What's better than a day at a museum? A FREE museum day! If you have a large family, museum tickets can add up fast—which gets particularly frustrating if you then need to beat a hasty retreat to avoid a meltdown. The Miami and Fort Lauderdale area has some great museums and parks that offer monthly or even weekly free days or evenings, and we have collected a list for easy reference. We've also included some terrific free weekly storytimes, free monthly craft workshops, free STEM programs, and free family concert series that you'll want on your calendar. Plus you can find more ideas for free things to do in our South Florida & Miami Free Activities Guide.

So bring the extended family, meet friends, or check out a place you have never been before—all without paying admission. And if there's a meltdown? At least it's free.