-Dade Cultural Center, which features art and cultural exhibits from Miami, as well as the Historical Museum of Southern Florida. This is perhaps the best place to learn more about the fascinating history of the Miami area. Phone: +1 305 375 3000; website: www.miamiartmuseum.org

Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
Another star in Miami’s impressive line-up of art galleries, MOCA is renowned for its forward thinking and uncanny knack for discovering emerging artists. Besides its internationally acclaimed art collection, MOCA also features much work by local artists, which gives the museum a distinctly Miami feel to it. Phone: +1 305 893 6211; website: www.mocanomi.org

Miami is one of the best cities in America for outdoor recreation. With warm and sunny weather dominating much of the year, there’s really no bad time to get out and enjoy the scenery. Naturally, the beaches and ocean are the most popular destinations for locals and visitors alike, but Miami also has a thriving professional sport scene with several sports being played at the highest level.

Beaches
Miami’s most popular attraction is the beautiful 35 mile stretch of white sandy beach which runs from South Beach in the north all the way down to Key Biscayne. Each area of beach has developed its own distinct personality offering swimming, water sports or simply socializing. There are also beaches for families, senior citizens, and singles. Often, you’ll forget that you’re still in the midst of a major metropolis as you gaze out across the placid turquoise Floridian waters.

Whatever scene you’re looking for, you’ll find it in one of Miami’s two main beach areas: Miami Beach and Key Biscayne. Miami Beach runs alongside Collins Avenue for more than 10 miles and offers beautiful white sand and stunning clear sea. However, if the location of Miami Beach isn’t private enough for you, then simply head a bit further south to Key Biscayne. Other hot spots include South Beach, the trendiest part of Miami, or if you would rather check out the local surfing, head over to Lummis Park Beach.

Deep-sea fishing
The waters off of Miami provide some of the finest deep-sea fishing in the world. Anglers can try their luck for tuna, grouper, snapper, kingfish and sailfish, just to name a few. Small charter boats are readily available to take you out for the day and come fully equipped with all the gear and local knowledge you’ll need. If you’re on a budget, you can still experience this thrilling sport by joining up with a larger fishing boat. You won’t have the place to yourself, but you’ll save hundreds of dollars.

Golf
The area surrounding Miami is home to more than 30 public and private golf courses. Green fees tend to be higher on the weekends and during the peak winter months, but you can save a bit by playing on weekdays after 15:00, when twilight rates become effective. One of the best public courses is Crandon Golf Course, which overlooks the bay and is stunningly beautiful. The Doral Gold Resort has its infamous par-72 Blue Monster course and the Biltmore Hotel’s par-71 championship course is well-known for its particularly scenic layout.

Jai alai
Miami is one of the very few places in America where you can watch this unique and exciting sport. Similar to Spanish-style indoor lacrosse, players use woven baskets attached to their arms to hurl balls at speeds which can exceed 170 mph. Spectators are safely protected behind a wall of Plexiglas, and betting takes place on the evening’s players. It’s an amazing sport which must be seen to be appreciated.

Snorkelling and diving
As in much of the Caribbean, the clear placid waters off the coast of Miami are excellent for snorkelling and diving. There are old ship wrecks to explore and plenty of decent coral reefs full of colourful fish and exotic underwater flora. The conditions are ideal for beginners as well. All you need are basic swimming skills and you can experience the beauty of tropical underwater life.

Spectator sports
Miami residents readily tear themselves away from the beach to cheer on their favourite professional sporting teams. Baseball fans can enjoy the Florida Marlins, who play their home games at the Pro Player Stadium. The Miami Heat provides the basketball entertainment when they play their home games from October to April at the waterfront American Airlines Arena. For NFL football, the Miami Dolphins play at least eight home games during their season between September and December at the Pro Player Stadium. Your hotel should be able to assist you with tickets for most professional sports.

With such wonderful evening weather and a bounty of local produce, the residents of Miami love to dine out, especially on the ubiquitous alfresco patios. The result is that there are literally thousands of places to eat in this city, from small snack bars and coffee shops to high-end fusion restaurants. Miami is renowned for its street food, so don’t overlook the potential satisfaction of a quick and cheap fish taco to keep you going. These unpretentious shacks serve some of the finest local dishes in the city.

With so many different ethnic elements floating around, Miami’s new-wave cuisine has emerged as one of the most exciting and distinct cooking styles in the country. Caribbean and Latin dishes have been influenced by the Californian-Asian trends of the last decade to create the unique flavours which are known as Floribbean. Seafood is always the star of the menus in this part of America, with exciting dishes such as grilled swordfish served with spicy mango chutney. Yellowtail, lobster, oysters and crab also make frequent appearances in most restaurants.

You won’t have any trouble finding a place to eat in Miami. There are trendy cafés in South Beach and Coconut Grove, secret seafood shacks in Key Biscayne and Little Havana is like packing the whole of Cuba into a single neighbourhood.

Dining out isn’t particularly expensive in Miami, but the chic top-end restaurants in South Beach and Coral Gables can be quite pricey. Many restaurants keep extended hours during the peak winter season but may close earlier during the summer.

Besides lounging on the beach, shopping seems to be one of the principal activities in Miami. You are never more than 10 minutes from a major shopping centre, many of which provide both entertainment venues and shops. Giant air-conditioned shopping malls, such as the famous Bell Harbor Mall, are pervasive in this shopaholic city. Here you can find all the major department stores and popular chains such as Gap and Banana Republic.

However, another main component to Miami shopping is the numerous open-air centres, which are usually stocked with designer brand shops and trendy cafés. Downtown Coconut Grove is one of Miami’s most pedestrian-friendly areas, where the streets have extra wide sidewalks lined with boutiques. However, as in most of the city, chain stores rule the roost in Coconut Grove. 

For a more local flavour, there are plenty of destinations where the shops are small, independent and geared towards the locals. The Biscayne Corridor, near the downtown area, is one such area where funky boutiques line the street. Calle Ocho, in Little Havana, is another colourful and lively street where you feel as though you’ve stepped into another country. Ancient shops selling hand-rolled cigars, little bakeries and music shops packed with Latin music make up the facade of this neighbourhood.