Miami Children's Museum, Miami

Was just there yesterday, so details are still fresh in my mind: parking is cheap ($1/hour), it's easy to get to (right off of I-395) and admission was reasonable ($10 for adults and children). Check the website for specials: yesterday was a Tuesday and all parents got in free, so we only had to pay admission for our two boys ages 9 and 2. Our 2 year old had a great time in the outdoor play area and in the fire safety area. Our 9 year old had a good time in the ship area, but it seemed to all of us that the majority of the exhibits were targetted to a slightly younger age (I'd put it at 6-7). Nevertheless, it was a nice, clean, and reasonably priced place for the whole family to visit.

We went to the Zoo twice this year and if we lived here, we'd definitely buy the annual pass. My husband and I think it's the best zoo we've seen. It's beautifully landscaped and we recommend taking the bicycles around the zoo. It's faster than walking and you get some exercise.

The museum was horrible to my family. The admission price was extremmily high. When we entered the museum, the staff was rude and extremmily young. When we entered the publix exhibet area, all of the food boxes were all over the place and the orange tree was broken. When we went into the robot exhibet, all of the machines were broken and behind glass- it was not a real hands on exhibet. When we were leaving the gift shop was over expensive and there was no organization at all. At the end the day, the best part of the experience was leaving!!!

This brand new museum, located across the MacArthur Causeway from Parrot Jungle Island, is a modern, albeit odd looking, 56,500-square-foot facility that includes 12 galleries, classrooms, a parent/teacher resource center, a Kid Smart educational gift shop, a 200-seat auditorium, and Subway restaurant. The museum offers hundreds of bilingual, interactive exhibits as well as programs and classes and learning materials related to arts, culture, community, and communication. Even as an adult, I have to say I was tempted to participate in some kids-only activities and exhibitions, such as the miniature Bank of America and Publix Supermarket, and a re-creation of the NBC 6 television studio. There's also a re-creation of a Carnival Cruise ship and even a port stop in a re-created Brazil. Perhaps the coolest thing of all is the World Music Studio in which aspiring Britneys, Justins, and Lenny Kravitzes can lay down a few tracks and play instruments.