Enjoy your winter break, wherever you spend it, and a happy new year from everyone here at Mommy Poppins.

Christmas Vacation in Miami & South Florida: Museums

1. Miami Children's Museum—Miami

Miami Children's Museum offers immersive learning opportunities that promote the love of learning through play. From December 10-29, 2024, learn all about some of the popular holidays observed here in the United States and a variety of holidays observed all over the globe during Holidays Around the World. And through December 30, 2024 enjoy a Winter Wonderland exhibit where you can learn about cooler climates and the characteristics of snow while gliding and twirling on the indoor sock skating rink.

RELATED: The Best Holiday Lights Shows in Miami and South Florida

 
The Museum of Discovery and Science offers something for kids of all ages. Photo courtesy of the museum

2. The Museum of Discovery and Science—Fort Lauderdale

With daily special events and explorations, MODS offers something for the science and animal lover, as well as children who want to explore. Enjoy animal encounters, storytime events, hands-on science exhibits about space, weather, ecoscapes, IMAX movies, and more. Through December 29, 2024, embark on a STEM winter adventure during the museum's Winter Wonderlab Science Weekends.

3. Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science—Miami

Spend the Christmas vacation in a world of science. Learn about ecosystems, the human body and mind, flight, and the frontier of innovation and technology, and more. Museum exhibits cater to all ages, making it a great place for the whole family.

Christmas Vacation in Miami & South Florida: Animals

4. Zoo Miami—Miami

Zoo Miami is an all-day activity with almost 750 acres, four miles of walkways, and more than 2,500 resident animals. The zoo also offers up-close animal encounters and feedings for an additional charge. Don't forget your bathing suit so you can enjoy water play areas. Select nights through December 30, 2024, the zoo sparkles bright with more than 1 million dazzling lights during Zoo Lights Miami, a separate ticketed event.

5. Palm Beach Zoo—West Palm Beach

This zoo offers guests hundreds of animals as well as a chance to play in the interactive nature area and explore the Everglades Center. For an additional fee, families can participate in animal feedings and animal experiences. Families can also enjoy a winter wonderland of lights and seasonal activities on select nights through January 5, 2025, as part of Zoo Lights at Palm Beach Zoo.

6. Flamingo Gardens—Davie

With more than 60 acres of gardens and wildlife, guests can explore one of the oldest botanical gardens in Florida. Flamingo Gardens features a wildlife sanctuary with black bears, bobcats, otters, hawks, and flamingos. Activities include a tram tour and wildlife encounters. Through December 30, 2024, the gardens are filled with thousands of lights and holiday decor, which guests can enjoy with Garden of Lights admission.

RELATED: 49 Must-Do Christmas Events in Miami and South Florida

 
Glimpse South Florida's natural world at Butterfly World. Photo courtesy of Butterfly World

7. Butterfly World—Coconut Creek

Walk through three acres of butterfly aviaries, botanical gardens, and a working butterfly farm and research center, including tropical birds and an interactive lorikeet encounter.

8. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden—Coral Gables

Enjoy a stroll through Fairchild's magical gardens complete with butterfly greenhouse, aquatic exhibits, rare and tropical flowers and plants, and a children's garden. Holiday events include Night at the Garden, an illuminated magical fairyland open select nights through January 12, 2025; and A Very Merry Garden (open through January 5, 2025) with Santa's reindeer hiding among the property.

9. Miami Seaquarium—Miami

This seaquarium shows off marine mammals, including dolphins, sea lions, manatees, as well as sea turtles, penguins, and rays. Learn about wildlife rescue and marine animal care at the Conservation Outpost, and get in the water with dolphins at Dolphin Harbor. Weekends through Janury 5, 2025, visit the Sea of Lights, featuring 300 festive light displays, holiday shows, and more seasonal fun for the whole family.

10. Lion Country Safari—Loxahatchee

This drive-thru safari allows you to see herds of animals roaming in wide-open, naturalistic habitats without leaving the comfort of your own car. The safari preserve is divided into seven main habitats. After the safari, get out of the car and enjoy the adventure park with rides, animal encounters, a water playground, and petting zoo.

11. Jungle Island—Miami

Combining the beauty of Miami's tropical landscape with a jungle full of animals from around the globe, this location features a ropes course high in the treetops, animal encounters, and a replica of the Everglades habitats for guests to explore.

12. Daggerwing Nature Center—Boca Raton

Learn about Boca's local wildlife and plant life at Daggerwing Nature Center, set within the beautiful Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park. Standout features include a butterfly garden, exhibit hall, and elevated boardwalk with two trails and an observation tower.

Christmas Vacation in Miami & South Florida: Outdoors

13. Sugar Sand Park—Boca Raton

Sugar Sand Park features a carousel, walking nature trails, science playground with slides, swings, and sensory wall as well as a Children's Science Explorium designed for kids ages 5-12. 

 
Miami's beaches are legendary for their sand and surf. Photo by Xiquinho Silva via Flickr 2.0

14. Beaches

Enjoy a leisurely beach day with your kids. Miami area beaches offer everything from opportunities to fish, kayak, mini golf, surfing and surfing lessons, boat tours, horseback riding, tubing, and snorkeling. 

15. Everglades Tour

Airboat rides are one of the top attractions in South Florida. These private airboat tours show riders species native to the Everglades, including alligators, reptiles, birds, and turtles. 

Christmas Vacation in Miami & South Florida: Indoors

 
Enjoy a game of bumper ice at Boca Ice. Photo courtesy of @boca_ice

16. Ice Skating and Bumper Ice

Ice skating, bumper ice, free skating, tubing, and indoor alpine skiing are offered throughout South Florida. Explore these exciting destinations: Boca Ice, Pines Ice Arena, Palm Beach Skate Zone, and Panthers Ice Den.

17. Trampoline Parks

Jump to your heart's content at awesome indoor trampoline parks. Great spots include Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park, Launch Trampoline Park, Off The Wall, Xtreme Action Park

18. Go-Karts

If your kids love going fast, head out to K1 Speed or Boomers. Besides racing, many go-kart parks have additional attractions such as laser tag, arcades, and more.

19. Bowling

Enjoy a reliable source of fun at a local bowling alley. For example, Bowlero features bowling, sports bar, an arcade, as well as black lights and HD video walls.

Christmas Vacation in Miami & South Florida: Special Events

20. Luminosa: A Festival of Lights—Miami

Through March 8, 2025, experience Luminosa, a lush jungle illuminated with breathtaking, larger-than-life lanterns. Traverse through hundreds of artistic lanterns highlighting the spirit of Miami with an ambiance and vibe found nowhere else in the world.

21. Winter Wonderland—Plantation

Select days through January 4, 2025, enjoy a festive holiday showcase featuring more than 40 uniquely themed Christmas trees, a miniature train village, a Hanukkah display, a holiday gift shop, and more.

22. Nights of Lights—Pinecrest

Visit Pinecrest Gardens select nights through December 29, 2024, for an enchanting holiday experience featuring sparkling lights, seasonal treats, a festive bazaar, live performances at the historic Banyan Bowl, and much more.

23. Waterfront Winter Wonderland—Key West

Take a day trip or weekend trip to Key West for this family-friendly holiday experience featuring an ice skating rink, games, rides, attractions, music, light displays, and more. Events take place daily through December 28, 2024.

RELATED: 8 Ways to Celebrate Hanukkah with Kids

 
Enjoy a drive-thru lights experience at Holiday Fantasy of Lights. Photo courtesy of Holiday Fantasy of Lights

24. Holiday Fantasy of Lights—Coconut Creek

Running nightly through January 4, 2025, this beloved holiday tradition at Tradewinds Park offers a 2½-mile drive-thru experience with dozens of light displays along with beautifully illuminated trees.

25. Winter at Tinez Farms—Miami

Open almost daily through January 5, 2025, enjoy winter fun at Tinez Farms, including an animal barnyard, yard games, bounce houses, barrel train, horse rides, and more.